08-07-12 Citizen's Charter Review Advisory Commission

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1.03(b) Modification of city boundaries. (b) Otherwise — Propose cleanup language to show Local Government Code reference. 1.04 Form of government — No proposed revision. 1.05 Powers of the City — Propose adding cleanup language, where necessary, "as consistent with state law." 1.06 Special provisions for damage suits — Propose revising the 30-day notice timeframe to a 180-day timeframe from date of injury in which to give the City notice. Article II. City Council 2.01(a) Composition of city council. (a) Members of council — No proposed revision except, where necessary, add cleanup language "as consistent with state law" when referencing the timeframe for calling a run-off election. 2.01(b) Composition of city council. (b) Formation of districts — Propose revision of the third paragraph (on the subject of redistricting), to state that following the publication of the decennial federal census (every 10 years), city council shall look at the possible necessity of redistricting. It is proposed to strike the language requiring council look at redistricting every five years because there is no new census data in five-year increments. 2.01(c) Composition of city council. (c) Election — Propose revision to second paragraph (on the subject of timing for the ordering of run-off elections and/or having to do with the resolving of tie votes in the general election to determine the run-off candidates), to state "in accordance with state law" or "as prescribed by state law" because state law supersedes a Charter provision. 2.01(d) Composition of city council. (d) Term of Office — No proposed revision. 2.02(a) Qualifications. (a) Enumerated — Propose revision to the first sentence that a qualification for candidacy of mayor and/or council shall include a length of residency, as follows: "The mayor and councilpersons shall be resident electors of the City for 12 months at the time of filing for office, and continuously during their terms of office." 2.02(b) Qualifications. (b) Council to be judge of members' qualifications — No proposed revision. 2.03(a) Conduct of Elections. (a) Regulations — No proposed revision. 2.03(b) Conduct of elections. (b)(1) Schedule. Regular election. — Propose revising to read "uniform election date," as opposed to specifically naming a month in which to hold a regular election. 2.03(b) Conduct of elections. (b)(2) Schedule. Special Election. — Propose revising "... be ordinance..." to "...by ordinance..." It was pointed out by the Commission that Section 2.02 Qualifications (requirements for those who file for mayor or council positions in a general election) provides, in part, that these candidates must "...be a resident elector of the city at the time of filing for office and continuously during their terms of office. A district councilperson shall also be a resident of his district at the time of filing for office and continuously during his term of office." Conversely, requirements for filling a vacancy, found in Section 2.04 (c) Filing for Office, lists four requirements, including being "a qualified voter in the city," and goes on to require filing fees or a petition in lieu of a filing fee. It doesn't mention residency like it does for general election Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission Minutes of August 7, 2012 Meeting