04-14-12 Special Meeting of La Porte City Council (council retreat)

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PARTI-CHARTER CHARTER COMPARATIVE TABLE Map Records of Harris County, Texas, and as modified by subsequent annexations and disannexations. State law reference— Map of municipal boundaries, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 41.001. 1.03. - Modification of city boundaries. The city council shall have power by ordinance to fix the boundary limits of the city and to provide by ordinance for the extension of said boundary limits, by the annexation of additional territory lying adjacent to the city, the disannexation of territory within the city and the exchange of territory with other cities and towns, all with or without the consent of the inhabitants in such territory or the owners thereof; provided that the foregoing powers shall be exercised by the council in a manner consistent with, and the council shall comply with, the procedural rules, requirements and limitations prescribed by any law applicable to cities operating under charters adopted or amended pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of the State of Texas, otherwise known as home rule cities, including V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 43.021 et seq. (Municipal Annexation Act). The following methods of annexation may be used: (a) Petition. The residents of any land contiguous and adjacent to the city may request the annexation of such land. Such request shall be made by a petition in writing which is signed by a majority of the residents of such land, addressed to city council and filed with the city secretary. Within thirty (30) days of the filing of such petition, city council shall hear the petition and any arguments for or against it and shall accept or refuse the petition as council sees fit. If the petition is accepted, council shall by proper ordinance annex such land. (b) Otherwise. The city may annex territory by use of any of the means provided in V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 43.021 et seq. (Municipal Annexation Act). State law reference— Annexations, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 43.021 et seq. 1.04. - Form of government. The governing body of the city shall be a council composed of the mayor and eight (8) councilpersons, to be known as the city council of the City of La Porte, hereinafter called city council. The members of city council shall be elected from the city in the manner prescribed elsewhere in this Charter. State law reference— Form of government in home rule cities, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 26.001 et seq. 1.05. - Powers of the city. a. Generally. The city shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution the powers granted. The city may acquire property within or without its corporate limits for any city purpose in fee -simple title or any lesser interest or estate by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation and may sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, hold, manage and control such property as its interest may require; and, except as prohibited by the Constitution of this state or restricted by the Charter, the city may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. The city may use a corporate seal; may sue and be sued; may contract; may implead and be impleaded in all courts concerning all matters; may cooperate with the government of the United States and of the State of Texas or any agency or political subdivision thereof to accomplish any lawful purpose; and may pass such ordinances as may be expedient for maintaining the city's peace and welfare and for the performance of its functions. La Porte, Texas, Code of Ordinances Page 2 of 32