For the past year, the city’s 16-member Home Rule Charter Commission has been in the process of completing this document to place before voters.
“I feel excited. We went through some hard times getting it all done, but we did,” Commission Chair Bryan Rivera said during the Aug. 14 City Council meeting. “We got to put together a really nice charter that I'm really proud of.”
Up for election
A Home Rule Charter allows cities with over 5,000 residents to determine and manage their own affairs, with little to no interference from the state. Nearly every city has one implemented.
The commission used a generic document called “the model city charter” to help guide them when preparing the draft charter, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Almost every city in Texas uses a variation of the model city charter.
The roughly 34-page proposed charter document outlines the following:
- A council-city manager form of government, which means City Council will determine a policy and the city manager will execute it
- The ability to have recall elections, which allows voters to oust an elected official before their terms end
- Prohibited activities for city employees and City Council members
- Powers of the city, including managing public property, streets and construction
- The mayor's powers and duties
- Council determines the annual salary of the mayor and council members through an ordinance.
Notable quote
“I commend [the commission] for coming with their own ideas, and hashing it out together in a very respectful manner. And, when they didn’t see eye to eye, they looked at what was best for the city,” Mayor Crystal Mancilla said. “It was a great display of what our community represents, which is unity and a passion to continue to grow strategically and for the people.”
A quick note
Early voting for the Nov. 5 special election runs from Oct. 21-Nov. 1.
For more information about the city's Home Rule Charter commission, process and special election, click here.
