Leander City Council formally agreed Feb. 21 to place eight city charter amendments on the May ballot.

The decision comes after months of review, beginning in October when the council appointed several residents to a Charter Review Commission to consider possible changes to the charter. The commission unveiled its recommendations in December, and the city's legal team and elected leaders worked together to formalize the wording in time for May's city election.

Most notable among the proposed charter amendments is a proposition that would create a Board Selection Committee to oversee appointments to various boards and commissions. As it exists now, the charter only specifies how Ethics Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission members must be nominated. Charter Review Commission Chairman Braden Frame said in December that all boards should have a consistent nomination structure.

"That was something we debated quite a bit," Frame said. "But any opportunity to remove any perceived impropriety seems like a good idea."

If passed, the charter amendment would create a Board Selection Committee comprised of three council members for nonconsecutive, one-year terms.

Other Charter Review Commission recommendations are being addressed through ordinances rather than charter amendments, particularly ethical issues. Ethics Commission Chairman Richard Shirley presented council Feb. 21 with proposed changes to the city's ethics ordinance. City Council is expected to vote on the proposed changes March 7.

Many of the proposed changes, which were originally proposed by the Charter Review Commission, seek to eliminate any appearance of "self-enrichment" by public servants who receive items or services while working in a city capacity. The proposed ordinance revision also includes language clarifying the process for filing and addressing ethical complaints.

Aside from the proposed amendments, there will also be three council seats up for grabs as well as a measure that would potentially enable Leander's public safety employees to gain civil service status. A special council meeting is scheduled to be held Feb. 28 to place the civil service initiative on the ballot after the Leander Professional Firefighters Association on Feb. 15 successfully submitted the minimum number of signatures needed for their petition.

As of Feb. 21, only one council seat, Place 3, has more than applicant. Incumbent Simon Garcia will square off against Jerry Perez, who ran unsuccessfully for Michell Cantwell's Place 4 seat last May. Incumbents Andrea Navarrette and Jason Dishongh have also applied for their respective seats on council and have yet to gain any challengers.

Approved charter amendment proposals

(Check yes or no)

Proposition No. 1—Appointments to boards and commissions

Shall Article IV, Section 4.03(f), of the City Charter be amended to provide that council will appoint members to boards and commissions after receiving a recommendation from the board selection committee?

Proposition No. 2—Filing fee and petition requirements

Shall Article V, Section 5.05, of the City Charter be amended to provide that candidates for city council shall pay a filing fee, or file a petition in lieu thereof, as required by an ordinance that is not inconsistent with state law?

Proposition No. 3—Candidate for more than one office in elections held on same date

Shall Article V, Section 5.05(b), of the City Charter be amended to provide that no candidate for office may be a candidate for more than one office or place in an election, or elections, that will be held on the same date?

Proposition No. 4—Ballot on measures

Shall Article V, Section 5.07(d), of the City Charter be amended to provide that voters shall cast their ballot on measures in the manner prescribed by the ballot or voting system used in the election?

Proposition No. 5—Notice to persons filing petitions

Shall Article VI, Section 6.07, of the City Charter be amended to clarify and restate the duty of the city secretary to give timely notice of the sufficiency or insufficiency of initiative, referendum and recall petitions?

Proposition No. 6—Police department

Shall Article VII, Section 7.06, of the City Charter be amended to clarify that the city manager may review the annual employee evaluations of all police officers, and is not required to submit all such evaluations to the city council?

Proposition No. 7—Planning commission

Shall Article X, Section 10.04, of the City Charter be amended to delete the requirement that each member of the city council shall nominate one member of the Planning Commission?

Proposition No. 8—Ethics commission

Shall Article XII, Section 12.01, of the City Charter be amended to delete the requirement that each member of the city council shall appoint one member of the Ethics Commission?