There are 27 city of Hutto propositions on the May 1 election ballot. Some of the propositions would fix typographical errors or clarify current sections of the charter. Other propositions change duty requirements, deadlines and other responsibilities for city employees and council members.
Proposition A
What a yes vote means: This would amend 34 sections of the Hutto City Charter, fixing spelling errors, redundant and surplus wording and updating terminology.
What a no vote means: The charter would remain unchanged with the current wordings and spellings.
Proposition B
What a yes vote means: The city can enlarge its borders by any procedure granted by applicable state law.
What a no vote means: The charter would remain unchanged with specific designations listed.
Currently, the city charter lists specific methods of enlarging borders. These designations include:
- extending limits in accordance with applicable state law;
- annexation of the unoccupied lands on petition of owners;
- annexation by amendment to charter;
- extending limits by action of the City Council; and
- annexation by any other method provided by law.
What a yes vote means: The charter will be amended to clarify that the mayor is a City Council member.
What a no vote means: Wording in the charter will remain unchanged.
Currently, the wording at the beginning of section 3.01 states, "The City Council shall be composed of the mayor and six council members."
The proposed changes would clarify if the mayor is also considered a City Council member.
Proposition D
What a yes vote means: The Mayor and City Council members will receive a compensation of $500 and $400, respectively, for attendance at each regular City Council meeting, not to exceed more than two meetings any one month.
What a no vote means: The charter would remain unchanged which means compensation is fixed by ordinance.
Proposition E
What a yes vote means: City Council is required to fill the position of mayor pro tem at the next regular City Council meeting after the date the office is declared vacant.
What a no vote means: A mayor pro tem will remain elected by the City Council at the first regular City Council meeting following each regular city election.
Proposition F
What a yes vote means: If the mayor or any City Council Member misses five regular City Council meetings within a year without being excused by council, their office is forfeited.
What a no vote means: The charter remains unchanged, which means the office of the mayor or a City Council member is forfeited if they miss three consecutive meetings without prior excuse by council.
Proposition G
What a yes vote means: Four City Council members will have to be present to establish a quorum, the minimum number of members required for a meeting.
What a no vote means: The current number of five City Council members have to be present to establish a quorum.
Proposition H
What a yes vote means: Public comments will be allowed before any business including executive session.
What a no vote means: The City Council can continue to determine its own rules and order of business, provided that citizens have the opportunity for public comment.
Proposition I
What a yes vote means: An ordinance must be published once in the official newspaper of the city.
What a no vote means: Ordinances must be published twice in the official newspaper of the city.
Proposition J
What a yes vote means: The appointment and authority of an assistant manager will be deleted from the charter.
What a no vote means: The appointment of an assistant manager will remain listed in the charter.
Proposition K
What a yes vote means: City Council will be authorized to appoint the municipal court judge.
What a no vote means: City Manager will appoint the municipal court judge.
Proposition L
What a yes vote means: The City Manager will be authorized to assign duties to the city secretary.
What a no vote means: City Council will continue to assign duties to the city secretary.
Proposition M
What a yes vote means: The city secretary will not be required to keep a list of registered voters prepared by the county elections administrator.
What a no vote means: The city secretary is required to keep a certified list of registered city voters prepared by the county elections administrator.
Proposition N
What a yes vote means: Recall petitions will be required to have an attached affidavit that the petition creator circulated the document. The affidavit will also have to include:
- the number of signatures on the petition;
- confirmation that the signatures were written in the petition creator’s presence;
- the petition creator believes they are genuine signatures; and
- an explanation of the petition’s purpose was explained to each signer.
Proposition O
What a yes vote means: Petitions will have to be in the form and validated in the manner prescribed by state law to initiate a charter amendment.
What a no vote means: Petition papers will remain provided by the city secretary in a form listed in the current charter.
Proposition P
What a yes vote means: Someone removed from office via recall election cannot have their name appear on a ballot for elective office within the city until five years after their removal.
What a no vote means: Someone removed from office via recall election cannot have their name appear on a ballot until two years after their removal.
Proposition Q
What a yes vote means: Someone removed from office via recall election can not be appointed to a board or commission of the city for the length of time that their name is prohibited from appearing on the ballot.
What a no vote means: Someone removed from office via recall election will not be prohibited from being appointed on a board or commission.
Proposition R
What a yes vote means: A referendum petition will have to be filed within 45 days after issuance of the appropriate blanks for reconsideration of any ordinance adopted by City Council.
What a no vote means: The charter remains unchanged, with a referendum petition required to be filed within 30 days.
Proposition S
What a yes vote means: Deadlines for referendum petition sufficiency determinations will be extended.
What a no vote means: Current deadlines will remain unchanged.
Proposition T
What a yes vote means: City Council can act on a sufficient petition within 30 days.
What a no vote means: City Council will continue to be able to act on a sufficient petition within 60 days.
Proposition U
What a yes vote means: The city manager and their designee will certify funds.
What a no vote means: Either the city manager or their designee can certify funds.
Proposition V
What a yes vote means: Every public utility and public utility franchise has to file certified copies of all franchises owned, claimed or operated in the city, not just within six months after the charter took effect.
What a no vote means: The current wording requiring public utility entities to file with the city within six months after the charter took effect will remain.
Proposition W
What a yes vote means: A member of a board or commission cannot continue serving if they are elected or appointed to City Council.
What a no vote means: A member of a board or commission cannot continue serving if elected or appointed to a city office.
Proposition X
What a yes vote means: Planning and zoning commission member terms will be extended to three years.
What a no vote means: Two-year terms will remain in place for planning and zoning commission members.
Proposition Y
What a yes vote means: The planning and zoning commission will have permission to approve or disprove plats and plans.
What a no vote means: Approval for plats and plans have to be made by City Council.
Proposition Z
What a yes vote means: City Council will be able to renumber, rearrange and correct typographical errors in the charter provisions, but will not be able to make substantive changes.
What a no vote means: City Council will not be able to renumber, rearrange and correct typographical errors in the charter provisions.
Proposition AA
What a yes vote means: City Council will be authorized to appoint a deputy chief attorney to conduct the prosecutions in the Hutto municipal court.
What a no vote means: The city attorney will continue to select a deputy chief attorney with approval from City Council.
