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City officials updated a city ordinance guiding citizen communication in a June meeting.
What you need to know
Round Rock officials repealed a 48-year-old ordinance allowing citizens to submit requests to add items to future City Council agendas and speak for 15 minutes June 11.
The move will not impact residents ability to sign up for public comment and address the Round Rock City Council for up to three minutes, officials said.
Why now?
City Manager Brooks Bennett said the timing of the measure comes as cities are required to post agendas three full business days in advance, rather than 72 hours, under a legislative update to the Texas Open Meetings Act. Because council meets for a packet briefing on Tuesdays before their Thursday meetings, that means the agenda must be posted on Thursday to avoid running afoul of the state's posting requirement.
The ordinance required residents to submit their request to add an item to the agenda six days before the Thursday meeting, in conflict with these posting requirements that went into effect last year. As residents have attempted to submit items through this process in recent months, city staff said they were received too late to be included. Citing procedural ambiguity, legal risks, the potential for misuse and a goal of efficient government, city officials chose to repeal the ordinance rather than amend it.
What they're saying
As previously reported, former City Attorney Steve Sheets said he was in the room when the ordinance was approved—and it had not been used in the 45 years he represented the city of Round Rock.
"During my 45 years as city attorney, that provision that allows a citizen to place an item on the council agenda was never utilized," Sheets said in a June 9 packet briefing. "Also, I'm aware of no other city in Texas that allows the public to place items on the council's agenda. In my opinion, this provision should be repealed."
Sheets officially retired in 2022, but his firm, Sheets & Crossfield, remains the city's law firm. Stephanie L. Sandre, of the same law firm, was hired as city attorney when he retired.
Those opposed
Several residents addressed council, asking that the ordinance be amended to comply with TOMA posting requirements, rather than repealed, as the ordinance provided the opportunity to bring presentations to council in a public forum.
"It would be a mistake to repeal this just because it hasn't been used that often" Round Rock resident Nathan Chapman said. "It's like saying that if you had an umbrella, you walk outside most days of your life and it doesn't rain. Why take the umbrella or why not get rid of the umbrella? It could rain one day."
Going forward
Council members asked those in attendance and watching the meeting to reach out to speak with them directly about matters community members feel would warrant putting on an agenda. The city's ordinance has long included a provision that two council members could partner to request that an item be placed on the agenda for discussion, and that those items can come from discussions with community members.
"Email us, say, 'Let's go have coffee and talk,'" council member Kristin Stevens said. "I promise you, we utilize Lamppost all the time. It's right down the street, and we're happy to meet with you and hear what you have to say."
