Celina City Council members formed a 17-member city charter commission during an Oct. 8 meeting, officially kicking off a months-long process the city has been discussing since March.
How it works
Celina’s charter acts as the city’s constitution. It was first established in 2007 and allows for amendments to be brought to voters every two years. The most recent amendments were approved in November 2022.
The commission will hold meetings until December 4 to go through the document and identify any amendments before they present potential ballot language to council members in January, according to meeting documents.
City officials will then have until February 2025 to approve and add the amendments to the May 3, 2025 election day ballot.
Of the 17 commission members, 14 were picked directly by council—two appointees per council member and the mayor—and three were chosen randomly through a resident lottery. Each commission member must have participated in the last two local elections in order to serve, according to meeting documents.
What we know
While the commission is allowed to recommend any amendments that they identify, council members have already recommended three items to include in their discussions:
- Term limits
- Role of City Council in appointing and terminating department heads
- Clarifying relationship of mayor and City Council
The city’s Economic Development Corporation has term limits for its directors, which includes limiting them to staggered two-year terms and no more than three full terms. Members of Celina’s Planning and Zoning commission cannot serve more than three full three-year terms.
Going forward
Charter commission members must present their recommendations to council members no later than Jan. 14, 2025. A full list of upcoming city meetings and agendas can be found here.
