The Charter Review Commission presented several amendment recommendations during the June 2 council meeting. Richardson City Council will spend several months debating the amendments and any proposed changes must be approved by voters in November.
The details
Commission Chair Gerald Bright presented some of the recommendations to council. The commission recommended increasing the council member compensation from $100 per council meeting to $1,200 per month. Bright said the reason for this is that council members are asked to do more than just attend meetings.
The commission also recommended allowing board and commission members to be eligible for economic incentive agreements, which provides businesses financial incentives to take action that would benefit the community such as creating new jobs.
Other recommended changes include adding a one-year residence requirement to run in a district and adding a continuity of government in the case of a disaster. In the event of a disaster and a quorum, five council members, cannot be assembled, the remaining council members must ask Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to appoint a commission of five or less residents eligible to hold office.
What else
Council asked the commission to consider changing and staggering the term length for council members. Currently, council members serve two year terms and all places are elected on odd numbered years. Bright said the commission decided to recommend no changes.
The commission also declined to recommend term limits reset if a council member is elected mayor. Currently, council members can serve six terms.
What’s next?
Council will discuss the recommendations at the June 9 and 20 council meetings. A public hearing will be held June 23. Council will call an election for any proposed amendments Aug. 11 and the election will be held Nov. 4.
