Revised Humble city charter to go to voters in May

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct and include information about previous elections for Humble city charter amendments, as well as information on an upcoming Humble City Council meeting. The article has also been updated to clarify that there are no proposed changes related to the city manager's powers and relationship to city council.

For the first time in more than 20 years, a revised version of Humble’s city charter will be up for election May 7.

In November, the Humble City Charter Review Commission submitted its final report recommending changes to the city’s charter, which was adopted in 1970 and subsequently amended by voters in 1978, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1996 and 2000.

Among the recommendations were changes granting the City Council power to fix the compensation of mayor and council and to plan and provide neighborhood projects. Additionally, while there are no proposed changes related to the city manager's powers and relationship to city council, added language is proposed to clarify and provide a better definition of the role and relationship of the city manager to city council. The proposition language is to bring the charter in line with how the city of Humble currently operates under a council-city manager form of government.

The proposed amendments also recommend allowing the city auditor additional time to prepare the city’s annual audit, requiring the city manager to submit the city’s proposed budget sooner; and establishing a periodic citizens review of the charter.

During its Feb. 10 regular meeting, the Humble City Council will consider an ordinance calling for a special election to be held on May 7 for voters to consider the proposed charter amendments. The meeting will be held at the Humble City Hall Council Chamber—located at 114 W. Higgins St., Humble—and begin at 6:30 p.m.

For more information about voting in the city of Humble, click here.