[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6170664,"mediaKeyId","5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287","parentId",5397390,"title","Council reviews charter committee proposals on terms, residency, recalls and election timing","audioSeconds",2748,"startMs",1517000,"endMs",4265000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287&start=1517&end=4265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287/thumbnail_1517000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170664/Elgin/Bastrop-County/Texas/Council-reviews-charter-committee-proposals-on-terms-residency-recalls-and-election-timing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170664-22947cfc20b36b1c5c9bffaf8880200d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486266&Signature=dAy9drYoDqvncST6S0OOKnguNtjniT67eFYDLP3T3wppSNXkuy~g7LubOOLRyutf1vCOUPmCN5BRDBPBapnsGscAWfoQOnkgvfFMCoEYMWfgYFrmoaOGLjf4M20iym8w5133sLKHzOBF1Y601Bv0wbg6ZQF03EelD36v0OI~Og~QmleKwLUKT4WepOGtTqUt2OHtkerEngSPgEVbi7gqOP1b1ckCu3MmgIlKjGksZsN0wslQVYeqYtSd0CT2IsfEyODUCh03Sb~XM9cNa8ax~45zW9WacnO25OwfitrSSd6rg8cO48sxCoa~QetM9mcZlhJt78Vco1fjuvWjXJNs6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elgin, TX","date","2025-07-15T23:52:34Z","article","Council members received a report from the charter review committee and discussed a slate of proposed amendments that would appear on the ballot if the council adopts an ordinance calling the election.

The review is consequential because it could change how council members are elected, how long they serve, residency requirements, and procedural rules for recalls and initiative publication. Council members were asked for feedback so staff can draft an ordinance containing the ballot language and the fuller measure text for publication.

Mark, staff member, explained the process: the ballot language (what voters see) and the measure (the full proposed charter text) will both be included in the ordinance the council will consider. He said some proposed items are cleanup measures aligning the charter with state law, while others are substantive changes that merit council debate.

Key items discussed included:
• Proposition A and B: cleanup changes to remove provisions duplicative of state law or other charter sections. The committee recommended bringing these forward for inclusion in the ordinance.
• Proposition C and F: clarifying residency language to make explicit that candidates and elected council members must live in the ward they represent. The committee recommended clarifying that candidates must reside in the ward and council asked staff to return with detailed language addressing edge cases such as redistricting.
• Proposition D: removing a charter requirement that a public-bus ridership threshold be met before taxpayer money may be used on passenger-train projects. The committee recommended eliminating the bus-boardings precondition to give council discretion over mass-transit spending.
• Proposition E (terms): the committee recommended moving from two-year terms to four-year terms. During discussion council members raised concerns about accountability and candidate pool impacts; several council members proposed a three-year term as a compromise. The committee’s final recommendation was for four-year terms (without term limits), but council asked staff to draft ordinance language that also includes a three-year option for consideration at the next meeting. Some council members proposed separate ballot measures for term length and term limits.
• Proposition G: reducing the number of unexcused absences that can trigger forfeiture of office (discussion noted a policy defining “unexcused” is absent and should be drafted separately).
• Proposition H: aligning recusal requirements with state law by requiring members to excuse themselves in matters where state law defines a conflict of interest.
• Proposition I: requiring an annual evaluation for the city manager.
• Proposition J: retaining the current requirement that the city manager live within Elgin ISD boundaries (the committee suggested changing to city limits, but council decided to keep the EISD requirement).
• Propositions K and L (publishing the adopted annual budget and changing the submission deadline): council decided to strike both; staff noted state law already requires public access to the budget and moving the 45-day submission deadline to 60 days could produce an incomplete document because county appraisal data arrives in late July.
• Propositions M–O: changes to recall procedures (limiting recall petitions and votes to ward residents), petition-blank timing (three business days to issue petition blanks), and publishing requirements for initiative ordinances (allowing web publication in line with state law) were discussed and generally supported.

Council directed staff to return with a draft ordinance containing ballot language and the proposed measures. Council members asked that the term-length question be prepared with the council’s suggested compromise (a three-year option) and that term-limit language be offered as a separate proposition if the council wants it on the ballot.

Ending: Staff will bring back the ordinance for the council’s August meeting with ballot language and full measures, and the council will decide whether to place the propositions on the November ballot.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Elgin Regular Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The city’s charter-review committee report was presented to council members, who discussed cleanup items and substantive proposals including residency rules, term length, recalls and election publication rules.","taxTitle","Elgin, Bastrop County, Texas","taxId",54079,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170668,"Council approves design contract for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2; developers to cover majority of costs",611,885000,1496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287&start=885&end=1496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287/thumbnail_885000.jpg","/articles/6170668/Elgin/Bastrop-County/Texas/Council-approves-design-contract-for-Wastewater-Treatment-Plant-No-2-developers-to-cover-majority-of-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170668-a41ac766aa8dae904d3745c3afd5d1d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486266&Signature=LVqh3Qw623IKmzQQLtcW7HqEse~RKweuEXKEkr2YUGrG5xqGEPIz5q~7RZt~mJSbMfQBo9ec1LhVFRkSfRkB-eAYj6fKTik-CPoIxMn6RLniHttZdQy-r~EUTtDEJpWtx615VvI3vMF-h78aKqRIG6aChQ76zFTt5oREiWSmfo3BFFmJJIgLkglrHW8TnfXw4wrOXMArEDpGj~C1okr6EZ3IFv45mC4UTcrLsARxjqzXm2xFehObgO~0ag4u540cxyy0QSU00lzE33sMX7kCts~EuYfQVoFf1OHfZN4aq0rfJvxelNzuOw8a4wTU1lmTVAvJ0qMRVCm10ybTiDtD8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Ward Zettgett and Associates to begin engineering design work for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2.

The measure matters because the plant is intended to provide capacity for four large development agreements the city has signed and because the funding approach relies heavily on developer pro rata contributions rather than general-tax revenue.

Mr. Perry, staff member, summarized the project background and funding. He said the city has entered into four development agreements with MUDs (municipal utility districts) that reserve wholesale wastewater capacity. Those development agreements require developers to pay a pro rata share for plant costs rather than relying on taxpayers. Perry said the council selected a site for Plant No. 2, closed on the property in cash, and that developers have placed their pro rata funds in escrow.

Perry said the recommended plant size discussed previously is 3 million gallons per day (MGD) and that the four developers account for about 1.87 MGD of that capacity — roughly 61% of the proposed plant. He said developer payments cover land acquisition, permitting, design and construction; city invoices for permitting and design will be billed to the developers as work is completed.

Perry described an approximate city share for engineering design of “around $2,000,000” and said that work would occur over roughly 15 to 18 months for design, with permitting running in parallel and several additional years expected for construction. He told the council that, in the interim, developers must route wastewater to the existing plant until new capacity comes online.

Council member Kaslowski moved to approve the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement with Ward Zettgett and Associates; Mayor Pro Tim Frazier seconded. The council approved the motion by roll call (all “yes” votes recorded in the session). The motion text before council was the engineering design agreement to begin design work for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2; the contract amount is recorded in the meeting packet as \"5 mill, $106,400,000 dollars\" (as stated at the meeting record).

Ending: Staff said permitting invoices are being billed to the developers on a pay-as-you-go basis. Perry and staff noted the city retains controls in the development agreements, including withholding acceptance of infrastructure or connections if developers do not meet payment obligations.","The council authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with Ward Zettgett and Associates to begin engineering design for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2. Council discussion explained developer pro rata payments, plant sizing and timeline; the resolution passed by roll call vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170672,"Council reviews budget workbook, staff outlines EMS costs and use of fund balance",3760,136000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287&start=136&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397390-eac931e0afc3ce291f7feb56a1a0b287/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6170672/Elgin/Bastrop-County/Texas/Council-reviews-budget-workbook-staff-outlines-EMS-costs-and-use-of-fund-balance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170672-2ddafc52e1d0a7127af2110e92e07e1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486266&Signature=FeWWH02aMD56-PrK5faoUY1pRMduhyHTZXXqyCap4mvp0cU76~7l5N1jYsugNXHfjoI5dBQ3SkyTl9r1GuT3YhPCEAlMmwRmmrxHLuzS~4ku6iz8kGuFxmcXj54BC2sNrxAfPUI2fkD0nHfLmhifHkb4hBANXb5eFsC4NKhoBoBr0y9PhoPx1LURnj77pvHwKApAZPPcuthD~jYbvHR2cUnt0g0l-EcfqbKXIYSAIZcdU052P8F6p6iuSaJGAXhdyHgMh1OmRYdGRi61jhM2UmNbYrVSEsMjS5Y4FHOGBI6IIwZmAEW1XT9JhRZwyhgsK5y3jehkzOy5nzJFxkyW2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a detailed general-fund summary and supporting “workbook” to City Council members as part of the proposed budget discussion. The presentation described revenue and expense estimates to Sept. 30, one-time adjustments, and proposed items the council could consider funding mid-year.

The summary matters because it lays out assumptions that determine reserves and the city’s ability to absorb higher operating costs, especially the planned expansion of Emergency Medical Services spending and a compensation study intended to align pay with the market.

Mister Turner, staff member, told the council the general fund summary lists budgeted amounts, year-end estimates and the proposed figures for the next fiscal year. He said the packet shows revenues and expenses side-by-side and that some capital projects had been paid from the general fund and later corrected by moving costs to the appropriate project funds. Turner said that process produced a net adjustment of $814,000 moved to reflect proper funding sources.

Turner described an EMS expenditure of $111,000 for the current year and said EMS costs for next year are proposed at $1,287,000. He also said the budget includes a recommended $50,000 compensation study (for fiscal year 24–25), a COLA/salary-related increase of $285,000 planned for January 2026, and an 8% increase in health insurance budgeted at $59,000. The proposed general-fund contingency is $300,000.

Turner said the proposed budget anticipates using $300,000 of fund balance for contingency and an additional $800,000 of fund balance to produce a modest surplus in the current year. He reported an estimated starting fund-balance figure of $1,932,000 for the next fiscal year before subtracting $977,000 in anticipated expenses, “predominantly” to pay for EMS. After those deductions, Turner said projections show fund-balance additions of $372,000 this year and $1,122,000 for the next fiscal year if projections hold.

Staff emphasized the purpose of the white binder called the “workbook,” which Turner said contains departmental requests that are not currently budgeted. He told council members the workbook items are “extras” and would be candidates for mid-year funding decisions if a surplus becomes available. Turner and other staff said the workbook preserves department requests for later review and helps council and future staff allocate any mid-year surpluses.

Council members asked clarifying questions about specific line items and who would pursue suggested awards identified in the materials. Turner said applying for the grants and awards should be the responsibility of the finance director. Staff noted the proposed budget will be posted on the city’s website and that printed copies would be available at the public library and to department heads.

No formal budget ordinance or final vote took place at this meeting; staff said an ordinance calling the budget vote will be brought back for council consideration in a later meeting and that a new city manager and finance director—if in place—would participate in mid-year allocation decisions.

Ending: The presentation closed with staff offering to meet individually with council members and civic groups for detailed budget briefings. The proposed workbook and the general fund summary will be available to the public on the city website and at the library.","City staff walked the council through the general fund summary and workbook, highlighting one-time adjustments, a proposed compensation study, projected EMS costs, a January 2026 COLA, and the planned use of fund balance to smooth next year’s budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews charter committee proposals on terms, residency, recalls and election timing

Council approves design contract for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2; developers to cover majority of costs

Council reviews budget workbook, staff outlines EMS costs and use of fund balance