Members of the Lago Vista Charter Review Committee spent the Oct. 15 meeting reviewing the National Civic League model charter and flagging provisions that could shape a revised Lago Vista charter, including governance structure, ethics oversight, election arrangements, personnel authority and document access.

Committee members noted the model charter’s repeated endorsement of the council–manager form of government and discussed whether Lago Vista should change its current structure. Several members said they were not seeking a change in form but focused on clarifying the division of duties between elected officials and the city manager.

The committee discussed interlocal agreements and the model’s strong language encouraging regional cooperation. Some members expressed a preference to keep intergovernmental arrangements limited and local where possible; others said the model’s emphasis on regional partnerships was notable but would need tailoring to Texas law.

Members highlighted a proposed board of ethics in the model charter. Several committee members said a locally appointed, independent ethics body could improve transparency and remove potential conflicts of interest from council investigations; others said implementation details would require further research. Committee members referenced examples they had researched and discussed appointing a citizen board with investigatory responsibilities beyond narrow financial disclosures.

Districting and election timing were the subject of extended discussion. The model charter includes provisions for mixed at-large and district seats and recommends staggered terms to protect institutional continuity. Committee members raised practical concerns about drawing legally defensible districts after each census, complying with Voting Rights Act requirements and meeting calendar constraints; several members said Lago Vista’s current size and demographic patterns make district-based seats difficult to implement without complex, potentially contentious redistricting procedures. The group expressed a preference for staggered terms but voiced differing views on at-large versus district representation.

The committee reviewed personnel provisions in the model charter that vest administrative authority in a city manager, including hiring and removal of staff. Members noted the model’s clear statement that the city manager exercises direct administrative authority and discussed how that language compares with Lago Vista’s current charter and employment practices. The committee also favorably noted the model’s emphasis on merit-based personnel systems.

Committee members raised several operational and clarity issues in the model language: the model’s example that ordinances become effective 30 days after adoption unless otherwise specified; a recommendation that ordinances, resolutions and charter amendments be made available to the public at reasonable cost; and a potentially problematic phrasing that could allow both the council and the manager to appoint a city clerk/secretary, which members flagged as opening the door to a conflict.

The committee also discussed election mechanics. Ranked-choice voting, included in some model variants, was debated; members recalled prior legal guidance that implementing ranked-choice voting can interact with state law on term lengths and majority/plurality requirements and said they would seek updated legal guidance.

On outreach and public engagement, the committee agreed there should be more effort to bring public attention to charter revision work. Linda volunteered to take on public outreach for the committee’s work and members said they would contribute ideas; staff agreed to post documents to the committee discussion board and to place links on the City Council discussion board so council members can review and comment.

The committee adjourned for executive session to obtain attorney-client advice on bonding and indemnification and reconvened to continue the review. Members agreed to finish the model charter review at the next meeting and then begin reviewing Articles 1 and 2 of Lago Vista’s existing charter.