Katy council orders May 3 special election on charter amendments after heated public debate

The Katy City Council voted on Feb. 10 to place multiple proposed Home Rule Charter amendments on a special election ballot May 3, 2025, after extended public comment and debate over process and policy.

The measures that will go to the voters include a change to allow the mayor pro tem to count toward a quorum and retain voting privileges while removing a veto power; updates to vacancy and resignation rules to align with the Texas Constitution’s one-year-and-30-day filing standard; a revision to give appointed department heads the same right as other city employees to petition council for a hearing after suspension or termination; and an amendment to raise the consecutive-term limit for city council members from two to four three-year terms. Multiple other proposed changes — including removing term limits for mayor and council entirely — failed to obtain the council majority needed to be placed on the ballot.

Why it matters: The package will send several structural changes in city government to voters rather than resolving them entirely at council level. The items prompted strong public comment from members of the Charter Review Commission and longtime residents who said council had bypassed the commission and urged the council to allow the commission’s review. Supporters of the ballot measures said voters should decide.

Public comment and council debate focused on process as much as policy. Sherry Booth, a member of the Charter Review Commission, told council she was concerned that one council member planned to press to remove term limits "and I believe the mayor as well" without reconvening the commission. Booth said, "To me, this is an abuse of power, and it should have been brought to the charter." Several other speakers who identified themselves as past or current members of the Charter Review Commission — including Lynn Freeman, Skip Connor and Don Elder — also urged council to allow the commission to review the proposals before forwarding them to the voters.

Council members defended the decision to place measures on the ballot this spring, saying timing and the cost and logistics of elections influenced their choice and that several items were intended to correct inconsistencies between the city charter and state law. Councilmember Dan Smith, who introduced many of the items, said changes were needed to avoid unintended outcomes and to let voters decide. City attorney and staff explained that some edits were drafted to align Katy’s charter with the Texas Constitution and existing charter language.

Votes at a glance: - 5A (Article 3 §1B) — Mayor pro tem voting/quorum; remove mayor pro tem veto. Motion: Councilmember Dan Smith; Second: Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. Outcome: Approved (vote announced as "Aye"; motion carries). Vote tally not specified on the record for the final roll-call count. - 5B i (Article 3 §4 forfeiture — mayor) — Remove automatic resignation on filing to run when unexpired term ≤ 1 year, 30 days (align with Texas Constitution). Motion: Councilmember Dan Smith; Second: Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. Outcome: Approved, 3–2 (record: "The motion carries 3 to 2"). - 5B ii (Article 4 §3 forfeiture — council) — Same resignation alignment for council members. Motion: Councilmember Dan Smith; Second: Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. Outcome: Approved, 3–2. - 5C (Article 3 §6 and related) — Allow appointed department heads the same appeal process to council as other employees (adds right to petition council for a hearing after suspension/termination). Motion: Councilmember Dan Smith (amendment language); Second: (recorded) Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. Outcome: Approved (motion carries; no final tally provided). - 5D i / 5D ii — Proposals to remove term limits for mayor and for council (separate propositions). Outcome: Both failed (record: motions failed; council votes recorded as "No"). - 5E (Article 4 §2) — Increase city council term limits from two consecutive 3-year terms to four consecutive 3-year terms (language expressly "inclusive of time already served" for incumbents). Motion: Councilmember Dan Smith; Second: Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. Outcome: Approved, 3–2. - 5F (Article 3 §12) — Increase mayoral term limits from two to four consecutive terms (inclusive of time served). Outcome: Motion failed; not added to the ballot. - Ordinance to call special election (to place approved propositions on May 3 ballot). Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris; Second: Councilmember Dan Smith. Outcome: Approved (motion carries).

What was contested: Many public commenters and several former charter-commission chairs said the Council should have routed proposed changes back to the Charter Review Commission for the commission’s recommendation before sending items to voters. Speakers described the commission as the established forum for reviewing charter text and objected to the timing and process; several called the council’s handling a breach of public trust. Council members replied that some measures correct legal inconsistencies, that the timing of a May election and deadlines required prompt action, and that placing the questions on the ballot allows voters to decide.

Next steps: The city will include the approved charter propositions on a May 3, 2025 special election ballot held concurrently with the regular city officer election. The council also approved an ordinance to call that election. The specific ballot language for each proposition, as presented to council, will be part of the election materials. Voters will determine whether the charter amendments become effective.

Speakers (selected, from meeting record): Mayor Dusty Thiele; Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris; Councilmember Dan Smith; Councilmember Roy Robertson; Councilmember Janet Court; Councilmember Gina Hicks; Sherry Booth (Charter Review Commission member); Lynn Freeman (Charter Review Commission member); Skip Connor (past charter commission chair); Don Elder (former mayor); Duran Dowdle (resident); Doyle Callender (resident); Michael Payne (mayoral candidate; commented on the proposed changes).