The Palestine Charter Review Committee on a 6–1 vote approved a proposed amendment to Section 11.9 of the city charter that removes a list of specific streets where retail sales of distilled (hard) spirits for off‑premise consumption are allowed and instead states such sales are permitted within the corporate limits of the city "in accordance with all established city ordinances and state law." The committee made the change after members discussed economic-development concerns about restricting bottle sales to a small downtown footprint within a 31‑square‑mile city and noted that the county is dry.

Committee members and staff described the change as a simplification of the charter provision rather than an immediate policy deregulatory step; council and ordinance processes would still determine specific licensing, zoning and locations. Committee members noted existing examples: a downtown retail outlet called Sips opened in the last five years under historic‑district requirements and a downtown distillery was previously approved by voter exception. Committee members also said convenience‑store applications in the county typically sought beer and wine, not distilled spirits, and that some stores previously sought annexation to enable beer and wine sales.

The committee debated two drafting approaches before voting: (1) a narrow rewording to clarify the existing list of streets, and (2) the broader rewrite the committee approved, which would allow retail sales of distilled spirits citywide subject to later ordinance and zoning controls. The committee chair brought a motion to replace the detailed street list with the simplified wording and to add "in accordance with all established city ordinances and state law." The motion carried, 6–1. The committee recorded that city council would still review any charter amendment and that voters must approve specified exceptions where the charter previously required a referendum.

Alongside the alcohol provision, the committee approved several other charter edits and technical fixes during the meeting, including adding a definition for disannexation, minor timeline and numbering changes, a textual change to city secretary duties (removing anachronistic references to keeping minutes in a physical book), a change in the special‑election timeline language, and explicit closed‑session language for deliberations about appointing candidates. Committee members said most of those measures were housekeeping or legal‑clarifying edits to be forwarded to city council for consideration.

The charter committee noted next steps: the committee will transmit its recommended charter language to the city council and staff advised that council and the public should expect outreach explaining the practical effects of the proposed amendments, particularly the alcohol language. Any charter amendment or voter exception required by the charter would proceed under the city and state process and, where required, to a public vote.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to amend City Charter Section 11.9 (alcoholic beverages permitted) to read that retail sales of distilled spirits for off‑premise consumption are permitted within the corporate limits "in accordance with all established city ordinances and state law." Outcome: approved, 6–1. Motion text (final edited language): "It shall be lawful to locate, maintain, or conduct any place where spirits, vinous, or malt liquors ... are sold at retail within the corporate limits of the City of Palestine, Texas ... and in accordance with all established city ordinances and state law." (Mover: not specified; Second: not specified.)
- Addition of a definition for disannexation to Section 1.4 (new subparagraph e). Outcome: approved (motion and second recorded; tally not specified).
- In Article 2, insertion of introductory phrasing to each power clause (clarifying "the City of Palestine shall have the power to..." for sections in Article 2). Outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified).
- Change in Section 4.8(a) timeline language for appointment/special‑election procedures: amended 10 days to 14 days for a required action in the appointment/special‑election process. Outcome: approved (motion and second; tally not specified).
- Add explicit closed‑session authority for deliberation of appointments, cited to Texas Government Code Section 551.074; appointment itself must be made in open meeting. Outcome: approved (motion and second; tally not specified).
- Renumber Article 6 sections to start at 6.1 and adjust internal cross‑references. Outcome: approved (motion and second; tally not specified).
- Textual correction in Section 8.8 (city secretary duties) to remove requirement that minutes be recorded in a physical book and modernize language about records and files. Outcome: approved (motion and second; tally not specified).
- Final motion to approve the committee’s compiled recommendations and edits for transmittal to city council. Outcome: approved (motion carried; tally not specified).

Context and why it matters
Section 11.9 has historically limited where off‑premise sales of distilled spirits can occur in Palestine, creating a small downtown area where bottled distilled spirits could be sold. Committee discussion focused on whether that restriction remains an intentional economic policy for a city covering roughly 31 square miles and on the practical consequence that the surrounding county is dry, potentially driving customers to other towns. The committee’s change does not immediately rezone or license locations; rather, it removes the charter’s hard list and leaves zoning and licensing controls to city ordinance and council action. If council and voters approve the amendment where required, the practical availability of off‑premise distilled spirits transfers to an ordinance‑driven process managed by the city.

What the committee did not do
The committee did not itself change zoning or licensing rules, did not adopt new ordinances, and did not direct immediate administrative licenses or approvals. The committee voted on charter language only; subsequent steps will involve staff drafting ordinance changes and council review, and some items may require voter approval under the charter.

Meeting note
Public comment was called at the start of the meeting; no members of the public spoke during the public‑comment period represented in the transcript. The committee completed its scheduled review of Articles 1 through 11 and voted to forward the compiled changes to city council.