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Council accepts Charter Review Commission report, schedules workshop prior to February meeting
Summary
Council accepted the final report of the Charter Review Commission and directed staff to schedule a workshop for potential charter amendments before the February regular meeting; commissioners said the review documented changes in the legislative environment that constrain city authority.
The Bulverde City Council on Jan. 14 accepted the final report of the city’s Charter Review Commission and directed staff to schedule a workshop to consider any potential charter refinements before the February regular meeting.
A member of the Charter Review Commission told council, “I think the report speaks for itself,” and described a methodical, section-by-section review that included recorded meetings and staff briefings. Commissioners said they were surprised by the degree of statutory and legislative change that affects municipal authority since the charter was written.
The commission addressed two items the council requested: limits on holding elected office after the term specified by the charter and provisions affecting city staff. After discussion, the commission recommended leaving the charter language on those topics as written; the report noted that volunteer activity such as appointment to a commission would not be prohibited.
Council members praised the commission’s work and agreed to schedule a short workshop to follow up on a few council questions — they discussed several candidate dates late in January to enable staff to draft any proposed charter language and meet publishing deadlines before the February meeting. The motion to accept the final report and to schedule a near-term workshop passed on council vote.
Council members also discussed whether the city should do additional outreach to explain legislative changes to the public; staff noted the commission’s presentation and the city manager’s summary are available on the city website and in the city’s newsletter.
