Anna charter review commission discusses Articles 1 and 2, ETJ, annexation and service responsibilities

The Anna Charter Review Commission met May 14, 2025, to review Articles 1 and 2 of the City of Anna charter and to discuss related issues including the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), annexation, city powers for public improvements and local service responsibilities.

City Attorney Clark McCoy explained that Anna operates under a council-manager form of government and that home-rule status gives the city broad authority unless state law limits it. McCoy described the charter's provisions on corporate boundaries and annexation and noted recent statutory changes that restrict involuntary annexation: "The legislature at this point has adopted statutes that not only limit the annexation powers, but allow property owners a lot more latitude," he said.

City Secretary Carrie Land reminded commissioners that their role is advisory: "You as the commission, you're not amending the charter, you are making recommendations to council, who will then vote to put it on a ballot for election," she said. Staff outlined the schedule: the commission's recommendations are to be presented to the council on July 22; if council approves placing any recommendations on the ballot, the council will call a special election in August and the election day is November 4, 2025.

Discussion among commissioners and staff covered frequently raised concerns about the ETJ, including why residents in the ETJ do not vote for city council members (McCoy said that is tied to taxation: ETJ residents do not pay city taxes) and new procedures under recent state law allowing property owners to petition to be released from an ETJ (referred to in the meeting as House Bill 2038). McCoy and staff also said the city is participating in litigation challenging that law and noted Collin County's concurrent work to establish an Emergency Services District that could affect residents in the ETJ.

Commissioners raised maintenance and safety concerns for roads that fall under county or TxDOT jurisdiction, such as a heavily traveled stretch of Highway 5 near Rosemont. Staff described the reporting process for road damage, including the city's online SeeClickFix system: "That gets reported to us," staff said, and staff then determines the responsible jurisdiction and notifies the county or TxDOT as appropriate.

Members asked whether the city can compel other jurisdictions to take actions such as installing traffic signals; McCoy said a charter change cannot force a state agency or the county to act and that such agencies have their own processes and standards. He encouraged residents to contact state and county representatives and noted the city's online resources listing contacts and legislative priorities.

On licensing and regulation of solicitors, staff said solicitors operating within the city are generally required to register and obtain badges and that registration can include background checks and bonding. On assessments and public improvements, staff explained there are statutory mechanisms and established processes (for example public improvement districts) that allow assessments to be levied on properties that directly benefit from improvements; the budget and tax-rate adoption process is open to the public.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn moved by Commissioner Bruce Norwood; no formal roll-call vote on the motion was recorded in the transcript and the chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

No charter amendments were adopted by the commission at this meeting; the session focused on review, staff briefings and scheduling next steps.