Boerne commission reviews draft charter amendments to lengthen council terms, clarify vacancies and planning roles

The Boerne Charter Review Commission on Dec. 3, 2024, discussed draft charter amendments that would change city council terms from two years to three, stagger council elections so no more than one-third of seats are up in any year, align vacancy procedures with the Texas Constitution, revise planning-and-zoning language, and require a charter review at least once every 10 years.

Mick, a staff member who presented the draft language, said, “This amendment would become effective at the election in May of 2026, which is the next officers’ election after this charter amendment.” He and other staff also noted that ballot wording and the charter text differ in places so voters get a clear, concise proposition on the ballot while the charter contains the full legal text.

Why it matters: the proposed changes would alter the municipal election calendar and how vacancies are filled, affecting when incumbents next face voters and how the council handles unplanned openings. Commission members discussed how to explain the transition to voters, whether to show current-and-proposed text in outreach materials and how to draft a purpose statement for public presentations.

Key…