Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boerne council approves proposed charter amendments for placement on May special election ballot
Summary
The Boerne City Council approved proposed amendments to the city charter — including three-year, staggered council terms, vacancy procedures aligned with state law and a decennial charter review — and directed placement of the measures on the May special election ballot.
The Boerne City Council on Jan. 14 approved proposed amendments to the Boerne City Charter and moved to place four propositions on a May special election ballot.
Lori Carol, presenting for the Charter Review Commission, summarized four ballot propositions that would: change council terms from two years to three and create staggered terms effective with the May 2026 municipal election; simplify language making the city council the final judge of elections; amend vacancy-filling procedures to comply with the Texas Constitution and other law applicable to home-rule cities, including appointing an individual when less than 12 months remain in a term; and add a requirement that the charter be reviewed every 10 years. Carol said, “If council approves the proposed amendments, different propositions will be on the May 3rd special election ballot. Thursday 14th is the last day to order an election. If council is ready, the election can be ordered at either the January 28th or 11th council meeting.”
The Charter Review Commission, Carol said, met four times and included 12 members: the full city council plus six appointed citizens. She thanked citizen commissioners Joe Bateman, Ron Cisneros, Kyle Mickelson, Paula Wells and returning members Stan Leach and Linda Zartler for their participation.
Council members discussed continuity and the burden of frequent campaigns. Mayor and council members said longer, staggered terms would give members more time to learn and see projects through; one council member said two-year terms felt “taxing” because elected officials spend months campaigning. Councilman Macaluso moved to approve the proposed amendments and Councilman Bunker seconded the motion; the motion passed.
If approved by voters, the three-year term provision would take effect with the May 2026 municipal election, according to the text presented by the commission. Carol also reminded the council that state law requires legal notice published in a newspaper for two consecutive weeks after an election is ordered.
The council did not take further legislative steps on the amendments beyond approving placement on the special election ballot at this meeting. No additional public comment on the propositions was recorded during the session.
