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Levelland attorney outlines fast timeline for charter cleanup; council appoints six‑person committee
Summary
The city attorney told the council Levelland’s charter (adopted 1948, amended 1998) needs cleanup to align with state law; the council nominated and approved a six-person charter committee and asked staff to circulate materials and schedule meetings ahead of a potential special election in May.
The city attorney told the Levelland City Council on Nov. 1 that the city’s charter — adopted in 1948 and last amended in 1998 — contains outdated provisions and conflicts with current state law, and recommended a transparent, committee-driven approach to drafting proposed amendments.
The attorney described the charter as the city’s constitution and said many provisions are obsolete (examples ranged from arcane rules to redundant language superseded by state statutes). He urged a citizen committee process to study the charter, advise staff and the council, and help educate voters to avoid misunderstandings during any ballot measure. "This is and will be as transparent a process as can be," the attorney said, describing public meetings, posted notices and outreach to civic groups.
Councilors discussed committee size and composition; the council nominated and approved a committee of six volunteers (names submitted during the meeting included Jeriann DuBree, Stephanie Castellano, Freddie Ruiz, Liz Farrell and Steven Henry among nominees). The attorney outlined a compressed timeline if the council moves quickly: ordinance first reading by Jan. 20, second reading the following meeting, and a last day to call a special election on Feb. 14 for a possible election date in May.
Council members emphasized that many proposed changes are technical cleanup, not wholesale revision, but noted items that could require more debate (for example, a possible change in council size or term limits). The council approved the committee appointments and directed staff to send committee members copies of the current charter and schedule initial meetings. The committee will report back to the council and any proposed charter amendments would be subject to the council’s decision to place measures on the ballot.
