Willow Park panel previews proposed home-rule charter, sets timeline for council review

The Willow Park Home Rule Commission on Thursday walked residents through major elements of a draft home-rule charter and said it aims to present a completed proposal to the City Council on Dec. 9.

The commission’s chair explained that home rule shifts some powers from the state to local voters, allowing citizens to set the structure of government, enact initiatives and referenda, and pursue recall procedures. "Willow Park was officially declared at over 5,000 population in 2016," the chair said, raising the question of why the city remains under general-law rules and arguing the commission is "trying to fix it."

The commission described several proposed structural changes: increasing the city council from five to six members, extending council terms from two to three years, and making the mayor an equal voting member of the council rather than only a tie-breaker. The chair said those changes would broaden representation, give elected members more time to learn the work of the office and add accountability mechanisms. "We would have the ability to recall and replace" an elected official, the chair said when describing voter safeguards under home rule.

The draft also would require the city to post evaluation criteria for the city manager and would create an independent Board of Ethics with authority to investigate alleged misconduct, subpoena evidence and, depending on definitions adopted, propose fines or refer matters to judicial authorities, the commission said.

Residents raised several concerns during a lengthy public Q&A. One attendee warned that the municipal code published online contained outdated and incorrect codification and suggested the errors could raise legal problems under the Texas Open Meetings Act. "The website is very outdated," the resident said; Rose Hoffman, the communications director, replied that the city’s legal team has begun reviewing ordinances and staff controls the city website and that "we're on top of it."

On the question of whether the City Council can block placing an approved charter on the ballot, the chair said that if a petition is filed properly citizens typically can force the question. "As long as you file it properly, they can't say no," the chair said, while acknowledging some administrative timelines and details remain to be settled with the city attorney.

The commission listed remaining meetings on Oct. 22 and Nov. 5, an additional town hall on Nov. 13, and its goal to deliver a proposed draft to the City Council on Dec. 9. The group also said it will add an email/feedback link to the home-rule page so residents can submit comments and questions.

The commission did not take a vote at the session; rather, members outlined draft provisions, answered questions and solicited public input ahead of further meetings and the council presentation.

Members of the public and several commissioners introduced themselves and described why they joined the effort, citing a desire for improved transparency, accountability and more citizen participation in local government. The commission invited continued public feedback and said staff would post a direct feedback link on the home-rule web page.