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Charter Review Committee presents wide‑ranging charter rewrite, proposes three‑year terms and ethics board
Summary
A citizen committee presented a near‑complete rewrite of the Lago Vista charter recommending three‑year staggered terms, term limits, a Board of Ethics and other governance changes; council directed legal review and signaled plans for stand‑alone charter meetings and public outreach.
Lago Vista — The city’s Charter Review Committee delivered a detailed draft rewrite of the city charter on Feb. 20, recommending organizational and procedural changes the committee said improve clarity, accountability and continuity.
Committee chair Robert Owen summarized the rewrite as a complete reorganization and modernization of the charter. “We reorganized, streamlined language and removed legalese to make the charter readable by residents,” Owen said, describing 34 topics examined and a year‑and‑a‑half process of drafting and review. The committee said it reached a unanimous vote to forward the draft to council.
Key recommendations include extending council terms to three years with a majority‑vote requirement and staggered seats to align elections with higher‑turnout cycles; imposing consecutive‑term limits (three elected consecutive terms); creating a Building & Standards Commission; adding a Board of Ethics; clarifying mayoral and council duties; and codifying a comprehensive master plan requirement to guide zoning decisions.
Legal counsel and councilors discussed timing for further review and the complexity of ballot language. Brad (city attorney) advised the council the draft is substantial and that staff will give an initial legal review in executive session before recommending a public engagement schedule and ballot strategy. The mayor suggested a series of stand‑alone council meetings to dig into the draft and its potential election schedule.
What’s next: Staff and counsel will complete a high‑level legal review and advise council on whether the rewrite can be presented as a single proposition or must be broken into multiple ballot propositions. Council members asked the committee to be available for upcoming special meetings so the public and council can examine contested provisions in depth.
