2010 CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION

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Arabella Carpenter
5 years ago
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2 Q: What is a City Charter? A: The Weatherford City Charter is our founding document that establishes the City s incorporation as a home rule city and defines our form of government. Q: Has Weatherford always had a City Charter? A The Weatherford City Charter was first adopted by the voters on April 23, 1918 six years after home rule charter elections were authorized by the State of Texas in 1912.

3 Q: When was the last time the Charter was amended? A: The Weatherford City Charter was last amended on April 2, City records also show it was amended in 1949, 1956 and Q: How were the revisions created for this election? A The Weatherford City Council appointed a Citizen Advisory Committee to review the current Charter language and to propose changes. The City Council reviewed the proposed changes and directed staff to draft language incorporating some of the changes.

4 Q: Why are we trying to amend the Charter this time? A: Each ballot proposition amends certain portions of the City Charter in an effort to accomplish three broad goals: 1. Bring procedural requirements into compliance with State law. 2. Modernize the language of the Charter, providing for gender neutrality and proper syntax. 3. Implement some of the changes proposed by the Citizens Advisory Committee.

5 Q: What are the propositions? A: Proposition No. 1 - City Council Shall the Weatherford Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for three year terms, to revise the manner of filling vacancies and qualifications for office, and to provide for the general duties, powers and prohibitions for the mayor and council members, and to provide that elections shall be conducted in accordance with state law by revising Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Article VII?

6 Proposition No. 1 City Council CURRENT CHARTER Two Year Terms Vacant Council positions replaced at next general election; or by Council appointment if less than six months remain for the vacated term. Qualifications for office do not fully address minimum State requirements. PROPOSED CHARTER Three Year Terms State law requires a special election to be held as soon as practicable to fill the remainder of the vacated term. Proposed language conforms with State law.

7 Proposition No. 1 City Council CURRENT CHARTER General duties and powers of the City Council are not clearly defined in the current Charter. PROPOSED CHARTER Clearly establishes the powers of the City Council and prohibits the Council from exercising the duties of the City Manager, holding other public office, or voting on matters where a conflict of interest exists.

8 Q: What are the propositions? A: Proposition No. 2 - Administration Shall the Weatherford Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the powers, duties and qualifications of the city manager; administrative departments; and the duties and qualifications of the city secretary and city attorney by deleting Sections 22 and 23 of Article VII; deleting Article IX and creating a new Article VI entitled City Administration?

9 Proposition No. 2 Administration CURRENT CHARTER The duties and responsibilities of the City Manager are not clearly defined in the current charter. City Attorney must reside in the city limits. PROPOSED CHARTER Clearly establishes the duties, responsibilities and position of the City Manager. Proposition No. 2 simply provides language implementing our current practice and Council- Manager form of government separation of powers. City Attorney must maintain an office in the city limits.

10 Q: What are the propositions? A: Proposition No. 3 - Ordinances Shall the Weatherford Home Rule Charter be amended to provide that each ordinance shall require one reading; that publication of ordinances shall be in accordance with state law; and to delete provisions for the adoption of emergency ordinances by revising Sections 16 and 18, and deleting Section 17 of Article VII?

11 Q: What are the propositions? A: Proposition No. 4 - Budget and Finance Shall the Weatherford Home Rule Charter be amended by deleting article V Taxation and replacing it with a new Article V Budget and Finance to provide for the fiscal year; submission, content requirements, and amendment of the budget; quarterly financial reports; and taxation; and by renumbering unchanged Article VI, Section 1 Bonds to Section 8 of Article V, and Sections 25 and 26 of Article VII to Sections 9 and 10 of Article V?

12 Proposition No. 4 Budget and Finance CURRENT CHARTER Most if not all the language in the current charter does not comply with State requirements, or is superseded by State regulations. PROPOSED CHARTER Proposition No. 4 formalizes our current financial practices and fully complies with State regulations.

13 Q: What are the propositions? A: Proposition No. 5 - Non-Substantive Revisions Shall the Weatherford Home Rule Charter be amended to make the charter language gender neutral, and to simplify and clarify the language; and add paragraph headings and subsection numerical designations, without changing the meaning by making revisions throughout the entire charter?

14 Q: Where can I read the proposed changes myself? A: You may download a redline version of the proposed amendments to the Charter and a complete clean copy of the proposed Charter at the City s Website by clicking on Charter Amendment in the left hand column of the Website. OR access the information directly at: OR Call Robert Hanna at for more information.

15 Early Voting Parker County Courthouse Annex 1112 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Texas Monday through Friday October 18 to 29, :00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Election Day Voting Parker County Courthouse Annex 1112 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Texas Tuesday, November 2, :00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

ORDINANCE NO

ORDINANCE NO. 11-2014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEMINOLE, FLORIDA, CALLING AN ELECTION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014; PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO