Title
Discussion of issues relating to Charter Review Process and Charter Review Committee.
Body
Summary:
This workshop item is to discuss the creation of a charter review committee and a proposed timeline for the charter review process. This is one of the Key Focus Areas of the Leadership/Governance Strategic Goal: Strategy 1: Establish a system for regular review of the City Charter. Staff is providing information on how to set up the committee and a review timeline with a possible election date of May 2027. The committee would be selected for a two-year term to cover until 2028 if the project needs to be extended for election in May 2028.
Formation of a Charter Review Committee - each council member appoints one resident of Deer Park to the committee. City staff who will also be a part of the committee would be the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney and City Secretary. At the April 7th, meeting a resolution can be passed with the committee appointees for a term not to exceed two years.
Proposed timeline for Charter Review Process:
• March 17th - Workshop to discuss charter review and formation of review committee
• April 7th - Council to provide names of review members and take action in form of resolution to appoint the committee.
• May/June/July/Sept - Committee meetings to be scheduled to review sections a little at a time. The committee will pick their own chair at the first meeting.
• Nov 3rd - Committee chair provides their written recommendation to Council. Council can provide their recommendations for changes.
• Nov - Dec - Council determines what action needs to be taken on recommendations.
• If election occurs:
- Call the special election Jan/Feb 2027
- Hold election May 2027
Other cities: City of Alvin has seven residents on their committee and they appoint every fourth year. City of League City not less than once each two years following an election to amend their charter and each two years after, Council conducts a review to determine if anything needs to be changed. Their council may, but are not required, to create a charter commission. City of Pearland appoints every sixth year a charter review commission of seven citizens. City of La Porte has a mandatory review at least every 10 years. Their last review was in 2020 by a charter review committee of nine citizens.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
FY26-27 Budget will already have funds assigned for election purposes.
Recommended action
Discussion only during Workshop.