Council forms home-rule charter committee, amends resolution to cite Local Government Code §9.004 rather than initial-charter provision

The Colony City Council on Jan. 7 approved a resolution creating a home-rule charter committee to review the city’s charter and propose amendments, and the council amended the resolution to cite Local Government Code §9.004 (governing charter amendments) instead of the section addressing initial-charter adoption.

Mayor announced the council’s intent to convene a committee and proposed a timeline for the group to meet monthly beginning in late January and to deliver recommendations to council by May or June 2025 so that any proposals the council approves could be placed on the November 2025 ballot. The mayor said the last comprehensive charter review occurred in 2010.

City Attorney Jeff (last name not stated on the record) advised the council that the code section cited in the draft resolution (the initial-charter provision requiring a 15-member commission) applies to initial-charter adoption, not to amendments. He said section 9.004 governs charter amendments and does not specify a minimum committee size, so council could set the committee size and process. Council amended the resolution to reference §9.004 and to remove the 15-member requirement.

Members named on the record to the committee included appointees provided by council members: David Pearson, Melissa Werner, Michelle Doss and Doug Mims, along with mayoral appointees and council designees (Councilmembers Rainey and Schrag were named to serve). Staff participants identified for the committee include Mr. Powell, Mr. Schallenberger and Ms. Stewart.

Council approved the amended resolution and directed staff to notify committee members and begin the review process. The council’s goal is for the committee to complete its review with recommendations in time to meet county deadlines for ballot inclusion if council chooses to place amendments before voters.