All powers and authority, including determination of all matters of policy, which are expressly or by implication conferred on or possessed by the Town, shall be vested in and exercised by the Council; provided, however, that the Council shall have no authority to exercise those powers which are expressly conferred upon other Town officers by this Charter.
The Council shall have the power to inquire into or investigate the official conduct of any department, office, or agency of the Town and for that purpose shall have the power to administer oaths; subpoena witnesses; compel the production of books, papers, records, or other evidence material to the inquiry. The Town Council shall provide, by ordinance, penalties for contempt for failing or refusing to obey any such subpoena or to produce any such books, papers, or other evidence, and shall have the power to punish any such contempt in the manner provided by the ordinance.
The Council shall provide for an independent annual audit of all Town accounts and may provide for more frequent audits as it deems necessary. Such audits shall be carried out in accordance with Section 10.16 herein.
In addition to the elected officers, the other officers of the Town shall be the Town Manager, Town Attorney, and such other officers as the Council may from time to time direct. The Council may appoint, abolish or consolidate such offices and positions as it may deem to be in the best interest of the Town and may divide the administration of such offices or positions as it may deem advisable, create new offices and positions and discontinue any office or position at its discretion except the offices of Town Manager and Town Attorney. Removal of officers appointed by the Council shall be at the discretion of the Council and shall require an affirmative 2/3 vote of the entire membership except for the Town Attorney which may be removed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Council as provided in Section 7.01.
(a) 
A state of emergency shall be deemed to exist during periods of impending or actual public crisis or disaster. If a meeting of the Council cannot be called within the time available, whenever conditions threaten to render inadequate the normal procedures of the Town for protection of persons or property, a state of emergency may be declared by the vote of the Council, or by order of the Mayor, or, in the Mayor’s absence or disability, the Mayor Pro Tem,
(b) 
During a state of emergency, the Mayor, or, in the Mayor’s absence or disability, the Mayor Pro Tem shall have all the powers that would be vested in the Council by State law to the extent he considers reasonable, or necessary for the protection of persons or property.
(c) 
The emergency powers herein provided shall be exercised only to the extent made necessary by the nature of the emergency and during the continuation of the state of emergency.
All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations of the Town heretofore ordained, passed, adopted, or enacted, that are in force at the time this Charter becomes effective, and which are not in conflict with such Charter, shall remain in full force until altered, amended, or repealed by the Council after such Charter takes effect.
(a) 
The Council shall legislate by ordinance. In addition to other acts required by law or by specific provision of this Charter to be done by ordinance, those acts of the Council shall be by ordinance which:
(1) 
adopt, amend, or establish an administrative code;
(2) 
provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed;
(3) 
levy taxes;
(4) 
adopt a budget;
(5) 
grant, renew, extend, or abolish a franchise;
(6) 
convey, lease, or authorize the conveyance or lease of any Town lands;
(7) 
regulate the rate charged for services by a public utility;
(8) 
authorize the borrowing of money that cannot be repaid within the current fiscal year;
(9) 
regulate land use development;
(10) 
adopt, with or without amendment, ordinances proposed under the initiative power; and[1]
[1]
Editor's note-Original was numbered as (9).
(11) 
amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted, except as otherwise provided in Chapter IX of this Charter with respect to repeal of ordinances reconsidered under the referendum power.[2]
[2]
Editor's note-Original was numbered as (10).
(b) 
Acts other than those referred to in the preceding sentence may be done either by ordinance, resolution or minute order.
Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and in substantially the form required for final adoption. The subject of the ordinance shall be clearly expressed in its title except ordinances or resolutions making appropriations or authorizing the contracting of indebtedness or issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness. The enacting clause of every ordinance shall be: “Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Northlake...” but the same shall be omitted when the ordinances of the Town are codified and published in a book or pamphlet form by the Town. Any ordinance which repeals or amends an existing ordinance or part of the Town code shall clearly set forth the provision or provisions being repealed or amended (which may be done by reference to code provisions) and, if amended, shall further clearly set forth the amendment being made.
(a) 
Ordinances and resolutions may be passed at any regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose provided notice has been given in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
(b) 
All ordinances and resolutions, unless otherwise provided by State law, this Charter, or the ordinance itself shall be effective on the passage or adoption by the required majority of the Council. Every ordinance, resolution or motion shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the Council unless more is required by State law or this Charter.
(c) 
The descriptive caption or title of an ordinance that imposes a penalty, fine or forfeiture and the penalty for violating the ordinance may be published at least once in the official newspaper of the Town or in accordance with State law.
(d) 
An ordinance required to be published takes effect when the publication requirement is satisfied, unless the ordinance provides otherwise, and an ordinance that is not required to be published takes effect when adopted unless the ordinance provides otherwise.
(e) 
All ordinances and resolutions may be admitted and received in all courts, subject to the rules of evidence and laws of jurisdictions where proof of such ordinances and resolutions are tendered, without further proof.
(a) 
To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the Council may adopt one or more emergency ordinances, but such ordinances may not levy taxes; grant, renew, or extend a franchise; regulate the rate charged by any public utility for its service; or authorize the borrowing of money except as provided elsewhere in this Charter.
(b) 
An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form and manner generally prescribed for ordinances, except that they shall be plainly designated in the title as an emergency ordinance and shall contain after the enacting clause a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describe the emergency in clear and specific terms.
(c) 
An emergency ordinance may be introduced at any Council meeting and can be adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced. The affirmative vote of 5 members of the Council shall be required for adoption.
(d) 
Emergency orders shall become effective upon adoption and shall be published as soon as thereafter practicable. Every emergency ordinance so adopted, except one authorizing the borrowing of money as described herein, is automatically repealed as of the sixty-first (61st) day following the day on which it became effective. This shall not prevent re-enactment of the ordinance in the manner specified in this section if the emergency still exists.
The Town Manager, as soon as practical after the adoption of this Charter shall cause to be codified and properly entered and published for public distribution or for anyone desiring same, the ordinances of the Town, which codification shall be revised and updated at least annually.