The municipal government provided by this charter shall be known
as the “council - manager government.” Pursuant to its
provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the state
constitution, the statutes of this state and by this charter, all
powers of the city shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter
referred to as the “city council,” which shall enact local
legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies and appoint the city
manager, who in turn shall be responsible to the city council for
the execution of the laws and the administration of the government
of the city. All powers of the city shall be exercised in the manner
prescribed by this charter, or if the manner be not prescribed, then
in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance, the state constitution
or the statutes of the state.
The boundaries of the City of Gonzales shall be the same as
have heretofore been established, which boundaries are more fully
set out and described by metes and bounds on the official map filed
in the office of the City Secretary.
The boundaries of the City of Gonzales may be enlarged and extended
by the annexation of additional territory designated in the manner
and in conformity with the procedures set forth in TEX. LOC. GOV’T.
CODE CHAPTER 43, as now or hereafter amended.
Whenever there exists within the corporate limits of the City
of Gonzales any territory not suitable or necessary for city purposes,
the city council may, upon a petition signed by a majority of the
qualified voters residing in such territory if the same be inhabited,
or without any such petition if the same be uninhabited, by ordinance
duly passed, discontinue said territory as a part of said city; said
petition and ordinance shall specify accurately the metes and bounds
of the territory sought to be eliminated from the city and shall contain
a plat designating such territory so that the same can be definitely
ascertained; and when said ordinance has been duly passed the same
shall be entered upon the minutes and records of said city, and from
and after the entry of such ordinance said territory shall cease to
be a part of said city, but said territory shall still be liable for
its pro rata share of any debts incurred while said area was a part
of said city, and the city shall continue to levy, assess and collect
taxes on the property within said territory to pay the indebtedness
incurred while said area was a part of the city as though the same
had not been excluded from the boundaries of the city.