The person elected Mayor shall be the presiding officer of all
meetings of the City Council. He/She shall be the official head of
the City government for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor
for purposes of military law and shall not be able to vote on matters
coming before the Council, except in case of a tie. The Mayor shall
have a one-time veto power over ordinances adopted by the City Council,
which can be overridden by a majority vote of the City Council, excluding
the Mayor, at the next regular or special meeting. The Mayor shall
present an annual state of the City message, and perform other duties
as specified by the City Council, imposed by this Charter or by applicable
State law. The Mayor may sign, upon authorization of the City Council,
all resolutions, ordinances, contracts or conveyances on behalf of
the City, and all bonds, warrants, and any other obligations issued
under the provisions of this Charter.
In addition to any other qualifications prescribed by the Texas
Election Code or any other applicable law, the Mayor and each Council
Member shall meet the conditions of this Charter while in office,
and shall reside within the corporate limits of the City while in
office. Any member of the City Council ceasing to possess any of the
qualifications specified in this Section or convicted of a felony
while in office, shall immediately forfeit such position. Each candidate
for election to the City Council or office of Mayor shall be a qualified
voter of the City, shall be not less than twenty-one (21) years of
age immediately preceding election day, shall have resided in the
City not less than twelve (12) months immediately preceding election
day and shall meet the requirements of the Texas Election Code.
No candidate may file in a single election for more than one
(1) office or position as provided by this Charter.
The position of an elected Mayor or Council Member shall become
vacant when the person holding such office is elected to another elective
public office, or otherwise provided by the Texas Constitution.
(Amended 5/7/16; 5/7/22)
Members of the City Council shall serve without compensation,
except that Council Members shall be entitled to reimbursement of
all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance
of their official City Council duties, upon approval of such expenses
by the City Council.
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at such times
as may be prescribed from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
Special meetings shall be called by the City Secretary upon the written
request of the Mayor, the City Manager or two (2) Members of the City
Council. Notice of any regular or special meetings of the City Council
shall state the subject to be considered at the meeting. All official
meetings of the Council and of all committees thereof shall be open
to the public as provided by State law. A quorum shall consist of
four (4) Members, including the Mayor. No action of the City Council,
except as specifically provided in this Charter, shall be valid or
binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of at least three (3)
Council Members. The Council shall determine its own rules of procedure,
may punish its Members for misconduct, and may compel the attendance
of absent members.
Should any Council Member choose to abstain from voting on any
question or matter before the City Council, where no conflict of interest
exists, the Council Member’s abstention shall be recorded as
a negative vote in the official minutes of the meeting.