The city shall have all the powers and rights of self-government and home rule that exist now or may be granted to municipalities by the constitution and laws of the State of Texas. These powers and rights, whether expressed or implied, shall be exercised, administered and enforced in the interest and welfare of individuals and corporations residing in or owning property within the boundaries of the city as prescribed by this Charter, or in such manner as may be provided by ordinance of [or] resolution of the city council.
As provided by the state statutes, the city shall have the power:
(a)
To fix its boundaries, to acquire and own property within or without its corporate boundaries and to exercise the right of eminent domain when necessary to carry out powers conferred upon it by this Charter;
(b)
To annex, by ordinance, territory lying adjacent to the city, with or without the consent of the owners or inhabitants thereof. Before any city-initiated annexation proceeding is begun, the owner of the property so affected shall be notified at the address on the county tax roll by registered or certified mail and shall be given a public hearing, not subject to fee, to state why he feels his property should or should not be annexed. If his pleading is successful, his property will or will not be annexed, but if the city council fails to agree with his pleading, the annexation may proceed as originally proposed subject to such procedural rules as may be prescribed by the Texas Municipal Annexation Act;
(c)
To cooperate with the government of the United States or any agency thereof, the government of Texas or any agency thereof, or with any government of any county, city or political subdivision for any lawful purpose for the advancement of the interests, safety, convenience, and welfare of its inhabitants;
(d)
To contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to buy, sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage, and control such property as its interests require; [and]
(e)
To lay out, open, establish, alter, widen, lower, extend, grade, supervise, maintain, and improve streets, alleyways, sidewalks, parks, squares, public places, water mains, waterways, bridges and regulate the use thereof, and require removal of all obstructions or encroachments of every nature and character upon said public streets, sidewalks or other public property.