All inhabitants of the City of Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas, residing within the boundaries of the City now established or as hereinafter established in the manner provided by law, shall constitute a municipal body politic incorporated under the name of "City of Alvarado," hereinafter referred to as the "City," with such powers, rights, authority, privileges, obligations, and immunities as are herein provided in accordance with the Constitution and statutes of the State of Texas.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)
The City Council shall have power by ordinance to divide the City of Alvarado into municipal wards, and shall have power to alter or change the municipal ward boundaries of the City of Alvarado, which municipal wards shall be comprised, as nearly as practicable, of contiguous territory within straight lines, and as nearly as practicable shall contain the same number of registered voters, and it shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of all the City Council persons elected to change, at any time, the number of municipal wards, or the boundaries of the same, and no change shall be made in said municipal wards or the boundaries of the same, unless it be done at least more than six (6) months before the next general ensuing City election; provided, however, when any additional territory shall become a part of the City, the municipal ward(s) that the same was adjoining shall be held for all purposes to be extended so as to include said added territory; provided, there shall at all times be at least [three] (3) municipal wards within the City.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)
The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as "Council-Manager Government." Pursuant to the provisions of, and subject only to the limitations imposed by the State Constitution, State Laws, and this Charter, all powers of the City shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter referred to as the "City Council." The City Council shall appoint a City Manager, who shall be directly responsible to the City Council, for the execution of the laws and the administration of the government of the City.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)
(a) 
The boundaries of the City shall be as they exist when this Charter is adopted, until changed by the City Council.
(b) 
The boundaries and limits of the City shall be those established and described on an official map duly adopted by the City Council by ordinance and amended from time to time to include annexations and disannexations from the corporate limits. The City Secretary shall at all times keep a correct and complete description and official map on file, with recent annexations and disannexations.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)
The City Council shall have the powers to fix the boundary limits of the City, to provide for the extension of said boundary limits and the annexation of additional territories lying adjacent to said City, to provide for the disannexation of territory within said City and to provide for the exchange of territory with other cities, according to such rules as may be provided by this Charter or any other method that may be prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas. Such rules or methods shall not be inconsistent with the procedural rules of the Municipal Annexation Act of the State of Texas.
(a) 
Annexation of lands by petition:
The qualified voting property owner or owners of any land contiguous and adjacent to the City may, by petition in writing to the City Council request the annexation of such contiguous and adjacent land, describing it by metes and bounds. The City Council shall thereafter hear such petition and the arguments for and against the same, and grant or refuse such petition. The City Council may by proper ordinance, under such procedural rules as may be prescribed by law, receive and annex such territory as a part of the City.
(b) 
Annexation by election:
The City Council shall have the power to order an election or elections if it so desires for the purpose of annexing territory adjacent to the City. Said election shall be in accordance with this Charter or as prescribed by State statutes.
(c) 
Annexation of lands by ordinance:
The City Council may by ordinance annex territory adjacent to the City with or without the consent of the inhabitants or owners thereof, subject to such procedural rules as may be prescribed by law.
Annexed territory to become part of the City: Upon completion of any one of the procedures hereinabove provided, the territory so annexed shall become a part of the City, and said land and its residents and future residents shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of other citizens of the City and shall be bound by the acts, ordinances, resolutions and regulations of the City.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)
The City Council may, by ordinance, disannex any territory within the corporate boundaries of the City, if the City Council determines the territory is not necessary or suitable for City purposes, and may exchange territory with other municipalities, by agreement approved by resolution or ordinance. When the disannexation ordinance is passed, the disannexed territory shall cease to be a part of the City but the disannexed territory shall remain liable for its pro rata share of any indebtedness incurred while the area was a part of the City and the City shall continue to levy, assess and collect taxes on the property in the disannexed territory until such indebtedness has been paid, unless the City Council determines that it is not necessary or advisable.
(Ordinance 2023-0013 adopted 5/6/2023)