The mayor shall serve as the ceremonial head of the city, preside at all meetings of the council and provide the leadership necessary to good government. He or she shall work with the council to obtain legislation in the public interest and with the city manager to ensure that the same is enforced, and participate in the discussion and vote on all legislative and other matters coming before the council. The mayor shall have signatory authority for all legal contracts and commitments of the city; sign all ordinances and resolutions; work and coordinate with the city manager and the council; and, to the extent provided by state law in time of declared emergency, may take command of the police and govern the city by proclamation, maintain order and enforce all laws.
(Res. No. 1020, 5/17/2016[1])
[1]
Editor's note—Amended by the voters at an election held on 5/7/2016.
At its first regular meeting after all the members of the council elected at a general election have taken office, or after a vacancy in the office of Mayor Pro Tem, the council shall elect one of its members to be mayor pro-tem for a one (1) year term, or to fill the unexpired term resulting from the vacancy. The mayor pro tem shall be the councilmember who receives a majority of the votes cast but not less than four votes. In the absence of the mayor, the mayor pro tem shall perform the duties of the mayor and in such capacity shall be vested with all powers conferred on such office. In the event of the failure, inability, or refusal of the mayor to act in respect to any matter or duty, the mayor pro tem shall act. In the event the office of mayor becomes vacant, the mayor pro-tem shall serve as mayor until an election is held to elect a mayor to serve the unexpired term.
The city council shall be the legislative and governing body of the city and shall have control of all the city finances, property, functions, services, affairs and programs subject only to the terms and provisions of this charter. The council shall have the power to ordain, alter, amend or repeal and enforce ordinances, resolutions, rules, orders, and regulations, for any public purpose, that are not in conflict with this charter, or federal or state law. The council shall have the power and authority to provide for any public purpose, including but not limited to recreation, the regulation and control of public property, municipal finances, the preservation of the public peace and good order, the security and protection of the public health, safety and welfare, the promotion of trade, commerce and economic development, the beautification and quality of life within the city, and any other governmental or proprietary service or program. The city, by and through its city council, shall have full and complete power of local self government to the fullest extent not in conflict with this charter and state law, including all such authorities and privileges that are now or hereafter provided to cities by state law and such power and authority both express and implied as necessary to accomplish and enforce any such duty, program or public purpose.
The council shall have all the powers necessary and incident to the proper discharge of the duties imposed upon it and is hereby vested with all powers necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this charter; except where such powers are, by this charter, specifically reserved or conferred on some other officer.
The following powers and duties of the council are not exclusive but are enumerated for greater clarity:
(a) 
Appoint, supervise and remove the city manager by affirmative vote of at least five members of the council, and confirm dismissal of the Director of Finance by majority vote of the entire council;
(b) 
Ensure enforcement of the provisions of this charter and the ordinances of the city, and compliance with policies and resolutions;
(c) 
Adopt and amend the budget of the city;
(d) 
Call bond elections, and authorize the issuance and sale of bonds, certificates of obligations, certificates of participation, warrants, notes and other evidences of indebtedness or obligation of the city pursuant to this charter and state law;
(e) 
Provide for and control of all city finances;
(f) 
Provide for boards and commissions as deemed necessary by the council, and as required by this charter, and appoint and remove all such boards and commissions provided that, if an appointment or removal has been considered at two regular meetings and no recommendation has been made the council may take action by motion and vote;
(g) 
Adopt, modify, reject and carry out the plans proposed by the planning commission and other boards and commissions;
(h) 
Adopt, modify and cause the enforcement of building codes, fire codes, and health codes, public safety codes, and all other codes and regulations deemed reasonably necessary;
(i) 
Provide for all public utilities and serve as the primary regulatory agency for the rates thereof whether city owned or furnished by private utility companies;
(j) 
Pass ordinances and resolutions as necessary in its judgment for any public purpose not inconsistent with this charter;
(k) 
Exercise police powers for the safety of all citizens, and to protect their health, life and property, prevent and summarily abate and remove all nuisances, preserve and to enforce good government, order and security of the city;
(l) 
Control and regulate the use and occupancy of the public streets, rights-of-way and all property of the city;
(m) 
Make investigations into municipal affairs and subpoena persons, documents and records, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of records for such purpose;
(n) 
Require a fidelity bond to be provided at city expense for any officer or employee position;
(o) 
For good cause, subject to the provisions in this charter, order a recall election to be held for or with respect to any member of the city council;
(p) 
Appoint and remove the city attorney, the municipal judge, and the associate municipal judges subject to the provisions in this charter;
(q) 
Confirm or reject the appointment of the officers required by this charter to be confirmed by the council;
(r) 
To govern the affairs of the city in conformance with this charter and the state and federal constitutions and laws, and to determine by majority vote the best and most appropriate method and manner of efficiently performing the functions and providing the services of the city, consistent with the council-manager form of government; and, except as provided in this charter with respect to certain departments that must be maintained in effect, the council may after hearing the city manager create, change, merge, or abolish offices, departments or agencies of the city, and may contract for services by interlocal agreement or otherwise as it deems advisable to improve the services or the efficiency of government;
(s) 
Call and hold special elections useful to the accomplishment of the public purposes of the city, to the fullest extent not inconsistent with state law;
(t) 
Recommend appointees for boards and commissions.
(Ord. No. 646, § 1(Props. 5, 6), 3/1/2011; Res. No. 1020, 5/17/2016[1]; Res. No. 1952 adopted 11/13/2025)
[1]
Editor's note—Amended by the voters at an election held on 5/14/2011. Amended further at an election held on 5/7/2016.
The council shall from time to time, after hearing the recommendations of the city manager, establish personnel policies and regulations and the duties, responsibilities and authority of each appointed officer of the city, not inconsistent with this charter. The city shall be an equal opportunity employer and the service of each such officer and employee shall be at will. No person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to a member of the council or the city manager, shall be or remain employed by the city; provided that such prohibition shall not apply to any person employed full-time for a period of twelve months or more prior to the member of the council or the city manager taking office. The council may require good and sufficient bond be given by appointed officers or employees handling funds of the city and may require bond of other officers or employees if considered proper or necessary. The expense of any such bond shall be paid by the city.
(Res. No. 1952 adopted 11/13/2025)
Neither the council nor any of its members shall instruct or request the City Manager or any of the City Manager's subordinates to appoint to or remove from office or employment any person except with respect to those offices which are to be filled by appointment by the council under the provisions of this Charter. Except as provided for in Section 4.03 of this Charter, the City Council shall deal with the administrative and management functions of the city solely through the City Manager and other Council appointees, as appropriate, and shall not give directives to the City Manager's subordinates either publicly or privately.
(Ord. No. 646, § 1(Props. 5, 6), 3/1/2011; Res. No. 1020, 5/17/2016[1]))
[1]
Editor's note—Amended by the voters at an election held on 5/14/2011. Amended further at an election held on 5/7/2016.
The council may adopt legislation by ordinance regarding any subject or matter relating to or dealing with any public purpose, including, but not limited to, the adoption of standardized codes and regulations. An ordinance must be enacted whenever the purpose is to regulate persons and property; whenever there is imposed a penalty, fine, forfeiture, or tax; whenever the purpose is to set a rate to be paid by consumers; whenever an ordinance is required by state law or this charter; or when an ordinance is amended. The authority of the council to legislate to accomplish any public purpose shall be subject only to the following:
(a) 
No ordinance or other action of the council may be inconsistent with this charter or in conflict with any applicable state or federal law;
(b) 
The enacting clause of every ordinance shall be "BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS;"
(c) 
Except for an emergency ordinance, an ordinance making an emergency appropriation, an ordinance authorizing bonds or any other indebtedness, an ordinance calling or canvassing an election, or an ordinance approved by seven (7) affirmative votes, no ordinance shall be finally adopted until it has been read and approved by a majority vote of the city council at two meetings, one of which is a regular meeting;
(d) 
An emergency ordinance adopted at an emergency meeting held with less than 72 hours' notice shall be and remain in effect only until the next regular meeting of the council, at which meeting it shall expire unless readopted by the council;
(e) 
The council may by ordinance amend the budget to transfer budgeted funds from one fund or department to another;
(f) 
An ordinance that does not receive a majority vote on first reading shall not advance for consideration on second reading;
(g) 
The general subject matter and caption of an ordinance shall be posted prior to the second reading;
(h) 
All ordinances and proposed ordinances shall be available for public examination and review, and for copying, from and after being included on an agenda that is posted for any meeting of the council or any city board.
(Res. No. 1952 adopted 11/13/2025)
The city council may adopt emergency ordinances to meet an emergency affecting life, health, property, the public peace, or to prevent a material financial loss to the City. Such ordinances shall not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise, or regulate the rates or fees charged by any public utility. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form and manner generally prescribed for ordinances, except that it shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing it in clear and specific terms. An emergency ordinance may be passed on a single reading only if it receives at least five affirmative votes of City Council members.
(Res. No. 1952 adopted 11/13/2025)
The council may act by resolution regarding any subject or matter relating to or dealing with any public purpose or business except as provided in Section 4.06. The enacting clause of every resolution shall be "BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS." The council may further give instructions to the city manager, approve bids and contracts, and take other actions regarding the day to day business of the city by motion approved by majority vote and entered in the minutes of the council meeting.