The Council shall be composed of the Mayor and six (6) Councilmembers. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall be elected 'at-large,' and each Councilmember shall occupy a position on the Council enumerated from one (1) to six (6), consecutively. The Mayor and Council shall be elected pursuant to Article V, Elections of this Charter.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Eligibility.
A candidate must:
(1) 
Be a United States citizen,
(2) 
Be a registered voter of the City,
(3) 
Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to be eligible for Mayor,
(4) 
Be at least eighteen years of age (18) years to be eligible for Council,
(5) 
Have been a registered voter within the corporate limits of the City, including territory annexed prior to the filing deadline, for at least twelve (12) months as of the deadline for filing for the office;
(6) 
Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.
(7) 
Not have been found mentally incompetent by a final judgment of the Court.
(8) 
Pay a filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) or tender a petition signed by at least fifty (50) registered voters of the City.
(9) 
An incumbent seeking re-election must file for the same position number presently held.
(10) 
No candidate may file for more than one office or position number per election.
(b) 
Terms.
The Mayor shall hold office for a term of three (3) years. All Councilmembers shall serve a three-year staggered term. Councilmember places 1, 3, and 5 shall be elected every three years together. Councilmember places 2, 4, 6, and Mayor shall be elected every three years together.
(c) 
Training.
Councilmembers shall receive training on: Open Government, including, Texas Open Meetings Act and Texas Public Information Act; City's Code of Ethics; social media guidelines; cyber security; governmental budget and finance; and parliamentary procedure. Training shall be conducted within ninety (90) days of appointment or election.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Holding other office.
Except where authorized by law, no Mayor or Councilmember shall hold any other elected public office during the term for which the member was elected to the Council. No Mayor or Councilmember shall hold any other City office or employment during the term for which the member was elected to the Council. No former Mayor or Councilmember shall hold any compensated appointive office or employment with the City until two years after the expiration of the term for which the member was elected to the Council, unless granted a waiver by the City Council. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Council from selecting any current or former Councilmember to represent the City on the governing board of any regional or other intergovernmental agency.
(b) 
Appointments and removals.
Neither the City Council nor any of its members shall in any manner dictate the appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, or removal of any City administrative officer or employee other than the City Manager, City Secretary, or City Attorney, but any Councilmember may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the City Manager, City Secretary, or City Attorney anything pertaining to the appointment and removal of such officers and employees.
(c) 
Interference with administration.
Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under Section 3.11, the Council or its members shall deal with City officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the City Manager solely through the City Manager or City Attorney, and neither the Council nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.
(d) 
Attorney-client privilege.
No Mayor or Councilmember shall disclose any attorney-client privileged communication. The City Council as the governing body of the City solely holds and is entitled to the attorney-client privilege, and it may only be waived by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the City Council.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City hereby adopts an enumeration of specific powers that may be exercised by the Mayor:
(1) 
The mayor shall serve as the ceremonial head of the city government, preside at all meetings of the council, and provide the leadership necessary to ensure good government.
(2) 
He or she shall work closely 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 on all legislative and other matters coming before the Council.
(3) 
The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council meetings. The Mayor has a vote, and is counted toward the quorum.
(4) 
The Mayor has the express powers to declare a local state of disaster and, as the emergency management director for the City, has statutory powers and duties during an emergency.
(5) 
The Mayor may administer oaths of office (i.e., swearing-in ceremonies).
(6) 
The Mayor may sign ordinances, resolutions, orders, statements, contracts, deeds, conveyances, easements, bonds, plats, and other documents as directed or authorized by the City Council, except as delegated to the City Manager or designee.
(7) 
The Mayor may make appointments to applicable boards and commissions of the City subject to confirmation by the City Council and in accordance with state law or other City ordinances.
(8) 
The Mayor may call a special or an emergency Council meeting.
(9) 
The Mayor shall be responsible for providing initiative and guidance in the orderly management and growth of the City.
(10) 
The Mayor may exercise all duties conferred by the Texas Constitution, state law, City ordinance, City resolution, or other applicable law.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City Council may determine the annual salary of the Mayor and Councilmembers by ordinance, but no ordinance increasing such salary shall become effective, for any position, until the date of commencement of the terms of such position after the next regular election. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City Council hires the City Manager to serve as the Chief Executive of the City government and may terminate the appointment of the City Manager at any time. It is an ongoing responsibility of the City Council to ensure that the City Manager and staff are accountable for their actions. The City Council shall formally evaluate the City Manager's performance at least once a year. The City Council shall also monitor the policy proposals submitted by the City Manager and the administrative actions taken by the City Manager and staff to ensure that the Council's expectations are being met and that acceptable standards are being maintained.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The Mayor Pro Tem shall act as Mayor during the temporary absence or disability of the Mayor, and shall have the power to perform every act the Mayor could perform if present; provided, however, that in all cases the Mayor Pro Tem shall be entitled to vote. At its first meeting following each regular election of Councilmembers, or in May, in years when no Regular Election is held, the Council shall, by election, designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tem, who shall serve in such capacity for one (1) year.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
All powers of the City shall be vested in the City Council, except as otherwise provided for by law or this Charter, and the Council shall provide for the exercise thereof and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the City by law.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Vacancies.
The office of a Councilmember, or the Mayor, shall become vacant upon their death, resignation, removal from office, or forfeiture of office in any manner authorized by law.
(b) 
Forfeiture of office.
A Councilmember, or the Mayor, shall forfeit that office if the Councilmember or Mayor:
1. 
Fails to maintain the qualifications as required in Section 3.02,
2. 
Violates any express prohibition of this Charter,
3. 
Is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or
4. 
Fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused by the Council.
The Council shall, at its next regular meeting, after validation of any of the above, declare the office to be vacant and shall fill such vacancy as set forth in Subsection (c) below.
(c) 
Filling of vacancies.
A single vacancy in the Council, if the unexpired term is equal or fewer than twelve months, shall be filled within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the vacancy, by a person qualified for the position approved as described in this Charter by appointment of a majority of the remaining members of the Council. This appointee shall serve for the [unexpired term.]
(d) 
Three-year term vacancies filled by special election:
The City Council may not fill any vacancy by appointment if more than twelve (12) months remain in the unexpired term of the member. In cases of this nature, a Special Election will be held to fill the vacancy on the next uniform election date or within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the determination that the vacancy exists, whichever is less. This Special Election will be held in accordance with Article V of this Charter, and the elected officer shall serve the unexpired term of the vacant office.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members, and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office. A member charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of office shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand, and notice of such hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation or any City managed social media and websites in the City at least one week in advance of the hearing.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City Council shall have the power to adopt ordinances permitting the Council to inquire into the official conduct of any department, office, agency, or employee of the City and permitting the Council to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the appearance of witnesses and the production of evidence to a specific inquiry. Such ordinances adopted by the Council shall include provisions for penalties for contempt in failing or refusing to obey orders issued by the Council as authorized by such ordinances, and such ordinances shall provide for punishment for any such contempt in a manner provided by such ordinances.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The Council shall hold at least two (2) regular meetings each month and as many additional meetings as it deems necessary to transact the business of the City. The Council shall establish, by ordinance, the days, and times of the regular meetings. The Mayor or two (2) Councilmembers may call special and emergency meetings of the Council. All regular, special, and emergency meetings of the Council shall comply with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (the "Open Meetings Act") as amended hereafter.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
Four (4) Councilmembers, or the Mayor and three (3) Councilmembers shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting City business. No action of the Council, except as provided in Section 3.09, shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of members present in quorum. Any Councilmember may request in advance that a roll call vote be taken on any motion.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
The City Council shall determine, adopt, and amend its own rules, procedures, and order of business. The Rules of Procedure shall provide for minutes of all meetings to be taken and recorded, except those meetings held in executive session. Such minutes shall be a public record.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Form.
Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and in the form required for final adoption. No ordinance shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title. The enacting clause shall be "The City of Liberty Hill, Texas hereby ordains ..." Any ordinance that repeals or amends an existing ordinance or part of the City code shall set out in full the ordinance, sections, or subsections to be repealed or amended, and shall indicate matters to be omitted by enclosing it in brackets or by strikeout type and shall indicate new matters by underscoring or by italics. All ordinances that levy a fine or penalty and those that deal with the budget, taxes, franchises, public utilities, or the setting of their rates shall be read in full or by caption at a regular meeting followed by publication in full or by caption in at least one (1) issue of the official newspaper of the City before the same shall become effective. In addition, all ordinances that levy a fine or penalty and those that deal with the budget, taxes, franchises, public utilities, or the setting of their rates shall be published in the City managed social media and website.
(b) 
Procedure.
The City Council shall adopt rules for the introduction, reading, adoption, and codification of ordinances.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the City Council may adopt emergency ordinances, but such ordinances may not levy taxes; grant, renew, or extend a franchise; regulate the rate charged by any public utility for its services; or authorize the borrowing of money except as provided in Article VII. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for ordinances generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency ordinance and 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 adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced, but the affirmative vote of the majority of the Councilmembers present shall be required for adoption. After its adoption, the ordinance shall be published as prescribed for other adopted ordinances. It shall become effective in the same manner. Every emergency ordinance except one authorizing the borrowing of money as described herein, shall automatically stand repealed as of the sixty-first (61st) day following the date on which it was adopted, but this shall not prevent re-enactment of the ordinance in the manner specified in this section if the emergency still exists. An emergency ordinance may also be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the same manner specified in this section for adoption of emergency ordinances.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)