(a) 
Conflicts of interest.
The use of public office for private gain is prohibited. The City Council shall implement this prohibition by ordinance, the terms of which shall include, but not be limited to: acting in an official capacity on matters in which the official has a private financial interest clearly separate from that of the general public; the acceptance of gifts and other things of value; acting in a private capacity on matters dealt with as a public official; the use of confidential information; and appearances by City officials before other City agencies on behalf of private interests. This ordinance shall include a statement of purpose and shall provide for reasonable public disclosure of finances by officials with major decision-making authority over monetary expenditures and contractual and regulatory matters and, insofar as permissible under State law, shall provide for fines and imprisonment for violations.
(b) 
Board of ethics.
The City Council shall, by ordinance, establish an independent Board of Ethics to administer and enforce the conflict of interest and financial disclosure ordinances. No member of the Board may hold elective or appointed office under the City or any other government or hold any political party office. Insofar as possible under State law, the City Council shall authorize the Board to issue binding advisory opinions, conduct investigations on its own initiative and on referral or complaint from officials or residents, subpoena witnesses and documents, refer cases for prosecution, impose administrative fines, and hire independent counsel. The City Council shall appropriate sufficient funds to the Board of Ethics to enable it to perform the duties assigned to it and to provide annual training and education of city officials and employees, including candidates for public office, regarding the ethics code.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Activities prohibited.
(1) 
No person shall be appointed to or removed from, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any City position or appointive City administrative office because of race, gender, age, sex, familial status, disability, religion, country of origin, or political affiliation.
(2) 
No person shall willfully make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating, or report in regard to any test, certification, or appointment under the provisions of this Charter.
(3) 
No person shall knowingly or willfully solicit or assist in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party or political purpose to be used in conjunction with any City election from any City officer or City employee.
(4) 
No City officer or City employee shall knowingly or willfully make, solicit, or receive any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or committee to be used in a City election or to campaign funds to be used in support of or opposition to any candidate for election to City office. Further, no City employee, in their capacity as an employee, or representing, suggesting, or implying that they are representing the City, shall knowingly or willfully participate in any aspect of any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for City office. This section shall not be construed to limit any person's right to express opinions or to cast a vote nor shall it be construed to prohibit any person from active participation in political campaigns at any other level of government.
(b) 
Penalties.
Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be ineligible for a period of five (5) years following such conviction to hold any City office or position and, if an officer or employee of the City, shall immediately forfeit his or her office or position. The City Council shall establish by ordinance such further penalties as it may deem appropriate.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Disclosure.
The City Council shall enact ordinances to protect the ability of City residents to be informed of the financing used in support of, or against, campaigns for locally elected office. The terms of such ordinances shall include, but not be limited to, requirements upon candidates and candidate committees to report in a timely manner to the appropriate City office: contributions received, including the name, address, employer, and occupation of each contributor who has contributed $250.00 or more expenditures made; and obligations entered into by such candidate or candidate committee. In so far as is permissible under State law, such regulations shall also provide for fines and imprisonment for violations. The ordinance shall provide for convenient public disclosure of such information by the most appropriate means available to the City.
(b) 
Contribution and spending limitations.
In order to combat the potential for, and appearance of, corruption, and to preserve the ability of all qualified community members to run for public office, the City shall, in so far as is permitted by state and federal law, have the authority to enact ordinances designed to limit contributions and expenditures by, or on behalf of, candidates for locally elected office. Ordinances pursuant to this section may include but are not limited to: limitations on candidate and candidate committees that affect the amount, time, place, and source of financial and in-kind contributions; and, voluntary limitations on candidate and candidate committee expenditures tied to financial or non-financial incentives.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Judicial notice.
This Charter shall be recorded in the City Secretary's office in a book kept for that purpose. As soon as practicable after its adoption, an authenticated copy of the Charter shall be certified to the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, at which time the Charter becomes a public act and may be read in evidence without pleading or proof, and judicial notice shall be taken thereof in all courts and places without further proof.
(b) 
Severability.
If any provision of this Charter is held invalid, the other provisions of the Charter shall not be affected. If the application of the Charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of the Charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
(c) 
City not required to give security or execute bond.
The City may institute and prosecute suits without giving security therefor, and appeal from judgments of the courts without giving supersedeas or cost bonds, other bonds, or security whatsoever.
(d) 
Liens, assignment, execution and garnishments.
The real and personal property belonging to the City shall not be liable for the sale or appropriation under any writ or execution or cost bill, and no lien of any kind shall ever exist against any such property owned by the City except that the lien be created or authorized by this Charter or by state law. The funds belonging to the City in the hands of any person, firm, or corporation shall not be liable to garnishment, attachment, or sequestration. The City shall not be liable to garnishment on account of any debt it may owe or funds or property it may have on hand or owing to any person. Neither the City nor any of its officers or agents shall be required to answer any such writ or garnishment on any account whatever. The City shall not be obligated to recognize any assignment of wages or funds by its employees, agents, or contractors except by court order or as otherwise required by state law.
(e) 
Written notice of injury.
Before the City shall be liable for damages, for personal injury of any kind, or for damage to property, the person who is injured or whose property is damaged or someone on behalf of that person shall give the City Manager notice of the alleged claim in writing within six (6) months after the date of the alleged injury or damage. The notice shall state specifically when, where, and how the injury or damage was sustained, setting forth the extent of the injury or damage as accurately as possible. The party also shall, whenever possible, give the names and addresses of all witnesses known to the claimant and upon whose testimony the claimant is relying to establish the injury or damage. In case of injury resulting in death, the person or persons claiming damage shall within six (6) months after the death of the injured person give notice as required above. Failure to notify the City of such a claim within six (6) months after the date of the claim shall exonerate, exempt, and excuse the City from any liability whatsoever. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean the City waives any rights, privileges, defenses, or immunities in tort action, or otherwise, which are provided under common law and state law.
(f) 
Oath of office.
All officers of the City shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe to the official oath prescribed by state law. The oath shall be administered by the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Secretary, Municipal Judge, or other person authorized by law to administer oaths.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)
(a) 
Continuity generally.
All rights, claims, actions, orders, ordinances, contracts, and legal or administrative proceedings existing before the adoption of this Charter shall continue except as modified by this Charter and shall be maintained, carried on, or dealt with by the City department, office, or agency appropriate under this Charter.
(b) 
Disaster clause.
The City Council shall provide, by ordinance or emergency response plan, for succession of office authority and power in the event of an emergency resulting in the loss or absence of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Manager, and other officers exercising critical authority.
(Ordinance 2024-O-045 adopted 11/18/2024)