HomeMy WebLinkAboutCHAR 2025-02-24 Minutes MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS
HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
The Charter Review Commission of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met on the
24th day of February at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom.
Present: Jack McCarty Member
Tito Rodriguez Member
Ricky Rodriguez Member
Suzy Compton Member
Matt Blake Member
Blake Vaughn Member
Russell Mitchell Member
Kelvin Deupree Member
Staff Members: Paulette Hartman City Manager
Trudy Lewis Assistant City Manager
Caroline Waggoner Assistant City Manager
Alicia Richardson City Secretary/Chief Governance Officer
Bradley Anderle City Attorney
Mary Peters Communications Director
Traci Henderson Assistant City Secretary
A. CALL TO ORDER
City Manager Paulette Hartman called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no requests to speak from the public.
C. ACTION ITEMS
C.1 ELECT A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
APPROVED
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MR. MCCARTY MOVED TO NOMINATE RICKY RODRIGUEZ TO CHAIR AND MATT
BLAKE TO VICE CHAIR, SECONDED BY MR. DEUPREE.
MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0.
D. PRESENTATION / DISCUSSION ITEMS
D.1 OVERVIEW OF THE CHARGE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL FOR THE
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
City Attorney Bradley Anderle stated that the Charter Review Commission is charged with
reviewing term limits for elected officials.
D.2 REVIEW ARTICLE V: CITY COUNCIL - SECTION 3: DATE OF ELECTION;
CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR PLACES; PLACES DESIGNATED.
Mr. Anderle reviewed three types of term limits for consideration by the Commission.
Consecutive term limit is whereby a limitation is placed on the number of elected terms
an elected official can serve. This allows a person to run for office again after sitting out
an election cycle.
Example language: No person shall serve as Mayor for more than two (2) successive
terms and no person shall serve as Council member for more than two (2) successive
elected terms. A term of office shall be defined as an elected period of three (3) years.
Example language: A Council member who has served as a Council member, regardless
of place, for three consecutive terms, shall not again be eligible to become a candidate
for or to serve as a Council member until the next general election after the third
consecutive term has expired. This shall not prevent a Council member from becoming a
candidate for Mayor upon expiration of the third consecutive term as a Council member.
Cumulative term limit is whereby a limitation is placed on the total number of
consecutive years an elected official can serve. This allows a person to run for office
again after sitting out an election cycle.
Example language: No person shall serve as a Council member and Mayor (combined)
for more than 18 consecutive years.
Example language: A person may serve no more than sixteen (16) consecutive years on
the City Council, in any combination of years spent as Mayor or Council member. A
person may not be eligible to become a candidate for or to serve as either Council
member or Mayor until the next general election after their sixteenth consecutive year on
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the City Council has expired.
Strict term limit is whereby a limitation is placed on the total number of terms an elected
official can serve. This does not allow a person to run for office after they complete their
full complement of terms.
Example language: After serving two (2) full terms for any place or position on the City
Council, a person shall not be eligible to serve again in any place or position on the City
Council.
Mr. Anderle stated that in addition to the length for a term and term limits for an elected
official; the Commission needs to discuss and consider when an elected official vacates
their office before completing their term and if the term is counted for an elected official
who is appointed to their position versus being elected to office. Mr. Anderle said it is
important to have clear and concise language in the Charter regarding term limits and
their calculation.
Mr. Anderle reviewed options to transition to the three-year term for elected officials.
Option 1
Year 2026 - two (2) positions with three-year term and two (2) positions with two-year
term.
Year 2027 - three (3) positions with three-year term and one (1) position with one-year
term
Year 2028 - three (3) positions with three-year term
Option 2
Year 2026 - three (3) positions with three-year term and one (1) position with two-year
term
Year 2027 - three (3) positions with three-year term and one (1) position with one-year
term
Year 2028 - two (2) positions with three-year term
Option 3
Year 2026 - two (2) positions with three-year term, one (1) position with two-year term,
and one (1) position with one-year term
Year 2027 - three (3) positions with three-year term, one (1) position with two-year term,
and one (1) position with one-year term
Year 2028 - two (2) positions with three-year term
Year 2029 - one (1) position with three-year term
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Option 4
Year 2026 -four (4) positions with three-year term
Year 2027 - four (4) positions with three-year term
Year 2028 - off year
After discussion, the Commission favored option 4 with four positions elected during an
election cycle, the remaining four positions elected during a subsequent election cycle,
followed by an off year.
Mr. Anderle reviewed sections-term of the municipal judge, term of the Planning and
Zoning Commission, and vacancies of elected officials-within the Charter that would need
to be addressed if the Charter amendment to increase the length of term is approved by
the voters.
The Commission discussed the term of board and commission members to be aligned
with elected officials.
Mr. Anderle provided the Commission with language from entities with three-year term
limits and asked they review the language with regard to types of term limits to be
discussed at the next meeting.
D.3 FUTURE MEETING DATES
Ms. Hartman and the Commission discussed the next meeting date to be held on March
3. At this meeting, the Commission will discuss and decide the type of term (consecutive,
cumulative, or strict) and length of term for elected officials. The Commission will meet on
March 24 to discuss and decide ballot language for the Charter Amendment.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Rodriguez adjourned the meeting at 4:39 p.m.
•
i Ro Chair
ATTEST:
Alicia Richardson
City Secretary/Chief Governance Officer
February 24, 2025
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