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Home My WebLink AboutCHAR 2025-03-24 Minutes MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE MARCH 24, 2025 REGULAR MEETING The Charter Review Commission of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met on the 24th day of March at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom. Present: Jack McCarty Member Tito Rodriguez Member Ricky Rodriguez Chair Suzy Compton Member Matt Blake Vice Chair Blake Vaughn Member Russell Mitchell Member Kelvin Deupree Member Staff Members: Paulette Hartman City Manager Trudy Lewis Assistant City Manager Alicia Richardson City Secretary/Chief Governance Officer Bradley Anderle City Attorney Mary Peters Communications Director Traci Henderson Assistant City Secretary Absent: Caroline Waggoner Assistant City Manager A. CALL TO ORDER Chair Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. B. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no requests to speak from the public. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 8 C. ACTION ITEMS C.1 APPROVE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 3, 2025 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING. APPROVED A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. RODRIGUEZ, SECONDED BY MR. MITCHELL TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 3, 2025 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0. C.2 PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BASED ON PREVIOUS DELIBERATION. City Attorney Bradley Anderle provided an overview of the three-year term option including sample language for the Commission's consideration. Specifically, Section 3: Date of Election; Candidates to run for places; places designated. Proposed language: The Mayor and Council members shall be elected for three (3) year terms and shall be elected by the majority vote of all the qualified voters in the City of North Richland Hills voting at an election called for that purpose. The Mayor and Council member Places 2, 4, and 6 shall be elected for a three (3) year term at the May 2026 general election and shall be elected for three (3) year terms thereafter. Council member Places 1, 3, 5, and 7 shall be elected for a three (3) year term at the May 2027 general election and shall be elected for three (3) year terms thereafter. The Commission had no questions for Mr. Anderle. C.3 DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS FOR TERM LIMITS AND OTHER RELATED AMENDMENTS. APPROVED City Attorney Bradley Anderle presented three types of term limits for elected officials and an overview of options including sample language for the Commission's consideration. Specifically, Section 3(a): Term Limits. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 8 Option 1 (a) A person who has served three (3) terms, in any combination or order, as Mayor or a Council member, regardless of place, shall not again be eligible to become a candidate for or to serve as Mayor or as a Council member. Option 2 (a) A person who has served as a Council member, regardless of place, for three (3) terms shall not again be eligible to become a candidate for or to serve as a Council member. This shall not prevent a person from becoming a candidate for or serving as Mayor upon the expiration of the third term as a council member, unless the person has already served two (2) terms as Mayor. Option 3 (a) A person who has served as Mayor for two (2) terms shall not again be eligible to become a candidate for or to serve as Mayor. This shall not prevent a person from becoming a candidate for or serving as a Council member upon expiration of the second term as Mayor, unless the person has already served three (3) terms as a Council member, regardless of place. Option 4 • (a) A person may serve no more than fifteen (15) years on the City Council, in any combination of years spent as Mayor or as a Council member, regardless of place. Option 5 a) A person may serve no more than fifteen (15) total years on the City Council, in any combination of years spent as Mayor or Council member, regardless of place. After the culmination of 15 total years on the City Council, the person shall not again be eligible to serve on the City Council. The Commission and Mr. Anderle discussed each type of proposed term limit language; strict term limit language; voter's understanding of the proposed language; total time on council i.e. possibility of cumulative limitation regardless of place; consecutive vs. culminative service on council; and mayor term length. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 8 A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. DEUPREE, SECONDED BY MR. MCCARTY TO APPROVE A PERSON CAN SERVE THREE (3) THREE-YEAR TERMS ON COUNCIL AND THREE (3) THREE-YEAR TERMS AS MAYOR WITHOUT HAVING ANY TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEED ABOVE 18 YEARS UNLESS APPOINTED TO SERVE A PRIOR YEAR TERM. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-2; WITH MR. VAUGHN AND MR. MITCHELL VOTING AGAINST. C.4 DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE TERM OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER RELATED AMENDMENTS. APPROVED City Attorney Bradley Anderle presented an overview for resignation to run options including sample language for the Commission's consideration. Specifically, Section 3 to add a new paragraph (2): AUTOMATIC RESIGNATION ON BECOMING CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER OFFICE. Mr. Anderle stated that if the Mayor or a Council member announces their candidacy for an office, other than the one they previously hold, it would be an automatic resignation from the City Council. Proposed language: If the Mayor or a Council member announces candidacy or becomes a candidate in any general, special, or primary election for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the United States other than office then held, at any time when the unexpired term of the office then held shall exceed one (1) year and 30 days, such announcement or such candidacy shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held, and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled pursuant to law in the same manner as other vacancies for such office are filled. The Commission and Mr. Anderle discussed how "resignation to run" would apply to a re-election; profit and trust clarification; different types of offices; extension and Municipal Court Judge removal process; partial terms and length of service; City Council's appointments to boards and commissions; number of days following a vacancy and the remaining term of office. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. MITCHELL, SECONDED BY MR. BLAKE TO APPROVE (3.B.) AUTOMATIC RESIGNATION ON BECOMING CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER OFFICE. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8 MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0. Mr. Anderle provided an overview of proposed language options for unexpired terms. Option 1 (d) As used in this section, partial terms served either by appointment or by election shall not count as a term served or count as years served on the City Council, and "Council member"means Places 1 through 7 and does not mean "Mayor." Option 2 (d) As used in this section, any length of service within a three-year term that exceeds 360 days, is a term served, and "Council member" means Places I through 7 and does not mean "Mayor." A MOTION WAS MADE BY MS. COMPTON, SECONDED BY MR. MCCARTY TO APPROVE (D) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, ANY LENGTH OF SERVICE WITHIN A THREE-YEAR TERM THAT EXCEEDS 730 DAYS IS A TERM SERVED, AND "COUNCIL MEMBER" MEANS PLACES 1 THROUGH 7 AND DOES NOT MEAN "MAYOR." MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0. Mr. Anderle provided an overview of proposed language options for leaving city office early. Option 1 (e) A mayor or Council member, who vacates, for any reason, city office before the end of the term for which he was elected, shall be considered to have completed that term for purposes of calculating terms served and years served. Option 2 (e) Any length of service within a three-year term that exceeds 360 days, is a term served. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. MITCHELL, SECONDED BY MR. BLAKE TO APPROVE (E) ANY LENGTH OF SERVICE WITHIN A THREE-YEAR TERM THAT EXCEEDS 360 DAYS, IS A TERM SERVED. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-1;WITH MR.VAUGHN VOTING AGAINST. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8 Mr. Anderle provided an overview of proposed language for vacancies. Proposed language: In case of a vacancy from any cause in the office of Mayor or a Council member, the City Council shall order a special election to fill such vacancy within one hundred twenty (120) days after such vacancy occurs, provided, however, in the case of only one (1) vacancy when there remains one hundred eighty (180) days or less until the expiration of the office to be filled, the Mayor, with the approval of a majority of the City Council, may appoint a person to fill such vacancy. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. DEUPREE, SECONDED BY MR. MCCARTY TO APPROVE 120 DAYS AFTER SUCH VACANCY OCCURS AND 364 DAYS OR LESS REMAINS ON THE TERM. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-1;WITH MR.VAUGHN VOTING AGAINST. Mr. Anderle provided an overview of the proposed term language for Municipal Court Judges. The amendment would change the term of the Municipal Court Judges from two to three years to align with elected officials. Proposed language: Article VI, Section 7(1) -Judge of Municipal Court The Municipal Court shall be presided over by a magistrate to be known as Municipal Judge who shall be an attorney duly licensed by the State of Texas. The City Council may appoint one or more municipal judges. The judges shall be appointed by ordinance for a three (3) year term coinciding with the term of the Mayor. If the Municipal Judge is unable to act for any reason, the Mayor may appoint a qualified person to act as substitute Municipal Judge. The City Council shall have the power to create a second Municipal Court to be known as Municipal Court Number 2. The Mayor of the City shall be empowered to administer oaths and issue warnings to persons in police custody it the Mayor is qualified pursuant to State Law by attendance and completion of the mandatory courses prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. MCCARTY, SECONDED BY MR. RODRIGUEZ TO APPROVE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES TERM REMAIN AT TWO YEARS AND STRIKE THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS"COINCIDING WITH THE TERM OF THE MAYOR." March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8 MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0. Mr. Anderle provided an overview of the proposed term language for Planning and Zoning Commission members. The amendment would change the term of the Commissioners from two to three years to align with elected officials. Proposed language: Article XIV, Subpart A, Section 1 - Planning and Zoning Commission There shall be established a Planning and Zoning Commission which shall consist of seven (7) citizens of the City of North Richland Hills who own real property within the city. The City Council may appoint alternate members to the Commission who shall serve in the absence or disability of any commissioner. The members of said commission, and any alternate commissioner, shall be appointed by the City Council for a term of three (3) years. Three (3) members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be so appointed to terms that coincide with the terms of Council member Places 2, 4, and 6. Four (4) members shall be so appointed to terms that coincide with the terms of Council member Places 1, 3, 5, and 7. Vacancies and unexpired terms shall be filled by the City Council for the remainder of that member's term. The Commission shall elect a chairman from among its membership. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. DEUPREE, SECONDED BY MR. MITCHELL TO APPROVE CHANGING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION'S TERM TO THREE YEARS TO COINCIDE WITH THE COUNCIL'S NEW TERMS. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 8-0. C.5 DISCUSS FUTURE MEETING DATES. Chair Rodriguez asked the Commission if they had any opposition to discussing ballot language at the next meeting. There being no opposition, Mr. Anderle will prepare ballot language for the Commission to discuss at their next meeting. The next meeting will be held on April 14, 2025 prior to the City Council meeting. D. ADJOURNMENT Chair Rodriguez adjourned the meeting at 4:57 p.m. March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8 Ricky Ro ' z, Chair 001111/19,24,4, ° .� % Alicia Richardson ®per°' .Il City Secretary/Chief Gov ai ce Ofr6 er o March 24, 2025 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8