HomeMy WebLinkAboutHome Rule CharterHOME RULE CHARTER*
Preamble
Article I. Incorporation, Form of Government and Powers
Sec. 1.01. Incorporation.
See. 1.02. General powers.
Sec. 1.03. Form of government.
See. 1.04. Streets and public property.
Sec. 1.05. Street development and improvements.
Sec. 1.06. Annexation and disannexation of territory.
Sec. 1.06A. Plats and blocks.
Sec. 1.07. Urban development, redevelopment and renewal.
Sec. 1.08. Comprehensive plan.
Sec. 1.09. The Planning and Zoning Commission.
Article Il. The Council
Sec. 2.01. Number, selection, and term of office.
See. 2.02. Qualifications.
See. 2.03. Vacancies.
Sec. 2.04. Powers of the Council.
Sec. 2.05. Investigative body.
Sec. 2.06. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
See. 2,07. City Secretary.
See. 2.08. Meetings of Council.
Sec. 2.09. Rules of procedure.
See. 2.10. Procedure to enact legislation.
See. 2.11. Publication of ordinance.
Sec. 2.12. Code of ordinances.
See. 2.13. Emergency powers of mayor.
Sec. 2.14. Boards, Commissions and Committees.
See. 2.15. Remuneration to Mayor and Council.
See. 2.16. Personnel policy.
Article III. Elections
Sec. 3.01. General election.
Sec. 3.02. Regulation of elections.
Editor's note—The Home Rule Charter was amended at an election held Apr. 5, 1986,
called by Ord. No. 86-12, adopted Feb. 25, 1986. Amendment No. I specified that all pertinent
sections be amended to make nouns and pronouns neuter in gender and replacing "Council-
man" with "Councilmember." This has been done throughout the Charter without further
reference to'Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 1. Other sections which have been amended by Ord.
No. 86-12 (and future ordinances) will be accompanied by a history note giving the amendment
number.
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Sec, 3.03. Filing of candidates.
See. 3.04. Canvassing election and declaring results.
Sec. 3.05. Notification and qualification of City officers.
See. 3.06. Special elections.
Article IV. Initiative, Referendum and Recall
Sec. 4.01. Power of initiative.
Sec. 4.02. Power of referendum.
See. 4.03. Form of petitions.
See. 4.04. Filing, examination and certification of petitions.
Sec. 4.05. Council consideration and submission to voters.
Sec. 4.06. Results of referendum elections.
Sec. 4.07. Recall of City Officials.
Sec. 4.08. Recall petition.
Sec. 4.09. Results of recall election.
See. 4.10. Limitation on recall.
Sec. 4.11. Public hearing to be held.
Sec. 4.12. Failure of City Council to call a recall election.
Article V. Administrative Organization .
Sec. 5.01. The City Manager.
See. 5.02. Powers and duties of the City Manager.
Sec. 5.03. Administrative divisions and departments.
Sec. 5.04. Directors of divisions.
Sec. 5.05. Divisional and departmental organization.
Sec. 5.06. City Attorney.
Sec. 5.07. Municipal Court.
Sec. 5.08. Judge of the Municipal Court.
Sec. 5.09. Clerk of the Court.
See. 5.10. Official bonds for City employees.
Article VI. Finance
See. 6.01. Fiscal year.
See. 6.02. Budget preparation and adoption.
Sec. 6.03. Appropriations.
See. 6.04. Budget amendments and emergency appropriations.
Sec. 6.05. Borrowing to meet emergency appropriations.
See. 6.06. Borrowing in anticipation of property taxes.
Sec. 6.07. Depository.
Sec. 6.08. General obligation bonds.
Sec. 6.09. Revenue bonds and Obligations.
Sec. 6.10. Sale of bonds and Obligations.
See. 6.11. Purchase procedure.
Sec. 6.12. Independent audit.
Article VII. Taxation
Sec. 7.01. Taxation.
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See. 7.02. Taxation powers.
See. 7.03. Tax appraisal, assessment and collection.
See. 7.04. Tax payments due.
See. 7.05. Tax liens.
Article VIII. Franchise and Public Utility
Sec. 8.01. Powers of the City.
See. 8.02. Inalienability of control of public property.
See. 8.03. Franchise; power of the City Council.
Sec. 8.04. Regulation of franchise.
Sec. 8.05. Regulation of rates.
Sec. 8.06. Grant not to be exclusive.
Article IX. General Provisions
Sec. 9.01. Nepotism.
See. 9.02. Publicity of records.
See. 9.03. Improper acts.
See. 9.04. Political activity.
Sec. 9.05. Officer, employees, and penalties.
Sec. 9.06. Oath of office.
See. 9.07. Notice of claims.
Sec. 9.08. Assignment, execution, and garnishment.
Sec. 9.09. Effect of Charter on existing law.
Sec. 9.10. Construction of Charter.
Sec. 9.11. Applicability of general laws.
Sec. 9.12. Judicial notice.
Sec. 9.13. Severability clause.
Sec. 9.14. Amending the Charter.
See. 9.15. Rearrangement and renumbering.
Sec. 9.16. Ethics review.
Sec. 9.15. Interim municipal government.
See. 9.17. Submission of Charter to voters.
Sec. 9.18. Disaster clause.
Sec. 9.19. Nonsubstantive Charter Amendments.
Addendum
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 1.02
PREAMBLE
We, the Citizens of Georgetown, Texas, dedicated to the principle of local self-government,
under law, as interpreted by the light of reason, and administered to secure justice, do invoke
the guidance of God in establishing a municipal government, and do hereby ordain and
establish this Home Rule Charter in accordance with the statutes of the State of Texas; and do
hereby declare the residents of the City of Georgetown, in Williamson County, Texas, living
within the legally established boundaries of the said City, to be a political subdivision of the
State of Texas incorporated forever under the name and style of the "City of Georgetown" with
such powers, rights and duties as are herein provided.
Sec. 1.01. Incorporation.
The inhabitants of the City of Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, residing within its
corporate limits as heretofore or hereafter established, are hereby constituted and shall
continue to be a municipal body politic and corporate in perpetuity under the name of the "City
of Georgetown," hereinafter referred to as the "City" with such powers, privileges, rights,
duties and immunities as are herein provided.
Sec. 1.02. General powers.
The City shall have all the powers granted to cities by the Constitution and laws of the State
of Texas together with all of the implied powers necessary to carry into execution such granted
powers. The City may use a corporate seal; may sue and be sued; may contract and be
contracted with; may cooperate with the government of the State of Texas or any agency or any
political subdivision thereof; or with the federal government or any agency thereof, to
accomplish any lawful purpose for the advancement of the interest, welfare, health, morals,
comfort, safety, and convenience of the City and its inhabitants; may acquire property within
or without its corporate limits for any municipal purpose in fee simple, in or any lesser interest
or estate, by purchase, gift, device, lease or condemnation, and, subject to the provisions of this
Charter, may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage, improve, and control such property as may
now or hereafter be owned by it; may pass ordinances and enact such regulations as may be
expedient for the maintenance of good government, order and peace of the City and the
welfare, health, morals, comfort, safety, and convenience of its inhabitants. The powers hereby
conferred upon the City shall include, but are not restricted to, the powers conferred expressly
and permissively by Chapter 147, Page 307, of the Acts of the 33rd. Legislature, Regular
Session enacted in 1913 pursuant to the Home Rule Amendment of the Constitution of Texas,
known as the Enabling Act and including Articles 1175, 1176, 1177, 1178, 1180, of Vernon's
Annotated Civil Statutes of Texas, as now or hereafter amended, all of which are hereby
adopted. In addition to the powers enumerated herein, and subject only to the limitations
imposed by the State Constitution, the State laws, and this Charter, the City shall have,
without the necessity of express enumeration in this Charter, each and every power which, by
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virtue ofArticle Xi, Section 5 of the Constitution of Texas, the people of the City are empowered
by election to grant to or confer upon the City by expressly and specifically granting and
enumerating the same herein. All such powers, whether expressed or implied, shall be
exercised and enforced in the manner prescribed in this Charter; or when not prescribed
herein, in such manner as shall be provided by ordinance or the Council.
Sec. 1.03. Form of government.
The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be, and shall be known as
Council -Manager Government." Pursuant to the provisions of and subject only to the
limitations imposed by the State Constitution, the State laws, and this Charter, all powers of
the City shall be vested in and exercised by an elective Council, hereinafter referred to as "the
City Council' which shall enact legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and appoint the
City Manager who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the City.
Sec. 1.04. Streets and public property.
The City shall have exclusive dominion, control and jurisdiction in, upon, over and under
the public streets, sidewalks, alleys, highways, public squares and public ways (except those
under State control if required by State law) that are within the corporate limits of the city, and
in, upon, over, and under all public property of the City. With respect to each and every public
street, sidewalk, alley, highway, public square, public park or other public way (except those
under State Control if required by State law) that are within the corporate limits of the City,
the City shall have the power to establish, maintain, improve, alter, abandon, or vacate the
same; to regulate the use thereof including but not limited to the right to erect traffic signals,
lights and signs thereon; and to abate and remove in a summary manner any encroachment
thereon.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 1.05. Street development and improvements.
The City shall have the power to develop and improve, or cause to be developed and
improved, any and all public streets or ways (except those under State control and if required
by State law) within the corporate limits of the City by laying out, opening, narrowing,
widening, straightening, extending, lighting, and establishing building lines along the same,
by purchasing condemning, and taking property therefor; by filling, grading, raising, lowering,
paving, repaving, and repairing, in a permanent manner, the same; and by constructing,
reconstructing, altering, repairing, and realigning curbs, gutters, drains, sidewalks, culverts,
and other appurtenances and incidentals in connection with such development and improve-
ment authorized hereinabove, or any combination or parts thereof. The cost of such develop-
ment and improvement may be paid partly or entirely by assessments levied as a lien against
the property abutting thereon and against the owners thereof, and such assessments may be
levied in any amounts and under any procedure not prohibited by State law; provided, that no
assessment shall be made against such land or owners in excess of the enhancement in value
of such property occasioned by such improvement.
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 1.06
If improvements be ordered constructed in any part of any such area used or occupied by the
tracks or facilities or any railroad or public utility, then the City Council shall have power to
assess the whole cost of improvements in such area and the added costs of improvements in
areas adjacent thereto made necessary by such use or occupancy against such railway or
utility, and shall have power, by ordinance, to provide for the enforcement of such assessment.
As an alternate and cumulative method of developing, improving, and paving any and all
public streets, sidewalks, alleys, highways, and other public ways (except those under State
control if required by State law) within its corporate limits, the City shall have the power and
authority to proceed in accordance with Chapter 106, Page 489, Acts 1927, Fortieth Legisla-
ture, First Called Session, as now or hereafter amended, the same being Article 1105b of the
Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes of Texas.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 1.06. Annexation and disannexation of territory.
1) Annexation. The City Council may fix the boundary limits of the City by any of the
following methods:
a) Upon the introduction and passage of the ordinance in compliance with all require-
ments of this Charter and State law, with or without the consent of the voters and/or
landowners in the area to be annexed; or
b) Upon the request by written petition of a majority of qualified voters and landowners
in the area requesting annexation subject to procedural rules as provided by State law
and the passage of an annexation ordinance in response to the petition procedure; or
c) By election, in accordance with applicable State law.
2) Annexed Territory. The inhabitants of annexed territory are entitled to all the rights and
privileges of city citizenship, and are bound by all such duties of citizenship. The inhabitants
of any annexed territory are bound by all the acts, resolutions, ordinances, and regulations of
the City.
3) Disannexation. The City Council may detach and disannex any territory within the city
limits by any of the following methods:
a) Upon the introduction and passage of the ordinance in compliance with all require-
ments of State law, with or without the consent of the voters and/or landowners in the
area disannexed;
b) Upon the request by written petition of a majority of qualified voters and landowners
in the area proposed for disannexation in compliance this Charter, State law, and the
passage of an ordinance in response to the petition procedure.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 2, 2-25-86)
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Sec. 1.06A. Plats and blocks.
An owner of any property within the City limits or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of
the City which is platted into blocks and lots shall comply with all requirements of Chapter
231, Page 342, Acts of the 40th Legislature, 1927, as amended (Article 974a, Vernon's
Annotated Civil Statutes) and all other applicable laws, ordinances and charter provisions as
amended.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 2, 2-25-86)
Sec. 1.07. Urban development, redevelopment and renewal.
The City shall have the power to carry out slum clearance, public housing, and urban
redevelopment and renewal projects. For these purposes it may acquire land by eminent
domain, may contract or cooperate with the State or Federal Governments or any agency
thereof, may invest its funds, and borrow or accept money.
Sec. 1.08. Comprehensive plan.
1) Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose and intent of this Article that the City Council
establish comprehensive planning as a continuous and ongoing governmental function in order
to promote and strengthen the existing role, processes and powers of the City of Georgetown
to prepare, adopt and implement a comprehensive plan to guide, regulate, and manage the
future development within the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City to
assure the most appropriate and beneficial use of land, water and other natural resources,
consistent with the public interest. Through the process of comprehensive planning and the
preparation, adoption and implementation of a comprehensive plan, the City intends to
preserve, promote, protect and improve the public health, safety, comfort, order, appearance,
convenience and general welfare; prevent the overcrowding of land and avoid undue concen-
tration or diffusion of population or land uses; facilitate the adequate and efficient provision
of transportation, water, wastewater, schools, parks, recreational facilities, housing and other
facilities and services; and conserve, develop, utilize and protect natural resources.
It is further the intent of this Article that the adopted comprehensive plan shall have the
legal status set forth herein, and that all public and private development should be in
conformity with such adopted comprehensive plan or element or portion thereof.
2) The Comprehensive Plan. The Council shall adopt by ordinance a revised comprehen-
sive plan within two (2) years from the date the amended Charter is adopted, which shall
constitute the master and general plan. The comprehensive plan shall contain the Council's
policies for growth, development and beautification of the land within the corporate limits and
the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City, or for geographic portions thereof including
neighborhood, community or area -wide plans. The comprehensive plan should include but not
be limited to:
a) A future land -use element;
b) A traffic circulation and public transit element;
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 1.09
c) A wastewater, electric, solid waste, drainage and potable water element;
d) A conservation and environmental resources element;
e) A recreation and open space element;
f) A housing element;
g) A public services and facilities element, which shall include but not be limited to a
capital improvement program;
h) A public buildings and related facilities element;
i) An economic element for commercial and industrial development and redevelopment;
0) Health and human service element;
kY Historic preservation element;
1) Citizen participation element; and
m) Urban design element.
n) Public safety element.
The several elements of the comprehensive plan should be coordinated and be internally
consistent. Each element should include policy recommendations for its implementation and
should be implemented, in part, by the adoption and enforcement of appropriate land
development regulations. The comprehensive plan shall be amended only once per year and
revised not more than once every five (5) years unless such amendment or revision is adopted
by a majority plus one of the City Council. An amendment is defined as a minor change in the
plan. A revision is defined as a substantial change to the plan.
3) Legal Effect of Comprehensive Plan. Upon adoption of a comprehensive plan or element
or portion thereof by the City Council, all land development regulations, including zoning and
map, subdivision regulations, roadway plan, all public improvements, public facilities, public
utilities projects and all city regulatory actions relating to land use, subdivision and
development approval, should be consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan, element or
portion thereof.
4) Legal Effect of Prior Comprehensive Plan. Any comprehensive plan or element or
portion thereof adopted pursuant to law, but prior to the effective date of this Charter shall
continue to have such force and effect as it had at the date of its adoption, until further action
pursuant to this section is taken by the City Council.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election; Ord. No.
880170, Amend. No. 1, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 3, 2-25-86)
Sec. 1.09. The Planning and Zoning Commission.
There shall be established by ordinance a Planning and Zoning Commission composed of at
least five (5) citizens of the City of Georgetown who must be registered voters in the City of
Georgetown and must have resided within the city for one (1) year next preceding their
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appointment. The Mayor and Council shall be responsible for appointing a Commission which
is broadly representative as a whole. Members shall be drawn, for example, from different
residential areas, different racial and ethnic groups, different occupations and professions,
different interest groups. The Commission shall be responsible to and act as an advisory body
to the Council and shall perform such additional duties and exercise such additional powers as
may be prescribed by ordinance of the Council not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Charter.
Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 2, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 4, 2-25-86)
ARTICLE II. THE COUNCIL
Sec. 2.01. Number, selection, and term of office..
The Council shall be composed of seven (7) Councilmembers elected from single -member
districts and a Mayor elected at -large, each of whom unless sooner removed under the
provisions of the Charter, shall serve for three-year terms, from the first meeting of the Council
following the Councilmember's election until the first meeting of the Council following the
election two (2) years later, or until the councilmember's successor has been elected and duly
qualified.
Four (4) members of the Council shall be elected each odd -numbered year and three (3)
members and a Mayor each even -numbered year.
Councilmembers must reside in the districts from which they are elected except that
Councilmembers may complete the terms to which they were elected if district boundaries are
changed during their terms causing their residences no longer to be within the districts from
which they were elected.
The authority to adopt council district boundaries shall reside in the council. The council
may revise district boundaries from time to time and shall adopt district boundaries within one
year after the publication of each United States decennial census.
Councilmembers and Mayor shall be elected for three-year terms, which shall begin with
the general election to be held in 1995, and the terms shall be staggered such that three
Council members are elected in one year, the Mayor and two Council members are elected in
the following year and two Councilmembers are elected the last year. For the staggering of the
initial three-year terms, the following procedure shall apply:
1) In 1995, Councilmembers shall be elected for Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5. Following the
election, the Councilmembers shall draw lots to serve either a three-year term (2
members) or a two-year term (2 members).
2) In 1996, the Mayor shall be elected for a three-year team, and Councilmembers shall
be elected for Districts 2, 6 and 7. Following the election, the Councilmembers shall
draw lots to serve either a three-year term (2 members) or a two-year term (1 member).
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 2.04
3) In 1997, the two Districts whose Councilmembers serve two-year terms shall elect
Councilmembers for three-year terms. All succeeding elections shall be to elect
Couricilmembers for three-year terms in compliance with this Charter.
1994 M, 2, 6, 7
1995 1, 3, 4, 5 -draw straws as to terms: 3 yr. terms (2), 2 yr. terms (2)
1996 M, 2, 6, 7 - Mayor = 3 yrs.; draw straws as to terms; 3 yr. terms (2), 2 yr. terms
1)
1997 1995 2 yr. terms (2)
1998 1995 3 yr. terms (2)
1996 2 yr. terms (1)
1999 Mayor
1996 3 yr. terms (2)
2000 1996 3 yr. terms (2)
Amended by voters in May 1994 General Election; Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 3, 5-10-88)
Sec. 2.02. Qualifications.
At the time of election to office, each Councilmember and the Mayor shall be at least
twenty-one (21) years of age, shall be a citizen and qualified voter of the State of Texas and the
City of Georgetown and a resident of the Council District the member would be representing
for a period of twelve (12) months as of the last legal date for filing. No member of the Council
shall hold any other office or employment under the City Government while a member of said
Council, nor hold any paid employment under the City Government within two (2) years
thereafter. A member of the Council ceasing to reside in the City shall immediately forfeit that
office.
Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 5, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.03. Vacancies.
When a vacancy occurs in the Council, the vacancy shall be filled at a special election called
for this purpose within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the vacancy or vacancies occur
in compliance with Article XI, Section 11 of the Texas Constitution and other applicable State
laws.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 2.04. Powers of the Council.
All powers and authority which are expressly or impliedly conferred on or possessed by the
City shall be vested in and exercised by the Council; provided, that the Council shall have no
power to exercise those powers which are expressly conferred upon City officers by this
Charter or under the laws of the State of Texas. The compensation of all appointive officers and
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employees shall be fixed by the City Council, who may increase or diminish such compensation
at will or abolish, except those required by this Charter or the laws of the State of Texas, and
create any appointive office at any time.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 6, 2-25-86)
See. 2.05. Investigative body.
The Council shall have. the power to inquire into the official conduct of any division
department, agency, office, officer, or employee of the City, and for that purpose shall have the
power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, compelling the production of books, papers,
and other evidence material to the inquiry. The Council shall provide by ordinance, penalties
for contempt in failing or refusing to obey any such subpoena or to produce any such books,
papers or other evidence, and shall have the power to punish any such contempt in the manner
provided by such ordinance.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 7, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.06. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall be recognized as head of the
City government for all ceremonial purposes, for the purpose of receiving services of civil
process, for emergency purposes, and for military purposes; but the Mayor shall have no
regular administrative duties. The Mayor, as a member of the Council, shall be entitled to vote
only in case of a tie upon all affairs considered by the Council and shall have no veto power. At
its first meeting following each regular election of Councilmembers, the Council shall, by
election, designate one of its number as Mayor Pro Tem, who shall serve in such capacity
during the pleasure of the Council. The Mayor Pro Tem shall act as Mayor during the absence
or disability of the Mayor, and shall have 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.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 8, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.07. City Secretary.
The Council shall appoint the City Secretary, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
The City Secretary shall keep the records of the Council, and shall have such other duties and
responsibilities as may be assigned by this Charter and the Council. The City Secretary shall
appoint such assistants as may be authorized by the Council.
Sec. 2.08. Meetings of Council.
There shall be regular meetings of the City Council which shall be held at such times and
places as shall be prescribed by ordinance or resolution. Special meetings may be called at any
time by the City Secretary upon the request of the Mayor, the City Manager, or three (3)
Councilmembers. Notice of special meetings shall be given to all members of the Council who
are not absent from the City; provided, however, that any member of the Council who did not
receive notice of a special meeting may, either before or after such special meeting is held,
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 2.10
waive such notice. It shall not be necessary to give notice to a Councilmember of a special
meeting held at a time when such Councilmember is absent from the City, and it shall not be
necessary for such absent Councilmember to waive such notice.
Sec. 2.09. Rules of procedure.
The Council shall by ordinance determine its own rules and order of business. The Mayor
and a majority of the members of Council shall constitute a quorum, and in the Mayor's
absence, a majority plus one of the members of Council shall constitute a quorum. Legislation
may not be enacted unless it is adopted by a vote of not less than a majority of the members
of the Council. Should the Council be reduced to less than a majority plus one of the members
of Council by death, resignation, nonresidence or for any other reason, the remaining members
of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of filling vacancies. Should the Council
be reduced to less than a majority plus one of the members of Council by death, resignation,
nonresidence, or for any other reason, the remaining members of the Council shall constitute
a quorum for the purpose of filling vacancies and for the purpose of taking an emergency action
to protect the life, health, safety, property and welfare of the public. Such emergency action
shall take effect only upon the unanimous approval of the then remaining members of the
Council. The Council may adopt such rules, and prescribe such penalties as it may see fit to
enforce the attendance of its members at all regular and called meetings of the Council or its
committees. Minutes of all meetings of the Council shall be taken and recorded in the form and
manner required by state law, and such minutes shall constitute a public record.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 880170 § 5 (part), 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 10,
2-25-86)
See. 2.10. Procedure to enact legislation.
The Council shall legislate by ordinance, and the enacting clause of every ordinance shall
be: "Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Georgetown." The City Attorney shall
approve all ordinances adopted by the Council, as to the legality thereof, or shall file with the
City Secretary written legal objections thereto. Evidence of approval of an ordinance by the
City Attorney may be by notation on the ordinance itself, or by separate paper or instrument.
Every ordinance enacted by the Council shall be signed by the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, or by
two (2) Councilmembers and shall be filed with and recorded by the City Secretary. All
ordinances shall be read in open meeting of the Council at two (2) open meetings of the Council
on two (2) separate days; the second such reading shall occur not less than ten (10) days
following the first such reading; provided, that the secondary reading required herein shall be
sufficient if read by descriptive caption only. The actual reading of the ordinance on first
reading may be handled by the reading of the caption if the following provisions of the Charter
have preceded the first reading.
1. The caption of the proposed ordinance has been published in a newspaper of general
circulation within the City for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours prior to the
meeting; and
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2. The proposed ordinance is filed with the City Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to
the meeting.
The City Council may require a full reading of the proposed ordinance prior to adoption by a
vote of the majority of the Councilmembers present at the meeting. All ordinances, unless
otherwise provided by law or by the terms of such ordinance, shall take effect immediately
upon final passage thereof. The requirements for reading ordinances on two separate days may
be dispensed with where an ordinance relating to the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, safety or welfare is adopted by the favorable vote of not less than a majority, plus
one, of all the Councilmembers qualified and serving, and contains a statement of the nature
of the emergency.
Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election; Ord. No. 880170 § 5 (part), 5-10-88;
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 11, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.11. Publication of ordinance.
Except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter, the City Secretary shall give notice of
the enactment of every ordinance imposing any penalty, fine, or forfeiture for any violation of
any of its provisions, and of every other ordinance required by law or this Charter to be
published, by causing the said ordinance, or its caption and penalty, to be published at least
one (1) time within ten (10) days after final passage thereof or as soon thereafter as possible
in a newspaper of general circulation within the City. The affidavit of such publication by the
publisher of such newspaper taken before any officer authorized to administer oaths and filed
with the City Secretary shall be conclusive proof of the legal publication and promulgation of
such ordinance in all courts. Such ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days after the date of
such publication, provided that any penal ordinance passed as an emergency measure under
Section 2.10 of this Article shall take effect immediately on its publication.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 12, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.12. Code of ordinances.
The Council shall have the power to cause all general ordinances of the City to be compiled
and printed in code form. Every general ordinance enacted subsequent to such codification
shall be enacted as an amendment to this code. The Council shall cause all general ordinances
to be codified, recodified and reprinted whenever in its discretion such is deemed desirable, or
when such codification or recodification is required by law. When adopted by the Council, the
printed codes of general ordinances contemplated by this section shall be in full force and effect
without the necessity of such code or any part thereof being published in any newspaper. The
caption, descriptive clause, and other formal parts of the ordinances of the City may be omitted
without affecting the validity of such ordinances when they are published as a code.
Sec. 2.13. Emergency powers of mayor.
The Mayor of the City of Georgetown shall have such emergency powers as are provided by
this Charter's provisions, all applicable ordinances, and all other laws of the State of Texas.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
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Sec. 2.14. Boards, Commissions and Committees.
The Council shall have the power to establish boards, commissions and committees to assist
it in carrying out its duties in accordance with State law.
Members of such bodies shall be recommended by the Mayor and appointed by a vote of the
majority of the Council in open meeting unless otherwise provided by law. Should the Mayor
fail to recommend and/or the Council fail to appoint the member(s) recommended by the
Mayor, a majority of the Council plus one may make the appointment(s) without a recommen-
dation of the Mayor.
Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 4, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 13, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.15. Remuneration to Mayor and Council.
The Mayor shall name a committee, composed of qualified voters, whose responsibility will
be to review, at least every two (2) years, the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers, and
make recommendations regarding those salaries. The report of the committee shall be made at
a regular Council meeting and shall require an official act by Council to either enact, alter or
reject the recommendations. In all cases where action alters existing salaries for Mayor and
Councilmembers, the changes in salaries will begin immediately following the next election of
City officials.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 14, 2-25-86)
Sec. 2.16. Personnel policy.
The Council shall establish by ordinance a personnel policy which shall include, but shall
not be limited to, the following provisions. That:
a) All employees of the City are employees at will, unless otherwise provided by the terms
of a written contract between the employee and the City, which has been formally
approved by the Council.
b) Before disciplinary action may be taken as a result of a complaint against a City
employee, the complaint must be reduced to written form and a copy of the written
complaint must be provided to the affected employee.
c) In the event of a suspension, demotion or termination of a City employee, the affected
employee shall be afforded the due process provided by the Personnel Policies of the
City.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Editor's note—An amendment of May 3, 2003, amended § 2.16 in its entirety to read as
herein set out. Formerly, § 2.16 pertained to the council to establish personnel policy and
derived from Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 36A, adopted February 25, 1986.
ARTICLE III. ELECTIONS
Sec. 3.01. General election.
The regular City election shall be held annually on the first Saturday in May or on such date
as is otherwise required by State law, at which time officers shall be elected to fill those offices
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which become vacant that year. Said election shall be ordered by the Mayor, and in case of the
Mayor's failure to order the same, the Council of the City shall make such order. In the case
of the inability of the Mayor and the Council to act, the election may be called by the City
Secretary, and in case of the City Secretary's inability to act, by the County Judge of
Williamson County, Texas, and in case of the County Judge's inability to act, by the Governor
of the State of Texas. The Mayor of the City shall give notice of such election in the manner
required by law.
Res. No. 050603-13, 5-3-03; Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election; Ord. No.
86-12, Amend. No. 15, 2-25-86)
Sec. 3.02. Regulation of elections.
All elections shall be held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas regulating the
holding of municipal elections and/or in accordance with the ordinances adopted by the Council
for the conduct of election. The Council shall appoint the election judges and other election
officials and shall provide for the compensation of all election officials in the City elections and
for all other expenses of holding such elections.
Seca 3.03. Filing of candidates.
Any qualified person who desires to become a candidate for election to City office shall file
application of candidacy with the City Secretary, in accordance with State law. Such
application shall contain a sworn statement by the candidate that the candidate is fully
qualified to hold the office under the provisions of this Charter and State law.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 16, 2-25-86)
Sec. 3.04. Canvassing election and declaring results.
The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered forthwith by the Election Judges
to the Mayor and City Secretary. The Council shall canvass the returns, investigate the
qualifications of the candidates, and declare the official results of the election not later than
the first regular meeting following the delivery of the returns to the Mayor. The returns of
every municipal election shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council.
In every election for the office of Councilmember and for the office of Mayor, each qualified
voter shall vote for not more than one candidate for the district in which the voter and the
candidate reside and for not more than one candidate for the office of Mayor.
Where in an election for any office no candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast for
such office at such election, the Council shall, immediately upon declaring the official results
to the election, issue a call for a runoff election for every office to which no one was elected.
Such runoff election shall be held on a date set by the Council not earlier than the twentieth
day or later than the thirtieth day after the date of the final canvass of the main election is
completed. In such runoff election the two candidates who received in the preceding election
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the highest number of votes for each office to which no one was elected shall be voted on again,
and the candidate who receives the majority of the votes cast for each such office in the runoff
election shall be elected to such office.
The decision of the Council as to the qualification of candidates shall be conclusive and final
for all purposes.
Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 5, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 17, 2-25-86)
Sec. 3.05. Notification and qualification of City officers.
It shall be the duty of the City Secretary to notify all persons elected or appointed to office
of their election or appointment and all the newly elected or appointed officers may enter upon
their duties. Any officer elected or appointed must qualify by taking and subscribing the oath
of office within thirty (30) days; otherwise the office may be deemed vacant.
Sec. 3.06. Special elections.
The Council may by ordinance or resolution call such special elections as are authorized by
the State law and this Charter, fix the day and place of holding same, and provide all means
for holding such special elections, provided that every special election shall be called and held
as nearly as practicable according to the provisions governing general elections.
See. 4.01. Power of initiative.
The people of the City reserve the power of direct legislation by initiative, and in the
exercise of such power may propose any ordinance, except ordinances appropriating money or
levying taxes, or ordinances repealing ordinances appropriating money or levying taxes, not in
conflict with this Charter, the State Constitution, or the State laws. Any initiated ordinance
may be submitted to the Council by a petition signed by qualified voters of the City, equal in
number to at least fifteen (15) per cent of the qualified voters of the City in the last municipal
election, but not less than two hundred fifty (250) qualified voters of the City.
Sec. 4.02. Power of referendum.
The people reserve the power to approve or reject at the polls any legislation enacted by the
Council which is subject to the initiative process under this Charter, except that ordinances
authorizing the issuance of bonds (either tax bonds or revenue bonds), whether original or
refunding bonds, shall not be subject to such referendum. Prior to or within thirty (30) days
after the effective date of any ordinance which is subject to referendum, a petition signed by
qualified voters of the City equal in number to at least fifteen (15) per cent of the qualified
voters in the last municipal election but not less than two hundred fifty (250) qualified voters
of the City may be filed with the City Secretary requesting that any such ordinance be either
repealed or submitted to the vote of the people. When such a petition has been certified as
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sufficient by the City Secretary, the ordinance specified in the petition shall not go into effect,
or if it shall have gone into effect, then further action thereunder shall be suspended until and
unless it is approved by the voters as herein provided.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 18, 2-25-86)
Sec. 4.03. Form of petitions.
Initiative petition papers shall contain the full text of the proposed legislation in the form
of an ordinance, including a descriptive caption. Referendum petition papers shall contain a
sufficient description of the ordinance sought to be referred to identify it, or if the ordinance
has been passed by the Council, the full text of the ordinance sought to be referred shall be
included in such papers. The signatures to the initiative or referendum petitions need not be
all appended to one (1) paper, but each signer shall sign his name in ink or indelible pencil,
together with a notation showing the signer's residence address and day, month and year of
signing. No signature shall be counted where there is reason to believe it is not the actual
signature of the purported signer or that it is a duplication either of name or of handwriting
used in any other signature on the petition, and no signature shall be counted unless all
required information of the signer is shown, or unless it is signed exactly as the name of the
voter appears on the official copy of the current qualified voters list. Before the signatures on
any petition paper may be counted one of the signers of such petition paper, a qualified voter
shall make oath before the City Secretary, or any other officer competent to administer oaths,
that the statements made therein are true, that each signature to the paper appended is the
genuine signature of the person whose name purports to be signed thereto, and that such
signatures were placed thereon in the person's presence. The petition shall otherwise comply
with State law requirements.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 4.04. Filing, examination and certification of petitions.
Within thirty (30) days after an initiative or referendum petition is filed, the City Secretary
shall determine whether the same is properly signed by the requisite number of qualified
voters. The City Secretary shall declare void any petition paper which does not have an
affidavit attached thereto as required in Section 4.03 of this Article. In examining the petition,
the Secretary shall write the letters "D.V." (meaning "Disqualified Voter") in red ink opposite
the names of signers found not qualified, pursuant to this Charter and State law. After
completing examination of the petition, the Secretary shall certify the result thereof to the
Council at its next regular meeting. If the certificate of the City Secretary shall show an
initiative or referendum petition to be insufficient, the Secretary shall notify the person filing
the petition, and it may be amended within ten (10) days from the date of such notice by filing
a supplementary petition upon additional papers signed and filed as provided for in the
original petition. Within thirty (30) days after such amendment is filed, the Secretary shall
examine the amended petition and certify as to its sufficiency. If the amended petition is then
found to be insufficient, no further proceedings shall be had with regard to it.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
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Sec. 4.05. Council consideration and submission to voters.
When the Council receives an authorized initiative petition certified by the City Secretary
to be sufficient, the Council shall either: (a) pass the initiated ordinance without amendment
within thirty (30) days after the date of the certification to the Council; or (b) submit said
initiated ordinance without amendments to a vote of the qualified voters of the City at a
regular or special election to be held on the next uniform election date in order to comply with
State election laws; or (c) at such election submit to a vote of the qualified voters of the City
said initiated ordinance without amendment, and an alternative ordinance on the same
subject proposed by the Council. When the Council receives an authorized referendum petition
certified by the City Secretary to be sufficient, the Council shall reconsider the referred
ordinance, and if upon such reconsideration such ordinance is not repealed within thirty (30)
days, it shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the City at a regular or special election to
be held on the next uniform election date in order to comply with State election laws. Special
elections on initiated or referred ordinances shall not be held more frequently than once each
six (6) months, and no ordinance on the same subject as an initiated ordinance which has been
defeated or on the same subject as a referred ordinance which has been approved at any
election may be initiated by the voters within two (2) years from the date of such election.
Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election)
Sec. 4.06. Results of referendum elections.
Any number of ordinances may be voted on at the same election in accordance with the
provisions of this Article. If a majority of the legal votes cast is in favor of an initiated
ordinance, it shall thereupon be effective as an ordinance of the City. A favorable vote of a
majority plus one of all Councilmembers qualified and serving be required to repeal or amend
an ordinance passed at a referendum election. A referred ordinance which is rejected by a
majority of the legal votes cast in a referendum election shall be deemed thereupon repealed.
Ord. No. 880170 § 5 (part), 5-10-88)
Sec. 4.07. Recall of City Officials.
The people of the City reserve the power to recall any elected officer of the City of
Georgetown, on the grounds of incompetence, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, and may
exercise such power by filing a petition, as described herein, with the City Secretary.
A petition to recall the Mayor only shall be, signed by registered voters of the City equal in
number to at least fifteen (15) percent of the number of all of the registered voters in the City
at the time of the last regular municipal election, demanding the removal of the Mayor. The
petition shall be signed and verified as required by this Charter's provisions and State law.
A petition to recall a Council member shall be signed only by the registered voters of the
single member council district that the Council member represents, and the signatures must
be equal in number to at least fifteen (15) percent of the number of registered voters residing
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4.07 GEORGETOWN CODE
in that council district at the time of the last regular municipal election, demanding the
removal of their specific Councilmember. The petition shall be signed and verified as required
by this Charter's provisions and State law.
In the case of an election to recall the Mayor, any registered voter residing within the City
may cast a ballot on the issue of the Mayor's recall.
In the case of an election to recall a Council member, only registered voters residing within
the single member council district represented by the Council member sought to be recalled
may cast a ballot on the issue of their Council member's recall.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Editor's note --An amendment of May 3, 2003, amended § 4.07 in its entirety to read as
herein set out. Formerly, § 4.07 pertained to the power of recall and derived from original
codification.
Sec. 4.08. Recall petition.
The recall petition shall be addressed to the City Council of the City of Georgetown, and
shall distinctly and specifically set out the factual basis and circumstances upon which the
petition for removal is predicated with sufficient specificity to give the official sought to be
removed notice of all matters and things with which the official is charged. If the petition is
certified by the City Secretary to be sufficient, the Council shall order and hold an election
forthwith to determine whether such officer shall be recalled.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Editor's note—An amendment of May 3, 2003, amended § 4.08 in its entirety to read as
herein set out. Formerly, § 4.08 pertained to recall elections and derived from original
codification.
Sec. 4.09. Results of recall election.
If the majority of the legal votes cast at a recall election be "in favor of the recall of the
official, a special election for the filling of the vacancy shall be called and held in accordance
with State law and with the provisions of this Charter on elections. An officer thus removed
shall not be eligible to hold office again in the City of Georgetown within a period of four (4)
years from date of that officer's recall.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 4.10. Limitation on recall.
No recall petition shall be filed against an officer within six (6) months after the officer takes
office, and no officer shall be subjected to more than one (1) recall election during a term of
office.
Sec. 4.11. Public hearing to be held.
The officer whose removal is sought may, within five (5) days after such recall petition has
been presented to the City Council, request that a public hearing be held to permit the officer
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to present facts pertinent to the charges specified in the recall petition. In this event, the City
Council shall order such public hearing to be held, not less than five (5) days nor more than
fifteen (15) days after receiving such request for a public hearing.
Sec. 4.12. Failure of City Council to call a recall election.
If all of the requirements of this Charter have been met and the Council fails or refuses to
receive the recall petition, or order the recall election, or discharge any other duties imposed
upon the Council by the provision of this Charter with reference to this recall, then any citizen
who is a registered voter of Georgetown may file, with the District Court of Williamson County,
Texas, a writ of mandamus seeking to force the City to call the election in accordance with
State law.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION
Sec. 5.01. The City Manager.
The Council shall appoint a City Manager who shall be the chief administrative and
executive officer of the City. The City Manager shall be chosen by the Council solely on the
basis of executive and administrative training, experience and ability, and need not, when
appointed, be a resident of the City of Georgetown; however during the tenure of office, the
City Manager shall reside within the City.
The City Manager shall not be appointed for a definite term, but may be removed at the will
and pleasure of the Council by the vote of a majority of all Councilmembers qualified and
serving. The action of the Council in removing the City Manager shall be final, it being the
intention of this Charter to vest all authority and fix all responsibility for such removal in the
Council. The City Manager shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the Council.
No member of the Council shall, during the time for which the councilmember is elected or
for two (2) years thereafter, be chosen as City Manager.
Sec. 5.02. Powers and duties of the City Manager.
The City Manager shall be responsible to the Council for the proper administration of all the
affairs of the City. The powers herein conferred upon the City Manager shall include, but shall
not be limited by, the following:
a) To appoint and remove any officer or employee of the City except those officers and
employees whose appointment or election is otherwise provided for by State law or this
Charter;
b) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required by the
Council, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 19, 2-25-86)
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5.03 GEORGETOWN CODE
Sec. 5.03. Administrative divisions and departments.
There shall be such divisions and departments as are established by this Charter and as
may be established by ordinance, all of which shall be under the control and direction of the
City Manager. The Council may abolish or combine one (1) or more divisions or departments
created by it, and may assign or transfer duties of any divisions or departments of the City
from one division or department to another by ordinance.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 7, 2-25-86)
Sec. 5.04. Directors of divisions.
At the head of each division there shall be a director who shall be appointed, and who may
be removed, by the City Manager. Such directors shall have supervision and control over their
respective divisions, and may head any departments within a division. Two (2) or more
departments may be headed by the same individual, and the City Manager may temporarily
head one (1) or more divisions.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 7, 2-25-86)
See. 5.05. Divisional and departmental organization.
The work of each division shall be distributed among such departments as may be
established by ordinance. Pending passage of ordinances establishing departments or divi-
sions, the City Manager may establish temporary departments.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 7, 2-25-86)
See. 5.06. City Attorney.
The City Council shall appoint a competent attorney who shall have practiced law in the
State of Texas for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the appointment. The City
Attorney shall be the legal advisor of, and attorney for, all of the offices and departments of the
City, and shall represent the City in all litigation and legal proceedings. The City Attorney
shall draft, approve, or file written objections to every ordinance adopted by the Council, and
shall pass upon all documents, contracts and legal instruments in which the City may have an
interest.
There shall be such assistant City Attorneys as may be authorized by the Council and
appointed by the City Attorney with the approval of the City Council, and such assistant City
Attorneys shall be authorized to act for and on behalf of the City Attorney. The City Attorney(s)
and any assistant City Attorney(s) serve solely at the will of the Council.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 5.07. Municipal Court.
There shall be a court known as the Municipal Court of the City of Georgetown, which court
shall be deemed always open for the trial of causes, with such jurisdiction, powers, and duties
as are given and prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 20, 2-25-86)
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Sec. 5.08. Judge of the Municipal Court.
The Municipal Court shall be presided over by a magistrate who shall be known as the
Judge of the Municipal Court. The Judge shall be appointed by the Council for a term of two
2) years, from June first in even years until May thirty-first two (2) years later, or for the
portion of such term unexpired at the time of his appointment. Except as hereinafter provided,
the Judge of the Municipal Court shall be a competent attorney who at the time of the
appointment has practiced law for at least two (2) years and who is a resident of the City of
Georgetown; if a suitable resident of Georgetown cannot be found, the Council shall have the
power to appoint a practicing attorney in the City of Georgetown who resides in the
extraterritorial jurisdiction of said City. In the event an attorney with the above qualifications
is not available, a citizen of this City considered qualified shall be appointed by the Council as
the Judge of the Municipal Court. The Judge of the Municipal Court may be removed in
accordance with State law.
In the event the Judge of the Municipal Court is temporarily unable to act for any reason,
the Council shall appoint a qualified person to act in the Judge's place. The Judge, or anyone
acting in the Judge's place, shall receive such compensation as may be set by the Council.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 20, 2-25-86)
Sec. 5.09. Clerk of the Court.
The Municipal Judge shall appoint, with the approval of the City Manager, a City employee
to serve as Clerk of the Municipal Court. The Clerk of the Municipal Court shall have the
power to administer oaths, make certificates, affix the seal of said Court thereto and generally
do and perform any and all acts usual and necessary by Clerks of Courts in issuing processes
of said Court and conducting the business thereof.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 20, 2-25-86)
Sec. 5.10. Official bonds for City employees.
The City Manager and the City Secretary and such other officers and employees as the City
Council may require, shall, before entering upon the duties of their offices, enter into a good
and sufficient fidelity bond in a sum to be determined by the City Council, payable to the City
of Georgetown and conditioned upon the faithful discharge of the duties of such persons and
upon the faithful accounting for all monies, credits, and things of value coming into the hands
of such persons, and such bonds shall be signed as surety by some company authorized to do
business under the laws of the State of Texas, and the premium on such bonds shall be paid
by the City of Georgetown, and such bonds must be acceptable to the City Council.
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ARTICLE VI. FINANCE
Sec. 6.01. Fiscal year.
The fiscal year of the City shall begin on the first day of each October and end on the last
day of September of the succeeding year. All fiscal transactions of the City shall be accounted
for in accordance with generally accepted governmental accounting principles.
Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 6, 5-10-88)
Sec. 6.02. Budget preparation and adoption.
Budget Workshop(s) shall be held within the City limits of Georgetown in meeting(s) open
to the public prior to the adoption of the Budget. At least thirty (30) days prior to the end of
each fiscal year the City Manager shall submit to the Council a proposed budget presenting a
complete financial plan for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget shall be finally adopted not
later than the twenty-seventh day of the last month of the fiscal year. Should the Council take
no final action on or prior to such day the budget, as submitted, shall be deemed to have been
finally adopted by the Council. No budget shall be adopted or appropriations made unless the
total of estimated revenues, income and funds available shall be equal to or in excess of such
budget or appropriations, except as otherwise provided in this Article.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 6.03. Appropriations.
From the effective date of the budget, the several amounts stated therein as proposed
expenditures shall be and become appropriated to the several objects and purposes named
therein. Except as provided in this Article no funds of the City shall be expended nor shall any
obligation for the expenditure of money be incurred, except pursuant to the annual budget as
adopted and as provided by this Article. At the close of each fiscal year, any unencumbered
balance of an appropriation shall revert to the fund from which appropriated and become
available for reappropriation for the next fiscal year. The Council may transfer any unencum-
bered appropriation balance or portion thereof from one division, office, department, or agency
to another at any time. The City Manager shall have authority, without Council approval, to
transfer appropriation balances from one expenditure account to another within a single
division, office, department, or agency of the City.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 7, 2-25-86)
Sec. 6.04. Budget amendments and emergency appropriations.
The Council may authorize a vote by a majority plus one on an emergency expenditure as
an amendment to the original budget only in a case of grave public necessity to meet an
unusual and unforseen condition that could not have been included in the original budget
through the use of reasonable diligent thought and attention. Such amendments shall be made
by the Council after giving legal notice as specified in Texas State law. If the Council amends
the original budget to meet an emergency, the Council shall file a copy of its order or resolution
amending the budget with the City Secretary and the Secretary shall attach the copy to the
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original budget. After the adoption of the budget or a budget amendment, the budget officer
shall provide for the filing of a true copy of the approved budget or amendment in the office of
the County Clerk of Williamson County.
Should the unappropriated and unencumbered revenues, income and available funds of the
City for such fiscal year not be sufficient to meet the expenditures under the appropriations
authorized by this section, thereby creating a deficit, it shall be the duty of the Council to
include the amount of such deficit in its budget for the following fiscal year, and said deficit
shall be paid off and discharged during the said following fiscal year.
Ord. No. 880170, Amend. No. 7, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 21, 2-25-86)
Sec. 6.05. Borrowing to meet emergency appropriations.
In the absence of unappropriated available revenues or other funds to meet emergency
appropriations under the provisions of the next preceding section [6.04], the Council may by
resolution, authorize the borrowing of money to meet such deficit by the issuance of notes, each
of which shall be designated "Emergency Note" and may be renewed from time to time, but all
such notes of any fiscal year and any renewals thereof shall mature and be payable not later
than the last day of the current fiscal year in which the emergency appropriation was made,
as provided in the last preceding section [6.04].
Sec. 6.06. Borrowing in anticipation of property taxes.
In, any fiscal year, in anticipation of the collection of the ad valorem property tax for such
year, whether levied or to be levied in such year, the Council may by resolution authorize the
borrowing of money, not to exceed in any fiscal year an amount equal to ten (10) percent of the
budget for that fiscal year. Such borrowing shall be by the issuance of negotiable notes of the
City, each of which shall be designated, "Tax Anticipation Note for the Year 19" (stating the tax
year). Such notes shall mature and be payable not later than the end of the fiscal year in which
issued.
Sec. 6.07. Depository.
All moneys received by any person, department or agency of the City for or in connection
with affairs of the City shall be deposited promptly in the City depository or depositories,
which shall be designated by the Council in accordance with such regulations and subject to
such requirements as to security for deposits and interest thereon as may be established by
ordinance. All checks, vouchers, or warrants for the withdrawal of money from the City
depositories shall be signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the City Manager. Provided,
that the Council, under such regulations and limitations as it may prescribe, may by ordinance
authorize the use of machine -imprinted facsimile signatures of said Mayor and City Manager
on such checks, vouchers and warrants.
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6.08 GEORGETOWN CODE
Sec. 6.08. General obligation bonds.
The City shall have the power to borrow money on the credit of the City and to issue general
obligation bonds for permanent public improvements or for any other public purpose not
prohibited by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, and to issue refunding bonds to
refund outstanding bonds of the City previously issued. All such bonds shall be issued in
conformity with the laws of the State of Texas.
Sec. 6.09. Revenue bonds and Obligations.
The City shall have power to borrow money for the purpose of constructing, purchasing,
improving, extending or repairing of public utilities, recreational facilities or any other
self-liquidating municipal function not prohibited by the Constitution and laws of the State of
Texas, and to issue revenue bonds and obligations in accordance with State law. Such bonds
and obligations shall be a charge upon and payable solely from the properties, or interest
therein, pledged, or the income therefrom, or both, and shall never be a debt of the City. All
such debts shall be issued in conformity with the laws of the State of Texas.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Editor's note—An amendment of May 3, 2003, amended § 6.09 in its entirety to read as
herein set out. Formerly, § 6.09 pertained to revenue bonds and derived from original
codification.
Sec. 6.10. Sale of bonds and Obligations.
All bonds and obligations of the City having been issued and sold in accordance with the
terms of this section, and having been delivered to the purchasers thereof, shall thereafter be
incontestable, and all bonds issued to refund and in exchange for outstanding bonds previously
issued shall, after said exchange, be incontestable.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 6.11. Purchase procedure.
The Council may, by ordinance, confer upon the City Manager general authority to contract
for expenditures without further approval of the Council for all budgeted items that do not
exceed the amount which requires compliance with the State competitive bidding/purchasing
laws. All contracts for expenditures involving more than the amounts which require compli-
ance with the State competitive bidding/purchasing laws must be expressly approved in
advance by the Council.
The Council shall develop and adopt purchasing policies to encourage and utilize local
business and service providers insofar as such policies are consistent with state law and
prudent expenditures of public funds.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Election: Ord. No.
86-12, Amend. No. 22, 2-25-86)
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 7.03
Sec. 6.12. Independent audit.
At the close of each fiscal year, and at such other times as it may be deemed necessary, the
Council shall cause an independent audit to be made of all accounts of the City by a certified
public accountant. The certified public accountant(s) shall be selected by and shall report
directly to the Council. Further, the certified public accountant(s) so selected shall have no
personal or business interest, directly or indirectly, in the financial affairs of the City or any
of its officers or officials, nor shall the selected accountant(s) have any business interest with
the City, other than the provision of independent auditing services related to the accounts of
the City. Upon completion of the audit, and upon presentation to and acceptance by the Council
of the final audit report, the results shall be published as soon as possible in a newspaper of
general circulation within the City of Georgetown and copies placed on file in the City
Secretary's office as public record..
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 23, 2-25-86)
ARTICLE VII. TAXATION*
Sec. 7.01. Taxation.
The Council shall establish a taxation process to assess and collect City taxes. The City
Manager shall recommend and the Council shall appoint a person or entity to act as the City's
Tax Assessor -Collector. The City's appointed Tax Assessor -Collector shall give a surety bond
for the faithful performance of all responsibilities and duties of the office, as prescribed by the
City Council and State law.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Editor's note—An amendment of May 3, 2003, amended § 7.01 in its entirety to read as
herein set out. Formerly, § 7.01 pertained to the taxation department and derived from Ord.
No. 86-12, Amend. No. 24, adopted February 25, 1986.
Sec. 7.02. Taxation powers.
The City Council may levy, assess, and collect taxes of any type or character not prohibited
by the laws of the State of Texas.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 24, 2-25-86)
Sec. 7.03. Tax appraisal, assessment and collection.
Appraisal, assessment and collection of taxes shall be according to the requirements of the
Texas Property Tax Code or other law.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 24, 2-25-86)
Editor's note—Amendment No. 24 of Ord. No. 86-12, adopted Feb. 25, 1986, amended
Art. VII to read as set out in §§ 7.01-7.05. The article formerly consisted of §§ 7.01-7.08.
Supp. No. 2 CHT:27
7.04 GEORGETOWN CODE
Sec. 7.04. Tax payments due.
All City taxes are due and payable on or before the first day of February at the office of the
Tax Assessor -Collector. Taxes may be paid at any time after the tax rolls for the year have been
completed and approved. Taxes paid after February 1 are delinquent and subject to penalties
and interest. The City Council may, by city ordinance, provide for payment of taxes by
installments. The Tax Assessor -Collector's failure to levy or assess taxes does not relieve any
owner from tax liability on taxable property.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 24, 2-25-86)
Sec. 7.05. Tax liens.
All taxes levied by the City are a lien, charge, and encumbrance on the taxpayer's property
as of the first day of January in the year the tax is due. The City may enforce and foreclose,
in any court of proper jurisdiction, a lien on the property, regardless of the legal residency of
the property owner.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 24, 2-25-86)
ARTICLE VIII. FRANCHISE AND PUBLIC UTILITY
Sec. 8.01. Powers of the City.
In addition to the City's power to buy, construct, lease, maintain, operate and regulate
public utilities and to manufacture, distribute and sell the output of such utility operations,
the City shall have further powers as may now or hereafter be granted under the Constitution
and laws of the State of Texas.
Prior to the consideration of a sale of the City's community -owned electric utility, the City
Council shall hold a public hearing during which the City's financial advisor shall present a
report to the City Council concerning the revenue that has been earned by the City's
community -owned electric utility throughout the City's ownership thereof, and an analysis of
the revenue to be lost by the City through the proposed sale of the electric utility.
There shall be two Council votes twelve months apart to call a referendum election
concerning the sale of the electric utility. The City shall then hold a referendum election which
must be favorably passed by a majority of the voters voting at the election.
Amended by voters in the May 1994 General Elections)
Sec. 8.02. Inalienability of control of public property.
The right to control and use of public streets, highways, sidewalks, alleys, parks, public
squares, and public places of the City is hereby declared to be inalienable by the City, except
by ordinances not in conflict with the provisions of this Charter. No act or omission by the
Council or any officer or agent of the City shall be construed to grant, renew, extend, or amend,
Supp. No. 2 CHT:28
HOME RULE CHARTER § 8.04
expressly or by estoppel or implication, any right, franchise or easement affecting said public
streets, highways, sidewalks, alleys, parks, public squares, public places and other real
property, except as provided in this Charter.
Sec. 8.03. Franchise; power of the City Council.
The City Council shall have the power by ordinance to grant, amend, renew and extend, all
franchises of all public utilities of every character operating within the City of Georgetown. All
ordinances granting, amending, renewing, or extending franchises for public utilities shall be
read at two (2) separate regular meetings of the City Council, and shall not be finally passed
until thirty (30) days after the first reading; and no such ordinance shall take effect until thirty
30) days after its final passage; and pending such time, the full text of such ordinances shall
be published once each week for four (4) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Georgetown, and the expense of such publication shall be
borne by the proponent of the franchise. No public utility franchise shall be granted for a term
of more than twenty (20) years; no public utility franchise shall be transferable except with the
approval of the City Council expressed by ordinance.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 25, 2-25-86)
Sec. 8.04. Regulation of franchise.
Every grant, renewal, extension, or amendment of a public utility franchise, whether so
provided in the ordinance or not, shall be subject to the right of the council:
1) To forfeit any such franchise by ordinance at any time for failure of the holder thereof
to comply with the terms of the franchise. Such power shall be exercised only after
written notice to the franchise holder stating wherein the franchise holder has failed
to comply with the terms of the franchise and setting a reasonable time for the
correction of such failure, and shall be exercised only after hearing and after such
reasonable time has expired.
2) To impose reasonable regulations to ensure safe, efficient and continuous service to the
public.
3) To require such expansion, extension, enlargement and improvements of plants and
facilities as are necessary to provide adequate service to the public.
4) To require every franchise holder to furnish to the City, without cost to the City, full
information regarding the location, character, size, length, and terminals of all
facilities of such franchise holder, in, over and under the streets, alleys, and other
public property of the City, and to regulate and control the location, relocation, and
removal of such facilities.
5) To collect from every public utility operating in the City such proportion of the expense
of excavating, grading, paving, repaving, constructing, reconstructing, draining,
repairing, maintaining, lighting, sweeping, and sprinkling the streets, alleys, bridges,
culverts, viaducts, and other public places of the City as represents the increased cost
of such operations resulting from the occupancy of such public places by such public
Supp. No. 2 CHT:29
8.04 GEORGETOWN CODE
utilities, and such proportion of the costs of such operations as results from the damage
to or disturbance of such public places caused by such public utility; or to compel such
public utility to perform at its own expense, such operations as above listed which are
made necessary by the occupancy of such public places by such utility or by damage to
or disturbance of such public places caused by such public utility.
6) To require every franchise holder to allow other public utilities to use its poles and
other facilities, including bridges and viaducts, whenever in the judgment of the
Council such use shall be in the public interest, provided that in such event a
reasonable rental shall be paid such owner of facilities for such use. Provided, further,
that inability of such public utilities to agree upon rentals for such facilities shall not
be an excuse for failure to comply with such requirements by the Council.
7) (a) To require the keeping of accounts in such form as will accurately reflect the value
of the property of each franchise holder which is used and useful in rendering its
service to the public and the expenses, receipts and profits of all kinds of such
franchise holder.
b) To examine and audit at any time during business hours the accounts and other
records of any franchise holder.
c) To require reports on the operations of the utility, which shall be in such form and
contain such information as the Council shall prescribe.
Sec. 8.05. Regulation of rates.
The Council shall have full power after notice and hearing to regulate by ordinance the
rates, charges and fares of every public utility franchise holder operating in the City, provided
that no such ordinance shall be passed as an emergency measure. Every franchise holder who
shall request an increase in rates, charges, or fares, shall have, at the hearing of the Council
called to consider such request, the burden of establishing by clear, competent and convincing
evidence, the value of its investments properly allocable to serve in,the City, and the amount
and character of its expenses and revenues connected with the rendering of such service. If,
upon such hearing, the Council is not satisfied with the sufficiency of the evidence so
furnished, it shall be entitled to call upon such public utility for the furnishing of additional
evidence at a subsequent date, to which said hearing may be adjourned. If at the conclusion of
said adjourned hearing, the Council is still not satisfied with the sufficiency of the evidence
furnished by said utility, the Council shall have the right to select and employ, then and later,
rate consultants, auditors and attorneys to conduct investigations, present evidence, advise
the Council, and conduct litigation on such requested increase in rates, charges or fares; and
said utility shall reimburse the City for its reasonable and necessary expense so incurred to the
extent required by State law. Such rate consultants, auditors and attorneys shall be qualified,
competent, and of good standing in their professions. No public utility franchise holder shall
institute any legal action to contest any rate, charge or fare fixed by the Council until such
franchise holder has filed a motion for rehearing with the Council specifically setting out each
ground of its complaint against the rate, charge, or fare fined by the Council, and until the
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 9.05
Council shall have acted upon such motion. Such motion shall be deemed overruled unless
acted upon by the Council within a reasonable time, not to exceed ninety (90) days from the
filing of such motion for rehearing; provided, that the Council may by resolution extend such
time limit for acting on said motion for rehearing from ninety (90) days to one hundred eighty
180) days.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 8.06. Grant not to be exclusive.
No grant or franchise to construct, maintain or operate a public utility and no renewal or
extension of such grant shall be exclusive.
ARTICLE IS. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 9.01. Nepotism.
A person who is related within the second degree by affinity or within the third degree by
consanguinity to the Mayor or any member of the City Council or City Manager may not be
employed or appointed to any office, position, or clerkship of the City. This prohibition does not
apply to any person employed by the City at least one (1) year prior to and at the time of the
election of the Mayor or Council members, or appointment of the City Manager. This provision
does not apply to any unpaid members of City boards, committees, or commissions.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 26, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.02. Publicity of records.
All records and accounts of every office, division, department, or agency of the City shall be
open to the public as provided by applicable State and Federal law.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03; Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 27, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.03. Improper acts.
Any person employed by the City or appointed to a City office may contribute to and
participate in City elections to the extent allowed by State and Federal law.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 28, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.04. Political activity.
A person seeking appointment or promotion in the City administrative services may not,
directly or indirectly, give or pay any money, service, or benefit to any person to assist the
promotion or appointment.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 29, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.05. Officer, employees, and penalties.
Any person who is found to have violated Section 9.03 or Section 9.04 of this Charter and
after having received due process of law as provided by ordinance, is ineligible for appointment
Supp. No. 2 CHT.31
9.05 GEORGETOWN CODE
or election to a position in City government for a period of four (4) years after the violation; and
if the person is an office holder or employee of the City at the time of the violations, the person
forfeits the office or position held at the time of the violation.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 30, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.06. Oath of office.
All officials and officers of the City shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective
offices, take and subscribe the official oath prescribed by State law. The oath of office shall be
administered by the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Secretary or any other person authorized by
law to administer oaths.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 9.07. Notice of claims.
Before the City of Georgetown shall be liable for damages for the death or personal injuries
of any person or for damage to or destruction of property of any kind, which does not constitute
a taking or damaging of property under Article I, Section 17, Constitution of Texas, the person
injured, if living; or, if dead, the person's representative; or the owner of the property damaged
or destroyed shall give the City Council or City Manager notice in writing of such death, injury,
damage or destruction, duly verified by affidavit, within six (6) months after same has been
sustained, stating specifically in such written notice when, where and how the death or injury
was sustained; the amount of damage sustained to property, and the actual residence of the
claimant by street and number at the date the claim is presented; the actual residence of such
claimant for six (6) months immediately preceding the occurrence of such death, injury,
damage or destruction, and the names and addresses of all witnesses upon whom it is relied
to establish the claim for damages; and the failure to so notify the Council or City Manager
within the time and manner specified herein shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the City from
any liability whatsoever. No act of any officer or employee of the City shall waive compliance,
or estop the City from requiring compliance, with the provisions of this section as to notice, but
such provisions may be waived by resolution of the Council, made and passed before the
expiration of the six-month period herein provided, and evidenced by minutes of the Council.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 31, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.08. Assignment, execution, and garnishment.
The property, real and personal, belonging to the City shall not be liable for sale or
appropriation under any writ of execution. The funds belonging to the City, in the hands of any
person, firm or corporation, shall not be liable to garnishment, attachment or sequestration;
nor shall the City 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 of 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 as required by law.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 32, 2-25-86)
Supp. No. 2 CHT:32
t - HOME RULE CHARTER § 9.14
Sec. 9.09. Effect of Charter on existing law.
All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations now in force under the City government
and not in conflict with the provisions of any amendment to this Charter shall remain in force
under such amendment until altered, amended or repealed by the Council after such
amendment to this Charter takes effect. All rights of the City under existing franchises and
contracts and all existing authority for the issuance of bonds, not in conflict with the provisions
of any amendment to this Charter, shall be preserved in full force and effect.
Sec. 9.10. Construction of Charter.
This Charter shall not be construed as a mere grant of enumerated powers, but shall be
construed as a general grant of power and as a limitation of power on the government of the
City of Georgetown in the same manner as the Constitution of Texas is construed as a
limitation on the powers of the Legislature. Except where expressly prohibited by this Charter,
each and every power under Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Texas, which it would
be competent for the people of the City of Georgetown to expressly grant to the City, shall be
construed to be granted to the City by this Charter.
Sec. 9.11. Applicability of general laws.
The Constitution of the State of Texas, the statutes of said State applicable to home ruled
municipal corporations, as now or hereafter enacted, this Charter and ordinances enacted
pursuant hereto shall, in the order mentioned, be applicable to the City of Georgetown, but the
City shall also have the power to exercise any and all powers conferred by the laws of the State
of Texas upon any other kind of city, town or village, not contrary to the provisions of said home
rule statutes, charter and ordinances, but the exercise of any such powers by the City of
Georgetown shall be optional with it, and it shall not be required to conform to the law
governing any other cities, towns or villages unless and until by ordinance it adopts same.
Sec. 9.12. Judicial notice.
This Charter shall be deemed a public act, may be read in evidence without pleading or
proof, and judicial notice shall be taken thereof in all courts and places.
Sec. 9.13. Severability clause.
If any section or part of a section of this Charter is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by
a court of competent jurisdiction, the same shall not invalidate or impair the validity, force or
effect of any other section or part of a section of this Charter.
Sec. 9.14. Amending the Charter.
Amendments to this Charter may be framed and submitted to the voters of the City in the
manner provided by law.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 33, 2-25-86)
Supp. No. 2 CHT:33
9.15 GEORGETOWN CODE
Sec. 9.15. Rearrangement and renumbering.*
The Council shall have the power, by ordinance, to renumber and rearrange all articles,
sections and paragraphs of this Charter or any amendments thereto, as it shall deem
appropriate, and upon the passage of such ordinance, a copy thereof certified by the City
Secretary shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State for filing.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 34, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.16. Ethics review f
The Council shall adopt an ethics ordinance and provide for an annual review thereof; there
shall also be a minimum of one (1) work session per year devoted to the study of ethics statutes.
Ord. No. 86-12, Amend. No. 35, 2-25-86)
Sec. 9.15. Interim municipal government.
From and after the date of the adoption of this Charter, the persons then filling elective
offices which are retained under this Charter will continue to fill those offices for the terms for
which they were elected. At the first regular City election after the adoption of this Charter,
three (3) councilmembers shall be elected and shall serve terms of two (2) years. Thereafter the
City Council shall be elected as provided in Section 3.01 of this Charter. Persons, who on the
date this Charter is adopted are filling appointive positions with the City of Georgetown which
are retained under this Charter may continue to fill these positions for the terms for which
they were appointed.
Sec. 9.17. Submission of Charter to voters.
The Charter Commission in preparing this Charter finds and decides that it is impractica-
ble to segregate each subject so as to permit a vote of yes or no on the same, for the reason that
the Charter is so constructed that in order to enable it to work and function it is necessary that
it should be adopted in its entirety. For these reasons, the Charter Commission directs that the
said Charter be voted upon as a whole and that it shall be submitted to the qualified voters of
the City of Georgetown at an election to be held for that purpose on Saturday, April 4, 1970.
Not less than thirty (30) days prior to such election, the City Council shall cause the City
Secretary to mail a copy of this Charter to each qualified voter of the City of Georgetown as
appears from the latest tax collector's roll. If a majority of the qualified voters voting in such
election shall vote in favor of the adoption of this Charter, it shall become the Charter of the
Editor's note—Amendment No. 34 repealed former § 9.15, "Interim Municipal Govern-
ment;" renumbered § 9.16 as § 9.15; repealed former § 9.17, "Submission of Charter to Voters;"
and specified that former §§ 9.15, 9.17 be retained for historical significance as an addendum
to the Charter.
Editor's note—For the former provisions of § 9.16, see the editor's note to § 9.15.
tEditor's note—See the editor's note to § 9.15.
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HOME RULE CHARTER § 9.19
City of Georgetown, and after the returns have been canvassed, the same shall be declared
adopted and the City Secretary shall file an official copy of the Charter with the records of the
City. The secretary shall furnish the Mayor a copy of said Charter, which copy of the Charter
so adopted, authenticated and certified by his signature and the seal of the City, shall be
forwarded by the Mayor to the Secretary of State of the State of Texas and shall show the
approval of such Charter by majority vote of the qualified voters, voting at such election.
Sec. 9.18. Disaster clause.
In case of disaster when a legal quorum of members of the Council cannot otherwise be
assembled due to multiple deaths or injuries, the surviving member(s) of the Council, or the
highest surviving City Officer, if no elected official remains, shall within twenty-four (24)
hours of the disaster, request the Commissioners Court of Williamson County, to appoint a
commission to act during the emergency and within fifteen (15) days of the disaster call a City
election for election of member(s) to the Council, if it is known that it is impossible for a
quorum of the present Council to meet again.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Sec. 9.19. Nonsubstantive Charter Amendments.
The City Council may, by ordinance, make nonsubstantive amendments to the Charter only
for the purpose of correcting grammatical errors, enhancing readability, updating legal
citations, and clarifying existing provisions to aid in public understanding.
Res. No. 050603-B, 5-3-03)
Supp. No. 2 CHT:35