(SUGAR LAND) - Sugar Land City Council is accepting applications for a Charter Review Commission through Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
Individuals who would like to serve on the Charter Review Commission should fill out an application on the city’s website at www.sugarlandtx.gov/charterreview.
Volunteers are needed to review Sugar Land’s charter, a document that provides the foundation for governance in Sugar Land.
In 1981, Sugar Land citizens voted to adopt the city’s first home-rule charter. By converting from a general-law city to a home-rule city, citizens chose to exercise their right under the Texas Constitution to make local laws to govern their own affairs. The charter is the city’s “constitution” and cannot be amended except by approval of the voters and not more than every two years.
The charter is a document that establishes the form of government for Sugar Land. This includes provisions for a council-manager form of government, legislative authority of City Council, general elections provisions, finance provisions and several other areas outlining the governance of Sugar Land. The charter is available online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/charter.
City Council is expected to appoint members to the Charter Review Commission during December. The commission’s recommendation to council is expected early next summer, with a possible charter review election called in the future.
Previous Charter Review Commissions have taken the view that the charter is the city’s “constitution” and should only include the fundamental matters of local government. For example, the number of council members on council and the timing of elections (November or May) are fundamental matters and should be addressed by the charter.
Members of the commission should be representative of individuals with a background knowledge and expertise that will recognize and understand the legal complexities of the government structure. They should be representatives who will bring forth neutral perspectives that promote and support the goal of effective local government.
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