HomeMy WebLinkAboutColleyville Charter Review Committee-Agenda Packets-1/19/2005
city Of
Texas
PUBLIC NOTICE
COLLEYVILLE CITIZEN'S CITY CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
AGENDA
JANUARY 19, 2005
7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL
100 MAIN STREET
CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM
THIRD FLOOR
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of January 12, 2005 Minutes
HI. Review and discussion of possible modifications of the Colleyville City
Charter ~
IV. Discussion of selecting meeting dates
V. Discussion of items to be placed on the next agenda
VI. Adjournment
I certify that this notice was posted on the bulletin boards at City Hall on Friday,
January 14, 2005, .00 .m.
Cynthia Singleton, TRMC
City Secretary
100 MAIN STREET COllEYVJllE. TEXAS 76034 (817) 503-1000
MINUTES OF THE
COLLEYVILLE CITIZEN'S CITY CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
JANUARY 12, 2005
I. Call to Order
Chairman Jim Moore called the meeting to order on January 12, 2005 at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Chairman Jim Moore, Ed Baker, Linda Bond, Richard Newton, Brad
Rice, Mike Taylor, Frank Whitmire, City Manager Bill Lindley,
Assistant City Manager Paul Frederiksen, Financial Analyst Kacey
Bess
Steve Magee arrived at 7:07 p.m.
Louis Miller arrived at 7:08 p.m.
II. Approval of December 29, 2004 Minutes and January 5, 2005 Minutes
Ed Baker moved to approve the minutes and seconded by Richard Newton. Approved
unanimously.
III. Review and discussion of possible modifications of the Colleyville City Charter
Committee reviewed and discussed changes to Articles III.
General discussion regarding the structure of the City Council.
City Manager Lindley introduced the new Assistant City Manager, Paul Frederickson.
Mike Taylor suggested discussiong the veto before discussing changes to the Council
structure. Brad Rice requested background information on the veto right from the
original Charter Committee members and previous Mayors. General discussion
regarding veto and voting rights of the Mayor.
Mike Taylor made a motion that the City move to a seven member Council, six
members as Council members and one as Mayor, staggered three-year terms with
three-two-two and that all members vote, four votes to affirm and anything less is
denied, and to do this with the May election in 2006. Louis Miller seconded the
motion. Ayes: Brad Rice, Louis Miller, Ed Baker, Steve Magee, Mike Taylor, and
Chairman Moore. Nayes: Frank Whitmire, Linda Bond, and Richard Newton. Motion
passed.
Brad Rice suggested the Committee urge the Council to set public hearings to get
information out to the City and receive public feedback on proposed Charter changes.
Discussion regarding implementation of the proposed three-year terms.
1
The Committee clarified that the Mayoral veto power goes away under Mike Taylor's
motion regarding changes to the City Council.
Steve Magee will review Section 3.01 in relation to the Committee's proposed change
to the City Council structure.
In Section 3.01, Mike Taylor recommended the last sentence be changed to
"...following the canvass of the election..." Committee approved.
General discussion regarding indebtedness, qualifications of City Council candidates
and members, and moral turpitude, as referred to in Section 3.02.
Committee agreed to leave reference to "moral turpitude" in Section 3.02.
Brad Rice suggested changing Section 3.02(c) to "Not financially delinquent to the
City." Approved unanimously.
Linda Bond indicated the Committee was to revisit Section 14.02(b) during the review
of Article III. Steve Magee suggested possibly moving the section to Section 3.08.
Steve Magee moved to delete the last sentence of Section 3.04. Approved by the
Committee. Brad Rice noted the change will need to be explained during the
education process.
Richard Newton moved to keep the current Section 3.05 language and seconded by
Steve Magee. Approved unanimously.
Linda Bond requested that Steve Magee and Brad Rice provide advice at the next
meeting on where in Article III to move items from Articles XII and Section 14.02 for
the next Committee meeting.
IV. Discussion of selecting meeting dates
Chairman Moore said the City Council agreed to the Committee having additional
meetings on January 19th and 26th.
V. Discussion of items to be placed on the next agenda
Committee will start next meeting's discussion with Section 3.06.
VI. Adjournment
Chairman Moore adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
2
~RTICLE III 1____
THE GOVERNING BODY
Section 3.01 Number. Selection. Term:
The Legislature and Governing Body of the City shall consist of
p~jt61
members; $D€il!.;;.
. Council Persons elected by place number and a
Mayor, all members to be elected from the City at large, and shall be known as the
'City Council of the City of Colleyville'.
The . Council Persons and Mayor shall be elected under the general provisions provided by
~rticle 1\11 ~f _ thi~ _ Gha.rt~r_ f~r _ th~e_e _ '11TI..l )'e_ar_ ~~~_~, _ :rhe. EiTtI'lIft. y~~_~ Jerrlls_ _sh~_"_ t>e._
staggered so that. Council Persons from Place 1 and 2 ~1.g.1 and the Mayor shall be elected
one (1) year and. Council Persons from Places 3114 shall be elected .'11II11'11._
IIr, and 5 ~ilml 11111('1 shall be elected the rltlSI11 II.. year. Each of the" Council
Persons and Mayor, unless sooner removed under the provisions of this Charter, shall hold office
until his successor is elected and duly sworn.
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Comment: Review Section 14 for
possible relocation
i Comment: Is there a need to retain ;
: this sentence? i
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Section 3.02 Qualifications:
Each candidate for membership and each member of the City Council shall be and remain:
(a) A resident of the City of Colleyville and shall have been a resident for a period of not
less than twelve (12) months immediately preceding their election or a resident of any territory not
formerly within the corporate limits of the City but which is annexed under the provisions of this
Charter for twelve (12) months preceding their election;
(b) A qualified voter of the State of Texas and the City of Colleyville;
(c) Not
to the City.
If any member of the
Council fails to maintain the foregoing qualifications, or shall fail to
( Comment: Text prepared by staff
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maintain the seventy-five percent (75%) attendance record for all regularly scheduled meetings, as
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specified in [section 3.09 herEl9.(,_ ,dlJring_ ElCl.<:;!"L ElI~~t~~. Y~_~f,- _qU~~_~!L ~_~_c;:9.nXictEl~__9taJEllol1y _or _ '
offense involving moral turpitude, the III Council shall declare a vacancy in the office of that
2
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member of the
Council at its next regular meeting and shall fill the vacancy as set forth in this
Charter. (Amended April 7, 1984)
Section 3.03 ~ltY Council to Be the Judoe of Election Qualification:
The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its own members.
Section 3.04 Compensation:
The Mayor and 1.1 Council Persons shall not receive a salary, but shall be entitled to actual and
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their specific official duties of the office. -II
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Section 3.05 Vacancies:
A single vacancy in the
Council shall be filled within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the
vacancy by a majority vote of the remaining members of the
Council by selection of a person
qualified for the position as described in this Charter. This appointee shall serve until the position
can be filled at the next regular or special City election as provided by law. However, if such
vacancy occurs within one hundred twenty (120) days of a regular election, then no election shall
be called to fill the vacancy, and the remaining 1.1 Council members shall appoint a qualified
person to fill the vacancy until the regular election.
Notwithstanding the requirement in Isection 3.09 ~hat a quorum of the III Council consists of four
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - . -
(4) members, if at any time the membership of the III Council is reduced to less than four (4), the
remaining members may by majority action appoint additional members to raise the membership
to four (4). These appointees shall serve until the positions can be filled at the next regular or
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MEMORANDUM
Office of City Manager
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
City Charter Committee membE?rs
Bill Lindley
Attorney comments for City Charter
January 14, 2005
Please find attached comments received today from the law firm for the GCISD-
City Joint Tax Office. You had requested the firm review the City Charter Article
addressing taxation for possible modifications. In addition, we have requested
the law firm for the TAD to also provide comments. I anticipate receiving the
second comments prior to your meeting next week. We will fax/email just as
soon as they are received. Lastly, I am anticipating receiving comments from the
City Attorney regarding the Article dealing with Tort also by the first of next week.
We will fax/email these two comments just as soon as they are received.
Page 1 of 1
William Lindley
From: Dave Fielder [dfielder@pbfcm.com}
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:05 AM
To: William Lindley
Subject: Review of Tax Provisions of Charter
Dear Mr. Lindley:
Attached is our review of you City Charter provisions dealing with property taxes. As you are aware, the
legislature by thea adoption of the Tax Code, has superseded most of the provisions contained in your charter
dealing with property taxation. If you have any questions, please feel free to call.
The original of this document will be delivered via mail.
C. David Fielder
PERDUE, BRANDON, FIELDER,
COLLINS & MOTT, LLP.
P.O. Box 13430
Arlington, Texas 76094-0430
Tel (817) 461-3344
Fax (817) 860-6509
1/14/2005
PERDUE, BRANDON, FIELDER, COLLINS & MOTT, LLP.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
4025 WOODLAND PARK BLVD., SUITE 300
P.O, BOX 13430
ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76094-0430
METRO 817-461-3344
FAX 817-860-6509
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Bill Lindley
C. David Fielder and Bruce Medley
Review of tax provisions of current City Charter
January 12,2005
The Texas Tax Code Section 1.02 provide that the Tax Code".. . supersedes any
provision of a municipal charter or ordinance relating to property taxation." We have
therefore reviewed the Charter provision faxed to us to see which if any, may have been
superseded by the Texas Tax Code.
Charter Section 10.01
Texas Tax Code Section 6.22 specifically provides for municipalities to provide for
assessor collectors by charter or o.rdinance. Charter section 10.01 is therefore not in
conflict with the tax code and specifically authorized.
Charter Section 10.02
Texas Constitution, Article XI, Section 5, authorizes cities of 5,000 or more population to
levy, assess and collect taxes as authorized by their charters or ordinances. We can find
no provision of the Tax Code in conflict with the Section 10.02 of the tax code and
therefore are of the opinion that it is valid.
Charter Section 10.03
The above noted Texas Constitution, Article XI, Section 5, limits the authority of the City
to tax by providing that no tax in any single year shall exceed 2.5% of the taxable
property. Since the maximum tax rate included in the current Section 10.03 is $1.50 per
$100 of value, this is within the limits set by the constitution and valid. The remainder of
the Section, which limits annual increases in taxes to no more than 7%, is in conflict
with Sections 26.01 through 26.07 of the Tax Code which sets forth the procedure of
calculating the effective and rollback tax rates and provides for roll back elections. As
such, it would be superseded by the Tax Code.
Chapter Section 10.04
The Texas Constitution was amended in 1980 by adding Article VIII, Section 18, to
require that a single appraisal for property subject to taxation by the various taxing
authorities within the County and a single board of equalization (appraisal review board)
for each County equalize the values.
Texas Tax Code Chapter 22 provides for renditions and reports to be made to the Chief
Appraiser of the Appraisal District. Chapter 23 sets forth the various methods to be used
by the appraisal district to appraise property for tax purposes, Chapter 25 deals with
taxpayer notification of increases in value, and Chapter 41 provides for the equalization
of values and determination of taxpayer protests by the Appraisal Review Board.
Because of these provisions in both, the Constitution and Tax Code, it is our opinion that
Charter Section 10.04 has been superseded by the provisions of the Tax Code and is of no
effect.
Charter Section 10.05
Texas Tax Code Chapter 31 of the Texas Tax Code provides for the that taxes are due
October 1 each year and taxes are delinquent if not paid on or before January 31 of the
following year. The Chapter also provides for installment payment of current taxes in
certain circumstances. Chapter 33 provides for delinquent collections, sets the penalty
and interest to be charged and provides for waivers of penalty and interest in some cases
where the request is timely made and the delinquency existed as a result of an error or
omission of the tax collector, his employees or agents. This Chapter also authorizes to
the tax collector to make installment agreements for delinquent taxes within certain
limits. Since all matters covered by Section 10.05 are provided for by the tax Code, it is
superseded.
Charter Section 10.06
Texas Tax Code Chapter 32 deals with liens and personal liability of taxes. Section
32.01 provides for a lien on all property as of January 1 of each tax year to secure
payment of the taxes. Section 32.05 provides that the lien securing payment ofthe taxes
is the first lien on the property and superior to all interests in the property except
survivor's allowance, funeral expenses, expenses oflast illness, prior recorded restrictive
covenants running with the land and valid easements. Section 32.07 establishes that the
owner ofthe property as of January 1 of the tax year is personally liable for the taxes.
Chapters 33 and 34 set forth the procedures for filing suits to obtain personal judgments,
and foreclosure and sale of the property. It is our opinion that Charter Section 10.06 is
superseded by the Tax Code and no longer valid.
SUMMARY
Current sections 10.01 and 10.02 ofthe Charter are specifically authorized by the
Texas Constitution and/or the Texas Tax Code and are valid. The first sentence of
Section 10.03, which limits the maximum tax rate to $1.50 per $100 of value (or 1.5%)
is less than the 2.5% limit contained in the Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution and
would therefore be valid limitation of the taxation power of the City. The remainder of
Section 10.03 conflicts with the effective tax rate and rollback provisions of the
Tax Code. Section 10.04 deals with appraisal and assessment matters which the
Constitution and Tax Code has delegated to the Appraisal District. Sections 10.05 and
10.06 pertain to collection matters which have been codified by the tax code and are
therefore superseded by those provisions in the Tax Code.