Title
Receive a quarterly update regarding the Charter Review Committee.
Body
REQUESTOR:
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Roger Neal
BACKGROUND:
The City of Farmers Branch City Charter is the City’s governing document that establishes the structure, powers, and functions of municipal government. It outlines the roles of the City Council, Mayor, and City Manager and provides the legal framework for how the City operates, adopts policies, and delivers services.
The Charter Review Committee for the City of Farmers Branch is an advisory body responsible for reviewing the City Charter and recommending amendments. The Charter requires the Committee to be convened at least once every five years, though it may be reestablished as often as every two years in accordance with State law.
On November 18, 2025, Resolution No. 2025-225 was approved, reinstating the Charter Review Committee and appointing 22 members, with Cristal Retana serving as Chair and David Koch serving as Vice-Chair. Two members of the Committee have resigned, Jaime Rivas and Carol Dingman.
The Charter Review Committee has met monthly since December 17, 2025, and is reviewing the City Charter by article and section to identify and develop recommendations for potential amendments. In addition to reviewing the City Charter as a whole, the City Council has provided a list of recommended topics of discussion for the Committee to consider.
DISCUSSION:
At the request of Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Neal, staff will provide a quarterly update regarding the Committee’s progress. The last update was provided on April 7, 2026.
This quarter, the Charter Review Committee reviewed Articles III through VI. The following recommendations for amendments to be placed on the ballot have been approved by the Committee:
Article III: The City Manager
• No amendments proposed
Article IV: Budget
• Section 4.06 - Updated language to clarify operating in accordance with State law
• Section 4.08 - Grammatical corrections, but does not change the meaning of the provision
• Section 4.09 - Grammatical corrections, but does not change the meaning of the provision
Article V: Bonds, Warrants, and Other Evidences of Indebtedness
• No amendments proposed
Article VI: Assessment and Collection of Taxes
• Section 6.02 - Spelling error
Items Under Consideration
• Creation of a Transit Committee to review transit services in the City every six years.
• Provision allowing typographical or grammatical errors in the City Charter to be corrected without an election.
• Remote attendance for Councilmembers attending meetings.
Upcoming Discussions
• Moving general elections to November. (Section VII)
• Changing Council terms to two- or four-year terms. (Section VII)
• Requiring the CIP Program to be updated every five years. (Section VIII)
• Clarify language related to reinstating the Charter Review Committee and the appointment of members. (Section IX)
• Potential penalties for a Councilmember who resigns mid-term.
• Discussion regarding adding an at-large member of the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
DISTRICT:
Citywide
POSSIBLE COUNCIL ACTION:
N/A
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation