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CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
CITY CHARThR
ay 2006 10th Fix -Edon
ARTICLE I
INCORPORATION: FORM OF GOVERNMENT: TERRITORY
Incorporation
Section 1. The inhabitants of the City of College Station, within the corporate limits as now established or as
hereafter established in the manner provided by this charter, shall continue to be a municipal body politic and
corporate in perpetuity, under the name of the "City of College Station".
Form of Government
Section 2. The municipal government provided by this charter shall be known as the "council-manager
government". Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the state constitution and
by this charter, all powers of the City shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter referred to as the "City
Council", which shall enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and employ the city manager,
who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the City. All powers of the City shall be exercised
in the manner prescribed by this charter, or, if the manner be not prescribed, then in such manner as may be
prescribed by ordinance.
Boundaries
Section 3. The bounds and limits of the City of College Station are hereby established and described as shown
by the articles of incorporation, the several annexation ordinances and the official zoning map of said city.
Creation of Precinct Boundaries
Section 4. The City Council shall divide the City of College Station into precincts for voting purposes only, and
when practicable they shall conform to the county voting precincts.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE AND GENERAL POWERS
Powers of the City
Section 5. The City shall have all the powers granted to Home Rule Cities by the Constitution and laws of this
State, as fully and completely as though they were specifically enumerated in this Charter, together with all the
implied powers necessary to carry into execution such granted powers, and the powers are hereby adopted that
are conferred upon cities by Article XI, Section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Texas (Home Rule
Amendment). Among other powers, the City shall have the power to contract and be contracted with; to acquire
property in fee simple within or without its corporate limits for any municipal purpose, or any lesser interest or
estates, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or condemnation, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage and
control such property as its interests may require, except as prohibited by the Constitution or restricted by this
Charter. The City may use a corporate seal; may cooperate with the government of the State of Texas or any
agency thereof, or any political subdivision of the State of Texas, or with the United States 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; and may pass such 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 and safety of its inhabitants consistent with the provisions of this Charter.
The enumeration of particular powers by this Charter shall not be deemed to be exclusive; and in addition to the
powers enumerated or implied herein, the City shall have all powers not prohibited by the Constitution or laws of
this State.
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Extension of City Limits Upon Petition
Section 6. The City Council may extend the City's boundaries by annexation petition in accordance with the
provisions of the statutes of the State of Texas.
Extension of City Limits by the City Council
Section 7. The City Council shall have the power to fix, by ordinance, the boundary limits of the City of College
Station, and to provide for the extension of such boundary limits and the annexation of additional territory lying
adjacent to the City, with or without the consent of the inhabitants of such area to be annexed. The City Council
shall have the power to detach, by ordinance, any territory, with or without the consent of the inhabitants of such
area to be detached. When any territory shall be so annexed, the same shall be a part of the City and the
inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of all the citizens and shall be bound by the
acts, ordinances, resolutions and regulations of the City. When territory has been detached, the same shall no
longer be a part of the City.
Eminent Domain
Section 8. The City shall have the full right, power and authority to exercise the power of eminent domain when
necessary or desirable to carry out any of the power conferred upon it by this charter or by the constitution or
laws of the State of Texas. In all cases where the City seeks to exercise the power of eminent domain, it may be
controlled, as nearly as practicable, by the laws governing the condemnation of property of railroad corporations
in this state, the City taking the position of the railroad corporation in any such case. The City may also exercise
the power of eminent domain in any other manner now or hereafter authorized or permitted by the constitution
and laws of this state, or in the manner and form that may be provided by ordinance of the governing body of the
City. The power of eminent domain hereby conferred shall include the right of the City to take the fee in the
lands so condemned and such power and authority shall include the right to condemn public property for such
purposes. The City shall have and possess this power of condemnation of property within or without the
corporate limits for any municipal or public purpose, even though not specifically enumerated herein or in this
charter.
Establishment and Control of Streets
Section 9. The City shall have the power to lay out, establish, open, alter, widen, lower, extend, grade, abandon,
discontinue, abolish, close, care for, pave, supervise, maintain and improve streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks,
squares, public places and bridges and regulate the use thereof, and require the removal from streets, sidewalks,
alleys and other public property or places of all obstructions and encroachments of every nature or character
upon any of said streets, alleys, sidewalks, and public property.
The City shall have exclusive domain, control and jurisdiction in and upon, and over and under the public streets,
avenues, alleys, and highways of the City. The City's exclusive domain, control, and jurisdiction in, upon, over
and under the public streets, avenues, alleys and highways of the City shall also include, but not be limited to,
the right to regulate, locate, relocate, remove, or prohibit the location of all utility pipes, lines or wires, or other
property.
Street Improvements
Section 10. The City may provide for the improvements of public streets, avenues, alleys and highways by
paving, repaving, raising, draining, or other improvements, and may assess the cost of such development and
improvements partly or entirely by assessments levied as a lien against the property abutting thereon and against
the owners thereof. If improvements be ordered constructed in any part of any area used or occupied by the
tracks or facilities of any railway or public utility, then the City shall have the power to assess the whole cost of
improvements in such area and the added costs 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,
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and shall have the power, by ordinance, to provide for the enforcement of such assessments. As an alternative
and cumulative method of developing, improving and paving any and all public streets, sidewalks, waterways,
alleys, highways and other public ways, the City shall have the power and authority to proceed in accordance
with V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, as amended.
Garbage Disposal
Section 11. The City Council shall have the right by ordinance to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for
the handling disposition of all garbage, trash and rubbish within the City of College Station, and shall further
have the right to fix charges and compensation to be charged by the City for the removal of garbage, trash and
rubbish, and to provide rules and regulations for the collection thereof.
Municipal Court
Section 12. There shall be a court for the trial of misdemeanor offenses known as the Municipal Court of the
City of College Station, with such powers, procedures and duties as are given and prescribed by the laws of the
State of Texas for a Municipal Court.
Sanitary Sewer System
Section 13. The City shall have the power to provide for a sanitary sewer system and to require property owners
to connect their premises with such systems; to provide for fixing penalties for failure to make sanitary sewer
connections; and to provide for fixing a lien against any property owner's premises who fails or refuses to make
sanitary sewer connections and to charge the cost against said owner and make it a personal liability. The City
shall further have the right to fix charges and compensation to be charged by the City for sewerage service, and
to provide rules and regulations for the collection thereof.
Public Utilities; Powers of the City
Section 14. In addition to its power to buy, own, construct, maintain and operate utilities and to manufacture and
distribute electricity, gas or anything else that may be needed or used by the public, the City shall have such
further powers as may now or hereafter be granted under the constitution and laws of the State of Texas.
Signs and Bill Boards
Section 15. The City shall have the power to license, regulate, control or prohibit the erection of signs or
billboards.
Nuisances; Control and Policing
Section 16. The City shall have the power to define all nuisances and prohibit the same within the City and
outside the City limits for a distance of five thousand (5000) feet; to have power to police all parks or grounds,
speedways or boulevards owned by the City and lying outside the City; to prohibit the pollution of any stream,
drain or tributaries thereof, which may constitute the source of water supply of the City and to provide for the
policing of the same as well as to provide for the protection of any water sheds and the policing of same; to
inspect dairies, slaughter pens and slaughter houses inside or outside the City limits, from which milk or meat is
furnished to the inhabitants of the City.
ARTICLE III
THE CITY COUNCIL
Number, Selection, TermError! Bookmark not defined.
Section 17. The City Council shall be composed of the Mayor and six (6) Councilmen and be known as the
"City Council of the City of College Station."
(a) The Mayor and other members of the City Council shall be elected from the City at large.
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(b) The Mayor shall be the presiding officer of the City Council and shall be recognized as the head of the City
government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of military law, but shall have
no regular administrative duties. The Mayor shall be entitled to vote on all matters under consideration by
the City Council.
(c) Each Councilman, unless sooner removed under the provisions of this Charter, shall serve for a term of
three (3) years, beginning with the first meeting of the Council following his election, and ending with the
first meeting of the Council three (3) years later, or until his successor has been elected and duly qualified.
The Mayor, unless sooner removed under the provisions of this Charter, shall serve for a term of three (3)
years, beginning with the first meeting of the Council following his election and ending with the first
meeting of the Council three (3) years later, or until his successor has been elected and duly qualified.
(d) No person shall be deemed elected to an office unless that person receives a majority of all the votes cast
for such office. The Council shall, upon declaring the official results of the election, order a run-off
election for each office to which no one was elected. In the run-off election, the two candidates who
received, in the preceding election, the highest number of votes for each office to which no one was
elected, shall be voted on again by the qualified voters, and the candidate who receives the majority of the
votes cast for such office in the run-off election shall be elected to such office.
(e) In 2004, the regular elections for Places 4 and 6 shall continue to have two (2) year terms. In 2006, and
subsequent years, the regular elections for Places 4 and 6 shall be for three (3) year terms. In 2004, and
subsequent years, the regular elections for the Mayor and Places 1, 2, 3, and 5 shall be for (3) three year
terms.
(f) Beginning in 1999, there shall be no limit to the total number of terms served by the Mayor or Councilmen;
however, no person shall be eligible to be elected to serve in the capacity of the Councilman for
consecutive regular terms totaling more than six (6) years; nor shall any person be eligible to be elected to
serve in the capacity of Mayor for consecutive regular terms totaling more than six (6) years.
Qualifications
Section 18. The Mayor and Councilmen shall be citizens of the United States and qualified voters of the State of
Texas; shall have resided for at least one (1) year next preceding the election, at which they are candidates,
within the corporate limits of the City of College Station; and shall not be disqualified by reason of any provision
of any other section of this Charter. A member of the City Council ceasing to possess any of the qualifications
specified in this section, or any other section of this Charter, or convicted of a felony while in office, or who
absents himself from three (3) consecutive regular Council meetings without consent of the Council, shall
immediately forfeit his office.
Compensation of Members
Section 19. Members of the City Council shall serve without pay or compensation; provided, however, they
shall be entitled to all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
Presiding Officer; Mayor
Section 20. The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the City Council and shall be recognized as head of the City
government for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for purposes of military law, but shall have no
regular administrative duties. He shall be entitled to vote upon all matters considered by the City Council, but he
shall have no veto power. The City Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem from its membership who shall act as
Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor.
Vacancies
Section 21. A vacancy in the City Council shall be filled by a special election which shall be called within thirty
(30) days of the occurrence of such vacancy. If any such vacancy shall occur within ninety (90) days preceding a
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general election, then no special election shall be called; provided, however, that the unexpired term shall be
filled at the next general election.
Powers
Section 22. All powers and authority, including the determination of all matters of policy which are expressly or
by implication conferred upon or possessed by the City, shall be vested in and exercised by the Council;
provided, however, that the Council shall have no authority to exercise those powers which are expressly
conferred upon other City officers by this Charter.
Without limitation of the foregoing, and among the other powers that may be exercised by the City Council, the
following are hereby enumerated for greater certainty:
(1) To appoint and remove the City Manager.
(2) To establish administrative departments and establish the organization and functions of divisions.
(3) To adopt the budget of the City.
(4) To authorize the issuance of bonds by a bond ordinance.
(5) To inquire into the conduct of any office, department or agency of the City and make investigations as to
municipal affairs.
(6) To provide for a planning commission, a zoning commission and a zoning board of adjustment, and
appoint the members of all such commissions and boards. The planning and zoning commissions may be
combined. Such boards and commissions shall have all powers and duties now or hereafter conferred and
created by this Charter, by City ordinance or by law.
(7) To adopt plats.
(8) To adopt and modify the official map of the City.
(9) To adopt, modify and carry out plans proposed by the planning commission for the replanning,
improvement and redevelopment of neighborhoods and for the replanning, reconstruction or
redevelopment of any area or district which may have been destroyed.
(10) To adopt, modify and carry out plans proposed by the planning commission for the replanning,
improvement and redevelopment of neighborhoods and for the replanning, reconstruction or
redevelopment of any area or district which may have been destroyed in whole or in part by disaster.
(11) To regulate, license and fix the charges or fares made by any person owning, operating or controlling any
vehicle of any character used for the carrying of passengers for hire or the transportation of freight for
hire on the public streets and alleys of the City.
(12) To provide for the establishment and designation of fire limits; to prescribe the kind and character of
buildings, structures or improvements to be erected therein; to provide for the erection of fireproof
buildings within certain limits; and to provide for the condemnation of dangerous structures, buildings,
dilapidated buildings or buildings calculated to increase the fire hazard and the manner of their removal
or destruction.
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(13) To prevent the construction and use of housing accommodations below standards fixed by the City
Council as proper for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals or general welfare of the City.
Appointment and Removal of City Manager
Section 23. The City Council shall appoint an officer of the City who shall have the title of City Manager and
who shall have the powers and perform the duties set forth in this charter. No Councilman shall receive such
appointment during the term for which he shall have been elected, nor within one year after the expiration of his
term.
The salary of the City Manager shall be fixed by the City Council, and he shall hold office at its pleasure; but if
he is removed at any time after six (6) months following his appointment, he may demand written charges and a
public hearing thereon before the City Council prior to the date on which his final removal shall take effect, but
pending such hearing the City Council may suspend him from office. The action of the City Council in
suspending or removing the City Manager shall be final, it being the intention of this Charter to vest all authority
and fix all responsibility for such suspension or removal in the City Council.
Council Not to Interfere In Appointments or Removals
Section 24. Neither the City Council nor any of its members shall direct the appointment of any person to or his
removal from office by the City Manager or by any of his subordinates; provided, however, that the appointment
or dismissal of department heads shall be subject to the approval of the City Council. Except for the purpose of
inquiry the City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the City
Manager, and neither the City Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the City
Manager, either publicly or privately.
Rights of the City Manager and Other Officers in Council
Section 25. The City Manager, and such other officers of the City as the City Council may invite, shall be
entitled to take part in all discussions of the City Council relating to their respective offices, departments or
agencies.
Administrative Departments
Section 26. There are hereby created the following administrative departments: Finance, Police, Fire and Public
Works. The City Council may, if it deems it advisable, consolidate into one department not more than two of the
departments hereby established; and by ordinance may create, change and abolish offices, departments or
agencies other than the offices, departments and agencies established by this Charter.
City Secretary
Section 27. The City Council shall appoint an officer of the City who shall be the City Secretary, who may be
removed from office by the Council. The City Secretary or Assistant City Secretary shall give notice of Council
meetings, shall keep a journal of its proceedings, shall authenticate by his signature and record in full in a book
or books kept and indexed for that purpose all ordinances and resolutions, and shall perform such other duties as
the City Council shall assign to him and those elsewhere provided for in the Charter.
The City Secretary shall have the power to appoint an assistant or assistants, if deemed necessary by him, subject
to the approval of and at such compensation as may be fixed by the City Council and such assistant or assistants
may be removed from office by the City Secretary.
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Municipal Court Judge
Section 28. The City Council shall appoint an officer of the City who shall be the Municipal Court Judge, who
may be removed from office by the Council. The City Council may appoint alternate Assistant Municipal Court
Judges, who may be removed from office by the Council, who shall serve in the absence of or in addition to the
Municipal Court Judge. All costs and fines imposed by the Municipal Court, or by any court in cases appealed
from judgments of the Municipal Court, shall be paid into the City Treasury for the use and benefit of the City.
City Attorney
Section 29. The City Council shall appoint an officer of the City who shall be the City Attorney, who may be
removed from office by the Council. The City Attorney shall be a competent and duly licensed attorney, who
shall reside in the City of College Station.
The City Attorney shall represent the City in all litigation. He shall be the legal advisor of and attorney and
counsel for the City and all officers and departments thereof.
The City Attorney shall have power to appoint an assistant or assistants, if deemed necessary by him, subject to
the approval of and at such compensation as may be fixed by the City Council; and such assistant or assistants
may be removed from office by the City Attorney.
City Internal Auditor
Section 30. The City Council may appoint an officer of the City to be the City Internal Auditor, who may be
removed from office by the Council. The City Internal Auditor shall carry out the audit functions and shall
perform such other duties as the City Council shall assign to him. The City Council may also enter into a
contract for the duties of City Internal Auditor, to be carried out by an outside firm, if it so chooses.
The City Internal Auditor shall have the power to appoint an assistant or assistants, if deemed necessary by him,
subject to the approval of and at such compensation as may be fixed by the City Council; and such assistant or
assistants may be removed from office by the City Internal Auditor. New Section created by the approval of
voters at Charter amendment election held on May 13, 2006.
Induction Into Office; Meetings
Section 31. The induction into office date shall be set by ordinance by the City Council, or as otherwise
provided by law, following each regular municipal election held under this Charter, or any special election for
the purpose of filling vacancies in the City Council. The City Council shall meet at the usual place for holding
meetings and the newly elected members shall qualify and assume the duties of office. Thereafter, the City
Council shall meet regularly at such times as may be prescribed in the rules, but not less frequently than once
each month. Special meetings shall be called upon request of the Mayor or a majority of the members of the City
Council. All meetings shall be subject to the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, V.T.C.A.,
GOVERNMENT Code, Ch. 551, Open Meetings, as amended.
City Council to be Judge of Qualification of its Members
Section 32. The City Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and for such
purpose shall have power to subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, but its decision in any
such case shall be subject to review by the courts.
Rules of Procedure; Journal
Section 33. The City Council shall determine its own rules and order of business. It shall keep an indexed
journal of its proceedings and the journal shall be open to public inspection.
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Ordinances
Section 34. In addition to such acts of the City Council required by statute or by this Charter to be by ordinance,
every act of the City Council establishing a fine or other penalty, or providing for the creation of public debt as
that term is used in the Texas Constitution, shall be by ordinance. All other official acts may by resolution,
ordinance, or order duly entered in the minutes. The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be "BE IT
ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION."
Procedure for Passage of Ordinances
Section 35. Every ordinance shall be introduced in written or printed form and, upon passage, shall take effect at
the time indicated therein; provided, however, that any ordinance imposing a penalty, fine or forfeiture for a
violation of its provisions shall become effective not less than ten (10) days from the date of its passage. The
City Secretary shall give notice of the passage of every ordinance imposing a penalty, fine or forfeiture for a
violation of the provisions thereof, by causing the caption or title, including the penalty, of any such ordinance
imposing a penalty, fine or forfeiture for a violation of the provisions thereof, to be published in the official
newspaper of the City of College Station at least twice within ten (10) days after the passage of such ordinance.
He shall note on every ordinance, the caption of which is hereby required to be published, and on the record
thereof, the fact that same has been published as required by the charter, and the date of such publication, which
shall be prima facie evidence of the legal publication and promulgation of such ordinance; provided, however,
that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the correction, amendment, revision and codification of the
ordinances of the City for publication in book or pamphlet form. Except as may be otherwise provided by this
charter, it shall not be necessary to the validity of any ordinance that it shall be read more than one time or
considered at more than one session of the City Council. Every ordinance shall be authenticated by the signature
of the Mayor and City Secretary and shall be systematically recorded and indexed in an ordinance book in a
manner approved by the City Council, but it shall only be necessary to record the caption or title of ordinances in
the minutes or journal of council meetings. The City Council shall have power to cause the ordinances of the
City to be corrected, amended, revised, codified and printed in code form as often as it deems advisable, and
such printed code, when adopted, shall be in full force and effect without the necessity of publishing the same or
any part thereof in a newspaper. Such printed code shall be admitted in evidence in all courts and places without
further proof.
Investigation by City Council
Section 36. The City Council shall have power to inquire into the conduct of any office, department, agency or
officer of the city and to make investigations as to municipal affairs, and for that purpose may subpoena
witnesses, administer oaths and compel the production of books, papers and other evidence. Failure to obey such
subpoena or to produce books, papers or other evidence as ordered under the provisions of this section shall
constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by fine not to exceed ($100.00) dollars.
Independent Annual Audit
Section 37. Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal year, the City Council shall designate a
qualified public accountant or accountants who, as of the end of the fiscal year, shall make an independent audit
of accounts and other evidences of financial transactions of the City government and shall submit the report to
the City Council. Such accountants shall have no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the
City government. They shall not maintain any account or record of the City business, but, within specifications
approved by the City Council, shall post -audit the books and documents kept by the City and any separate or
subordinate accounts kept by any other office, department or agency of the City government.
Housing Authority
Section 38. The City Council may create a housing authority of such number, terms and compensation of
members as it may determine and may delegate to that authority such powers relating to the planning,
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construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance or operation of housing projects and housing
accommodations as it may deem wise.
Disabled Employees; Pensions and Insurance
Section 39. The City Council shall have authority to provide for rules and regulations for maintaining
employees when injured and disabled while performing their duties, and it may provide for such plan of
insurance as it deems proper. The City Council shall also have authority to establish and to do all other proper
things necessary for the effective administration of a pension and retirement system for any or all groups of
officers and employees on such basis as it may determine consistent with or authorized by state laws. Such
system may be in cooperation with or participation in any district or statewide pension or retirement system
which has been or which may be hereafter authorized or established by the legislature of the State of Texas.
ARTICLE IV
THE CITY MANAGER
Qualifications
Section 40. The City Manager shall be chosen by the City Council solely on the basis of his executive and
administrative qualifications with special reference to his actual experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted
practice in respect to the duties of his office as hereinafter set forth. At the time of his appointment he need not
be a resident of the City or State, but during his tenure of office he shall reside within the City.
Powers and Duties
Section 41. The City Manager shall be the chief executive officer and the head of the administrative branch of
the city government. He shall be responsible to the City Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the
City, and to that end he shall have power and shall be required to:
(1) Appoint and, when necessary for the good of the service, remove all officers and employees of the City
except as otherwise provided by this Charter and except as he may authorize the head of a department to
appoint and remove subordinates in such department.
(2) Prepare the budget annually and submit it to the City Council and be responsible for its administration
after adoption.
Prepare and submit to the City Council at the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the finances and
administrative activities of the City for the preceding year.
(3)
(4) Keep the City Council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the City and make such
recommendations as may seem to him desirable and proper.
(5)
Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this charter or required of him by the City Council.
Absence of City Manager
Section 42. To perform his duties during his temporary leave of absence or disability, the Mayor may designate
by letter filed with the City Secretary a qualified administrative officer of the City to serve for the City Manager.
Concerning out of town business, illness, or vacation the City Manager may be delegated authority to designate
# an individual to serve in the absence of the City Manager.
Director of Departments
Section 43. At the head of each administrative department there shall be a director. He shall be an officer of the
City and shall have supervision and control of the department subject to the City Manager.
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Two or more departments may be headed by the same individual; the City Manager may head one or more
departments, and directors of departments may also serve as chiefs of divisions.
Departmental Divisions
Section 44. The work of each administrative department may be distributed among the divisions thereof subject
to approval of the City Manager.
ARTICLE V
THE BUDGET
Fiscal Year
Section 45. The fiscal year of the City of College Station shall be determined by ordinance of the Council. Such
fiscal year shall also constitute the budget and accounting year.
Preparation and Submission of Budget
Section 46. The City Manager, between thirty (30) and ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal
year, shall submit to the City Council a proposed budget which shall provide a complete financial plan for the
fiscal year.
Proposed Expenditures Compared With Other Years
Section 47. The City Manager shall, in the preparation of the budget, place in parallel columns opposite the
various items of expenditures the actual amount of such items of expenditures for the last completed fiscal year,
the estimated for the current fiscal year, and the proposed amount for the ensuing fiscal year.
Budget a Public Record
Section 48. The budget and all supporting schedules shall be filed with the City Secretary when submitted to the
City Council and shall be a public record for inspection by anyone. The City Manager shall cause copies to be
made for distribution to all interested persons.
Notice of Public Hearing on Budget
Section 49. At the meeting at which the budget is submitted, the City Council shall fix the time and place of a
public hearing on the budget and shall cause to be published a notice of the hearing setting forth the time and
place thereof at least five (5) days before the date of the hearing.
Public Hearing on Budget
Section 50. At the time and place set for a public hearing on the budget, or at any time and place to which such
public hearing shall from time to time be adjourned, the City Council shall hold a public hearing on the budget
submitted, and all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard for or against any item or the
amount of any item therein contained.
Proceedings on Budget After Public Hearing Amending or Supplementing Budget
Section 51. After the conclusion of such public hearing, the City Council may insert new items or may increase
or decrease the items of the budget, except items in proposed expenditures fixed by law. Before inserting any
additional item or increasing any item of appropriation which will increase the total budget by three (3%) percent
or more, it must cause to be published a notice setting forth the nature of the proposed increases and fixing a
place and time, not less than five (5) days after publication, at which the City Council will hold a public hearing
thereon.
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Proceedings on Adoption of Budget
Section 52. After such further hearing, the City Council may insert the additional item or items, and make the
increase or increases, to the amount in each case indicated by the published notice, or to a lesser amount; but
where it shall increase the total proposed expenditures, it shall also provide for an increase in the total anticipated
revenue to at least equal such total proposed expenditures.
Vote Required for Adoption
Section 53. The budget shall be adopted by the favorable vote of a majority of the members of the entire City
Council.
Date of Final Adoption; Failure to Adopt
Section 54. The budget shall be finally adopted not later than the twenty-seventh day of the last month of the
fiscal year. Should the City Council take no final action on or prior to such day, the budget as submitted by the
City Manager shall be deemed to have been finally adopted.
Effective Date of Budget; Certification; Copies Made Available
Section 55. Upon final adoption, the budget shall be filed with the City Secretary. The final budget shall be
printed, or otherwise reproduced, and a reasonable number of copies shall be made available for the use of all
offices, departments and agencies, and for the use of interested persons and civic organizations.
Budget Establishes Appropriations
Section 56. 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 therein named.
Budget Establishes Amount to be Raised by Property Tax
Section 57. From the effective date of the budget, the amount stated therein as the amount to be raised by
property tax shall constitute a determination of the amount of the levy for the purposes of the City in the
corresponding tax year.
Contingent Appropriation
Section 58. Provision shall be made in the annual budget and in the appropriation ordinance for a contingent
appropriation in an amount not more than three (3) percent of the total budget expenditure, to be used in case of
unforeseen items of expenditures. Such contingent appropriation shall be under the control of the City Manager
and distributed by him, after approval by the City Council. Expenditures from this appropriation shall be made
only in case of established emergencies and a detailed account of such expenditures shall be recorded and
reported. The proceeds of the contingent appropriation shall be disbursed only by transfer to other departmental
appropriation, the spending of which shall be charged to the departments or activities for which the
appropriations are made.
Estimated Expenditures Shall Not Exceed Estimated Resources
Section 59. The total estimated expenditures of the general fund and debt fund shall not exceed the total
estimated resources of each fund.
The City Council may by ordinance amend the budget during a fiscal year if one of the following conditions
exists:
1. If during the fiscal year the City Manager certifies that there are available for appropriation revenues in
excess of those estimated in the budget, the City Council, by ordinance, may make supplemental
appropriations for the year up to the amount of such excess. Before approval, the Council shall hold a
public hearing on the proposed budget amendment. A notice of the time and place of a public hearing on
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the supplemental appropriation shall be published in the official newspaper of the City of College Station.
The notice shall be placed in the newspaper at least five (5) working days before the date of the hearing.
2. To meet a public emergency affecting life, health and property of the public peace, the City Council may
make emergency appropriations. Such appropriations may be made by emergency ordinance. To the
extent that there are no available unappropriated revenues or a sufficient fund balance to meet such
appropriations, the Council may by such emergency ordinance authorize the issuance of emergency notes,
which may be renewed from time to time, but the emergency notes and renewals of any such notes made
during a fiscal year shall be paid not later than the last day of the fiscal year next succeeding that in which
the emergency appropriation was made.
3. If at any time during the fiscal year it appears probable to the City Manager that the revenues or fund
balances available will be insufficient to meet the amounts appropriated, he shall report to the City
Council without delay, indicating the estimated amount of the deficit, any remedial action taken by him
and his recommendations as to any other steps to be taken. The Council shall then take such further action
as it deems necessary to prevent or reduce any deficit and for that purpose it may by ordinance reduce one
or more appropriations.
Lapse of Appropriation
Section 60. All appropriations shall lapse at the end of the fiscal year to the extent that they shall not have been
expended or lawfully encumbered.
ARTICLE VI
CITY BONDS AND TIME WARRANTS
General Obligation Bonds
Section 61. The City of College Station 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.
Revenue Bonds
Section 62. The City of College Station shall have the 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 to evidence the obligation created thereby, and to issue revenue refunding bonds to evidence the
obligation created thereby; and to issue revenue refunding bonds to refund outstanding revenue bonds previously
issued. Such bonds shall be a charge upon and payable solely from the properties, or interest therein, pledged, or
the income there from, or both, and shall never be a debt of the City. All such bonds shall be issued in
conformity with the laws of the State of Texas.
Incontestability of Bonds
Section 63. All bonds of the City, having been issued and sold and having been delivered to the purchasers
thereof, shall thereafter be incontestable; and all bonds issued to refund outstanding bonds shall, after such
issuance, be incontestable.
Time Warrants
Section 64. The City shall have the authority to issue time warrants, certificates of obligation or other forms of
public debt allowed by state law and to issue refunding warrants, certificates, or bonds to refund outstanding
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warrants or certificates previously issued. All such time warrants, certificates of obligation, and bonds shall be
issued in conformity with the laws of the State of Texas.
Investments
Section 65. Any surplus in any fund may be invested, upon approval of the City Council, in any lawful
securities, accounts, certificates, or investments. Any such surplus may be used for the purchase and retirement
of bonds, time warrants, or certificates not yet due.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCE ADMINISTRATION
Financial Department; Appointment
Section 66. The City Manager may appoint a chief financial officer.
Fees Shall be Paid to City
Section 67. All fees received by any officer or employee of the City shall belong to the City and shall be
handled pursuant to the City's rules, regulations and policies.
Contracts for Improvements
Section 68. The City shall make expenditures to promote the best interests of the citizens of College Station.
The City shall encourage free and unrestricted competition on all bids and purchases, ensuring the taxpayers the
best possible return on and use of their tax dollars. It shall be the policy of the City to fully comply with and
make all purchases or expenditures pursuant to the City's policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and state and
federal law.
Disbursement of Funds
Section 69. All checks and vouchers or warrants for the withdrawal of money from the City accounts shall be
handled pursuant to the City's rules, regulations, policies, and state and federal laws.
Borrowing in Anticipation of Property Taxes
Section 70. In any fiscal year, in anticipation of the collection of the property tax for such year, whether levied
or to be levied in such year, the City Council may by resolution authorize the borrowing of money by the
issuance of negotiable notes of the City, each of which shall be designated "tax anticipation note for the year
" (stating the budget year). Such notes shall mature and be payable not later than the end of the fiscal year
in which the original notes have been issued.
Borrowing in Anticipation of Other Revenues
Section 71. In any fiscal year, in anticipation of the collection or receipt of other revenues of the budget year, the
City Council may by resolution authorize the borrowing of money by the issuance of negotiable notes of the
City, each of which shall be designated "special revenue note for the year " (stating the budget year).
Such notes may be renewed from time to time, but all such notes, together with the renewals, shall mature and be
payable not later than the end of the fiscal year in which the original notes shall have been issued.
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ARTICLE VIII
TAX ADMINISTRATION
Power to Tax
Section 72. The City Council shall have the power under the provisions of state law to levy, assess and collect
an annual tax upon taxable property within the city to the maximum provided by the constitution and general
laws of the State of Texas.
Property Subject to Tax; Method of Assessment
Section 73. All property, real, personal, or mixed, lying and being within the corporate limits of the City of
College Station on the first day of January in each year, not expressly exempted by law, shall be subject to
annual taxation according to the procedures set forth in the constitution or general laws of the State of Texas.
Taxes; When Due and Payable
Section 74. All taxes due to the City of College Station shall be payable to the City of College Station or such
other person or entity as may be designated by the City Council, and may be paid at any time after they fall due.
Taxes shall be due and shall become delinquent as provided in the TEXAS TAX CODE, as amended, which code
further provides for delinquent taxes, interest, and procedures for the collection of taxes.
Seizure and Sale of Personal Property
Section 75. The seizure and sale of personal property for taxes due shall be accomplished according to the
provisions of the TEXAS TAx CODE, as amended.
Tax Liens
Section 76. The tax levied by the City shall be a first and prior lien upon the property upon which the tax is due,
which lien may be enforced and foreclosed according to the provisions of the TEXAS TAx CODE, as amended.
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ARTICLE IX
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Municipal Elections
Section 77. The regular city election shall be held on an annual date set by ordinance by the City Council, or as
otherwise provided by law, at which time members of the Council shall be elected to fill those offices that
become vacant that year. The City Council shall fix the hours and the place for holding such special election.
The City Council may by resolution, order a special election, fix the time and place for holding same, and
provide all means for holding such special election. In the order, ordinance, or resolution of the City Council
calling any election at which more than one Councilman shall be elected, the City Council shall in calling such
election provide for a separate place on the ballot for each vacant seat to be filled at such election, designating
the Mayor, and such Places as Place No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. If an unexpired term is to be filled at such election,
the Place for the unexpired term shall be so designated.
Regulation of Elections
Section 78. The City Council shall make all regulations which it considers needful or desirable, not inconsistent
with this charter or the laws of the State of Texas, for the conduct of municipal elections, for the prevention of
fraud in such elections and for the recount of ballots in case of doubt or fraud. Municipal elections shall be
conducted by the appointed election authorities, who shall also have power to make such regulations not
inconsistent with this charter, with any regulations made by the city council or the laws of the State of Texas.
How to Get Name on Ballot
Section 79. Any qualified person may have his naive placed on the official ballot as a candidate for Councilman
or Mayor at any election held for the purpose of electing Councilmen or Mayor by filing with the City Secretary
at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of election a sworn application in substantially the following form:
"1, , do hereby certify that I am a candidate for the office of , and
request that my naive be printed upon the official ballot for that particular office in the next city election. I am a
qualified voter of the State of Texas and am and have been a bona fide resident of the City of College Station,
Texas, for at least one (1) year. I am not disqualified or ineligible to serve on the City Council if elected.
I reside at , Precinct , College Station, Texas.
Signed
Council Ballots
Section 80. The full names of all candidates for the city council as hereinbefore provided, except such as may
have withdrawn, died or become ineligible, shall be printed on the official ballot without party designation. If
two candidates with the same surnames, or with naives so similar a.s to he likely to cause confusion, are
nominated, the addresses of their places of residence shall be placed with their names on the ballot. The order of
the names on the ballot shall be determined by lot. The official ballot shall be printed not less than twenty (20)
days before the date of election.
Laws Governing City Elections
Section 81. All City elections shall be governed, except as otherwise provided by this charter, by the laws of the
State of Texas governing general and municipal elections, so far as same may be applicable thereto; and in the
event there should be any failure of the general laws or of this charter to provide for some feature of the city
elections, then the City Council shall have the power to provide for such deficiency; and no informalities in
conducting a City election shall invalidate the same, if it be conducted fairly and in substantial compliance with
the general laws, where applicable and the Charter and ordinances of the City.
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Canvassing Election
Section 82. Returns of elections, general and special, shall be made by the election officers to the City Council
not later than the second Wednesday next following such election, when the City Council shall canvass the
returns and declare the results of the election.
ARTICLE X
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
Power of Initiative
Section 83. The electors shall have power to propose any ordinance, except an ordinance zoning or rezoning
property, appropriating money, authorizing the issuance of bonds, or authorizing the levy of taxes, and to adopt
or reject the same at the polls, such power being known as the initiative. Any initiative ordinance may be
submitted to the City Council by a petition signed by qualified electors of the City equal in number to at least
twenty-five (25) percent of the number of votes cast at the last regular municipal election.
Power of Referendum
Section 84. The electors shall have power to approve or reject at the polls any ordinance passed by the City
Council, or submitted by the City Council to a vote of the electors, such power being known as the referendum,
except in the case of ordinances zoning or rezoning property, authorizing the issuance of bonds, or making the
annual tax levy. Ordinances submitted to the City Council by initiative petition and passed by the City Council
without charge shall be subject to the referendum in the same manner as other ordinances. Within twenty (20)
days after the enactment by the City Council of any ordinance which is subject to a referendum, a petition signed
by qualified electors of the city equal in number to at least twenty-five (25) percent of the number of votes cast at
the last preceding regular municipal election may be filed with the City Secretary requesting that any such
ordinance be either repealed or submitted to a vote of the electors.
Form of Petitions; Committee of Petitioners
Section 85. Initiative petition papers shall contain the full text of the proposed ordinance. The signatures to
initiative or referendum petitions need not all be appended to one paper, but to each separate petition there shall
be attached a statement of the circulator thereof as provided by this section. Each signer of any petition paper
shall sign his name in ink or indelible pencil and shall indicate after his name his place of residence by street and
number, or other description sufficient to identify the place. There shall appear on each petition the names and
addresses of five electors, who, as a committee of the petitioners, shall be regarded as responsible for the
circulation and filing of the petition. Attached to each separate petition paper there shall be an affidavit of the
circulator thereof that he, and he only, personally circulated the foregoing paper, that it bears a stated number of
signatures, that all signatures appended thereto were made in his presence, and that he believes them to be the
genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be.
Filing; Examination and Certification of Petitions
Section 86. All petition papers comprising an initiative or referendum petition shall be assembled and filed with
the City Secretary as one instrument. Within ten (10) days after the petition is filed, the City Secretary shall
determine whether each paper of the petition has a proper statement of the circulator and whether the petition is
signed by a sufficient number of qualified electors. The City Secretary shall declare any petition paper entirely
invalid which does not have attached thereto an affidavit signed by the circulator thereof. If a petition paper is
found to be signed by more persons than the number of signatures certified by the circulator, the last signatures
in excess of the number certified shall be disregarded. If a petition paper is found to be signed by fewer persons
than the number certified, the signatures shall be accepted unless void on other grounds. After completing his
examination of the petition, the City Secretary shall certify the result thereof to the city council at its next regular
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meeting. If he shall certify that the petition is insufficient, he shall set forth in his certificate the particulars in
which it is defective and shall at once notify the committee of the petitioners of his findings.
Amendment of Petitions
Section 87. An initiative or referendum petition may be amended at any time within ten (10) days after the
notification of insufficiency has been sent by the City Secretary, by filing a supplementary petition upon
additional papers signed and filed as provided in case of an original petition. The City Secretary shall, within
five (5) days after such an amendment is filed, make examination of the amended petition and, if the petition be
still insufficient, he shall file his certificate to that effect in his office and notify the committee of petitioners of
his findings, and no further action shall be had on such insufficient petition. The finding of the insufficiency of a
petition shall not prejudice the filing of a new petition for the same purpose.
Effect of Certification of Referendum Petition
Section 88. When a referendum petition, or amended referendum petition, has been certified as sufficient by the
City Secretary, the ordinance specified in the petition shall not go into effect, or further action there under shall
be suspended if it shall have gone into effect, until and unless approved by the electors, as hereinafter provided.
Consideration by City Council
Section 89. Whenever the City Council receives a certified initiative or referendum petition from the City
Secretary, it shall proceed at once to consider such petition. A proposed initiative ordinance shall be read and
provision shall be made for a public hearing upon the proposed ordinance. The City Council shall take final
action on the ordinance not later than sixty (60) days after the date on which such ordinance was submitted by
the City Secretary. A referred ordinance shall be reconsidered by the City Council and its final vote upon such
reconsideration shall be upon the question. "Shall the ordinance specified in the referendum petition be
repealed?"
Submission to Electors
Section 90. If the City Council shall fail to pass an ordinance proposed by the initiative petition, or shall pass it
in a form different from that set forth in the petition therefor; or if the City Council fails to repeal a referred
ordinance, the proposed or referred ordinance shall be submitted to the electors not less then thirty (30) days nor
more than sixty (60) days from the date the city council takes its final vote thereon. The City Council may, if no
regular election is to be held within such period, provide for a special election.
Form of Ballot for Initiated and Referred Ordinances
Section 91. Ordinances submitted to vote of the electors in accordance with the initiative and referendum
provisions of this charter shall be submitted by ballot title, which shall be prepared in all cases by the City
Attorney. The ballot title may be different from the legal title of any such initiated or referred ordinance and shall
be a clear, concise statement, without argument or prejudice, descriptive of the substance of such ordinance; and
if a paper ballot, shall have below the ballot title the following propositions, one above the other in the order
indicated: "FOR THE ORDINANCE" and "AGAINST THE ORDINANCE". Any number of ordinances may be
voted on at the same election and may be submitted on the same ballot, but any paper ballot used for voting
thereon shall be for that purpose only. If voting machines are used, the ballot title of any ordinance shall have
below it the same two propositions, one above the other or one preceding the other in the order indicated, and the
elector shall be given an opportunity to vote for either of the two propositions and thereby to vote for or against
the ordinance.
Results of Election
Section 92. If a majority of the electors voting on a proposed initiative ordinance shall vote in favor thereof, it
shall thereupon be an ordinance of the City. A referred ordinance which is not approved by a majority of the
electors voting thereon shall thereupon be deemed repealed. If conflicting ordinances are approved by the
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electors at the same election, the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall prevail to the extent
of such conflict.
Repealing Ordinances; Publication
Section 93. Initiative and referendum ordinances adopted or approved by the electors shall be published, and
may be amended or repealed by the City Council, as in the case of other ordinances.
Recall; General
Section 94. Any member of the City Council inay be removed from office by recall.
Recall Procedure
Section 95. Any elector of the City of College Station may make and file with the City Secretary an affidavit
containing the name or names of the officer or officers whose removal is sought and a statement of the grounds
for removal. The City Secretary shall thereupon deliver to the elector making such affidavit copies of petition
blanks demanding such removal. The City Secretary shall keep a sufficient number of such printed petition
blanks on hand for distribution. Such blanks when issued by the City Secretary shall bear the signature of that
officer and be addressed to the city council, and shall be numbered, dated and indicate the name of the person to
whom issued. The petition blanks when issued shall also indicate the number of such blanks issued and the name
of the officer whose removal is sought. The City Secretary shall enter in a record to be kept in his office the
name of the elector to whom the petition blanks were issued and the number issued to said person.
Recall Petitions
Section 96. The recall petition to be effective must be returned and filed with the City Secretary within thirty
(30) days after the filing of the affidavit required in Section 95 of this Article. The petition must be signed by
qualified electors of the City equal in number to at least forty (40) percent of the total number of votes cast for
the office in question at the last regular municipal election at which the office in question was filled and must
conform to the provisions of Section 85 of this Article. No petition papers shall be accepted as part of the
petition unless they bear the signature of the City Secretary as required in Section 95 of this Article.
Recall Election
Section 97. The City Secretary shall at once examine the recall petition and if he finds it sufficient and in
compliance with the provisions of this article of the charter, he shall within five (5) days submit it to the city
council with his certificate to that effect and notify the officer sought to be recalled of such action. If the officer
whose removal is sought does not resign within five (5) days after such notice the city council shall thereupon
order and fix a date for holding a recall election. Any such election shall be held not less than thirty (30) nor
more than sixty (60) days after the petition has been presented to the city council, however, such election may be
held at the same time as any municipal election held within such period.
Ballots in Recall Election
Section 98. Ballots used at recall elections shall conform to the following requirements.
(1) With respect to each person whose removal is sought the question shall be submitted "Shall (name of
person) be removed from the office of councilman by recall?"
(2) Immediately below each such question there shall be printed the two following propositions, one above the
other, in the order indicated:
"For the recall of (name of person)"
"Against the recall of (name of person)"
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Results of Recall Election
Section 99. If a majority of the votes cast at a recall election shall be against the recall of the officer named on
the ballot, he shall continue in office for the remainder of his unexpired term, subject to recall as before. If a
majority of the votes cast at such an election be for the recall of the officer named on the ballot, he shall,
regardless of any technical defects in the recall petition, be deemed removed from office and the vacancy shall
be filled as in other vacancies.
Limitations on Recalls
Section 100. No recall petition shall be filed against a Councilman within six (6) months after he takes office,
nor in respect to an officer subjected to a recall election and not removed thereby, until at least six (6) months
after such election.
District Judge May Order Election
Section 101. Should the City Council fail or refuse to order any of the elections as provided for in this article
when all the requirements for such elections have been complied with by the petitioning electors, then it shall be
the duty of the District Judge, upon proper application being made therefor, to order such elections and to
enforce the carrying into effect of the provisions of this article of the charter.
ARTICLE XI
FRANCHISES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
Control Over and Powers With Reference to City Property
Section 102. The ownership, right of control and use of streets, highways, alleys, parks, public places and all
other real property of the City of College Station is hereby declared to be inalienable to the city, except by
ordinances passed by vote of the majority of the governing body of the City, as hereinafter provided; and no
franchise or easement involving the right to use same, either along, across, over or under the same, shall ever be
valid, unless expressly granted and exercised in compliance with the terms hereof, and of the ordinances granting
the same. No act or omission of the City, its governing body, officers or agents shall be construed to confer or
extend by estoppel or indirection, any right, franchise or easement not expressly granted by ordinance.
The City of College Station shall have the power, subject to the terms and provisions hereof, by ordinance to
confer upon any person or corporation, the franchise or right to use the property of the city, as defined in the
preceding paragraph, for the purpose of furnishing to the public any general public service, including heat, water,
light, power, telephone service, refrigeration, steam, manufacture and distribution of ice, and the carriage of
passengers or freight, within the city and its suburbs, over the streets, highways, and property of the City, or for
any other purposes whereby a general service is to be furnished to the public for compensation or hire, to be paid
to the franchise holder, whereby a right to use the streets, highways or other property of the City is necessary or
proper; and generally to fix and regulate the rates, tolls and charges of all public utilities of every kind operating
within the corporate limits of the City of College Station.
Limitations
Section 103. No exclusive franchise or privilege shall ever be granted; nor a franchise, nor a privilege to
commence at any time after six (6) months subsequent to the taking effect of the ordinance granting the same;
and no franchise shall be directly or indirectly extended beyond the term originally fixed by the ordinance
granting the same, except as provided by the terms of this charter; nor, except as hereinafter provided, shall any
franchise be granted to any person, firm or corporation, their associates, assignees or successors, to acquire the
physical property, rights or franchise of another person, firm or corporation to whom or which a franchise has
already been granted by the city, whereby the rights and properties held and used under such franchise are
assigned to any other person, firm or corporation which holds a franchise from the city extending beyond the
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time of the expiration of the franchise of the person, firm or corporation selling such physical properties, rights
or franchises; provided, however, that when it shall appear that the public welfare will be promoted by
permitting or requiring the properties of two or more companies doing the same character of business to be under
one common ownership the city may, in granting a franchise for such properties, allow or require the ownership
of such properties to become vested in one ownership or one corporation, provided that no debts or obligations
of any of the companies so consolidated shall be assumed by the corporation, person or association of persons
acquiring the ownership of such properties except such debts and obligations of said companies, or either of
them as could at the time of the creation of such indebtedness, lawfully be created under the Constitution and
laws of the State of Texas; and only to the extent that the assumption of such indebtedness is permitted under the
provisions of the ordinance granting such franchise and the amount of such indebtedness shall be fixed or limited
in such ordinance and the same shall not thereafter be increased except by such actual moneys as may hereafter
be expended pursuant to the rules and regulations to be formulated by the city council from time to time.
Procedure
Section 104. The City of College Station shall have the power by ordinance to grant any franchise or right
mentioned in the preceding sections hereof, which ordinance, however, shall not be passed finally until it shall
have been read at three (3) separate regular meetings of the City Council. No ordinance granting a franchise shall
pass any reading except by a vote of the majority of the City Council, and such ordinance shall not take effect
until sixty (60) days after its adoption on its third and final reading; provided, however, that if at any time before
such ordinance shall finally take effect a petition shall be presented to the City Council signed by not less than
forty (40) percent of the bona fide qualified voters of the City, then the City Council shall submit the question of
the granting of such franchise to a vote of the qualified voters of the City at the next succeeding general election
to be held in the City, provided that notice thereof shall be published in at least ten (10) successive issues of the
official newspaper of the City of College Station prior to the holding of such election. Ballots shall be used
briefly describing the franchise to be voted on and the terms thereof and containing the words, "For the granting
of a franchise", and "Against the granting of a franchise". The vote shall be canvassed by the city council, and
should it result that a majority of those voting thereon cast their votes "For the granting of a franchise", then by
order entered in its minutes, the city council shall so declare and such franchise shall at once take effect. But
should a majority of the votes be cast "Against granting a franchise", then the City Council by order entered in
its minutes shall so declare and such franchise shall not take effect. In case a franchise is refused by the City
Council, then the matter may be submitted to the qualified voters on petition, as hereinbefore provided, and a
failure to finally pass on an application within six (6) months after the filing of such application shall be
construed as a refusal. The City Council in passing an ordinance granting a franchise may provide therein that it
shall not take effect until the same shall have been submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified
voters voting therein at a general election. All expenses of publication shall be borne by the applicant for the
franchise, who shall make a deposit in advance to cover the estimated cost of publication, the amount of the
deposit to be determined by the City Manager.
Term and Conditions
Section 105. No determinate or fixed -term franchise shall ever be granted for a longer term than twenty-five
(25) years; nor shall any right, privilege or franchise now in existence be extended beyond the period now fixed
for its termination, directly or indirectly, or through any means whatsoever, and any ordinance in violation or
evasion of this prohibition shall be absolutely void; provided, however, that any corporation, person or
association of persons now holding any franchise under any charter, charters or ordinances of the City of College
Station may, with the consent of the city council surrender such franchise or franchises, subject to the provisions
of the City Charter then in force, and take a new franchise under such charter, or a new franchise may be granted
to a new company or another person with the privilege of acquiring the properties of such franchise holder upon
the surrender of the franchise rights then held. No subsidiary franchise or franchises of any character
appertaining or relating to any other franchise holder, or to any person, firm or corporation acting directly of
indirectly for such franchise holder, shall be granted, and any such grant in violation of this prohibition shall be
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absolutely void to the extent of the excess in time beyond the life of such main franchise. No franchise, privilege
or easement shall ever be used or operated so as to extend or enlarge any other franchise or privilege granted by
the City except upon surrender of such original franchise as herein provided, and any violation of this prohibition
shall operate as a forfeiture of each and all such franchise privileges or easements. No holder of a franchise
heretofore or hereafter granted shall have a right (unless such right is granted in the franchise) to transfer or
assign its properties and franchise to any other person, firm or corporation without the consent of the city
council, and such consent when given shall not operate as the granting of a franchise or as a new franchise.
The City Council shall have the power to compel all persons, firms or corporations operating any public utilities
in the city, whether operating under existing franchises, or franchises that may be hereafter granted, to extend
their service, lines, pipes, etc., if the person to be benefited by such extension will pay the cost thereof, or if it
can be shown that the revenue resulting from such extension will, within a reasonable time after same is made,
pay a reasonable return on the investment, after making the customary allowance for depreciation.
All public utility franchises in the City of College Station shall be held whether expressed in the ordinance or
not, subject to the right of the city, each of the following being a condition:
(1) To repeal the same by ordinance at any time for failure to begin construction or operation within the time
prescribed or otherwise to comply with the terms of the franchise, such power to be exercised only after
due notice and hearing.
(2) To require an adequate extension of plant and service, and the maintenance of the plant and fixtures at the
highest reasonable standard of efficiency.
(3) To establish reasonable standards of service and quality of products and prevent unjust discrimination in
service or rates.
(4) To prescribe the form of accounts kept by such utility; provided, that if the utility shall keep its accounts in
accordance with the uniform system of accounts for said utility prescribed by the National Association of
Railroad and Public Utility Commissioners, the Federal Power Commission, the Federal
Communications Commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, their successor or successors, this
shall be deemed sufficient compliance with this paragraph.
(5) At any time to examine and audit the accounts and other records of any such utility and to require annual
and other reports, including reports on local operations by each such public utility.
(6) To impose such reasonable regulations and restrictions as may be deemed desirable or conducive to the
safety, welfare and accommodation of the public.
(7) To fix and regulate the price and rates for the service to be performed under the franchise.
(8) To require such compensation and rental as may be permitted by the laws of the State of Texas.
Every public utility franchise hereafter granted shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this charter,
whether such terms and conditions are specifically mentioned in the franchise or not.
Utility Rates and Charges
Section 106. The City Council shall have the power by ordinance to fix and regulate the price of water, gas,
electric lights, electric power and steam heat, and to regulate and fix the fares, tolls and charges of local
telephone service and charge of all public buses, carriages, hacks and vehicles of every kind, whether
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College Station City Charter Amended 5132006-Page 21
transporting passengers, freight or baggage; and generally to fix and regulate the rates, tolls and charges of all
public utilities of every kind operating within the corporate limits of the City of College Station.
Applicable to Streets and Highways
Section 107. The right to the use of the public streets, highways, alleys and thoroughfares of this city which
necessitates the digging up, or displacement thereof, for the installation of equipment, appliances or
appurtenances, either on, above or below the surface of same to make the intended use thereof practicable, shall
be deemed and considered "a franchise", the granting of which shall be governed and controlled in the manner
herein provided.
The use of such public streets, highways, alleys and thoroughfares of this city which does not require the digging
up or similar interference with said streets, alleys or highways for the installation of equipment, appliances or
appurtenances to make the intended use possible, shall be treated and considered as "a privilege", subject to the
control and disposition of the city council; and such privilege over and upon the public streets, alleys, highways
and thoroughfares of the city shall not be granted to any person or corporation except when public necessity and
convenience may require such use, and then only by ordinance passed by the city council.
All franchises for the use and occupancy of public streets, highways, alleys and thoroughfares of this city shall,
in event public necessity and convenience so require, be subject to cancellation by the city council; and the City
reserves the right to require all public utilities holding franchises from the City of College Station to conform to
street grades, and alter or lower their underground structures to meet changing conditions.
Public Service Corporation to File Annual Reports
Section 108. It shall be the duty of the City Council to pass an ordinance requiring each public service
corporation operating within the corporate limits of the city to file a sworn annual report of the receipts from the
operation of such business for the current year showing how such receipts were expended, how much thereof for
betterments or improvements, the rate of tolls or charges for services rendered to the public; and any other facts
or information that the City Council may deem pertinent for its use in intelligently passing upon any questions
that may arise between the City and the said public service corporations; all reports to be filed with the City
Secretary and preserved for the use of the City Council.
Option to Purchase
Section 109. Any public utility franchise may be terminated by ordinance after ten (10) years after the beginning
of operation, whenever the City Council shall determine to acquire by condemnation or otherwise the property of
such utility necessarily used in or conveniently useful for the operation of the city within the city limits.
Consent of Property Owners
Section 110. The consent of abutting and adjacent property owners shall not be required for the construction,
extension, maintenance or operation of any public utility, but nothing in this charter or in any franchise granted
there under shall ever be construed to deprive any such property owner of any right of action for damage or
injury to his property as now or hereafter provided by law.
Extensions
Section 111. All extensions of public utilities within the City limits shall become a part of the aggregate
property of the public utility, and shall be operated as such, and shall be subject to all the obligations and
reserved rights contained in this Charter and in any original grant hereafter made. The right to use and maintain
any extension shall terminate with the original grant and shall be terminable as provided in this charter. In case
of an extension of a public utility operated under a franchise hereafter granted such right shall be terminable at
the same time and under the same conditions as the original grant.
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Other Conditions
Section 112. All franchises heretofore granted are recognized as contracts between the City of College Station
and the grantee, and the contractual rights as contained in any such franchises shall not be impaired by the
provisions of this charter, except that the power of the City of College Station to exercise the right of eminent
domain in the acquisition of any utility property is in all things reserved; and except the general power of the
City heretofore existing and herein provided for to regulate the rates and services of a grantee, which shall
include the right to require proper and adequate extension of plant and service and the maintenance of the plant
and fixtures at the highest reasonable standard of efficiency. Every public utility franchise hereinafter granted
shall be held subject to all the terms and conditions contained in the various sections of this article, whether or
not such terms are specifically mentioned in the franchise. Nothing in this charter shall operate to limit in any
way, as specifically stated, the discretion of the City Council or the voters of the City in imposing terms or
conditions as may be reasonable in connection with any franchise grant.
Franchise Records
Section 113. Within six (6) months after this charter takes effect every public utility and every owner of a public
utility franchise shall file with the City Council, as may be prescribed by ordinance, certified copies of all
franchises owned or claimed, or under which such utility is operated in the City of College Station. The City
shall compile and maintain a public record of public utility franchises.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Publicity of Records
Section 114. Records and accounts of every office, department, or agency of the City shall be open for
inspection and copying as provided by V.T.C.A., GOVERNMENT CODE, CH. 552, Public Information, as amended.
Personal Interest
Section 115. No member of the City Council or any officer or employee of the City shall have a financial
interest direct or indirect or by reason of ownership of stock in any corporation, in any contract with the City, or
be financially interested directly or indirectly in the sale to the City of any land, materials, supplies or services
except on behalf of the City as an officer or employee; provided, however, that the provisions of this section
shall only be applicable when the stock owned by the officer or employee exceeds one (1) percent of the total
capital stock of the corporation. Any willful violation of this section shall constitute malfeasance in office and
any officer or employee guilty thereof shall thereby forfeit his office or position. Any violation of this section
with the knowledge expressed or implied of the person or corporation contracting with the City shall render the
contract voidable by the City Council or City Manager.
No Officer or Employee to Accept Gifts
Section 116. No officer or employee of the City of College Station shall ever accept, directly or indirectly, any
gift, favor, privilege or employment from any public utility corporation enjoying the grant of any franchise,
privilege or easement from the city during the term of office of such officer, or during the employment of such
employee, except as may be authorized by law or ordinance; provided, however, that policemen and firemen in
uniform or wearing their official badges may accept such free services where the same is permitted by ordinance.
Any officer or employee of the City who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and may be punished by any fine that may be prescribed by ordinance for this offense, and shall
forthwith be removed from office.
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Relatives of Officers Shall Not be Appointed or Employed
Section 117. No person related within the second degree of affinity, or within the third degree of consanguinity,
to members of the City Council or the City Manager shall be appointed to any office, position or service in the
City.
Oath of Office
Section 118. Every officer of the City shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe to
the following oath or affirmation, to be filed and kept in the office of the City Secretary:
"I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office
of , of the City of College Station, State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve,
protect and defend the constitution and laws of the United States and of this state and the charter and ordinances
of this City; and I furthermore solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have not directly or indirectly paid, offered, or
promised to pay, contributed or promised to contribute any money or valuable thing, or promised any public
office or employment as a reward for the giving or withholding a vote at the election at which I was elected, or if
the office is one of appointment, to secure may appointment. So help me God."
Notice of Injury or Damage
Section 119. The City shall never be liable for any personal injury, whether resulting in death or not, unless the
person injured, or someone in his behalf, or in the event the injury results in death, the person or persons who
may have a cause of action under the law by reason of such death or injury, shall file a notice in writing with the
City Secretary within ninety (90) days after the same has occurred, stating specifically in such notice when,
where and how the exact injury occurred, the full extent of the injury, the amount of damages claimed or
asserted, and a list of persons, if known, who witnessed the injury. The City shall never be liable for any claim
for damage or injury to personal property unless the person whose personal property has been injured or
damaged, or someone in his behalf, shall file a claim in writing with the City Secretary within ninety (90) days
after said damage or injury occurred, stating specifically when, where and how the damage or injury was
sustained. The person giving notice under this Section shall subscribe his name to the notice under oath that the
statements and facts contained in said notice are true and correct.
Power to Settle Claims
Section 120. The City Council shall have the power to compromise and settle any and all claims and lawsuits of
every kind and character in favor of or against the City, including suits by the City to recover delinquent taxes.
Service of Process Against the City
Section 121. Legal process against the City shall be served upon the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem.
City Not Required to Give Security or Execute Bond
Section 122. It shall not be necessary in any action, suit or proceeding in which the City of College Station is a
party, for any bond, undertaking or security to be demanded or executed by or on behalf of the city in any of the
state courts; but in all such actions, suits, appeals or proceedings, the same shall be conducted in the same
manner as if such bond, undertaking or security had been given as required by law, and the City shall be just as
liable as if security of bond had been duly executed.
Liens Against City Property
Section 123. No lien of any kind shall ever exist against any property, real or personal, owned by the City
except that same be authorized by law, and created pursuant to an ordinance providing for such lien.
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Provisions Relating to Assignment, Execution and Garnishment
Section 124. Property, real and/or personal, belonging to the City shall not be liable to be sold or appropriated
under any writ of execution or cost bill. 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 or 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.
Power to Remit Penalties
Section 125. The City Council shall have the right to remit in whole or in part any fine or penalty belonging to
the City which may be imposed under any ordinance or resolution passed in pursuance of this Charter.
Church and School Property Not Exempt From Special Assessments
Section 126. No property of any kind, church, school or otherwise, in the City of College Station shall be
exempt from any of the special taxes and assessments authorized by this Charter for local improvements unless
the exemption is required by state law.
Sale or Lease of Property Other Than Public Utilities or Acquired by Tax Sale
Section 127. Any real property owned by the City may be sold by the City Council when in its judgment such
sale will be in the best interest of the City, subject to the provisions of V.T.C.A., LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE,
Chapter 272, Sale or Lease of Property by Municipalities, Counties, and Certain Other Local Governments, as
amended, and such other laws as are applicable for Home Rule Cities pertaining to the necessity for public bids.
The sale of land may be subject to referendum or initiative for a thirty -day period after the sale and shall not be
effective until the expiration of said thirty -day period. If during such thirty -day period a referendum or initiative
petition is presented to the City Secretary, which in all respects conforms to the referendum or initiative
provisions of Article X of this Charter and the same is found sufficient, then the City Secretary shall certify the
sufficiency of the same to the City Council and an election shall be called submitting the question of the sale of
the property to the voters. This right of referendum or initiative shall not apply to public utilities or to property
sold by the City at tax sales.
Effect of This Charter on Existing Law
Section 128. All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations now in force under the city government of the
City of College Station and not in conflict with the provisions of this Charter shall remain in force under this
charter until altered, amended or repealed by the City Council after this Charter takes effect; and all rights of the
City of College Station under existing franchises and contracts are preserved in full force and effect to the City.
When adopted, this Charter shall become the law of the City of College Station.
Continuance of Contracts and Succession of Rights
Section 129. All contracts entered into by the City of College Station prior to the taking effect of this charter
shall continue in full force and effect. Public improvements for which legislative steps have been taken under
laws or ordinances existing at the time this charter takes effect may be carried to completion in accordance with
the provisions of such existing laws or ordinances.
All suits, taxes, penalties, forfeitures and all other rights, claims and demands which have accrued under the laws
heretofore in force governing the City of College Station, shall belong to and be vested in and shall be
prosecuted by and for the use and benefit of the corporation hereby created, and shall not in anywise be
diminished, affected or prejudiced by the adoption and taking effect of this Charter.
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College Station City Charter Amended 5132006-Page 25
Construction and Separability Clause
Section 130. This Charter shall be liberally construed to carry out its intents and purposes. If any section or part
of any section of this Charter shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not
affect the remainder of this Charter nor the context in which such section or part of section so held invalid may
appear, except to the extent that an entire section or part of section may be inseparably connected in meaning and
effect with the section or part of section to which such holding shall directly apply.
Amending the Charter
Section 131. This Charter may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the State of
Texas.
Submission of the Charter to Electors
Section 132. The Charter commission in preparing this charter finds and decides that it is impracticable 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 Charter be voted upon as a whole and that it shall be
submitted to the qualified voters of the City of College Station at an election to be held for that purpose on
January 8, 1952. 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 City of College Station, and after the returns have been canvassed
the same shall be declared adopted.
An official copy of the Charter shall be filed with the records of the City and the Mayor shall as soon as
practicable certify to the Secretary of State an authenticated copy under the seal of the city, showing the approval
by the qualified voters of such charter.
In 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 College Station as appears from the Tax Collector's
roll for the year ending January 31 preceding said election.
Rearrangement and Renumbering
Section 133. The City Council shall have the power, by ordinance, to renumber and rearrange all articles,
sections, and paragraphs of this Charter or any amendments thereto; and upon the passage of any such ordinance,
a copy thereof, certified by the City Secretary, shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State for filing.
We, the undersigned members of the Charter Commission of the City of College Station, do hereby certify that
this publication constitutes a true copy of the proposed charter of the City of College Station, Texas.
J.H. Sorrels
S.A. Lipscomb
J.C. Culpepper
L.S. Richardson
10t" Edition
A.P. Boyett
D.B. Cofer
G.W. Black
Charles LaMotte
(Signed) Chairman
Ernest Langford, Chairman
(Signed) Secretary
J.A. Orr, Secretary
H.E. Burgess
Ray Oden
Truman H. Jones
W.D. Fitch
J.W. Barger
S.R. Wright
R.B. Halpin
A.A. Price
College Station City Charter Amended 5132006-Page 26
SUBSEQUENT REVISIONS OF ORIGINAL CHARTER
Eight Charter Revision Commissions were subsequently appointed by the City Council to update the Charter.
Those serving on the Commission which made recommendations approved by the public at a special election
held on April 2, 1963 included:
J.A. Orr
D.A. Anderson
A.L. Rosprim
Bardin Nelson C.W. Landiss
John W. Hill J.H. Sorrels
Col. Frank H. Mathews A.P. Boyett
Marion Pugh
Charles LaMotte
William A. Smith
Members of the Commission which made recommendations for Charter changes approved by the public in a
special election held on January 13, 1968 were:
John S. Denison
Bardin Nelson
Ewing E. Brown
Edwin S. Holdredge
John W. Hill
Wilbert Beck
Phillip B. Goode
Codie D. Wells
Phillip H. Steen, Jr.
Carl W. Landiss
Members of the Commission which made recommendations for Charter changes approved by the public in a
special election held on April 4, 1972 were:
O.M. Holt
James H. Dozier
Dorsey McCrory
Robert F. White
John S. Denison
John B. Longley
Joe R. Sawyer
Members of the Commission which made recommendations for Charter changes approved by the public in a
special election held on April 3, 1976 were:
Dr. W.E. Benton
M.L. Cashion
James Dozier
Steven Eberhard
Mae Holleman
W.W. Scott, Jr.
Earl Bennett
Jerry Cooper
J.B. (Dick) Hervey
Neely Lewis
Members of the City Council which sat as the Charter Revision Commission to make recommendations for
Charter changes approved by the public in a special election held on April 1, 1978 were:
Mayor Lorence Bravenec Anne Hazen
James Gardner Lane Stephenson
James Dozier
Gary M. Halter
Larry Ringer
Members of the City Council which sat as the Charter Revision Commission to make recommendations for the
Charter changes approved by the public in a special election held on August 13, 1983 were:
Mayor Gary Halter
Alvin Prause
Robert Runnels
Lynn Mcllhaney
Vicky Reinke
Gary Anderson
Patricia Boughton
Members which sat as the Charter Review Committee to make recommendations for the Charter changes
approved by the public in a municipal election held on May 2, 1992 were:
Chris Kling
Lorence Bravenec
Robert Bednarz
Ann Jones
Terri Tongco
Gene Benton
J.B. (Dick) Hervey
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College Station City Charter Amended 5132006-Page 27
College Station City Council members who made recommendations for the Charter change approved by the
public in a municipal election held on May 2, 1998 were:
Lynn Mcllhaney
Swiki Anderson
Dick Birdwell
David Hickson
Larry Mariott Steve Esmond
Hubbard Kennady
College Station City Council members who made recommendations for the Charter change approved by the
public in a municipal election held on November 4, 2003 were:
Ron Silvia
Scott Mears
Anne Hazen
Dennis Maloney
James Massey John Happ Robert Wareing
College Station City Council members who made recommendations for the Charter change approved by the
public in a municipal election held on May 13, 2006 were:
Ron Silvia John Happ Chris Scotti Ben White Susan Lancaster Nancy Berry Ron Gay
Charter Amendment: Creation of City Internal Auditor, Section 30.
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College Station City Charter Amended 5132006-Page 28
INDEX OF CONTENTS
Section Subject Page
INCORPORATION: FORM OF GOVERNMENT: TERRITORY
1 Incorporation 1
2 Form of Government 1
3 Boundaries 1
4 Precinct Boundaries 1
CORPORATE AND GENERAL POWERS
5 Power of the City 1
6 Extension of City Limits Upon Petition 2
7 Extension of City Limits by the City Council 2
8 Eminent Domain 2
9 Establishment and Control of Streets 2
10 Street Improvements 2
11 Garbage Disposal 3
12 Municipal Court 3
13 Sanitary Sewer System 3
14 Public Utilities; Powers of the City 3
15 Signs and Bill Boards 3
16 Nuisances; Control and Policing 3
THE CITY COUNCIL
17 Number, Selection, Term 3
18 Qualification 4
19 Compensation of Members 4
20 Presiding Officer; Mayor 4
21 Vacancies 5
22 Powers 5
23 Appointment and Removal of City Manager 6
24 Council Not to Interfere in Appointments or Removals 6
25 Rights of the City Manager and Other Officers in Council 6
26 Administrative Departments 6
27 City Secretary 6
28 Municipal Court Judge 7
29 City Attorney 7
30 City Internal Auditor 7
31 Induction Into Office; Meetings 7
32 City Council to be Judge of Qualification of its Members 7
33 Rules of Procedure; Journal 7
34 Ordinances 8
35 Procedure for Passage of Ordinances 8
36 Investigation by City Council 8
37 Independent Annual Audit 8
38 Housing Authority 8
39 Disabled Employees; Pensions and Insurance 9
THE CITY MANAGER
40 Qualifications 9
41 Power and Duties 9
42 Absence of City Manager 9
43 Directors of Departments 9
44 Departmental Divisions 10
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THE BUDGET
45 Fiscal Year 10
46 Preparation and Submission of Budget 10
47 Proposed Expenditures Compared With Other Years 10
48 Budget a Public Record 10
49 Notice of Public Hearing on Budget 10
50 Public Hearing on Budget 10
51 Proceedings on Budget After Public Hearing Amending or Supplementing Budget 10
52 Proceedings on Adoption of Budget 11
53 Vote Required for Adoption 11
54 Date of Final Adoption; Failure to Adopt 11
55 Effective Date of Budget; Certification; Copies Made Available 11
56 Budget Establishes Appropriations 11
57 Budget Establishes Amount to be Raised by Property Tax 11
58 Contingent Appropriation 11
59 Estimated Expenditures Shall not Exceed Estimated Resources 11
60 Lapse of Appropriation 12
CITY BONDS AND TIME WARRANTS
61 General Obligation Bonds 12
62 Revenue Bonds 12
63 Incontestability of Bonds 12
64 Time Warrants 12
65 Investments 13
FINANCE ADMINISTRATION
66 Financial Department; Appointment 13
67 Fees Shall be Paid to City 13
68 Contracts for Improvements 13
69 Disbursement of Funds 13
70 Borrowing in Anticipation of Property Taxes 13
71 Borrowing in Anticipation of Other Revenues 13
TAX ADMINISTRATION
72 Power to Tax 14
73 Property Subject to Tax; Method of Assessment 14
(Sections 86, 87 88 and 89 have been repealed)
74 Taxes; When Due and Payable 14
75 Seizure and Sale of Personal Property 14
76 Tax Liens 14
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
77 Municipal Elections 15
78. Regulation of Elections 15
79 How to Get Name on Ballot 15
80 Council Ballots 15
81 Laws Governing City Elections 15
82 Canvassing Election 16
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
83 Power of Initiative 16
84 Power of Referendum 16
85 Form of Petitions; Committee of Petitioners 16
86 Filing; Examination and Certification of Petitions 16
87 Amendment of Petitions 17
88 Effect of Certification of Referendum Petition 17
89 Consideration by City Council 17
90 Submission to Electors 17
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91 Form of Ballot for Initiated and Referred Ordinances 17
92 Results of Election 17
93 Repealing Ordinance; Publication 18
94 Recall; General 18
95 Recall Procedure 18
96 Recall Petitions 18
97 Recall Elections 18
98 Ballots in Recall Election 18
99 Results of Recall Election 19
100 Limitations on Recalls 19
101 District Judge May Order Election 19
FRANCHISES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
102 Control Over and Powers With Reference to City Property 19
103 Limitations 19
104 Procedure 20
105 Term and Conditions 21
106 Utility Rates and Charges 21
107 Applicable to Streets and Highways 22
108 Public Service Corporations to File Annual Reports 22
109 Option to Purchase 22
110 Consent of Property Owners 22
111 Extensions 22
112 Other Conditions 23
113 Franchise Records 23
GENERAL PROVISIONS
114 Publicity of Records 23
115 Personal Interests 23
116 No Officer or Employee to Accept Gifts 23
117 Relatives of Officers Shall Not be Appointed or Employed 24
118 Oath of Office 24
119 Damage Suits 24
120 Power to Settle Claims 24
121 Service of Process Against the City 24
122 City Not Required to Give Security or Execute Bond 24
123 Liens Against City Property 24
124 Provisions Relating to Assignment, Execution and Garnishment 25
125 Power to Remit Penalties 25
126 Church and School Property Not Exempt From Special Assessments 25
127 Sale or Lease of Property Other Than Public Utilities or Acquired by Tax Sale 25
128 Effect of this Charter on Existing Law 25
129 Continuance of Contracts and Succession of Rights 25
130 Construction and Separability Clause 26
131 Amending the Charter 26
132 Submission of the Charter to Electors 26
133 Rearrangement and Renumbering 26
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