Charter Review Commission

Overview

The City of Bulverde adopted its Home Rule Charter in 2015.  The charter requires the City to undergo a Charter Review process every 5 years in order to ensure that the charter is working well and as intended.   This process is overseen by the City's Charter Review Commission, an advisory board comprised of local citizens appointed by the City Council.  The Commission will meet during Fall 2024/Spring 2025.  The Commission's duties are laid out in the City Charter, Sec 10.03(b):

The Charter Review Commission shall:

1. 

Inquire into the operations of City government and review the City Charter to determine whether it requires revision. Public hearings may be held and the Commission shall have the power to compel the attendance of City officers or employees and to require the submission of city records necessary to its inquiry and review

2. 

Propose any recommendations it deems desirable to ensure compliance with Charter provisions by City departments

3. 

Propose any Charter amendments it deems desirable to improve the effective application of the Charter to current conditions

4. 

Make a written report of its findings and recommendation to the City Council

The current City Charter may be viewed by clicking here.

Commission Members

The members of the Charter Review Commission are listed below.  General inquiries about the commission or its work may be directed to charterreview@bulverdetx.gov.  Members of the Commission may be reached individually by clicking on  the member's name below:

Nati Litz                      

Jason Ewing              

Angela Alvarado         

Christine Lowak         

Francesca Watson   

Larry Sunn                 

Daniel Chapa             

Victoria Gutierrez       

Lea Anzalotta             

Trey Hancock

Agendas & Recordings

Agendas are available at least 72 hours prior to the meetings. Recordings are available following the meeting date.  Please click on the link below to view the posted agendas for the Commission. 

2024 Agendas: Agendas

2024 Audio Recordings: Audio Recordings


Charter Review Commission (1)

Recap of December 2, 2024 Charter Review Commission Meeting:


Please see below for a summary of decisions taken at the December 2nd meeting.  After full review of the Charter, below were specific topics prioritized for further discussion and vote by the Commission.

Members of Charter Review Commission Present: Chair Francesca Watson, Commissioner Angela Alvarado, Commissioner Lea Anzalotta, Commissioner Daniel Chapa, Commissioner Jason Ewing, Commissioner Trey Hancock, Commissioner Nati Litz, Commissioner Christine Lowak, and Commissioner Larry Sunn                 

 Members of Charter Review Commission Absent: Commissioner Victoria Gutierrez       


 § 2.01 Composition, Selection, and Term:

“No person may be elected to serve more than three (3) consecutive three (3) year terms for any City elected office or combination of City elected offices; and, for a period of two (2) years after the date upon which the third consecutive term would have ended, such person will be ineligible to hold any other City elected office.”

  • Motion: Commissioner Sunn made a motion seconded by Commissioner Lowak to make no changes to § 2.01 Composition, Selection, and Term.
  • Vote: Motion carried (9) ayes to (0) nays. Approved. 

 

§ 2.07 Vacancies, Forfeiture, and Filling Vacancies:

(b)(4) “Fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused by the Council;”

  • Motion: Commissioner Chapa made a motion seconded by Commissioner Alvarado to make no changes to § 2.07 Vacancies, Forfeiture, and Filling Vacancies.
  • Vote: Motion carried (9) ayes to (0) nays. Approved. 

 

§ 2.08 Powers of the Council:

(b) “No individual member of the City Council shall have any power to act, investigate, make appointments, or inquire into the conduct of any office, department, or agency of the City without the specific authorization of the City Council in an official meeting.”

  • Motion: Commissioner Sunn made a motion seconded by Commissioner Hancock to make no changes to § 2.08 Powers of the Council.
  • Vote: Motion carried (9) ayes to (0) nays. Approved. 

 

§ 2.18 Code of Ethics:

Staff provided a copy for signed acknowledgment at a previous Commission meeting.

  • No action or vote required.

 

§ 3.01 City Manager:

Discussion on residential requirements for City Manager. What is considered an absence with regard to the designation of an Acting City Manager?

  • Motion: Commissioner Sunn made a motion seconded by Commissioner Lowak to make no changes to § 3.01 City Manager.
  • Vote: Motion carried (9) ayes to (0) nays. Approved. 

 

§ 3.05 Municipal Departments & City Job Descriptions:

Discussion on the need for separate charters for each department, as well as defined job descriptions of each staff member. 

  • Motion: Commissioner Sunn made a motion seconded by Commissioner Hancock to recommend to City Council that Council work with the City Manager to develop a plan to create and define duties of all departments and job duties of each staff member. 
  • Vote: Motion failed (4) ayes, (4) nays, (1) abstain, with Commissioners Litz, Alvarado, Ewing, and Lowak opposed and Commissioner Chapa abstaining. Denied. 

 

§ 4.02 Majority Vote Required (Verify for Duplicates – § 2.06):

There is a need to evaluate duplicate sections addressed elsewhere within the Charter. Commission advised for consideration of editor reference notes. 

  • No action or vote required.

 

§ 4.04 Qualifying of Officers

Discussion on the consideration and consistency of the word usage of “Council Members” versus “Councilmembers”.

  • No action or vote required.