Bastrop, Tx–A May 13 hearing on possible changes to the city’s home rule charter drew a full house to City Hall, and the assembly voiced distinct views on what they’d like to see go before voters, possibly in November.
In recent weeks, Council Member Kenneth Kesselus has been leading a panel of former officials and other residents in a detailed review of the 2002 city charter with a view to suggesting possible amendments to the city council. Only the council can put particular changes before voters in a future referendum, said Kesselus.
The crowd at the hearing liked some of the committee’s tentative suggestions–retaining the current limit of six years continuous service on the council and the mayor’s office, for one. Another topic also struck a responsive chord–extending council terms to three years instead of the present two years.
Other possible changes which drew comments included adding a sixth council member to the present five and a provision allowing the mayor to vote on all issues coming before the council. Presently the mayor can only vote to break a tie.
The sharpest division of opinion arose over whether to call for council members to be elected from single-member geographic districts. Presently all five council members and the mayor are elected from the city at large. A number of those attending the hearing vigorously called for single-member districts. Members of the charter review committee were reluctant to endorse such a move, citing both technical difficulties and other considerations, especially before results of the 2010 US Census are released.
One line of argument suggested that it might be difficult to draw districts of roughly equal population which would not also diminish the potential for Hispanic and African-American residents to be elected to council seats, as required by the US Voting Rights Act and related court decisions. For more than two decades under the at-large election system the city council has included almost continuously both at least one African-American and one Hispanic representative.
Single-member district proponents noted that every member of the present city council lives in an area bounded on the west by the Colorado River and on the north and east by the Union Pacific Railroad. Areas including Tahitian Village, Riverside Grove and Hunters Crossing are not represented on the present council.
Kesselus said the study committee will draft its recommendations in time for the council to review their work and call for a November referendum.