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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
The City of Galveston Charter Review Committee has approved a list of proposed amendments to the City Charter for consideration at the next meeting of the committee in two weeks. City Attorney Susie Green will develop language for formal consideration by the group. Among the items that will be considered are: a change in the time the city has to repay emergency loans, from one year to five years; a restriction on interfund loans from enterprise accounts to the general fund; an exclusion of grant proceeds and bond sale revenue from the seven percent limit on increased spending over the prior fiscal year; a change in the election of city council members from plurality to majority vote; amendment of the charter provision prohibiting the privatization of garbage collection without a public vote, to exempt the central business district; a "cleanup" in the charter language on open records, to simply say that the city will follow state law; an amendment to exclude the Planning Commission from development of the city's capital improvement plan; and deletion of a provision that permits the Planning Commission to have a budget to hire consultants. Each of those items had the support of at least eight members of the committee. Several other proposed amendments fell short of the eight vote requirement. Those items include abolition of the Ethics Commission, a provision for "instant runoff" voting, removal of the tax cap, and changes in the mayor's power during emergencies. "This is not final," assured City Attorney Susie Green, who is drafting language for the proposed amendments. "This is simply a starting point for them to consider these amendments and refine the wording." Twelve of the 14 members of the committee participated in Monday's meeting. Debbie Cano and Eddie Walsh III were absent.
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