Sugar Land, TX ­– Sugar Land City Council recently reviewed a final report and recommendations from an independent group of residents who served on the city’s Charter Review Commission.

The city’s charter is a document that provides the foundation for governance in Sugar Land.

Members of the commission included Chair Daniel Harris, Bob Barbour, David James, Tara Mascarenhas, Lesley Nichols, Neel Patel and Ashish Vyas.  The Commission held six public meetings from Jan. 24 through April 17. All were open to the public. Their recommendations follow: 

• The commission recommends that the charter be amended to reduce maximum length of a franchise to no more than 25 years. 
• The charter currently authorizes City Council to regulate the rates, charges, fees, operations and services of any person, utility or entity providing water, wastewater, electricity, natural gas, telephone, telecommunications, cable television, taxicab, bus, solid waste, transportation, or similar service to the public within the city. The commission recommends that “taxicab” and “bus” be deleted as they are encompassed within “transportation.” 
• The commission recommends adding language making it clear that every third year there will be no election. 
• The commission recommends that the “resign to run” provision in the charter be amended so that it applies to all positions and not just public offices other than City Council. The commission suggests that if a member of the City Council becomes a candidate for election to any public office, such candidacy shall constitute an automatic resignation of the city office then held and the vacancy thereby created will be filled in accordance with the provisions of the charter. 
• The commission recommends extending the term of judges to four years and requiring that the municipal court judge reside within the city of Sugar Land. The residency requirement would not apply to associate judges.

In 1981, Sugar Land citizens voted to adopt the city’s first home-rule charter.  By converting from a general-law city to a home-rule city, citizens chose to exercise their right under the Texas Constitution to make local laws to govern their own affairs.  The charter is the city’s “constitution” and cannot be amended except by approval of the voters and not more than every two years.  

The charter is a document that establishes the form of government for Sugar Land. This includes provisions for a council-manager form of government, legislative authority of City Council, general elections provisions, finance provisions and several other areas outlining the governance of Sugar Land. The charter is available online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/charter.  

City Council is expected to consider and take action on the Charter Commission’s recommendations at a future meeting.