City charter recommendations include petition process changes
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several changes to Austin’s city charter could head to a ballot this November where voters can approve or deny the amendments.
On Tuesday, the city’s citizen-led Charter Review Commission shared nine recommendations with the city council.
Several proposed changes related to petitions, including the signature threshold for petitions. This recommendation was the most debated recommendation among the commission members.
The threshold would be changed to 3.5% of qualified voters in Austin for an initiative and referendum petitions. Currently, a petition requires the signatures of 5% of qualified voters or 20,000, whichever is less.
City staff also shared several recommended revisions to the city charter during the Tuesday council work session. These included substantive and nonsubstantive changes to the annexation process, redistricting, council meeting dates, special elections for council vacancies, city purchasing procedures and other topics.
In May, council members will decide which recommendations should be placed on a ballot. Items would be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot for voters to decide whether to approve or not.
What is a city charter?
Since Austin is a home-rule city, it operates based on a city charter, which is like the city’s constitution, according to city documents. The charter outlines how the city government is structured and includes city ordinances.
The charter can only be changed through local elections, which cannot happen more than every two years, per city documents and the Texas State Constitution.
Austin’s entire city charter can be viewed online.
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