CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The City of Corpus Christi is looking for public input regarding six City Charter propositions and four budget items, one of which includes a proposal to double compensation and term length for elected leaders.
Corpus Christi's City Council appointed an Ad Hoc committee who met over a period of 10 months to come up with the six charter propositions along with four additional policy and budget propositions.
Among those propositions are moves to double the current salary of Corpus Christi's mayor and council members, as well as double their maximum term length.
The propositions also include cost of living adjustments for council members every two years, essentially once per term. Also on the table is a proposal limiting time in office to four terms (or 16 years under the proposed term redefinition). This would take effect retroactively to include currently sitting and former elected officials.
Citizens are encouraged to provide feedback at www.cctexas.com/charter. Once feedback is gathered and evaluated, the committee will present a final report to City Council.
The ad hoc committee preliminary recommendations include:
Proposition #1: Single Member Districts with Longer, Staggered Council Terms
Change the current election mixed system of five single member districts, three at-large positions by plurality, and mayor at-large, all with to two-year non-staggered terms to a new system of eight single member districts and mayor at-large, all with 4-year staggered terms.
Alternative Option / Recommendation #1 include exploring a State Constitutional Amendment through the City’s future legislative agendas to eliminate the constitution requirements that trigger when any Texas city adopts council terms longer than two years.
Proposition #2 Mayor and Council Compensation
Change the Mayor’s annual salary from $9,000 to $18,000 and City Council Members’ salary from $6,000 to $12,000. Include an escalator to adjust salaries every two years by that year’s unadjusted U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Proposition #3: Definition of a Term and Term Limits
No person shall serve more than four terms as a council member, more than four terms as a mayor or more than six terms in a combination of said offices. Term limits are lifetime term limits. If a person serves one or more days of any term, that service shall be considered service for the entirely of the term. Any term served at any time, including a term served prior to the approval of this subsection, shall apply to this subsection. The provision shall not prohibit any council member or mayor from completing any term that begins in 2020 or 2021.
Proposition #4: Initiative/Referendum Signature Requirement
Clarify that signatures are required on statements of intent to commence either initiative or referendum proceedings.
Proposition #5: Consistent Zoning Approval
Delete the requirement that zoning ordinances presented to Council for approval require a two-third affirmative vote during the 30 days before the regular election and extending until the newly elected council members take office. These same zoning ordinances require a simple majority vote any other time of the year.
Proposition #6: Removing a Council Member from Office
Delete the charter provision that allows as few as five registered voters to initiate a Council action to remove a council member from office. Currently a council member can be removed by simple majority vote of other council members. Change to require six affirmative votes for other council members to overturn an election by removing an elected council member from office.
Recommendation #2: Financial Transparency
Amend the City Financial Policy to require intradepartmental budget transfers within the same fund to be included in the City’s Quarterly Budget Report which is presented to Council every three months and maintain on the City’s website for public review.
Recommendation #3: Financial Transparency
Expand the reporting of contracts under $50,000 for greater scrutiny through a City Financial Policy Amendment. Lower the threshold of $50,000 to include more city contracts reported and maintained in searchable format on the City website.
Recommendation #4: Council Staff Support
The provision of dedicated, paid staff resources to support council members is better handled as a policy issue through the annual budget process rather than through a charter requirement.
The ad hoc Committee members included: Toby Hammett Futrell, Philip Ramirez, Chad Magill, Oscar Martinez, Rick Milby, Aaron Munoz, Shirley Thornton, Bob White, and John Wilson.
You can provide feedback to the City at www.cctexas.com/charter.
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