05-07-2024 Charter Review MinutesMINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
May 7, 2024
A Regular Meeting was held by the Charter Review Committee of the City of Schertz, Texas, on
May 7, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400
Schertz Parkway, Building #4, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to-wit:
Present: Chair Dana Eldridge; Vice Chair Richard Dziewit; Commissioner David Bennett;
Commissioner Roger Booker; Commissioner Danielle Craig; Commissioner Chris
Evans; Commissioner Benjamin Guerrero; Commissioner Michele Tereletsky;
Commissioner Paul Wiley
Absent: Commissioner Marcus Forte; Commissioner Demetric Herron
Staff
present:
City Manager Steve Williams; City Attorney Daniel Santee; City Secretary Sheila
Edmondson;
Call to Order
Chair Dana Eldridge called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
Hearing of Residents
This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the Charter Review Committee. Each person
should fill out the speaker’s register prior to the meeting. Presentations should be limited to no more than 3
minutes.
All remarks shall be addressed to the Committee as a body, and not to any individual member thereof.
Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks while addressing the Committee may
be requested to leave the meeting.
Discussion by the Commissioners of any item not on the agenda shall be limited to statements of specific
factual information given in response to any inquiry, a recitation of existing policy in response to an
inquiry, and/or a proposal to place the item on a future agenda. The presiding officer, during the Hearing of
Residents portion of the agenda, will call on those persons who
have signed up to speak in the order they have registered.
No one signed up to speak.
Discussion and Action Items
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Discussion and Action Items
1.Minutes : Approval of the minutes from the April 16, 2024, Charter Review meeting.
(S.Edmondson)
Moved by Commissioner David Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Roger Booker
AYE: Chair Dana Eldridge, Vice Chair Richard Dziewit, Commissioner David Bennett,
Commissioner Roger Booker, Commissioner Danielle Craig, Commissioner Chris
Evans, Commissioner Benjamin Guerrero, Commissioner Michele Tereletsky,
Commissioner Paul Wiley
Passed
2.2.A. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article IV.
2.B. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article V.
2.C. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article VI.
2.D. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article VII.
2.E. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article VIII.
2.F. Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article IX.
No discussion regarding Articles IV through IX.
2.G Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article X.
Charter Review Commission agreed to change the percentage of required voters needed for
an initiative or referendum to be changed from 15% to 10%.
The percentage of required voters needed for a recall petition be changed from 20% to 15%.
The city attorney asked for a vote from the Charter Review Commission to approve these
percentage changes and recommend to the City Council for proposed charter amendments.
All in favor, none opposed. Motion passed 9-0.
2.H Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article XI.
No discussion regarding Article XI.
2.I Review and possible action on amendments to Charter Article XII.
The Charter Review Commission agreed to recommend that the City Council order a Charter
Review no more than every 5 years. The city attorney stated that a charter review cannot be
ordered sooner than 2 years from the previous charter review. The commission is also
proposing that each councilmember selects one resident to be appointed to the charter review
commission and the Mayor would select 2 residents. From the Mayor's 2 selections, one of
them would be the Charter Review Chair.
The city attorney asked for a vote from the Charter Review Commission to approve these
changes and recommend to the City Council for proposed charter amendments.
All in favor, none opposed. Motion passed 9-0.
3. Review and Discussion of draft Charter reflecting proposed changes.
Chair Dana Eldridge thanked all the Charter Review Commissioners for their service and input.
He also recommended that the commission go out and talk to folks about the proposed
amendments that will be on the ballot later this fall. The council will also be talking to residents
about the upcoming proposed charter amendments. Chair Dana Eldridge mentioned that when
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he was going out talking to folks, many of them did not know of our city charter.
Commissioner Chris Evans also mentioned that he was having to explain the city charter and
the process to folks. Commissioner Roger Booker spoke of the challenges of getting folks out
to vote. Chair Dana Eldridge stated that all the meetings are posted, but attendance is extremely
low at all meetings, including City Council meetings. City Manager Steve Williams said we
have all the information on the website, but staff will find ways to make improvements. Chair
Dana Eldridge is looking to have everything finalized and will present to City Council a final
Charter Review Commission report. City Council can only accept the proposed amendments,
they cannot change them.
Adjournment
Chair Dana Eldridge adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
_______________________________
Dana Eldridge, Chair
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Sheila Edmondson, City Secretary
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