North Richland Hills Charter Review Commission Meeting - March 24, 2025

The Charter Review Commission of North Richland Hills met on March 24, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the City Hall Council Workroom. The meeting focused on discussing and recommending proposed amendments to the City Charter, including changes to term lengths, term limits, resignation-to-run provisions, and related adjustments for various appointed boards. The Commission voted on several motions, with all recommendations to be forwarded for ballot language consideration at a future meeting.

Consent Calendar

• APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from the March 3, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public requested to speak.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of Proposed Amendments (C.2): City Attorney Bradley Anderle presented sample language for a three-year term option for the Mayor and City Council, specifying staggered election cycles. No questions were raised by the Commission.
• Term Limits (C.3): Five options for term limits were presented by the City Attorney. Extensive discussion centered on strict vs. consecutive limits, clarity for voters, and cumulative year caps. After debate, a motion was made and carried (6-2) to allow a person to serve three three-year terms on the City Council and three three-year terms as Mayor, with a maximum of 18 total years, barring partial-term appointments. Commissioners Vaughn and Mitchell voted against.
• Resignation to Run (C.4): The City Attorney presented language requiring automatic resignation when a Council member or Mayor becomes a candidate for another office (other than re-election). The Commission voted 8-0 to include this provision in the charter.
• Unexpired Terms (C.4): Two options were presented for counting partial terms. The Commission voted 8-0 to adopt language stating that any length of service within a three-year term exceeding 730 days counts as a term served, and that "Council member" excludes the Mayor.
• Leaving Office Early (C.4): After discussion, the Commission voted 7-1 to adopt language that any length of service within a three-year term exceeding 360 days is considered a term served. Commissioner Vaughn voted against.
• Vacancies (C.4): The Commission voted 7-1 to amend the vacancy provision to require a special election within 120 days after a vacancy occurs, and to allow appointment if 364 days or less remain in the term. Commissioner Vaughn voted against.
• Municipal Court Judge Term (C.4): The Commission voted 8-0 to keep the Municipal Court Judge term at two years and strike the language requiring it to coincide with the Mayor's term.
• Planning and Zoning Commission Term (C.4): The Commission voted 8-0 to change the term of Planning and Zoning Commission members to three years, aligning with the new Council terms.
• Future Meeting Dates (C.5): The next meeting was scheduled for April 14, 2025, prior to the City Council meeting, where ballot language will be discussed.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes of the March 3, 2025 meeting (8-0).
• Adopted a term limits model allowing three three-year terms on Council and three three-year terms as Mayor, with an 18-year cumulative cap (6-2).
• Approved a charter amendment for automatic resignation upon becoming a candidate for another office (8-0).
• Defined an unexpired term as exceeding 730 days of service within a three-year term (8-0).
• Defined leaving office early as any service exceeding 360 days within a three-year term (7-1).
• Adjusted vacancy procedures: special election within 120 days, with appointment allowed if 364 days or less remain (7-1).
• Retained a two-year term for Municipal Court Judges and removed the requirement to coincide with the Mayor's term (8-0).
• Extended Planning and Zoning Commission terms to three years (8-0).
• Next meeting set for April 14, 2025, to review ballot language.