2023 Proposed Charter Amendment Information

Main Street Clock Tower

The Rowlett City Council has ordered special elections for Home Rule Charter Amendments and Facility Bond Propositions to be held in conjunction with the General Election for City Council.


Election Day - May 6, 2023 
Early Voting  April 24 - May 1
More info...

The following proposed amendments were identified, with input from Rowlett residents, by the Charter Review Commission and recommended to the Rowlett City Council for inclusion on the May 6, 2023 ballot.

If voters approve the proposed amendments, language which is crossed out in each Proposition will be struck from the Charter, language underlined will be added. 

PROPOSITION A – City Council Vacancies and Attendance
The office of a member of the City Council failing to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the City Council, whether regular or special, without being excused by the City Council shall be declared vacated by a majority vote of all the remaining members of the City Council.  Any member of the City Council remaining absent for six (6) consecutive regular meetings of the City Council, whether regular or special,  shall be deemed to have forfeited such office.

PROPOSITION B - Meetings of City Council
Special meetings of the City Council shall be held at the call of the Mayor, or a majority of the Councilmembers the City Manager, or any three (3) Councilmembers, upon provision of public notice in accordance with State law.

PROPOSITION C - Municipal Court
Clerk – The Clerk of the Municipal Court shall be appointed by the City Manager with input from the Chief Judge of the Municipal Court. Deputy Clerks shall be appointed by the City Manager as appropriate Chief Judge or the Court Clerk as directed by the Chief Judge. The Clerk and Deputy Clerks shall have the power to administer oaths and affidavits, make certificates, affix the seal of the Municipal Court thereto, and generally do and perform any and all acts usual and necessary by clerks of courts in issuing processes of courts and conducting the business thereof.

PROPOSITION D - Municipal Judge
Removal – In accordance with State law, the Chief Judge or any Associate Judge of the Municipal Court may be removed from office during their term of office, with or without cause, after a hearing, by a 2/3 majority vote of the full City Council The Removal or termination of any Municipal Judge shall be done in accordance with State law.

PROPOSITION E - Charter Review Commission
Scope – The City Council shall determine the minimum scope of the review by the Commission. . .

PROPOSITION F - Charter Review Commission
Term – The term of office of the Commission shall be for not more than six (6) twelve (12) months, at the end of which time a report shall be presented to the City Council and all records of proceedings of the Commission shall be filed with the City Secretary and become a public record.

Home Rule Charter

We, the citizens of Rowlett, Texas, in order to establish a Home Rule municipal government, provide for the progress of our city, secure fully the benefits of local self-government, promote economic and cultural prosperity, provide for the common welfare, insure health and safety, support municipal cooperation and encourage all citizens to participate in the process of self-governing, hereby adopt this Home Rule Charter, as an expression of our city’s purpose and in accordance with the statutes of the State of Texas; and we declare the City of Rowlett, in Dallas and Rockwall Counties, to be a political subdivision of the State of Texas with all powers, rights, privileges, authorities, duties and immunities of local self-government as are provided and limited in this Charter. 

View the City of Rowlett Home Rule Charter (PDF). 

History...
Rowlett citizens conducted elections on April 2, 1983, May 7, 1988, May 4, 1991, May 3, 2003, November 4, 2008, May 11, 2013, May 7, 2016 and May 1, 2021. By State Law, the City Charter is eligible to be amended by election no more often than once every two years.