Author Archives: Debra Mergel
Order in the Council Chambers
At the beginning of a City Council meeting, the Mayor says: “I call this meeting of the city council to order.” But what does order in a city council meeting look like and how can it be established and maintained? Texas state law does not establish rules of order for city council meetings; however,… Read More »
“Please Release Me, Let Me Go!”
Previously, our office blogged about what an ETJ is. To recap, the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is the legal authority that a city holds to regulate and make decisions in areas that are outside of its formal city limits, but still within a designated surrounding boundary. The ETJ allows a city to plan for future… Read More »
Municipalities and Wildfire Disasters
Only YOU can prevent forest fires – Smokey Bear On August 14, 2023, Governor Abbot issued a disaster declaration for wildfire activity for 191 of our 254 counties. Staying safe during disaster conditions requires a combination of preparedness, communication, evacuation planning, and effective response strategies. Here are 6 areas for municipalities to consider: Preparedness:… Read More »
“We’re Having a Heat Wave…”
Texas Cities are dealing with the challenge of unusually extreme heat. Extreme heat can have deadly consequences, but they are preventable. In the future, cities need to include extreme heat in annual planning and may need to commit significant resources to heat-resilience. The specific strategies and measures a city employees to handle extreme heat… Read More »
Special Sessions
In the 88th Regular Legislative Session, 8,046 bills were introduced and 1,246 were passed. In addition to the regular session, the Texas Constitution grants the governor the authority to convene special sessions as deemed necessary. Unlike other states, where the legislature may call itself into session, only the governor of Texas may call the… Read More »
How To Serve Well On City Council
You decided to throw your hat into the ring. You campaigned tirelessly with posters, telephone calls and door-to-door visits. You’ve been elected to serve on the city council. Congratulations! You will take your oath of office soon. What now? Being an excellent city council member requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and personal qualities…. Read More »
The Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool
The Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) is a non-profit insurance company that provides coverage to over 2,800 local government entities in Texas. TMLIRP was established in 1974 by the Texas Municipal League, which is an association of cities and towns in Texas. TMLIRP is governed by a board of trustees that is… Read More »
Local Hotel Occupancy Taxes
If your city doesn’t have a hotel, then local hotel occupancy taxes may not apply to your city. However, just what is a hotel? The answer may surprise you. The definition of “hotel” found in Tax Code Section 156.001 includes uses such as hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn,… Read More »
When May a City Place a Lien on Real Property?
The purpose of a municipal lien on real property is for the city to recoup unpaid assessments, bills, and fines. Under what circumstances may a city place a lien though? We find authority for municipal liens in four separate Texas statutes. In each instance, the city council must adopt an ordinance to enforce the… Read More »
Parkland Dedication
Every city needs recreational facilities and green spaces for the pleasure and personal health of its residents. How can a city provide these amenities for its citizens? One way is through parkland dedication. A parkland dedication is a requirement imposed by city ordinance on subdivision developers, mandating that developers dedicate land for parks or… Read More »