District 6 Councilmember Champions Charter Reforms

Published on August 01, 2024

District 6 Councilmember Champions Charter Reforms to Boost Transparency and Representation in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO (August 1, 2024) – Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda is taking a bold stand to transform San Antonio's governance with two charter amendments aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability. In today’s Special B Session on the Charter Amendment Ballot, two proposals were offered in response to the current charter amendments' lack of focus on addressing community needs and ensuring robust public input. 

“Throughout this process we’ve been focusing on propositions that directly impact City Hall operations and our government officials — while these are important changes to the city charter, we’re missing opportunities to propose amendments that directly affect our residents' daily lives. I'm speaking today not just as a council member, but somebody born and raised on the far west side of San Antonio,” the District 6 Councilmember stated.

Pushing for Elected Seats on Utility Boards

One proposal calls for the inclusion of two publicly elected seats each on the boards of CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). This initiative aims to increase public involvement and oversight in utility management, ensuring that decision-making reflects the diverse needs of San Antonio’s residents.

"Elected members of the utility boards will enhance communication, boost public participation, and reduce cronyism," the Councilmember explained. "These changes will make sure that utility decisions are made with our entire community in mind, particularly benefiting low-income families and underrepresented groups."

The proposal calls for the inclusion of two elected "Rate Payer Representatives" on the boards of CPS Energy and SAWS. These representatives will be elected by the public, ensuring that our residents' voices are directly involved in governing these essential services. This amendment is important for three reasons: 

1. Transparency: Transparency is the cornerstone of good governance. By electing board members directly from the rate-paying public, we ensure that decisions are made openly and that the rationale behind these decisions is clear and accessible.  
2. Accountability: Elected representatives are inherently accountable to the public. When board members are chosen by the ratepayers they serve, they must prioritize the community's needs and concerns.  
3. Resident Voices: Our city is diverse, and all residents deserve to have their voices heard. By electing ratepayer representatives, we ensure that our community's perspectives are directly represented on these boards. 

McAllen, the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Sacramento Middle School utility district, all have fully elected boards.

This addition ensures a strong, direct link between the boards and the community they serve. They will work alongside the appointed members to bring a balanced and comprehensive perspective to decision-making. 

Changing the manner in which the City Attorney is appointed

Currently, the City Manager hires and fires the City Attorney, with the Council’s advice and a simple Council majority vote. There is an accountability disconnect with this process because Council members, who are accountable to the voters, should have an attorney who is accountable to them. That’s not what we have now.  

As it stands, with a City Attorney accountable to the City Manager, there is a risk that legal opinions could be laundered before they reach the Council, and ultimately the public. This is a structural change that would strengthen accountability and eliminate that risk. The City Council's attorney should be accountable only to the members of the Council. 

Direct accountability provides trust and transparency. With this in mind, I propose two City Attorney appointment options for the ballot:

1. That the City Attorney be appointed by the City Council, or 
2. That the Council have a separate attorney, appointed by the Council and accountable to the Council. 

The Councilmember pointed out “According to the Texas Home Rule Charters, published by the Texas Municipal League, City Councils appoint City Attorneys in 73% of Home Rule cities in Texas. The way we do it in San Antonio is done by only 9% of Home Rule cities in the state. It’s time that we catch up.”

The city is growing and evolving. This body and the way we do things should evolve as well. Change is inevitable, and growth will be complex. This change makes us more nimble and better able to navigate the complexities that we know will come.

These charter amendments are not just about making decisions; they’re about making the right decisions powered by public input and oversight. As the Councilmember stated, “it’s time our community has a direct line of transparency and a real seat at the table.”