The City of Alvarado is currently a General Law City governed by the Lws of the State of Texas.  Because the City has grown to over 5,000 in population, the Texas Constitution allows the City to establish its own rules for municipal government by adopting a Home Rule Charter.

Home Rule cities must write and adopt charters. A Charter is akin to a municipal constitution that is written and adopted by an election of the citizens. The Charter defines and limits the powers, duties and responsibility of local government based on local preferences and desires. It defines the form of local government and establishes organizational provisions. The citizens determine the necessary controls over their city government such as elections, referendums, initiatives, and recall, and define the procedures to amend the Charter. Essentially, the Charter describes and defines local government based on local preferences and controls as opposed to general laws written by the Texas legislature.

 Procedures to adopt the Home Rule Charter are listed below and can be found in Chapter Nine of the Texas Local Government Code: 

• Selection of a Home Rule Charter Commission; 
• The Charter Commission prepares the proposed Home Rule Charter and submits the proposed Charter to the City Council for review; 
• City Council places the Charter on the ballot for the next uniform election date (Special Election date - May 6, 2023); 
• All registered voters, of the City, to receive a copy of the approved and proposed Charter by mail thirty (30) days prior to the election; 
• Citizens vote whether or not to adopt the proposed Charter in the election. The adoption of a Charter is by majority vote.

Home Rule Charter Commission

The Home Rule Charter Commission was comprised of 14 members representing the wards and organizations within the City. The commission held public meetings at City Hall, satisfying the Texas Open Meetings Act requirements, and during each meeting time was set aside to receive public comments. 

City Council heard the recommendation from the Home Rule Charter Commission at the Council meeting on January 23, 2023, and Council unanimously approved to place the Home Rule Charter on the ballot in a Special Election scheduled for May 6, 2023.   On May 6, 2023, voters approved the Home Rule Charter, and it was officially adopted by the Alvarado City Council on May 15, 2023.

Click here to view the Home Rule Charter and appendix of reference materials.  https://www.cityofalvarado.org/306/City-of-Alvarado-Elections