WHY LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING?

Even if you did not know before now that our (Fort Worth or any Home Rule municipality) city charter and any amendments to it are governed by state law and not by our city ordinances and/or city procedures.  Below is a true and accurate reprint from the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 9 "Home Rule Municipality."

Of particular note here is that a petition to amend our city charter only requires five percent (5%) of the registered voters in the city (less the hold list) in order to require that the city put an issue on the ballot for the citizens to vote on.  SO...my question is this.  Why are you waiting for the city council to do the right thing and put the issue of the number of single member council districts on the ballot for May of 2012?

While a petition may only contain one issue for amendment, just about anything may be put on the ballot for inclusion in our city charter....such as "retroactive term limits for city council members, mandatory set-backs for oil and gas production and no chemical disposal wells in the city limits.

The citizens of Fort Worth don't typically sit on their duffs and wait for others to do the right thing, so, the only question remaining now would be....."Where is the courage that the citizens of this city are so famous for?" 

§ 9.004. CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

(a) The governing body of a municipality on its own motion may submit a proposed charter amendment to the municipality's qualified voters for their approval at an election. The governing body shall submit a proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least five percent of the number of qualified voters of the municipality or 20,000,whichever number is the smaller.

(b) The ordinance ordering the election shall provide for the election to be held on the first authorized uniform election

date prescribed by the Election Code or on the earlier of the date of the next municipal general election or presidential generalelection. The election date must allow sufficient time to complywith other requirements of law and must occur on or after the 30th day after the date the ordinance is adopted.

CONTINUE TO RISE UP IN PROTEST UNTIL LAMBS BECOME LIONS!

IT IS THE AMERICAN WAY!