What is City Council?

Frequently asked questions answered by City Council candidate Danny Muskrat as a public service:

The information below should answer most of the common questions I've received during this campaign. If you have any other questions, please contact me.

What does City Council do?

If the City of Mt. Pleasant was a corporation, then City Council would be the board of directors for that corporation. Think of our City Manager as the CEO of this corporation who reports to a board of directors (City Council).

City Council provides an outside view of how the City of Mt. Pleasant is operating by bringing a group of elected individuals together who provide a broad range of experience and expertise. While the City Manager is the expert on overseeing the day to day operations of the city, ultimately the city belongs to it's citizens, and it's citizens elect a City Council to oversee the City Manager. That is why your vote is so important!
Who can serve on City Council?

A candidate for City Council must be a qualified voter as outlined in the Texas Election Code. There are additional items to the ones listed below, but these are the more basic requirements.

    be a United States citizen
    be 18 years of age or older
    have resided continuously in the state for 12 months and in the city for six months (and be a registered voter in the city)
    not have been finally convicted of a felony

For a complete list, please contact the City Secretary at 903-575-4000.
How many people serve on City Council?

There are six positions on City Council.

    Mayor
    5 Council Members (Places 1-5)

How long are City Council terms?

City Council terms are 2 years.

    Mayor, Place 1, and Place 2 (Election in 2017, 2019, ...)
    Place 3, Place 4, Place 5 (Election in 2018, 2020, ...)

How often does City Council meet?

Every first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 501 N. Madison.
Can anyone attend a City Council meeting?

Yes, all meetings have a "Regular Session" that is open to the public. Every regular agenda includes a "Public Comment" item that gives the public an opportunity to provide information to the City Council. Meetings may also have an "Executive Session" which is not open to the public, and it is held after the adjournment of the regular meeting.
Are City Council members paid?

Yes, but it is a small honorarium of $25 per month. It is mostly a volunteer position when you consider two monthly meetings, additional workshops, trips to Austin, and regular communication with citizens.