Publisher’s note: This story has been updated to correct a factual error which did appear in our April 24, 2025, print edition. The Times regrets the error.

More than 100 Katy residents crowded the banquet room at Midway BBQ on April 15 to learn more about proposed changes to the City of Katy’s home rule charter. Many of the participants who came to the meeting at 6191 Highway Blvd. were angry not only about the proposed changes, but the manner in which the propositions were proposed for public vote.

The event was organized by former mayor Chuck Brawner, with former City of Katy Director of Tourism, Marketing & Public Relations Kayce Reina Heinz serving as moderator. Also attending were former mayors Bill Hastings, Skip Conner, Hank Schmidt, Fabol Hughes, Doyle Callendar, and Don Elder, and along with current mayor Dusty Thiele. Each spoke briefly in turn about their opposition to proposed changes to the city’s charter, which come up for public vote on May 3. Mayoral candidate Michael Payne, who faces incumbent Thiele in the forthcoming election, was also present and expressed his support for propositions B and C and his opposition to the other proposed changes. Former Mayor Pro Tem Durran Dowdle was also present but did not speak.

Then Heinz presented a step-by-step dissection of each of the proposed amendments. Proposition A, which would give the Mayor Pro Tem the ability to step in for an absent mayor while still retaining their vote as a council member, would create a “super mayor” position, Heinz said. Proposition B would no longer require the immediate resignation of a mayor should he or she choose to seek another office if the unexpired mayoral term is less than one year, 30 days. Proposition C is similar but applies to council members. Councilmember Dan Smith had originally claimed that these changes would make the city’s charter consistent with the state constitution, but Heinz said that a city charter can be more restrictive than the state constitution, as it is currently.

Proposition D would restrict the mayor's right to fire appointed department heads by giving them the right to appeal to city council in the event of termination. It would give council members the right to reinstate those individuals in spite of the mayor’s decision. “Everybody has a boss and essentially the mayor is the boss,” Heinz said, arguing that a terminated employee could be protected by city council members. Proponents of Proposition D say that this change would make the city’s rules for termination consistent with those for non-appointed department heads and would eliminate terminations based on a “political whim.”

Proposition E – probably the most controversial of the propositions – would alter term limits for council members from two three-year terms to four three-year terms. All of the former mayors have expressed their support for term limits as currently defined. Previously, Smith has argued there are effectively no term limits now, since a ward councilmember can run for the at-large position, and if elected, continue to serve without being limited to just two terms.

The city’s Charter Review Commission, which met in December 2024, had recommended no changes to the charter. In years past, the commission has recommended as many as 17 changes to the charter, the presenters said.

However, potential amendments to the charter for the City of Katy were first introduced by Councilmember Smith at the January 27 council meeting, then sent to city staff city staff to be drafted as an ordinance calling for an election for six proposed charter amendments. On February 10, Katy’s city council debated potential changes to the city’s home rule charter and, in a unanimous 5-0 vote, approved a special election in May for voters to decide on potential amendments. Five of the six proposed amendments were approved by council at the February 10 meeting for placement on the May 3 ballot.

The proposed changes will not take effect unless approved by voters.