Pushing for More Aquifer Protections
When the City Council discussed whether to use City dollars to fund the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program instead of the 1/8 cent sales tax, some in the community were concerned that without a vote of the people, the program could disappear in the future.
I heard these concerns and, during the discussion, suggested amending the City Charter to make aquifer protection a City duty, like providing public safety and public health services. While the City alone cannot control every aspect of public health or safety, we still aim to protect the health and safety of our residents. I believe we also have a duty to protect the primary drinking water source for our residents.
This week, I submitted a formal request to the Mayor, asking him to direct the Charter Review Commission to consider this charter amendment.
While the new Aquifer Protection funding program will be in effect for the next decade, we do not know what will happen after that. I want to ensure that future councils continue protecting the aquifer, even if they use a different approach.
The Mayor decides when to convene the Charter Review Commission and who will serve on it. It is the job of the commission to study potential amendments to the City Charter and make recommendations to City Council regarding which amendments to place on the ballot. City Council then votes on what to place on the ballot. Ultimately, the voters decide what makes it into our City Charter.
