Speaking to a gathering of business leaders Tuesday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg rolled out his most specific plans yet for how he would like to see the City Charter change in his final term.
Changes to the charter can only be made every two years and must go to voters for approval. Nirenberg plans to convene a Charter Review Commission after the City Council approves its budget for the 2024 fiscal year, a vote set for Sept. 14.
“Piecemeal changes have been made over the decades, but a comprehensive examination of the charter is overdue,” Nirenberg said at the North San Antonio Chamber’s City Vision event at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk.
Nirenberg said he will ask the commission to explore whether lengthening City Council terms, adding council seats and raising pay for council members would improve governance.
San Antonio’s 10 City Council members and mayor can serve up to four two-year terms. In 2015, the city set its current pay of $45,722 for council members and $61,725 for the mayor. Council members were previously paid $20 per meeting.
Nirenberg said he’ll also ask the commission to examine whether any electoral changes could be made to increase voter turnout for municipal elections, which typically is less than 15%.
He has long suggested that moving municipal elections from May to November — and possibly from odd-numbered years to even ones — would boost turnout. Doing so would require permission from the state.
Other changes could include staggered council terms or adjusting term length.
Nirenberg also wants the group to reexamine tenure limits and salary caps on the city manager that voters approved in 2018.
City managers can currently serve a maximum of eight years, meaning the last year City Manager Erik Walsh could hold the role is in 2027. His compensation is capped to 10 times the amount of the lowest paid, full-time city employee.
“The city manager term limit and salary cap handicaps San Antonio’s ability to attract top talent in the future,” Nirenberg said in an interview after the event.
In an opening address, the chamber’s government affairs director, Rob Killen, praised Walsh and said the business community would support changes to the charter needed to keep him in his role.
Only the mayor can call a Charter Review Commission, but the commission can look into changes beyond those requested. The process typically takes months.
The last time the charter was amended was in 2021, allowing bond money to be spent on affordable housing.
Any proposed changes from this year’s commission would likely go before voters during the November 2024 election.
“Our community constantly adapts to changing conditions, and our charter must be adjusted to serve our needs in the modern world as well,” Nirenberg said.
