City Government
The City of Florence is an incorporated General Law, Type A City. The city operates under a Council/Mayor form of government meaning that the city council makes and adopts regulations, laws and policies and the mayor presides over council meetings, is the signatory for the city, and is generally recognized as the ceremonial and governmental head of the city for most purposes. Most of the powers exercised by the mayor are created through ordinances and resolutions adopted by the city council.
Councilmembers are the city’s legislators. Their primary duty is policymaking, which includes identifying the needs of local residents, formulating programs to meet the changing requirements of the community, and measuring the effectiveness of ongoing municipal services. Unless restricted by state law, each councilmember is entitled to vote or abstain on every question decided at a council meeting, and has full parliamentary privileges in council meetings—including the right to speak and make motions when recognized by the chair and the right to introduce new ordinances and amendments to existing ones. Though foremost in importance, lawmaking is just one of many functions councilmembers perform. They also wear several other hats, which one writer describes as follows:
Regulator- the council exercises regulatory powers over the conduct and property of its citizens. It has the power to declare certain conduct to be criminal, to require that certain businesses and activities be licenses, and to tell property owners how and for what purposes they may use their property.
Financier- the council may levy taxes, assess fees and charges, and sell bonds in order to finance the many
functions of the city government. The council also has to budget the expenditure of the city’s funds, and then explain to the people why municipal government is a bargain compared to the price of rampant crime, fires, disease, and all of the other problems that would flourish without proper city services.
Employer- the council is responsible for all of the city’s employees, and must see that they are adequately paid and provided with decent working conditions and fringe benefits.
Buyer- the council is the biggest purchaser’s community, and must see to it that the city gets the best value possible for dollars spent. Even this is not a complete description of all the challenges that confront councilmembers.
The City Council meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers located at 851 FM 970, Florence, Texas, 76527. Meetings are posted 72 hours before the meeting.
To submit items for the agenda, please complete the agenda item request form and submit to the City Secretary with supporting documentation. Submissions are due by 5:00 pm 14 days before the scheduled Council meeting.