The Administrative Services Committee presented two related items to council on Oct. 20: a proposed unified bylaws template for non‑quasi‑judicial boards and commissions, and a recommendation to update city practice for lowering flags on city property.

Jennifer Stubbs, City Secretary, described a bylaws template intended to standardize officers, meeting cadence, quorum definitions, committees and term limits for board chairs (a chair may serve a maximum of two consecutive years and then must sit out a term). Staff said the goal is uniformity for boards that are not quasi‑judicial (for example, parks and community commissions rather than Planning & Zoning or Board of Adjustment). The committee reported unanimous consensus to advance the template and have staff work with board liaisons to adopt the format.

On flags, staff briefed council on U.S. flag‑code and the Texas Government Code authorities for presidential and gubernatorial half‑staff orders and reviewed current city practice that allowed the mayor to direct city flags to half‑staff on city property. The Administrative Services Committee recommended that council authorize the city manager to lower city flags automatically upon the death of a current city employee and allow a council member or the mayor to request lowering the city flag for other locally significant events. Staff noted state and federal orders from the president or governor would still be followed for U.S. and Texas flags respectively; the committee’s recommendation applies only to city flags on public property.

Council confirmed consensus to move the bylaws template to boards and to allow council-member requests to lower the city flag; staff said library staff will continue to coordinate flag actions on city property and the city attorney will review related council policy matters.

Provenance: Administrative Services Committee report; council consensus to advance the bylaws template and to adjust city flag practice for city property.