The 10 proposed changes to Frisco's City Charter are set to stay on the May 3 ballot.
On January 21, Frisco City Council members revisited some of the proposed charter updates, marking their second discussion since December. After talking through the details, they instructed city staff to start working on the official language for the ballot.
Most of the changes aim to update the charter to reflect current state law or remove outdated language. However, two proposals are raising some eyebrows—both of which involve council members’ pay. One suggests increasing their monthly compensation, while the other would adjust the city’s ethics policy on accepting gifts to align with state rules.
City officials need to present the finalized ballot language by the February 4 council meeting. The deadline to file for a place on the ballot is February 14.
As of January 27, no formal decision has been made on calling the arts center bond to vote.
Council member Bill Woodard expressed concern about putting these two charter amendments on the same ballot as the potential arts center bond. He pointed out that a similar $1.08 billion bond from Frisco ISD failed in November partly because it included some controversial items that didn’t sit well with voters.
Woodard's concern with the gifts policy change is that it could look like an attempt to make things easier for council members, even though it’s just a move to align with state law.
Another amendment on the table proposes allowing the council to appoint a replacement member if someone leaves with 12 months or less left in their term, as holding a special election would be unnecessary for such a short time.
Council member Tammy Meinershagen noted that both the charter changes and the arts center bond will require some educational outreach to help residents understand what’s being voted on.
While the city can provide factual information, any campaign advocating for or against the items would have to come from a Political Action Committee, as explained by City Manager Wes Pierson.
For some context, the Frisco Center for the Arts is a long-discussed project that would bring Broadway shows, local artist performances, and student events to the city. So far, two non-binding letters of intent have been signed with Broadway Across America, which would help fill seats at the facility, and Prosper ISD, which would contribute over $100 million toward construction in exchange for district use.
The total cost of the facility is estimated at $340 million, with Frisco needing to contribute around $140 million through a bond, while the rest will be raised through philanthropy. Mayor Jeff Cheney remarked that if the arts center bond doesn’t pass, the project might not go forward anyway.
While most of the charter amendments are just “cleanup items” that won’t significantly affect how the city operates,
Cheney emphasized that the council needs to face the pay issue head-on. “No one wants to be the one voting on pay raises for themselves,” he said. “But if we don’t deal with it, it’ll just keep coming up.”
One of the proposed changes would tie future council pay increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to reflect the state of the economy and avoid the need for future charter amendments related to compensation.
Livingston suggested that any council pay increase should align with staff raise percentages. For example, if city employees get a 3% raise, council members shouldn’t see a 7% increase.
Council members can choose to block any CPI-related raise if the amendment passes, Pierson added.
The last time Frisco voters approved charter amendments was in 2019, when all 24 items, including a compensation increase, passed. With multiple items potentially on the May 3 ballot, Mayor Cheney is confident that voters will be able to understand everything up for a vote.
