Council - City Manager Form of Government

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The City of Olmos Park adheres to the Council-Manager form of government, combining the political leadership of the Mayor and Council with the professional management capabilities of a City Manager. The City Manager, who is appointed by the City Council, oversees the City's day-to-day operations as chief executive officer of its departments and employees. (See Texas Local Government code 25.029). Shown below is a summary of the relationship between the City Council (as the premier policy making body) and the Mayor (as the head of City government).

City Council:
Provides representation to citizens of the City
Enacts policy legislation through ordinances and resolutions
Approves Citiy's Annual Budget
Hires, supervises and removes the City Manager

Mayor:
City's principal representative
Provides magisterial acts for the City through contracts and memoranda of understanding
Manages City Council meetings and makes appointments to some committees
Votes in City Council meetings only to break ties.

City Manager:
Serves the Council as its chief advisor
Implements the Council's policy decisions
Guides the delivery of services to the community
Provides vision and leadership to the organization
Oversees enforcement of all city ordinances, resolutions, contracts, rules and regulations
Hires, recruits and supervises municipal employees

The City Council provides policy to the City Manager to implement.

General Law City
General Law cities are smaller cities whose powers are limited; they operate according to specific states statutes that define their powers and duties. They are restricted to doing what the state directs or permits them to do. If a general law city has not been granted the express or implied power by the state to initiate a particular action, none may be taken.
- TML 2010 Handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers, p.7

Administration

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The Administration Department, led by the City Manager, includes the Court Administrator and City Secretary. Other departments are: Municipal Court, Police, Fire, Environmental Services, and Building.

We have 35 full-time employees including 12 full-time police officers, three reserve police officers, 14 fire fighters, six Public Works employees, and three administrative staff. Olmos Park provides 24-hour police, fire, and EMS protection with an average response time of two minutes or less.

City Council

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Mayor & Council ... see photos and contact information

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Name	Address	Served Since	Term Expires
Ernie Locker	224 Luther	5/2012	5/2014
Kenneth Farrimond	210 Park Lane	5/2011	5/2014
Gayle Girdley	727 E. Olmos Dr.	5/2010	5/2014
Enzo Pellegrino	260 Primera	5/2012	5/2013
Sharon Plant	131 E. Mandalay	5/2011	5/2013
Ronald Hornberger		5/2013	5/2013

Olmos Park is governed by a Mayor and five council members, elected for 2-year terms that are staggered. The Council appoints the City Manager,City Engineer, City Prosecutor and City Attorney. Council serves as the policy-making body for the City and meets at City Hall on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm. Special meetings are scheduled as needed. The Council welcomes your attendance and invites you to participate in helping to make Olmos Park an outstanding community.

City Council members are responsible for making decisions that are in the best interest of the City. They make provisions for the enforcement of policy, set licensing and other fees, set salary ranges, authorize the annual City budget, and approve expenditures based on the budget. Decisions are made by majority vote with the mayor only casting a vote to break ties.

The Mayor is the principal political leader of the community, presides at all meetings of the Council, signs all legal documents for the City, and represents the City in all official matters. The Mayor Pro Tem is selected by the Council and serves as the Mayor in his or her absence.

The City Council makes appointments to the City's various advisory commissions, committees and boards.

Mike Simpson

City Manager

 

Kenneth Farrimond

Mayor