Bastropians for Open Government

02/18/2025

Here's our blog post about last night's Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, subject is new development code for the City of Bastrop.

The meeting started at 5PM. By 6:15, almost half the people in the room at the start of the meeting were gone. And yet, the public hearings on the various development code modifications had not even happened.

02/18/2025

Take the BastropBOG.com survey on open government and transparency: https://bastropbog.com/2025-survey/

10/07/2024

Please vote FOR Prop K to reduce the quorum from 4 to 3 on the Bastrop City Council. This will end the private meetings of the majority of voting members of the City Council -- 3 of 5 -- and bring additional transparency to the Bastrop City Council. Here's a sample ballot:https://www.bastropvotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24GPBASTR_PUBLICATION-BALLOT_WEB.pdf

10/06/2024

Hello Bastropians! Here is a sample ballot. Get prepared well before early voting starts Oct. 21. We support Prop K -- an open government and transparency amendment for City of Bastrop:https://www.bastropvotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24GPBASTR_PUBLICATION-BALLOT_WEB.pdf

08/02/2024

The quorum requirement must be changed in the Bastrop City Charter. How does that happen? Through a public vote. The City Council has to approve putting it on the ballot by 8/13. Come to 8/13 meeting to show your support for putting this on the ballot. 6:30PM. Come early.

08/01/2024

BOG wants the Bastrop City Council quorum reduced. We want the quorum number changed to three in the City Charter so a voting majority cannot meet in private. No more than 2 members of the City Council should be allowed to meet outside the eyes of the public. Call City Council members to support this change.

07/30/2024

What's a quorum? Usually a quorum is made up of less than a voting majority. But not in the City of Bastrop. There are 5 voting members of the City Council, plus the Mayor who only votes in a tie. The City Charter sets a quorum at four City Council members. Why is that important? Three, a voting majority, City Council members can meet in private without violating the City Charter. Talk about "smoke filled back room" government!

07/29/2024

The current Bastrop City Charter says that the Mayor, not the Council, makes appointments. The City Council can accept or reject them, but there is no provision for the City Council to appoint anyone. The appointed Charter Commission voted to keep it that way though a proposal was submitted to give 2 Council members that power.

07/28/2024

Did you miss a Bastrop City Council meeting? Do you want to see what the Charter Commission is doing? The City of Bastrop has a YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/c/btxntvonline It includes the July 17 Charter Commission meeting, City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, Economic Development, and all important budget meetings. Take a look!

07/25/2024

Did you see that the Bastrop City Council adopted an ordinance to create a Charter Commission? Yes, last month. Then in a last minute, legally questionable, surprise move they modified the ordinance to require a 75% positive vote to move recommendations from the Charter Commission to the City Council. Can an ordinance be significantly changed after first reading? We don't think so.

07/24/2024

Do you live in the City of Bastrop? Did you know the City operates under a City Charter? Did you know the City Council just established a Charter Commission to review it and make revisions? Learn about it on our website: https://BastropBOG.com.

07/23/2024

Come out to tonight's City Council meeting. 6:30. Come early. Once seats are filled, no one else is allowed in.

Read Councilwoman Fossler's flyer.https://bastropbog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Fossler-Flyer.pdf

Sign up to speak or share your thoughts. https://www.cityofbastrop.org/page/cc.request_to_speak Item 9O, 9P, Prop 5, page 508 on the agenda is about reducing quorum so a voting majority can't meet in private.