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Fort Worth, TX Code of Ordinances
FORT WORTH, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
OFFICIALS of the CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
PART I: THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
CHAPTER I: ORGANIZATION, BOUNDARIES, ANNEXATION OF ADJACENT TERRITORY
CHAPTER II: POWERS OF THE CITY
CHAPTER III: THE CITY COUNCIL
CHAPTER IV: METHOD OF NOMINATING AND ELECTING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CHAPTER V: THE CITY MANAGER
CHAPTER VI: DEPARTMENT OF LAW
CHAPTER VII: MUNICIPAL COURT
CHAPTER VIII: ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS TO BE CONTROLLED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY MANAGER
CHAPTER IX: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
CHAPTER X: THE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PROCEDURE RELATING THERETO
CHAPTER XI: DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
CHAPTER XII: FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER XIII: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
CHAPTER XIV: WATER WORKS DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER XV: [REPEALED BY ORD. 25328-02-2022, § 2, 2-8-2022, APPROVED 5-7-2022]
CHAPTER XVI: RESERVED
CHAPTER XVII: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES
CHAPTER XVIII: PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER XIX: RECALL OF COUNCILPERSONS
CHAPTER XX: THE INITIATIVE
CHAPTER XXI: REFERENDUM
CHAPTER XXII: IMPROVEMENT AND PAVING OF STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
CHAPTER XXIII: MERIT SERVICE
CHAPTER XXIV: ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES; PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS
CHAPTER XXV: ORDINANCES
CHAPTER XXVI: FRANCHISES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
CHAPTER XXVII: MISCELLANEOUS
§ 1 SUCCESSION OF RIGHTS; SUITS, CLAIMS, ETC., OF OLD CORPORATION VESTED IN NEW CORPORATION.
§ 2 OFFICERS UNDER OLD CHARTER TO HOLD UNTIL EXPIRATION OF TERM AND QUALIFICATION OF SUCCESSORS.
§ 3 CITY PLAN COMMISSION.
§ 3a [APPROVAL OF PLANS, PLATS, ETC., LYING WITHIN FIVE MILES OF CITY LIMITS.]
§ 4 ART COMMISSION; AUTHORIZING CREATION OF SAME BY ORDINANCE OF COUNCIL.
§ 5 CITIZENS GIVEN PREFERENCE IN THE LETTING OF CONTRACTS AND IN EMPLOYMENT [REPEALED].
§ 6 [REPEALED BY ORD. 16797, § 1(XVI), 1-24-2006, APPROVED 5-13-2006].
§ 7 [REPEALED BY ORD. 22081-02-2016, § 2(XI), 2-2-2016, APPROVED 5-7-2016].
§ 8 [REPEALED BY ORD. 16797, § 1(XVII), 1-24-2006, APPROVED 5-13-2006].
§ 9 COUNCIL TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION CODES; SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS; POWER TO CONDEMN AND REMOVE BUILDINGS DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC AND ASSESSMENT COSTS.
§ 10 WATER SUPPLY; RIGHT TO ACQUIRE SAME EITHER IN OR OUT OF THE CORPORATE LIMITS.
§ 11 POWER OF CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FUNDS IN CASES OF EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC DISASTER OR CALAMITY.
§ 12 FRANKS, FREE TICKET AND PASSES PROHIBITED.
§ 13 COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR CONTRACTS; APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS BY CITY COUNCIL.
§ 14 CHANGE ORDERS, ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS.
§ 15 POWER TO APPOINT BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS OF CITIZENS.
§ 16 OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY NOT TO HAVE FINANCIAL INTEREST IN ANY CONTRACTS OF THE CITY.
§ 17 CONTRACTS FOR OFFICIAL ADVERTISING; OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER.
§ 18 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER; RATES OF ADVERTISING.
§ 19 CONTINGENT FUND.
§ 20 PUBLIC WORK AND IMPROVEMENTS CONSTRUCTED BY CITY FORCES.
§ 21 PROVIDING PUBLIC NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC AND WEB BASED PUBLICATIONS WHERE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW.
§ 22 RATE OF TAXATION NOT TO EXCEED ONE DOLLAR NINETY CENTS PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY; SUBJECT TO BE INCREASED TO TWO DOLLARS FIFTY CENTS PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION, PROVIDED SUCH INCREASE BE VOTED BY THE ELECTORATE IN ELECTIONS HELD TO DETERMINE SAME FROM TIME TO TIME.
§ 23 [REPEALED].
§ 24 NO PROPERTY OF ANY KIND EXEMPT FROM LOCAL IMPROVEMENT TAXES.
§ 25 NOTICE OF CLAIM OF DAMAGES AS PREREQUISITE TO SUIT.
§ 26 ELECTIONS; COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FOR HOLDING SAME; COUNTING RETURNS AND DECLARING RESULT.
§ 27 OATH OF OFFICE.
§ 28 [REPEALED].
§ 29 BUDGET ESTIMATES TO BE FURNISHED CITY MANAGER BY ALL DEPARTMENTS NOT UNDER HIS IMMEDIATE DIRECTION BY THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST OF EACH YEAR.
§ 30 RIGHT OF COUNCIL TO CREATE A TEMPORARY LOAN TO SUPPLEMENT THE REVENUES OF THE CITY REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE CITY’S AFFAIRS TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHERE THE TAXES CONTEMPLATED IN FIXING THE BUDGET ESTIMATES SHOULD FALL BELOW SUCH ESTIMATES.
§ 31 ZONING ORDINANCES; POWER TO PASS.
§ 31A [STATE LAW AUTHORIZING PASSAGE OF ZONING REGULATIONS ADOPTED].
§ 32 ENUMERATION OF POWERS HEREIN NOT EXCLUSIVE OF OTHER POWERS.
§ 33 CHARTER TO BECOME EFFECTIVE NOTWITHSTANDING SOME SECTION OR PORTION THEREOF SHOULD BE HELD INVALID.
§ 34 WHEN CHARTER TAKES EFFECT.
§ 35 AUTHORITY OF COUNCIL TO FIX BOUNDARY LIMITS WITHOUT CONSENT OF INHABITANTS OF TERRITORY ANNEXED; PROCEDURE, ETC.
§ 36 [EMPLOYEE’S RETIREMENT FUND].
CHAPTER XXVIII: DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT
CHARTER COMPARATIVE TABLE
PART II: CITY CODE
APPENDIX A: ZONING REGULATIONS
APPENDIX B: CODE COMPLIANCE
APPENDIX C: RESERVED
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE
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§ 14 CHANGE ORDERS, ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS.
   (a)   When it becomes necessary to make changes in the plans or specifications after performance of a contract for public works has been commenced, or it becomes necessary to decrease or increase the quantity of work to be performed, such change, alteration, or modification shall be made only when a change order therefor is authorized by the City Council upon the written recommendation of the city manager. Provided, however, that the City Council may by ordinance establish rules by which a change order may be executed by the city manager without the requirement of City Council authorization.
   (b)   No such change, alteration or modification of a contract shall be valid unless the price to be paid for the work has been agreed upon in writing and signed by the contractor and the city manager upon authorization of the City Council, where required.
   (c)   The total contract price shall not be increased unless due provision has been made to provide for the payment of such added cost by appropriating available funds for that purpose.
(Ord. 10272, § I(VII), 3-16-1989, approved 5-6-1989)
§ 15 POWER TO APPOINT BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS OF CITIZENS.
   The City Council may, at the request of the city manager, or upon their own motion, appoint boards or commissions to be composed of such number of citizens as the council may deem expedient to act in an advisory capacity in conjunction with any one or more of the departments created or authorized hereby. The members of such boards or commissions shall serve without compensation, and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the council.
§ 16 OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY NOT TO HAVE FINANCIAL INTEREST IN ANY CONTRACTS OF THE CITY.
   No officer or employee of the city shall have a financial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract with the city, or be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the sale to the city of any land, materials, supplies, or services, except on behalf of the city as an officer or employee. An officer or an employee of a bank that serves as the city’s depository bank shall be deemed not to have a financial interest in the city’s contract. Any willful violation of this section shall constitute malfeasance in office, and any officer or employee found guilty thereof shall thereby forfeit his office or position. Any violation of this section, with the knowledge, expressed or implied, of the person or corporation contracting with the City Council, shall render the contract involved voidable by the city manager or the City Council.
(Ord. 16797, § 1(XVIII), 1-24-2006, approved 5-13-2006)
§ 17 CONTRACTS FOR OFFICIAL ADVERTISING; OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER.
   The City Council shall periodically let contracts for the official advertising of the city. For this purpose, the council shall advertise for bids, setting forth distinctly and specifically the work to be done, including the type and space to be used, and asking for sealed bids therefor. The advertisement for bids must be published twice. The second publication must be on or before the tenth day before the first date bids may be submitted. The council shall let the contracts for such official advertising to the lowest and best responsible bidder publishing a newspaper in the City of Fort Worth, which is a newspaper of general circulation, which newspaper has been published in said city for at least two (2) consecutive years prior to the time of awarding the contracts, and which newspaper meets all applicable requirements of state law for the publication of legal notices for the City of Fort Worth; provided that the council may reject any and all bids, if found excessive, and advertise for new bids. The newspaper to which the award of such advertising is made shall be known and designated as the official newspaper of the city. All official publications made by the city shall be made in the official newspaper.
(Ord. 10272, § I(VIII), 3-16-1989, approved 5-6-1989; Ord. 25328-02-2022, § 2, 2-8-2022, approved 5-7-2022)
§ 18 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER; RATES OF ADVERTISING.
   All election notices, department reports, ordinances, charters or charter amendments, advertising, publicity of affairs or other publications required or authorized by this Charter, or by any ordinance of the city, to be made in any newspaper, and all such publications for which the City of Fort Worth may be liable, shall be paid for by the city at such rates as shall not in any event exceed the ordinary and regular advertising rates charged other advertisers. No bill shall be paid by the city for such advertising or printing in excess of the lowest prevailing business rates.
§ 19 CONTINGENT FUND.
   Provision shall be made in the annual budget and in the annual appropriation ordinance for a reasonable contingent fund for use in any of the administrative departments of the city. Such contingent fund shall be under the control of the city manager and distributed by and with the approval of the City Council. In case of emergency, upon written request by the head of any department, stating the facts constituting such emergency, the city manager shall bring the same to the attention of the City Council and, if approved by him and by the council, he shall in writing authorize the transfer from the contingent fund to the credit of the department making such request of a sum sufficient to meet the proposed emergency expenditure. He shall transmit a copy of such written authority to the city controller and likewise to the department making such request. Upon the receipt by the city controller of such copy, the said fund shall be available for the purposes aforesaid, and shall be charged against the appropriation set apart for such department.
§ 20 PUBLIC WORK AND IMPROVEMENTS CONSTRUCTED BY CITY FORCES.
   When authorized by the City Council, public work and improvements may be constructed by city forces in accordance with ordinances and policies adopted by the City Council concerning same.
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