Title
Consider recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve proposed amendments to the Edwards Aquifer Authority Bylaws.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board approve the proposed amendments to the Edwards Aquifer Authority Bylaws.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an Executive Committee recommendation to approve amendments to the EAA Bylaws. Other than the board’s annual review and associated minor revisions of the EAA Investment Policy and Investment Strategy (Article IX), the last time the Bylaws were substantively amended was June 14, 2016. Attached to this summary is a red-lined version of the current Bylaws.
The proposed amendments impact the General Manager's signature authority and the description for securing legal services.
The proposed signature authority adjustments are designed to bring the EAA into alignment with recent changes to Chapter 49 of the Texas Water Code that were made through Senate Bill 1173 from the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. That bill increased the procurement bidding threshold to $100k (from $50k). Signature limits are determined by a combination of State procurement thresholds and internal policies. The last time the EAA amended the General Manager's signature authority was 2007.
Increasing the bylaw signature authority spending/approval limit is intended to improve efficiency by reducing the number of routine transactions requiring board-level approval. This is especially relevant where the statutory procurement threshold has increased and where inflation has made the prior $50,000 benchmark less reflective of current market costs.
The bylaw provision for securing legal services was adjusted to make it clear that the procurement process was associated with the procurement of outside and special counsel services. This is necessary because the EAA now has an in-house counsel.
At the meeting on August 4, the Executive Committee voted to approve the recommended motion ...
Click here for full text