HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 27379-12-2024ORDINANCE NO.27379-12-2024
AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING LAURA GANOZA AS A MUNICIPAL
JUDGE FOR AN UNEXPIRED TERM COMMENCING DECEMBER 10,
2024 AND ENDING MARCH 31, 2026 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS
QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW;
PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That, the following individual is now appointed as a Municipal Judge for an unexpired
term commencing December 10, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026, or until a successor is qualified
and appointed in accordance with state law:
Municipal Court Judge Place 2: Laura E. Ganoza
Appointment to a place does not mean appointment to a specific court or division. Assignment to
a court remains within the authority of the Chief Judge as authorized by Section 10-3 of Chapter
10, Courts of the Fort Worth City Code.
SECTION 2.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the
City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, except where provisions of this ordinance are in
direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and Code, in which event such conflicting
provisions of such ordinances and Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence,
paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or unconstitutional by the
valid judgment or final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such ineffectiveness or
unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs
and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without
the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence,
paragraph or section.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: December 10, 2024
CITY SECRETARY:
Jannette S. GoodalI
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City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 12/10/24 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 24-1149
LOG NAME: 38MUNICIPAL JUDGE APPOINTMENT2024
SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt the Ordinance Appointing Laura E. Ganoza as Municipal Judge for the Remainder of a Two -Year Term, Commencing December 10,
2024 and Ending March 31, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Appoint Laura E. Ganoza as Municipal Court Judge for an unexpired term commencing December 10, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026, or
until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state law; and
2. Set the salary for said Municipal Court Judge as $121,222.00 per year.
DISCUSSION:
Appointment of Municipal Court Judges
Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code (the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act) sets cut the requirements for appointment of judges and
the presiding judge for municipal courts of record. Section 30.00006(b) of the Texas Government Code requires the governing body of a
municipality to appoint its municipal court judges by ordinance.
Currently there are 10 Judicial Places. One judicial vacancy was created by the promotion of Judge Andrew Bradshaw. Chief Judge
Gonzalez recommended to the Mayor and Council that the one place be filled through an application process.
On October22, 2024, Chief Judge Gonzalez presented an Informal Report to the Mayor and Members of the City Council concerning the Judicial
Appointment Process: That process has now been completed. Chief Judge Gonzalez is recommending to the City Council that Laura E.
Ganoza be appointed as a municipal court judge for an unexpired term commencing on December 10, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026.
Therefore, the following individual is now appointed as a municipal court judge in the following place for an unexpired term commencing December
10, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026, or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state and local law:
Municipal Court Judge Place 2: Laura E. Ganoza.
Appointment to a place does not mean appointment to a specific court or division. Assignment to a court remains within the authority of the
Chief Judge as authorized by Section 10-3 of the City Code.
Pay Adjustments for Municipal Court Judges
Section 30.00006(h) of the Government Code requires the City Council to set the salary for a Municipal Court Judge upon appointment.
Therefore, the salary for the Municipal Court Judge is as follows:
1. An annual salary of $121,222.00 for Municipal Court Judge Laura E. Ganoza;
The salary of the Municipal Court Judge may be increased in the future if the increase is adopted by the City Council as part of the Budget
Ordinance.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION 1 CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the ordinance, funds will be available in the
current operating budget, as previously appropriated, in the General Fund. Prior to any expenditure being incurred, the Municipal Court
Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted fQrCily Ma ice b Valerie Washington 6199
Originating Business Unit Head: William Rumuly 7461
Additional Information Contact: William Rumuly 7461