The Plano City Council is the eight-member elected legislative body that governs the City of Plano, Texas. It sets policy, passes ordinances, adopts the annual budget, and fixes the property tax rate, while a City Manager appointed by the council runs daily operations. The council consists of the Mayor and seven council members, all elected at-large to four-year terms under the city’s home rule charter.1City of Plano. City of Plano Municipal Organization
Who Sits on the Council
The eight seats are numbered Places 1 through 8, and Place 8 is the Mayor. Every seat is elected at-large, meaning all registered voters in Plano vote on every seat regardless of where they live in the city.2Plano, TX – Official Website. Mayor and City Council
Residency rules split the seats into two groups. Candidates for Places 1 through 4 must live in a specific geographic quadrant of the city tied to that place number. Candidates for Places 5 through 8, including the Mayor, can live anywhere within the city limits. The result is a council where the whole electorate picks every member, but at least four members bring geographic diversity to the table.
What the Council Does
Plano operates under a council-manager form of government, which separates policy decisions from administration. The council directs what the city should do; the City Manager, who serves as the chief administrative and executive officer, handles how it gets done and oversees all city departments and staff.1City of Plano. City of Plano Municipal Organization
On the legislative side, the council passes ordinances and resolutions covering land use and zoning, public safety regulations, business licensing, and other local matters. Ordinances carry the force of law within city limits. Resolutions express the council’s position on matters that don’t require binding legislation.
On the fiscal side, the council adopts the annual municipal budget and sets the property tax rate each year. Plano’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. The budget determines how revenue is distributed across police, fire, parks, infrastructure, and administrative services, and the property tax rate decision directly affects every homeowner and business in the city.
The charter also gives the council authority to appoint several top city officials. The council hires the City Manager and can remove the City Manager by a council vote. It also appoints the City Secretary, who manages official records and oversees elections, along with Municipal Court Judges and the City Attorney.1City of Plano. City of Plano Municipal Organization Beyond those positions, the council appoints residents to more than 20 boards, commissions, and advisory committees, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the Civil Service Commission.3Plano, TX – Official Website. Boards and Commissions
Elections and Terms
Council members serve four-year terms, staggered so the entire body is never replaced in a single election. The charter limits members to two consecutive full terms in the same seat. A former member who has sat out can run again. Regular municipal elections take place in May, consistent with the schedule used by most Texas cities.
When a seat opens mid-term, the council must call a special election within 120 days of the vacancy.4Ballotpedia. City Elections in Plano, Texas (2026) Vacancies are not filled by appointment. Voters choose the replacement.
Who Can Run
Under Section 3.02 of the city charter, a candidate for council must:
- Be a registered voter in the State of Texas.
- Have lived within Plano’s city limits for at least 12 consecutive months before the election date.
- Be at least 21 years old at the time of filing.
- Owe no back taxes or other debts to the city.
- For Places 1 through 4, live in the specific quadrant tied to that place number.
These requirements continue to apply after the election. A sitting member who moves out of the city, or out of the required quadrant, forfeits the seat. The same applies if a member falls behind on obligations owed to the city after taking office.
Meetings and Public Participation
Regular council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Avenue.2Plano, TX – Official Website. Mayor and City Council Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, the city must post an official agenda in a publicly accessible location at least 72 hours before each meeting.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code Chapter 551 – Section 551.043 Agendas are posted online and at City Hall.
Each meeting includes a public comment period where residents can speak for up to three minutes on items of general interest, plus a separate comment period for items on the posted agenda. Total time for general public comments is capped at 30 minutes per meeting.6City of Plano. City Council Agenda Speakers typically register before the meeting begins.
If a resident raises a topic that wasn’t on the posted agenda, council members can share factual information or state existing policy, but they cannot deliberate or vote on it. The most they can do is propose adding the topic to a future meeting’s agenda.7State of Texas. Texas Government Code Chapter 551 – Section 551.042
Removing Members and Changing the Charter
Plano’s charter includes a recall process that allows voters to remove a sitting council member before the term expires. Article 6 of the charter governs recall petitions, which must follow signature requirements set out in the Texas Election Code. It is a rarely used tool, but it exists as a check on elected officials who lose public confidence.
Residents can also petition to amend the city charter itself. The process requires valid signatures from either 5 percent of registered voters or 20,000 voters, whichever number is smaller.8Plano, TX – Official Website. Charter Amendment Petitions A qualifying petition sends the proposed amendment to voters at an election. The council can also place charter amendments on the ballot on its own.