Item 7A - MemoITEM 7A
ICITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
April 9, 2025
TO: Alison Ortowski, City Manager
FROM: Stacey Black, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 1290, 1st Reading, appointing Kara Carreras as the
Associate Judge of the Municipal Court of Record and authorizing
the Mayor to execute an employment agreement with the Associate
Municipal Judge
Action
Requested: City Council approval of Ordinance No. 1290, 1st Reading,
Appointing Kara Carreras as the Associate Judge of the Municipal
Court of Record and authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement
with the Associate Municipal Judge.
Background
Information: The Southlake City Charter states that the City Council shall appoint
one or more judges of the Municipal Court for a two-year term. The
current term of the Associate Judge expires on April 30, 2025.
The Associate Judge serves as Judge when Judge Montgomery is
unavailable due to illness, continuing legal or judicial education
programs, or any other reason.
In 2023, the City Council conducted a competitive selection process
for the position of Associate Judge, resulting in the appointments of
Lindsey Kinzie and Kara Carreras. On April 1, 2025, during Executive
Session, the Council discussed the Associate Judge appointments
and directed staff to initiate the reappointment process for Judge
Carreras for future Council consideration.
Judge Carreras was licensed to practice law in 2002. She has served
as an Assistant District Attorney for the Rockwall District Attorney's
Office, as a Criminal Defense Attorney, and as Partner/Owner for the
Carreras Law Group. Judge Carreras is a Southlake resident who
has volunteered in the community, serving on the Metroport Teen
Court Board and on the Crime Control and Prevention District Board.
She was appointed as an Associate Judge in 2023.
Ms. Carreras satisfies all the qualifications and conditions of the
Alison Ortowski, City Manager ITEM 7A
April 9, 2025
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Southlake City Charter, which include:
• the individual must be a licensed attorney in good standing;
• the individual must be licensed to practice in the State of
Texas; and
• the individual must have two or more years of experience in
practicing law in Texas.
Ordinance No. 1290, included in your packet, authorizes the
appointment of Kara Carreras as Associate Municipal Court Judge
for the City of Southlake for a two-year term through April 30, 2027.
It also authorizes the Mayor to execute an employment agreement
with Judge Carreras to establish the compensation and benefits of
the Associate Judge.
Financial
Considerations: There is no negative financial impact due to this appointment.
Strategic Link: Performance Management and Service Delivery: Collaborate with
select business partners to implement service solutions.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: The Ordinance was reviewed by the City Attorney's Office.
Alternatives: City Council may reappoint Judge Carreras or seek other applicants
as desired. City Council may approve or modify the attached
Ordinance.
Supporting
Documents: Ordinance No. 1290
Staff
Recommendation: The City Council appoint Kara Carreras as the Associate Judge of
the Municipal Court of Record and authorize the Mayor to execute
an employment agreement with the Associate Municipal Judge.
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE
ORDINANCE NO. 1290
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS APPOINTING
KARA CARRERAS AS ASSOCIATE JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL
COURT OF RECORD IN THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake is a home rule city acting under its charter
adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and
Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted regulations governing its municipal court
of record in Article II of Chapter 8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake,
Texas, as amended; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code relating to municipal
courts of record provides that the associate judge of the municipal court of record shall
be appointed by the City Council by ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
In accordance with the Code of Ordinances of the City of Southlake, Texas, as
amended, Kara Carreras is hereby appointed as Associate Municipal Judge of the
municipal court of record in the City of Southlake, Texas, for a term of two (2) years, which
will expire on April 30, 2027.
SECTION 2.
The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute an employment agreement with the
Associate Municipal Judge to establish compensation and benefits.
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SECTION 3.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code
of Ordinances of the City of Southlake, Texas, as amended, except where the provisions
of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such
Code, in which event the conflicting provisions of such ordinances and such Code are
hereby repealed.
SECTION 4.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the phrases,
clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of this ordinance are severable, and if any
phrase, clause sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction,
such 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 in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 5.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication as required by law, and it is so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON FIRST READING THIS DAY OF
)2025.
SHAWN MACCASKILL
MAYOR
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ATTEST:
AMY SHELLEY
CITY SECRETARY
PASSED AND APPROVED ON SECOND READING THIS DAY OF
2025.
JOHN HUFFMAN
MAYOR
ATTEST:
AMY SHELLEY
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
CITY ATTORNEY
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