Less than a year after it officially became a city, Starbase is already rearranging the seats at City Hall. At a Jan. 8 commission meeting, the 1.5‑square‑mile, SpaceX‑anchored municipality accepted multiple resignations and swore in a new commissioner, while also putting a potential successor to its top administrator in place. The quick turnover, which includes the city’s first clerk stepping down and an inaugural commissioner resigning for family reasons, highlights how the fledgling city is still trying to find its footing.
City Administrator Kent Myers signaled that his own tenure is probably on the clock. “No specific target date, but maybe around the end of this fiscal year, so, about the end of September, I want to get back to retirement mode,” Myers told commissioners, according to MySA. He commented as the commission approved staffing moves meant to create an internal succession plan and keep daily operations steady in the coming months.
Decisions at the Jan. 8 meeting
During the Jan. 8 session, the commission formally accepted Commissioner Jenna Petrzelka’s resignation and moved quickly to fill the vacancy. Taylor Lois Wallace was appointed to complete Petrzelka’s unexpired term, in line with procedures laid out in city documents, according to meeting materials on the City of Starbase website. The agenda packet includes Wallace’s resume and the specific vote items the commission acted on that night.
The clerk steps down, and an assistant admin is named
Starbase’s first city clerk is also heading for the exit. The commission accepted the resignation of Caroline Cole, the inaugural clerk, effective Jan. 19, and indicated a successor will be named soon, as reported by MySA. Commissioners, following Myers’ recommendation, also approved Cayetana Polanco as assistant city administrator, positioning her as a key player for continuity once Myers steps away.
Polanco co‑founded the biometric startup Keyo with her husband, Jaxon Klein. The company’s “palm‑pay” biometric payment system, which lets users verify identity and pay with a scan of their palm, was profiled in Forbes in 2017.
Why the shuffle matters
Starbase incorporated last spring, instantly drawing national attention because its government is led largely by SpaceX employees and closely tied to the company’s rocket operations. Coverage from outlets including The Texas Tribune and the newest city with SpaceX employees at the helm of governance has noted ongoing questions about how corporate interests intersect with municipal power. Those reports highlighted concerns over public access, land use, and how quickly local policy decisions could be shaped by a largely company‑centered electorate.
What’s next
Residents are scheduled to vote for a new commission on Texas’ uniform municipal election date, Saturday, May 2, 2026, according to statewide election calendars and voter resources such as Vote411. In the short term, the city’s Jan. 8 agenda packet indicates officials expect to name a replacement clerk in the coming days. The full set of meeting materials, including the leadership changes, is posted on the Starbase website.
