Title
Discussion regarding the procedure and timing of placing items on the November 6, 2018 election ballot. (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Omar Peña)
Summary
This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Peña to discuss the procedure and timing of placing items on the November 6, 2018 election ballot.
The City will hold its General Election on November 6, 2018. The City Charter provides in Section 5.01(b) that the city council by resolution may order a special election to fill vacancies on the city council and for bond issues, ordinances, charter amendments, recall, initiative or referendum, or other purposes deemed appropriate by the council; and, in Section 11.10 that the charter may be amended in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. The Texas Local Government Code Section 9.004 provides that (a) The governing body of a municipality on its own motion may submit a proposed charter amendment to the municipality's qualified voters for their approval at an election. The governing body shall submit a proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least five percent of the number of qualified voters of the municipality or 20,000, whichever number is the smaller. b) The ordinance ordering the election shall provide for the election to be held on the first authorized uniform election date prescribed by the Election Code or on the earlier of the date of the next municipal general election or presidential general election. The election date must allow sufficient time to comply with other requirements of law and must occur on or after the 30th day after the date the ordinance is adopted. (c) Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality. The notice must: (1) include a substantial copy of the proposed amendment; (2) includ...
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