TOWN STAFF REPORT RECOMMENDATION
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Discuss, consider and act to approve Ordinance No. 1000 designating Town Council Places as Place Numbers 1 through 5; requiring each Town Council Candidate to designate place number at time of ballot application; providing no person shall be a candidate for more than one place; providing procedures to fill Town Council vacancies for unexpired terms; and providing procedures for the official canvass of elections (Dianna Buchanan, Interim Town Secretary)
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STAFF: Dianna Buchanan, Interim Town Secretary
BACKGROUND:
The proposed ordinance for Town Council’s consideration of approval was prepared based on feedback received during and after the last election cycle. These amendments are designed to improve and clarify several election and appointment related processes and to safeguard the continuity of government operations during council transition periods.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed amendment is to the Code of Ordinances, Article II Town Council, Division I. Some new procedures are being proposed and some sections are being defined in greater detail than before for clarity and convenience.
The amendment will number council places and revise several related processes. The numbering of council places in local government is used to designate specific seats or positions within a governing body. This enables staff to ensure clarity and organization, especially when there are multiple council members. The Town of Westlake is not divided into geographic wards or districts and Town council positions are elected at large by all citizens to represent all areas of Westlake. Approval of council place numbering will not change at large representation. The primary impact of the numbering of places will be on election ballots. Ballots will display the actual place number of the office being sought. There will no longer be an instance of “Council Member Vote for Two (or Three)” on ballots with the desired outcome being ballots that are less confusing for voters. This change also creates several other revisions to related processes such as specifying place numbers for current council members, defining which places are elected during which years, requiring candidates to indicate the council place number they want to run for on their ballot application, and defining that a candidate shall run for only one place during each election.
The amendment also details procedures for calling a meeting to canvass election returns and declare election results. The meeting agenda will be exclusively for canvassing election returns and declaring election results, and will have no other items for discussion, consideration or action by Town Council. The responsibility for composing and posting the agenda for this purpose is assigned to the Town Manager and/or the Town Secretary and the agenda will not require approval of the Mayor and/or Town Council. These revisions will ensure that the governing body performs the mandated ministerial act to canvass election returns no later than 11 days after the election to comply with the Texas Election Code. Revisions also define quorums required to conduct a meeting for transacting business and to canvass election returns.
Lastly the amendment provides appointment procedures to fill a town council vacancy and includes defining eligibility criteria, establishing an application period of fourteen (14) days, and requiring council to fill such a vacancy by appointment no longer than 30 days after such vacancy.
The proposed amendment represents a significant step forward in enhancing transparency by defining procedures to be followed relating to elections and appointments to council vacancies, and by ensuring continuity of operations during election transition periods.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 1000.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Ordinance 1000
TOWN COUNCIL ACTION/OPTIONS:
1) Motion to approve as presented.
2) Motion to amend with the following additions/changes (please state in motion)
3) Motion to continue to a date certain or to table
4) Motion to deny