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 a...
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