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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 21 - May 4 ElectionMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2024 SUBJECT: CALL MAY 4, 2024 GENERAL ELECTION RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider adopting a resolution calling the 2024 City Officers Election to be held on Saturday, May 4, designating the polling place and, if necessary, a run-off election to be held on June 15. FUNDING SOURCE: Funding for election expenditures is currently available in the City Secretary's Professional Services Account. BACKGROUND: This year, City of Grapevine voters will cast ballots for Mayor, City Council Place 1, and City Council Place 2. In order to best meet the requirements of the Texas Election Code and the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) the City will enter into an election services contract with Tarrant County to manage the elections. This contract will be presented for Council approval at a future meeting. The filing period for citizens to apply for a place on the ballot began on January 17 and closes on February 16. Early Voting will take place from April 22 — April 30 and once again, the Grapevine Library will serve as the Early Voting polling location within the City of Grapevine, although registered voters will be able to vote at any polling location in the County. Tarrant County has also created Voting Centers that will allow voters to cast a ballot at any Tarrant County polling location within the County on Election Day. There will be multiple voting locations in Grapevine on May 4. All polling locations and times will be determined by the Tarrant County Elections and will be published prior to Early Voting. RESOLUTION NO. 2024-002 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, CALLING FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2024; DETERMINING THE POLLING PLACE; PROVIDING SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CONDUCTING OF SAID ELECTION; REPEALING INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, Section 41.001(a) of the Texas Election Code provides for the holding of general city elections on the first Saturday in May; and WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Grapevine, Texas provides that the Election Code of the State of Texas is applicable to the City Council and Run -Off Elections, and in order to comply with said code an order should be passed establishing the procedure to be followed in said election, and designating the voting place for said election; and WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine desires to conduct joint elections pursuant to the provisions of the Texas Election Code, and as established in a joint election agreement for election services with the Tarrant County Elections Administrator; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites for the adoption of this resolution have been met, including but not limited to the Local Government Code and the Open Meetings Act; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby declares that the approval of this resolution is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. Section 2. An election is hereby called to elect persons to the offices of Mayor, City Council Place 1 and City Council Place 2 to be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Section 3. The terms for Mayor, City Council Place 1 and City Council Place 2 are for three years to serve until May of 2027, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Section 4. Qualified persons may file as candidates by filing an application in the office of the City Secretary, Monday through Friday, 8.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. beginning on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 and continuing until 5.00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024. The names of eligible and qualified candidates for such office shall be placed on the ballot for such election by the City Secretary at the time and in the manner prescribed by law, and the charter and ordinances of the City of Grapevine. Section 5. Clint Ludwig, (or his successor), Tarrant County Elections Administrator, 2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76111, is hereby appointed as Early Voting Clerk and may appoint additional deputy early voting clerks as necessary to properly conduct the Election. The Tarrant County Elections Administrator can be reached at 817.831.8683 or www.. ll ptiigr siinfo.tarrantcount, e ov. Election Information is also available on the website at hl /(r r r.. g.rrg.r g .r7 vtxec�ov/en/ellectiions.htmll. The Election shall be conducted under the jurisdiction of the Tarrant County Elections Department (the "Elections Administrator") pursuant to an Election Services Contract (the "Contract") by and among the Tarrant County Elections Department, the City and other participating entities, if any, described in the Contract. The Mayor or the Mayor's designee is authorized to amend or supplement the Contract to the extent required for the Election to be conducted in an efficient and legal manner as determined by the Elections Administrator. Section 6. All early voting shall be conducted pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the State of Texas Election Code. The Elections Administrator shall determine the early voting place and hours, however, such locations may be changed if so directed by the Elections Administrator without further action of the City Council. The Elections Administrator is hereby authorized and directed to make such changes in locations as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the Election. The Elections Administrator is hereby authorized to appoint the members of the Early Voting Ballot Board and the presiding judge and alternate judge in accordance with the requirements of the Code. Section 7. That the Tarrant County Elections Administrator/Early Voting Clerk has established the following dates, times and locations for early voting by personal appearance: Early Voting Polling Locations Tarrant County Elections Center, 2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76111 The Grapevine Library Program Room, 1201 Municipal Way, Grapevine, Texas 76051 *Other Tarrant County early voting locations to be designated by the Tarrant County Elections Administrator/Early Voting Clerk pursuant to joint election agreements with other political subdivisions within Tarrant County Days and Hours for Early Voting by Personal Appearance **Hours subject to change April 22-26 Monday - Friday 8.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. April 27 Saturday 7.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. April 28 Sunday 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. April 29-30 Monday - Tuesday 7.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Resolution No. 2024-002 2 Section 8. On Election Day, all eligible City of Grapevine voters shall be permitted to vote in polling place(s) designated by the Elections Administrator. These locations include Tarrant County Elections Center, 2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76111 and any polling location in the City of Grapevine and in Tarrant County. The Election Administrator will provide a final listing of all available polling sites at a future date. The designated polling locations will be published on the City's website prior to Election Day. Section 9. The Elections Administrator shall provide and furnish all necessary equipment, supplies and personnel to conduct said election. Said supplies and personnel shall be furnished at the expense of the General Fund of the City of Grapevine, Texas. Combined ballots may be utilized containing all of the offices and propositions to be voted on at each polling place, provided that no voter shall be given a ballot or permitted to vote for any office or proposition on which the voter is ineligible to vote. Section 10. The City Secretary is hereby instructed to publish notice of said election once in a newspaper of general circulation not more than thirty (30) days before the election and not less than ten (10) days before the election. Section 11. The Mayor shall issue all necessary orders, writs and notices for said election and the returns of said election shall be made to the City Secretary after the close of the polls and the completion of the counting of the ballots. Section 12. The winner shall receive a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held in accordance with the Texas Election Code. Any runoff election required for the election of members of the City Council of the City of Grapevine, Texas, ensuing from the General Election of May 4, 2024, shall be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, or as designated by the joint election agreement and contract in accordance with the election code. Section 13. This resolution shall repeal every prior resolution in conflict herewith, but only insofar as the portion of such resolution shall be in conflict, and as to all other sections of resolutions not in direct conflict herewith, this resolution shall be and is hereby made cumulative. Section 14. That this resolution shall be effective from and after the date of its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 6h day of February, 2024. APPROVED: Resolution No. 2024-002 3 William D. Tate Mayor ATTEST: Tara Brooks City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Matthew C.G. Boyle City Attorney Resolution No. 2024-002