DEPARTMENT: Office of the City Clerk
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Leticia M. Vacek
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
May 9, 2015 Special City Election
SUMMARY:
Consideration of an Ordinance ordering a Charter Amendment Election for May 9, 2015, to add Section 3a, entitled "Limitation on powers; streetcar or light rail", providing that no grant of permission to alter or damage any public way of the city for the laying of streetcar or light rail tracks shall ever be valid, and no funds shall be appropriated and no bonds or notes shall be issued or sold for the purpose of streetcar or light rail systems, unless first approved by a majority of the qualified electors at an election containing a proposition specifically identified for and limited to such purpose.
Following are dates leading up to the Saturday, May 9, 2015 Special Election:
Thursday, April 9, 2015 |
Last day to Register to Vote for the May Election. |
Monday, April 27, 2015 |
First day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance |
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 |
Last day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance |
Saturday, May 9, 2015 |
Election Day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On Thursday, August 7, 2014, through Ordinance No. 2014-08-07-0519, the City Council of the City of San Antonio's action to withdraw the City's participation in the VIA Streetcar Program acknowledged the efforts of the Streetcar Vote Coalition and the petitions it collected containing over 26,000 signatures seeking an election to amend the City Charter to require an election on streetcar or light rail. By that action, the Council also authorized the redirection of the $32 million previously identified for the VIA Streetcar Program to other eligible projects and programs in the center city area, as they are identified, and established a Charter Review Commission to conduct a review of the Charter and bring forth proposals for additional amendments, including Council pay, the filling of a midterm mayoral vacancy, and revision of provisions that have been superseded by changes in state or federal law.
The number of signatures submitted to the City Clerk on July 8, 2014 provided clear evidence of the strong community interest in a public vote on a streetcar or light rail recognized by the City Council through the ordering of a Charter Amendment Election for May 9, 2105, the date of the next Municipal General Election.
Representatives of the Streetcar Coalition and the City of San Antonio worked together to draft the language of the Charter Amendment Proposition, which was brought before the City Council Governance Committee on August 20, 2014. The Governance Council Committee recommended the Mayor's Proposal be brought forward for consideration by the full Council.
ISSUE:
The Texas Constitution limits Charter Amendments to no more often than every two years.
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The ordinance contracting with the Bexar County Elections Administrator for Election Services will be presented to Council at a later date in addition to the Early Voting and Election Day Polling Sites. The contract will denote the final cost of the May 9, 2015 Special Election.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Offices of the City Clerk and the City Attorney recommend approval of this ordinance.