18-PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF FOR CITY OF PARIS GENERAL ELECTION 2012 DATESubmittal Date:
O 1 /04/2012
Council Date:
n1/09/2012
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
enda Item No.:
Originating Department: Presented By: ~
City Clerk
Janice Ellis
18.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Deliberate and provide direction to staff for the City of Paris General Election 2012 date.
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Elections.
BACKGROUND:
At the Council meeting of July 25, 2011, I provided you with information regarding SB100 and its effect
on City Elections. There have been ongoing discussions between municipalities, TML and the Secretary
of State Elections Divisions.
In December 2011, an Election Seminar was conducted by the Secretary of State and it was reported that
the majority of school districts and municipalities had decided to continue with the May election date
(May 12, 2012). I have spoken with County Elections Administrator Russ Towers and he informed me
that the County will be able to provide the City with the federally mandated direct recording electronic
voting machines in May or November.
On January 5, 2012, I posted a Notice of Deadline to File Applications for Place on the Ballot as that
was the first deadline to be met if we are to hold our election in May. We will have several other
deadlines approaching, so I am asking for direction from you as to whether or not you wish to continue
holding general elections in May or if you wish to move the general elections to November.
After discussing this issue for several months with other city officials, our local school districts and the
county elections administrator, I am recommendingopa a n n exeflow hlevelso on CiyyCo cil by
reasons for this recommendation are 1) we need t Perence
continuing with staggered term elections; 2) our citizens are accustomed to May elections; 3) our city
council elections will not be co-mingled with federal/state/county/ elections; 4) we will continue to hold
joint elections with school districts annually in May; 4) we will not be required to hold a Special set
Law Election to amend our Charter (which could noassured me ihat hetwill be able to co t nue to protvide he
and 5) o u r C o u n t y E l e c t i o n s A d m i n i s t r a t o r h a s
required voting machines mandated by the Federal Government.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
Briefing sheet from July 25, 2011 City Council meeting and SB 100 Flow Chart for Home Rule Cities
ACTION:
F-I Financial Report
Department Report
~ Presentation
F-I Public Hearing
Z Minute Order
Fj Resolution
❑ Ordinance
❑ Other
BUDGET INFO:
Budgeted Amt. $
YTD Actual $
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
„__.:..,.a IinAmQ
City of Paris
1 ,
FiscAL NoTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
0 Administration Z City Clerk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT
❑ Municipal Court Z Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works
❑ Finance
❑ Utilities
E] Fire
Revised 2/04/08
City of Paris
,t
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date: Originating Department: Presented By: Agenda Item No.:
07/08/2011 14.
Council Date: City Clerk Janice Ellis
07/25/2011
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Not an action item
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Elections
BACKGROUND:
I recently attended a meeting put on by the Secretary of State and TML at the City of Allen regarding
SB 100. SB 100 was passed during the 82"d Texas Legislative Session and could potentially impact many
city elections. The biggest change is that County Elections Administrators will no longer be required to
enter into a contract to furnish election services for an election held on the second Saturday in May in
even-numbered years. The reason for the change is that the primary runoff election date for State
primary races has been moved from April to the fourth Tuesday in May (primary elections are held in
even-numbered years). This creates overlapping election deadlines/dates with the primary runoff and
our general municipal election. In turn, there is the possibility of a shortage of federally mandated direct
recording electronic machines, which is required to be accessible at each polling place, pursuant to the
Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
At the meeting, municipalities discussed the following three options: 1) Purchase electronic voting
machines and conduct our own election; 2) Move City Council elections to November; and 3) Conduct
municipal elections only in odd-numbered years.
Discussion and options are still in the early stages. In the upcoming months, we anticipate that we will
be receiving additional information from TML and the Secretary of State Elections Division.
There is no action to be taken as this time.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
0 Presentation ❑ Ordinance y''D Actual $
FISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
~ Administration ~ City Clerk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT ❑ Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court ~ Legal Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
N
A
BUDGET INFO:
:
CTIO
~ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
$
❑ Department Report ❑ Resolution
Budgeted Amt.
$
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Other
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
xevisea 2i64iva
City of Paris 137
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