HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 7312: SPECIAL ELECTION MAY 3, 2025, PROPOSITION PAEDC, PROJECTS TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 505 (REQUESTED BY MAYOR BARTIE) P.O. No. 7312 01/30/25 sb ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL ELECTION ON MAY 3, 2025 TO SUBMIT A PROPOSITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO UNDERTAKE CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS AUTHORIZED UNDER TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 505 (REQUESTED BY MAYOR BARTIE) WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 504 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code, the City Council is authorized to call a Special Election on the usage of Type A sales and use tax for categories of projects under Type B authorized pursuant to Chapter 505 of the Texas Local Government Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to submit a proposition to the voters thereon, said proposition being described in Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.004 and Section 41.001 of the Texas Election Code, the City Council shall order a Special Election to be held on the first Saturday in May 2025, the same being May 3, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of submitting a proposition, said order being attached as Exhibit "B". NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. That a Special Election is hereby ordered to be held on May 3, 2025, for the purpose of submitting a proposition to the voters thereon, said proposition being described in Exhibit"A"; and the polling locations being attached as Exhibit"A-2"thereto. s.po7312 Page 1 Section 3. That the City Council will take due consideration as to the proposed cost and impact of the project or category of projects as delineated in the proposition and will take due consideration of the comments of the citizens at the March 25, 2025 public hearing. Section 4. That the City Secretary shall post notices of the date, time, place, and subject of the Public Hearing in the official newspaper of the City on February 22, 2025, March 1, 2025, March 8, 2025, March 15, 2025 and March 22, 2025 and as otherwise required by law. Section 5. That pursuant to Chapter 504 and 505 of the Texas Government Code the City Council is authorized a Special Election on the usage of Type A sales tax for categories of projects under Type B under Chapter 505 Local Government Code. Section 6. That one (1) voting place shall be provided, (as shown in Exhibit"A- 2" to the proposed Order and Notice of Election, attached hereto as Exhibit "A") within each of the precincts or combined precincts into which the City is divided for voting purposes. Section 7. That said election shall be by Electronic Voting System as authorized in Texas Election Code Sec. 123.001. Early voting shall be conducted at the locations shown on Exhibit "A" attached hereto; and shall be under the control and supervision of the City Secretary. This includes the usage of electronic voting equipment certified by the Secretary of State. Section 8. That said election shall only provide one kind of voting system as mandated by Texas Election Code Sec 123.005. s.po7312 Page 2 Section 9. That the Robert A. ' Bob" Bowers Civic Center at 3401 Cultural Center Drive is hereby designated as the"Counting Station"to receive and tabulate voted ballots. Section 10. that pursuant to Section 67.003 of the Texas Election Code, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur shall meet on (May 14, 2025) which is within the eleven (11) days following election day (May 3, 2025) and officially canvass the returns and declare the results. Section 11. That the conduct of such election shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Election Code, including provisions for bilingual assistance, notices, instructions, electronic ballots, and other written materials and information relating to the electoral process, for which presentation and assistance is required. Section 12. That in accordance with Chapter 32 of the Election Code, and Article III, Section 4 of the City Charter, the City Council shall hereinafter appoint the following: • Presiding Judges for each polling place as set forth in Sections 32.031 and 32.032 of the Texas Election Code and with such compensation as to be set by the City Council per Sections 32.091 and 32.092 of the Texas Election Code. • Manager of the Counting Station with such duties as set forth in Section 127 .002 of the Texas Election Code and with such compensation as to be set by the City Council • Tabulation Supervisor of the Counting Station with such duties as set forth in Section 127.003 of the Texas Election Code and with such compensation as to be set by the City Council s.po7312 Page 3 • Presiding Judge and Alternate Presiding Judge of the Counting Station with duties and compensation as set forth in Section 127.005 of the Texas Election Code and with such compensation as to be set by the City Council • Early Voting Ballot Board with such duties as delineated in Section 87 .002 of the Election Code which includes the processing of early voting results, mail ballots and provisional ballots from the Voter Registrar and with such compensation as to be set by the City Council per Section 87.005 of the Election Code Section 13. That in addition to the election officers to be designated and appointed, at least one registered voter of Jefferson County who reads and speaks the English and Spanish languages fluently, as well as at least one registered voter of Jefferson County who reads and speaks the English and Vietnamese languages fluently, shall be appointed to serve at a central location to provide assistance for the Spanish and Vietnamese speaking voters on Election Day and during Early Voting. Before serving as an interpreter, he/she shall take the oath as delineated in Section 61.035 of the Election Code. Section 14. That the Judges and the Alternate Judges shall be paid the sum of eighteen ($18.00) dollars per hour and the Election Clerks shall be paid the sum of sixteen ($16.00) dollars per hour, subject to the limitations of Sections 32.091 through 32.094 of the Texas Election Code. The Judge who delivers the returns of the Election shall be further paid the amount of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars for that service. Section 15. That the City Secretary is hereby directed to cause the official ballots for use at said election to be prepared in the manner prescribed by Article III, of the Charter and Texas Election Code. s.po7312 Page 4 Section 16. That the Mayor shall cause notice of this election to be given in accordance with Section 4.003 of the Texas Election Code by publishing a copy of the Notice of Election in the official newspaper of the City of Port Arthur at least one (1) time, not earlier than the thirtieth (30th) day nor later than the tenth (loth) day before Election Day; and a copy of this Ordinance together with a copy of said Notice shall be filed in the office of the City Secretary and another copy of said notice shall be posted on the bulletin board used for posting notices of the meetings of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur at least twenty-one (21) days before the election. Section 17. That the Notice of Election shall include the location of each polling place and shall comply with Exhibit"A" attached and made part hereof. Section 18. That a copy of this Ordinance shall be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of A.D., 2025, at a Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers: • NOES: s.po7312 Page 5 THURMAN BILL BARTIE, MAYOR ATTEST: SHERRI BELLARD, CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: ROXANN PAIS COTRONEO, CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: RONALD BURTON, CITY MANAGER, CPM s.po7312 Page 6 Exhibit"A" ORDER AND NOTICE OF A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS Notice is hereby given that the City of Port Arthur will hold a Special Election to submit a proposition for the purpose of authorizing the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation to undertake categories of projects authorized under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 505 as attached hereto as Exhibit"A-1" I, Thurman Bartle, Mayor of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, as authorized by the City Council, do hereby Order and give Notice of a Special Election to be held in the City of Port Arthur, Texas, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., to elect a Mayor. Said election shall be by Electronic Voting System as provided in Section 123.001 of the Election Code, Section 9.004, et eq., Local Government Code and the City Charter. The location of each polling place is shown in Exhibit "A-2". Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at the following locations between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 and ending on Tuesday, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Extended voting hours will be conducted at City Hall and the Port Arthur Public Library between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025 and Tuesday, April 29, 2025. City Hall, 444 Fourth Street, Port Arthur, Texas 77640 Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 Ninth Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas 77642 s.po7312 Page 7 Exhibit"A" Page 2 ORDER AND NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD MAY 3, 2025 Please contact the City Secretary's Office at (409) 983-8115 for an Application for a Ballot by Mail or submit your request by e-mail at citysecretary©portarthurbcgov. Applications for a Ballot by Mail shall be mailed to: City of Port Arthur Or City of Port Arthur City Secretary Sherri Bellard City Secretary Sherri Bellard Post Office Box 1089 444 Fourth Street Port Arthur, Texas 77641-1089 Port Arthur, Texas 77640 Applications for Mail Ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Issued this day of , 2025. Thurman Bill Bartie, Mayor s.po7312 Page 8 EXHIBIT"A-1" Proposition A Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Authorizing the City of Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation to undertake any specific category of project(s) authorized under Chapter 505 of the Texas Local Government Code including, but not limited to a sports venue project, projects related to recreational or community facilities, projects related to affordable housing, projects related to water supply facilities and water conservation programs, and projects related to business enterprises that create or retain primary jobs; and to undertake any maintenance and operating costs of a facility when legally allowed. FOR AGAINST s.po7312 Page 9 Exhibit "A-2" ELECTION PRECINCTS: POLLING PLACES: R. L. ELDRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER 5262 S. GULFWAY DRIVE (SABINE PASS) Port Arthur, Texas 77655 (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election PRECINCTS 32 & 80) PORT ACRES ELEMENTARY 6900 JADE AVENUE (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election Port Arthur, Texas 77640 PRECINCTS 33 & 34) TYRRELL ELEMENTARY 4401 FERNDALE (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election Port Arthur, Texas 77642 PRECINCTS 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 60, 61, 71, 76, 93 and 101) PORT ARTHUR PUBLIC LIBRARY 4615 NINTH AVENUE (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election Port Arthur, Texas 77642 PRECINCTS 45, 46, 70, 81, 82, 95, 96, 97 and 98) PORT ARTHUR CITY HALL 444 4TH STREET (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election Port Arthur, Texas 77640 PRECINCTS 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55) ABRAHAM LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1023 ABE LINCOLN (All or a portion of Jefferson Conty Election Port Arthur, Texas 77640 PRECINCTS 57, 59 and 104) s.po7312 Page 10