· Starting point
Council orders the charter election with Propositions B-E, 3-2
On second reading, the council amended Ordinance 8144 to make Proposition C's four-year terms "effective with the next regularly scheduled municipal election to be held in May 2025, with the terms staggered as established by ordinance." A motion by Councilmember Simpson to put only Propositions C, D and E on the ballot, removing Proposition B, failed 2-3 (Craft and Simpson for; Stanley, Tipps and Scherlen against). The ordinance as amended then passed 3-2, with Craft and Simpson voting no. The staff memo estimated the election cost at $100,000 to $150,000 from the general fund.[1][2][3]
Cole StanleyJosh CraftDon TippsTom ScherlenLes Simpson
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
On August 13, 2024 the council amended Ordinance 8144 to add to Proposition C "effective with the next regularly scheduled municipal election to be held in May 2025, with the terms staggered as established by ordinance." A motion to place Propositions C, D and E on the ballot without B (Simpson, second Craft) failed 2-3, with Craft and Simpson for and Stanley, Tipps and Scherlen against. The ordinance as amended (Scherlen, second Tipps) passed 3-2, with Stanley, Tipps and Scherlen for and Craft and Simpson against. [1]
- ✓ Verified
Les Simpson, Councilmember Place 4: The Amarillo Tribune reported that the council discussed whether expanding the council under Proposition B could expose the City to litigation seeking single-member districts under the Voting Rights Act, and quoted Councilmember Les Simpson: "All I'm saying is that I don't feel comfortable moving forward with this, not that I'm against adding two members, but until we get the chance to delve into this a little more." [3]
- ✓ Verified
The staff memo for Ordinance 8144 estimated the charter election would cost $100,000 to $150,000 from general fund revenues, as an unbudgeted special election; the memo for the Proposition A resolution estimated $90,000 to $120,000. Both are estimates. [2]
- Charter cost low
- $100,000
- Charter cost high
- $150,000
- Prop a cost low
- $90,000
- Prop a cost high
- $120,000
- ✓ Verified
Ordinance 8144 provides that the effective date of any approved proposition "shall be as set by City Council, no sooner than 30 days after the canvass of the election," to allow republication of the amended charter and amendment of affected ordinances and policies. [2]
- ✓ Verified
Proposition B, "Enlarge the number of City Council members from four to six Council members and a Mayor," would amend Article V, Sections 1 and 5(a) so the elective officers are a mayor plus six councilmembers (Places One through Six), each elected by a majority of the registered voters within the city. [2][5]
- ✓ Verified
Proposition D, "Mayor and City Council recall process," would amend Article II, Section 24 to lower the signatures needed to call a recall election from 30% of the city's registered voters (with one-fifth certifying they voted for the officer in the last election) to 30% of the votes cast in the election at which the officer was elected; extend the time to file recall petitions from 30 to 60 days after the required affidavit; give the City Secretary 21 days to verify signatures; and bar recall petitions within six months after an officer takes office, within six months of the end of the term, or within six months after a recall election for that officer. [2][6]
- ✓ Verified
Proposition E, "Adoption of a method to fill a City Council vacancy," would repeal and replace Article V, Section 3: a councilmember vacancy with fewer than 12 months left would be filled by council appointment, a mayoral vacancy with fewer than 12 months left would be filled by the council appointing a councilmember, other vacancies would go to a special election within 120 days, and a "resign to run" provision would make a mayor's or councilmember's office vacant if the holder announces a candidacy for another office with more than 12 months and 30 days left in the term. [2][5]