· Related development
Initiating committee certifies that it wants the ordinance put to voters
The 11 committee members voted unanimously on June 28, 2024 to certify their desire to submit the ordinance to voters under Section 23 of the Charter and filed the certificate with the City Secretary. The City Secretary presented the certificate to the council on July 9, 2024; the council took no action that day and asked that outside counsel help draft the ballot language.[1][2][3][4][5]
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
The committee's certificate, dated June 28, 2024, states that the 11 members met that day under Section 23(i) of the Charter and voted unanimously to "certify their desire to have" the ordinance "submitted for adoption." On July 19, 2024 the City Secretary certified a copy of the 18-page proposed ordinance "as presented to the City Council on June 11, 2024" for the election. [1]
- ✓ Verified
The July 9, 2024 minutes record that the City Secretary presented the "Certificate and Statement of the Amarillo City Sanctuary City for the Unborn Citizen Initiative Petition Committee" and that the council took no action. The Amarillo Tribune reported that the council did not approve proposed ballot language that day and asked the City Attorney and outside counsel, Hyde Kelley LLP, to draft it, with an August 19 deadline to call the election. [3][4]
- ✓ Verified
At a July 2, 2024 press conference City Secretary Stephanie Coggins estimated the election would cost the City $80,000 to $100,000 and said that if voters approved the ordinance the council would adopt it, and if it failed no further action would be taken. Mayor Stanley said the council would "try to remain very neutral." [2]
- Election cost low
- $80,000
- Election cost high
- $100,000
- ✓ Verified
The Amarillo Tribune reported, from financial records obtained through a public information request, that as of September 20, 2024 the City had paid Hyde Kelley LLP $18,006.50 for work on the ordinance's legality and ballot language billed through July 31, 2024 (the Tribune's analysis). [6]
- Paid
- $18,007