HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-O-14 - Postponing Special Election ORDINANCE NO. 2020-0-14
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE POSTPONING THE SPECIAL
ELECTION ORDERED IN ORDINANCE NO. 2020-0-04
WHEREAS,on February 4, 2020,the City Council of the City of Stephenville passed Ordinance No.
2020-0-04 ordering that a Special Election be held on May 2, 2020, a uniform election date per Texas law,
for the purpose of considering a proposition to authorize the City to provide for the construction,
improvement, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operation, and maintenance of city-owned ballfields,
concessions,courts,and recreation facilities,a sports and community venue project as defined in Chapter
334,Texas Local Government Code ("Venue Project"), and to impose a tax on the occupancy of a room in
a hotel within the City at a rate not to exceed two percent (2%) of the price paid for such room for the
purposes of financing the Venue Project; and
WHEREAS, Section 41.001(a) of the Texas Election Code establishes Saturday, May 2,
2020, as a uniform election date for the City of Stephenville,Texas ("City"); and
WHEREAS,on March 13,2020,the Governor of Texas certified that the novel coronavirus(COVID-
19) poses an imminent threat of disaster and declared a state of disaster for all counties in Texas; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, the Governor of Texas issued a Proclamation to suspend various
statutes to allow political subdivisions of the state that would otherwise hold elections on May 2, 2020,
_ to move their general and special elections for 2020 to the next uniform election date, occurring on
November 3, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Secretary of State has issued, pursuant to the Proclamation of March 18,
2020, Election Advisory No. 2020-12, to provide guidance to local political subdivisions regarding issues
raised by the Proclamation; and
WHEREAS,federal, state, and local officials have determined that the spread of COVID-19 can be
slowed by avoiding bringing people together, and the City Council hereby finds that the holding of the
special election might cause physical danger of infection to voters, election officials, and election
volunteers; and
WHEREAS, because of the public health crisis, and in order to protect the health and safety of
voters, the election officials, and election volunteers, the City Council therefore wishes to exercise the
authority granted to it in the Proclamation of March 18, 2020 to postpone the election previously called
by it to be held on May 2, 2020.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
Pursuant to the authority granted in the Proclamation of March 18, 2020, the special election ordered to
be held on May 2, 2020 by Ordinance No. 2020-0-04 is hereby postponed until the next uniform election
date, November 3, 2020.
SECTION 2.
All matters and dates relevant to the November 3, 2020 elections, such as voter registration deadlines,
applications for ballots by mail, and dates for early voting shall be as provided by Texas law and Election
Advisory 2020-12.
SECTION 3.
This ordinance shall become effective immediately after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 25th day of March,2020
y . ST�pti
V� Doug vien, Mayor
Attest: S
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Staci L. ity Secretary '�-, PO R
Reviewed by Alle L. Bar es,
City Manager
Approved as to form and legality by
Randy Thomas, City Attorney