STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance and Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: February 10, 2021
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: City Secretary’s Office
EXECUTIVE: Bilierae Johnson
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SUBJECT
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An ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the city of Dallas on May 1, 2021 on the question of adopting amendments to the Charter of the City of Dallas (1) eliminating the requirement that a member of a board or commission created by the city charter be registered or qualified to vote; (2) eliminating the requirement that a member of the civil service board be a qualified taxpaying citizen; (3) prescribing the form and wording of the ballot propositions; (4) designating polling places; (5) providing that only resident qualified voters are entitled to vote; (6) providing for the use of an electronic voting system for early voting by personal appearance and a computerized voting system for voting on election day and for early voting by mail; (7) providing for early voting locations; (8) providing for an early ballot board to process early voting; (9) providing for notice of the special election; and (10) providing an effective date - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
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BACKGROUND
The Dallas City Charter requires members of the redistricting commission, city plan commission, and park board to be qualified voters of the city. The Dallas City Charter also requires members of the civil service board to be qualified taxpaying citizens. This ordinance calls for a special election on May 1, 2021 to seek voter approval to eliminate these requirements.
In April 2020, the Dallas City Council removed the Dallas City Code, Chapter 8 requirement that an appointee to a city board or commission be a qualified voter. Chapter 8 is the portion of the Dallas City Code that governs boards and commissions, including member requirements. In addition to the requirement for boards and commissions in Chapter 8, the Dallas City Charter requires that city plan commissioners and park and recreation board members be qualified voters, that members of the redistricting commission be registered to vote, and that members of the civil service board be qualified tax paying citizens. These requirements may only be removed through voter approved charter amendments.
A special election for these charter amendments may be held on the next uniform election date of May 1, 2021. To call the election within the timeframe required by the Texas Election Code, City Council must pass this ordinance no later than February 12, 2021.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Government Performance and Financial Management Committee was briefed at the special called meeting regarding this matter on February 4, 2021.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to City.