CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Called Meeting February 21, 1978 5:00 Ρ.Μ. Council Chambers 301 West Second Street The meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan presiding. Roll Call; Present: Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Cooke, Goodman, Himmelblau, Mullen, Snell, Mayor Pro Tem Trevino Absent: None Mayor McClellan opened the meeting scheduled for 5:00p.m. by noting that all Councilmembers Vere present. The Mayor stated that this was the second special meeting on the Charter. She stated that a memo from City Attorney Jerry Harris indicated that Council candidates running from a district need not reside in that district 6 months prior to filing. The Mayor stated that it would be up to the Council to decide if the six-month provision would stay or be deleted from the Ordinance. Mayor McClellan stated that she had informed School Board President, Gus Garcia, that the Council had decided to not go to the four different absentee polling places. The Mayor indicated that Mr. Garcia had asked if the Council would consider one absentee polling place at the Austin Independent School District Administration Building. Motion Councilmember Goodman moved that the Council vote to have a joint absentee polling place located at the Austin Independent School District Administration Building and the City of Austin Municipal Building with the understanding that there will be no other polling places; and that A.I.S.D. block off a minimum of six (6) parking places for said polling place. The motion, seconded by Mayor McClellan, carried by the fallesingovete: Ayes: Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Goodman, Baedli Beyor Pro Tem Trevino Noes: Councilmembers Cooke, Himmelblau, Mullen CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS February 21, 1978 Motion Councilmember Snell moved that the Council vote to retain the six (6) months' residency requirement on Council candidates running from a particular district, with the exemption of the first election to be held. The motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trevino, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Goodman, Snell, Mayor Pro Tem Trevino, Mayor McClellan Noes: Councilmembers Cooke, Himmelblau, Mullen Motion Withdrawn Councilmember Mullen moved to remove references to gender from the Charter and to bring the Charter into compliance with State law. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cooke. Councilmember Mullen later withdrew his motion pertaining to gender and compliance with State law. Motion Councilmenber Mullen moved that the Council set the minimum age for candidates running for Council at 18 years old, and to also require a six (6) months' protiousyresidency within the City of Austin. The motion, seconded by Mayor McClellan, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Himmelblau, Mullen, Snell, Mayor Pro Tem Trevino, Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Cooke, Goodman Noess None Motion Mayor McClelibafirbroughtoupathbafollowing ordinance for its first reading: AN ORDINANCE ORDERING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON APRIL 1, 1978 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS, FOR ADOPTION OR REJECTION, THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN 1. AN AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF A NINE MEMBER CITY COUNCIL, EIGHT (8) COUNCILMEMBERS TO BE RESIDENTS OF AND ELECTED FROM DISTRICTS AND THE MAYOR TO BE ELECTED AT LARGE; 2. AN AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT THE WORDS "COUNCILMAN" AND "COUNCILMEN" AS SAME APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE CHARTER BE CHANGED TO "COUNCILMEMBER" AND "COUNCILMEMBERS," RESPECTIVELY, AND THAT THE WORDS "HE," "HIS," "HIM" AND "HIMSELF" AS SAME APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE CHARTER BE REPLACED WITH THE WORDS "HE OR SHE," "HIS OR HER," "HIM OR HER" AND "HIMSELF OR HERSELF," RESPECTIVELY AND THAT THE WORD "CHAIRMAN" AS SAME APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE CHARTER BE CHANGED TO "CHAIRPERSON:" _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS February 21, 1978 3. AN AMENDMENT PROVIDING THAT A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL PAY A FILING FEE OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) OR IN LIEU THEREOF SUBMIT A PETITION SIGNED BY A MINIMUM OF TWO HUNDRED (200) REGISTERED VOTERS RESIDING IN THE CITY (AND RESIDING IN THE PARTICULAR DISTRICT IF THE CANDIDATE IS RUNNING FOR A DISTRICT SEAT) REQUESTING THAT THE NAME OF SUCH PERSON BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT; 4. AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER TO REPEAL THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WHICH PROHIBITS OFFICERS (BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND COUNCILMEMBERS) OF THE CITY FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION OF OTHER CANDIDATES TO CITY OFFICE; 5. AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNCILMEMBER MUST BE EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IN THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS OR HER TERM; TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNCILMEMBER MUST HAVE RESIDED WITHIN THE CITY FOR AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS AND WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR TWELVE (12) MONTHS AND TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT A COUNCILMEMBER ΒΕ Α ΤΑΧΡAYER IN THE CITY AND THAT HE OR SHE NOT BE IN ARREARS IN THE PAYMENT OF ANY TAXES OR OTHER LIABILITY DUE THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR POLLING PLACES; PROVIDING FOR THE FORM OF THE BALLOT; PROVIDING FOR HOURS OF ABSENTEE VOTING; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL CANVASSING BOARD; PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM; PROVIDING FOR PROPER NOTICE, AND ENACTING PROVISIONS INCIDENT TO AND RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE. Theyordinance was read the first time, and Mayor Pro Tem Trevino moved that it be passed to its second reading. The motion, seconded by Councilmember Anell, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembereŝsačil, Goodman, Himmelblau, Mayor Pro Tem Trevino Noes: Councilmember Mullen, Mayor McClellan, Councilmember Cooke The Mayor announced that the ordinance had been passed through its first reading only. City Attorney Harris indicated that he would delete the argency provision which is currently in the Ordinance. ADJOURNMENT The Council then adjourned at 5:35 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk February 21, 1978 -CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS APPROVED Code Wee Mayor