HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-4165 - Ordinance - 03/30/2020ORDINANCE NO. 2020-4165
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
POSTPONING THE MUNICIPAL RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 18, 2020, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 4 BY THE QUALIFIED
VOTERS OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION DUE TO FACTORS RELATING TO
COVID-19; POSTPONING EARLY VOTING AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO
SUCH SPECIAL ELECTION; AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUBSEQUENT
SPECIAL ELECTION DATE; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO
THE SUBJECT MATTER.
WHEREAS, on or about February 6, 2020, the City Council of the City of College Station
(“City”) called for a special run off election to fill vacant councilmember position 4; and
WHEREAS, since that time the pandemic known as COVID-19 has had a profound deleterious
impact on the City’s ability to hold such special election, including declarations of disaster, and
various orders and proclamations relating to COVID-19 at the local, county, state and federal
levels; and
WHEREAS, going forward with the special election as currently planned April 18, 2020 with early
voting to begin April 1, 2020 poses an unreasonable risk to human health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, due to the additional legal and practical impediments to holding the special election
because of the limitations of free movement, closure of all but essential businesses, etc. in the
midst of the COVID-19 health crisis preventing the exercise of the fundamental right to vote; and
WHEREAS, because these matters still exist and are predicted to continue to exist during the early
voting period as well as on election day as currently scheduled; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the facts and recitations set forth in the preamble of this Ordinance are declared
true and correct.
SECTION 2. That the City of College Station, Texas, special election called for on or about
February 6, 2020, as set forth in Ordinance No. 2020-4152 for election day to occur April 18, 2020
and early voting to begin April 1, 2020, is hereby postponed to the November 2020 general election
date established pursuant to the Texas Election Code, or to such earlier date as may be approved
by the Governor of the State of Texas or by some other legally acceptable mechanism.
SECTION 3. That City Council of the City hereby ratifies, authorizes and directs staff to take
whatever measures reasonable and appropriate to give effect to this Ordinance.
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-4165 Page 2 of 2
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its passage.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of College Station this 30th day
of March, 2020.
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION:
__________________________________
Karl Mooney, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Tanya Smith, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
Mary Ann Powell, Deputy City Attorney