Item 4BCITY OF
SOUTH LAKE
MEMORANDUM
January 9, 2024
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Amy Shelley, City Secretary
Item 413
Subject: Resolution No. 24-001, Ordering a General Election to be held on May 4,
2024, for the purpose of electing City Council for Mayor and Place 2; and
ordering a Special Election to be held on May 4, 2024, for the purpose of
electing City Council for Place 3, to fill a vacancy.
Action
Requested: Approve Resolution No. 24-001, Ordering a General Election to be held
on May 4, 2024, for the purpose of electing City Council for Mayor and
Place 2; and ordering a Special Election to be held on May 4, 2024, for
the purpose of electing City Council for Place 3, to fill a vacancy.
Background
Information: The City Secretary's Office is responsible for conducting municipal
elections as prescribed by the Election Code of the State of Texas and the
City of Southlake's City Charter.
Chapter 2 of the City Charter states that the governing and lawmaking
body of the City shall consist of the Mayor and six Council members who
shall be elected for terms of three years. All places, including the Mayor,
will be elected at large. No person shall serve as Mayor or as a Council
member for more than two successive elected terms. A term of office is
defined as an elected period of three years.
Pursuant to Section 3.004 of the Texas Election Code, the governing body
of a political subdivision shall order the General Election. An election may
only be held on a uniform election date —first Saturday in May or the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The City Charter states that
a regular City Election shall be held annually in May.
The 2024 General Election will determine the positions of City Council,
Mayor and Place 2. These positions are elected for a three-year term and
will expire in May 2027 or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. The filing period for the General Election will begin on January
17, 204 and concludes at 5:00 p.m. on February 16, 2024.
The Special Election, necessitated by a vacancy, will determine the
position of City Council Place 3 for the unexpired term ending in May
2025, or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. The filing period
for the Special Election will run concurrent with the General Election,
January 17, 2024, through 5:00 p.m. on February 16, 2024.
This resolution authorizes the Mayor to enter into agreements with Tarrant
and Denton Counties to conduct a joint election with other entities
(municipalities and school districts) conducting their election on May 4,
2024. Each entity included in the joint election benefits from the Counties
providing election services. In addition to reduced costs, Southlake
residents may vote at any early voting location located within their County.
A complete listing of early voting locations will be on the City's website
once received from the Counties.
Southlake Town Hall will continue to be an early voting location for Tarrant
County residents. Early voting by personal appearance begins April 22,
2024, and concludes April 30, 2024. The hours of the polling locations will
be placed on the City's website as soon as they become available from
the Counties. Generally, polling locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:00 a.m. —
7:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.; and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. the
last two days of early voting.
Please note that the early voting dates of April 26, 27, and 28 coincide
with the dates of Art in the Square. Staff members will work with
representatives of Art in the Square to ensure proper access to the Town
Hall for voters during the event.
On Election Day, Saturday, May 4, 2024, the polling locations will be open
from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Locations for Tarrant and Denton Counties
have not been determined but will be advertised fully once received.
Financial
Considerations: Funds for elections are included in the City Secretary's Office budget
Strategic Link: Strategic Focus Areas: Partnerships & Volunteerism and Performance
Management & Service Delivery
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: Resolution was provided to legal counsel for review.
Alternatives: Section 3.001 of the Texas Election Code indicates that each general and
special election shall be ordered as provided by Chapter 3, Ordering
Election.
Supporting
Documents: Resolution No. 24-001
Staff
Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 24-001, ordering a General Election to be held on
May 4, 2024, for the purpose of electing City Council for Mayor and Place
2; and ordering a Special Election to be held on May 4, 2024, for the
purpose of electing City Council for Place 3, to fill a vacancy.
RESOLUTION NO. 24-001
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TARRANT AND DENTON COUNTIES, TEXAS, ORDERING A GENERAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PLACE 2; AND ORDERING A SPECIAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING
CITY COUNCIL PLACE 3, TO FILL A VACANCY; DESIGNATING LOCATION OF
POLLING PLACE; ORDERING NOTICE OF ELECTION TO BE GIVEN AS
PRESCRIBED BY LAW IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ELECTIONS;
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENTS AND
CONTRACTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas ("City") is a home rule city acting under its charter
adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution
and Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake Charter provides that City Elections shall be held in accordance
with the laws of the State of Texas; and,
WHEREAS, Section 41.001(a) of the Texas Election Code establishes the first Saturday in May
as a Uniform Election date for the purposes of conducting an election; and,
WHEREAS, Section 3.004 of the Texas Election Code provides that the governing body of a
municipality shall be the authority to order an election for the purposes of electing
members to the governing body; and,
WHEREAS, the City will enter into Joint Election Agreements and Contracts for election services
with Tarrant and Denton Counties pursuant to Texas Election Code Sections 31.092
and 271.002.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TARRANT AND DENTON COUNTIES, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. A General Election is hereby ordered for May 4, 2024, to be held jointly with the
Carroll Independent School District for the purpose of electing the Southlake City
Council Mayor and Place 2, each such term being for a period of three (3) years. The
filing period for the General Election will begin on January 17, 2024, and will end on
February 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., in accordance with State Law.
SECTION 2. A Special Election is hereby ordered for May 4, 2024, to be held jointly with the
Carroll Independent School District for the purpose of electing the Southlake City
Council Place 3, to fill a vacancy, for the unexpired term ending in May 2025. The
filing period for the Special Election will begin on January 17, 2024, and will end on
February 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., in accordance with State Law.
SECTION 3. Pursuant to the Joint Election Agreement and Contract (the "Contracts"), the
Elections Administrator of Tarrant and Denton Counties shall serve as Elections
Administrator for the elections. Presiding Election Judges and Alternate Presiding
Election Judges appointed to serve the authorized polling places and the early voting
clerk and deputy early voting clerks shall be those election officials furnished by the
Elections Administrator from the list of proposed election judges as required in the
Contracts. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute Contracts with the Tarrant
and Denton Counties Elections Administrators for the General and Special Election
on May 4, 2024. The Mayor shall have further authority to approve any minor
modifications as may be necessary in the best interest of the City. In the event of a
conflict between this resolution and the Contracts, the Contracts shall control. A
voting system or systems meeting the standards and requirements of the Texas
Election Code, as amended, is hereby adopted, and approved for early voting by
personal appearance and by mail and for election day voting.
SECTION 4. Notice of the General and Special Election shall be posted on the bulletin board used
to post notice of the City Council meetings, the City's website and be published in a
newspaper of general circulation in the City. That said notice must be published at
least once, not earlier than the 30th day nor later than the 10th day, before Election
Day as provided in Section 4.003(a)(1) of the Texas Election Code. A copy of the
published notice that contains the name of the newspaper and the date of publication
shall be retained as a record of such notice, and the person posting the notice shall
make a record of the time of posting, starting date, and the place of posting.
SECTION 5. On Election Day, May 4, 2024, the polls shall be open between the hours of 7:00
a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tarrant County Precincts
3039, 3359, 3470, 3526, 3529, 3538,
3542, 3545, 3558, 3579 and 3626 as
specified by Tarrant County.
Denton County Precinct
4030
Voting Location
Any Voting Center located
in Tarrant County.
Voting Location
To Be Determined, per the
Contract
SECTION 6. Early voting by personal appearance shall commence on April 22, 2024 and continue
through April 30, 2024, at the locations established by Tarrant and Denton Counties
on the dates and times as follows, or as may be amended by either County, per the
Contract.
Tarrant and Denton Count
April 22 — April 26
Monday — Friday
8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
April 27
Saturday
7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.
April 28
Sunday
10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
April 29 — April 30
Monday— Tuesday
7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.
The main early voting locations shall be located at:
Tarrant County
Tarrant County Elections Center
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Denton County
Denton County Elections Center
701 Kimberly Drive, Suite A101
Denton, TX 76208
Early Voting for Southlake Tarrant County residents will also be conducted at
Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main Street, Southlake, Texas, 76092. Early Voting for
Southlake Denton County residents will be conducted at locations as specified by
Denton County. Additional Early Voting locations will be identified in the Contracts
executed with the Tarrant and Denton Counties Elections Administrators.
SECTION 7. Applications for ballot by mail shall be received and processed by the Tarrant and
Denton County Elections Administrators, as follows:
Tarrant County
Early Voting Clerk: Heider Garcia
Tarrant County Elections Center
2700 Premier Street
Fort, Worth, TX 76111
Fax: 817-884-1755
Email: votebymail@tarrantcounty.com
Denton County
Early Voting Clerk: Frank Phillips
Denton County Elections Office
P.O. Box 1720, Denton, TX 76202
Denton County Elections Office
701 Kimberly Drive, Suite A101
Denton, TX 76202
Fax: 940-349-3201
Email: elections@dentoncounty.com
It is required for an applicant submitting an application for ballot by mail via fax or
email to also submit an application for ballot by mail via mail. In order for a faxed or
email application for ballot by mail to be effective, the accompanying mailed
application for ballot by mail must be received within 4 days of the submission of the
application by fax or email.
Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business
on April 19, 2024.
SECTION 8. For purposes of processing ballots cast in early voting, the election officers for the
early voting ballot board for this election shall be appointed and designated in
accordance with the provisions of the Contracts.
SECTION 9. The City Secretary shall present the General and Special Election returns to the City
Council at a Council meeting for the canvassing of said elections in accordance with
the Texas Election Code. The candidate for Mayor and City Council Place 2 and
Place 3 that receives a majority of valid votes by qualified voters at the elections
shall be declared elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority of all the
votes cast for all the candidates for an office, a runoff election shall be conducted on
the date set forth in the Contracts or other date ordered by the City Council in
accordance with the Southlake City Charter and State law.
SECTION 10. The elections shall be held in accordance with the Constitution of the State of Texas
and the Election Code, and all resident qualified voters of the City shall be eligible to
vote in the elections. The Mayor and the City Secretary, in consultation with the City
Attorney, are hereby authorized and directed to take any and all actions necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Code in carrying out and conducting the elections,
whether or not expressly authorized herein.
SECTION 11. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TARRANT AND DENTON COUNTIES, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024.
APPROVED:
John Huffman
Mayor
ATTEST:
Amy Shelley, TRMC
City Secretary