HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2024-4027_Calling May 2025 ElectionORDINANCE 2024-4027
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS,
ORDERING A REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 3RD DAY OF
MAY 2025; DESIGNATING THE PLACES AND MANNER OF HOLDING THE
ELECTION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE POSTING AND PUBLICATION OF NOTICE;
PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN
MEETINGS ACT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the City of La Porte will hold a regular municipal election for the election of City Council
member positions designated as Councilperson At -Large Position A, Councilperson-District 4, and
Councilperson-District 5, on the May 3, 2025, uniform election date.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA
PORTE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The regular municipal election of the City of La Porte, Texas, for election of members
of the City Council as prescribed by Section 2.03 of the City Charter, shall be held between seven
o'clock (7:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) p.m. on the 31 day of May, 2025, in the city, for the
purpose of electing Councilperson At -Large Position A, a Councilperson-District 4, and a
Councilperson-District 5. A runoff election will be held, if necessary, on June 7, 2025, between seven
o'clock (7:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) p.m.
SECTION 2. The City is hereby divided into six (6) election precincts, corresponding to the
boundaries of the six City Council single -member districts. The boundaries of such districts are as
established, defined, and outlined in City of La Porte Ordinance 2023-3943. The polling places for
these election precincts shall be as follows:
Precinct/District Polling Location
11, 2, 3, and 6 LPISD's ITC Building, 9832 Spencer Highway, LaPorte, 77571
4 and 5 City of La Porte City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway,
La Porte, 77571
SECTION 3. This election shall be held in accordance with, and shall be governed by, the election
laws of the State of Texas. The City Council has determined, pursuant to Chapter 271 of the Texas
Election Code, the City is authorized to enter into a joint election agreement with the La Porte
Independent School District (LPISD), and other participating political subdivisions for this election. The
City Secretary and Mayor are hereby authorized to perform all duties and take all actions as required
by any election services contract(s) and/or joint election agreement(s) that may be authorized by the
City Council.
SECTION 4. Any eligible and qualified person may have his or her name upon the official ballot
as an independent candidate by submitting an application, which, in accordance with Texas Election
Code Section 141.031, must be in writing and be signed and sworn to by the candidate and indicate
that the candidate swears to the application. Such application for the general election may be filed
with the City Secretary beginning on January 15, 2025, and must be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on
February 14, 2025. Candidate filings will be accepted in the office of the City Secretary, 604 West
Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, 77571, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
SECTION 5. The positions of Councilperson At -Large Position A, a Councilperson-District 4, and
a Councilperson-District 5 shall each be elected and installed with the candidate that receives a
majority vote of all the votes cast for the office for which he or she is a candidate and shall hold office
for a period of three (3) years.
SECTION 6. Each candidate for the office of Councilperson At -Large Position A must be a
resident qualified voter of the City for twelve (12) months immediately preceding election day. Each
candidate for the office of Councilperson-District 4 and Councilperson-District 5 must be a resident
qualified voter of the City for twelve (12) months immediately preceding election day and must also
be a resident of the district for which he or she files for twelve (12) months immediately preceding
election day, in accordance with Section 2.02(a) of the City Charter.
SECTION 7. Lee Woodward, City Secretary, is appointed as the Early Voting Clerk, and Maria
Lawler, Deputy City Secretary, is appointed as the Deputy Early Voting Clerk, for joint early voting
in person and voting by mail, and the City of La Porte City Hall, City Council Chamber, 604 West
Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, 77571, is hereby designated as the Main Early Voting Location
for early voting for the election.
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed, faxed, emailed, or delivered by common or contract
carrier to:
Lee Woodward, City Secretary
City of La Porte
604 West Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, Texas 77571
Phone: 281-470-5021 Fax: 281-842-3701 Email: CitySecretary@LaPorteTX.gov
City website: LaPorteTX.gov Election webpage: LaPorteTX.gov/Elections or /Elecciones
who shall upon approval of the application provide balloting materials to the voter in accordance with
the Texas Election Code.
An applicant for a ballot to be voted by mail (ABBM or federal postcard application (FPCA)) may
submit the application by delivering it in person to the early voting clerk if the application is submitted
not later than the close of regular business in the clerk's office on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 (Texas
Election Code Sec. 84.008). The last day for the early voting clerk to receive applications for a
ballot to be voted by mail via mail (regardless of postmarked date), fax, common or contract
carrier, or email, is Tuesday, April 22, 2025, (Texas Election Code Sec. 84.007(c)). If a voter
submits an application for ballot by mail via fax or email or an FPCA by fax, the early voting clerk
must receive an original or a copy with a wet signature via mail within four business days of the
submission of the fax or email, in accordance with Election Code Sec. 84.007(b-1).
The places at which Early Voting by personal appearance shall be conducted are designated as the
La Porte City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, (main early voting polling place),
and the Instructional Technology Center (ITC Building), 9832 Spencer Highway, LaPorte, Texas,
(branch early voting polling place).
During the lawful early voting period, such Early Voting Clerk shall keep such locations for early
voting open for early voting from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, beginning Tuesday, April 22,
2025, and continuing through Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
SECTION 8. Voting at said election, including early voting, shall be by the use of voting machines;
and the ballots of said election shall conform to the Texas Election Code, as amended. The City
Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to obtain, or cause to be obtained, the necessary electronic
tabulating equipment, to arrange for the testing thereof as provided by law and to employ a duly
qualified manager and a duly qualified tabulation supervisor to perform the duties respectively
imposed on them by law with respect to the processing and tabulation of ballots at the Central
Counting Station.
SECTION 9. The City Secretary of the City of La Porte shall issue notice of said election to be
published one time in the official newspaper of the City, which has been found and declared to be a
newspaper of general circulation in said City, not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30)
days prior to the date of the said election; in addition, notice of said election shall be posted on the
bulletin board at City Hall not later than the twenty-first (21") day before election day and remain
posted thorough election day.
SECTION 10. The Mayor and/or the City Secretary of the City of La Porte are hereby authorized to
execute and/or issue, for and on behalf of the City, such orders, documents, and forms as may, from
time to time, be promulgated by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas in conjunction with the
election herein ordained.
SECTION 11. Each and every provision, paragraph, sentence, and clause of this ordinance has been
separately considered and passed by the City Council of the City of LaPorte, Texas, and each said
provision would have been separately passed without any other provision; and if any provision hereof
shall be ineffective, invalid or unconstitutional, for any cause, it shall not impair or affect the
remaining portion, or any part thereof, but the valid portion shall be in force just as if it had been
passed alone.
SECTION 12. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites, and declares that a sufficient
written notice of the date, hour, place, and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a
place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this
meeting, as required by Texas open meetings law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that
this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance
and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City
Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting
thereof.
SECTION 13. This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon its passage and approval. g
PASSED AND APPROVED, this \ \ day of �) oc1)n6aJ-�2/
CITY OF LA
Rick Helton,
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Clark T. Askins, City Attorney