HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2026-5027_Calling Shoreacres Consolidation Election 2025ORDINANCE 2026-5027
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS,
ORDERING A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 2DAY OF
MAY, 2026, TO APPROVE OR DENY THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITION: "SHALL THE
CITY OF SHOREACRES, TEXAS, BE CONSOLIDATED WITH AND KNOWN AS THE
CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS"; 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 Shoreacres, Texas (hereinafter referred to as "Shoreacres"), and the City
of La Porte, Texas (hereinafter referred to as "La Porte"), are contiguous municipalities located
within Harris County, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 61 of the Texas Local Government Code, as amended, contains the
procedures for the consolidation of two or more contiguous municipalities; and
WHEREAS, both Shoreacres and La Porte have received petitions signed by the requisite number
of qualified voters of their respective municipalities to require that an election be ordered by each
municipality to consider the consolidation of the municipalities; and
WHEREAS, Shoreacres will hold an election on May 2, 2026, to consider a ballot proposition on
whether Shoreacres shall be consolidated with La Porte; and
WHEREAS, Section 61.004(e) of the Texas Local Government Code provides that in the
alternative to the procedures provided in Subsections (a) -(d) of Section 61.004 of the Texas Local
Government Code, the governing body of each municipality holding a consolidation election may
order the election to be held on the same date; and
WHEREAS, Section 61.004(f) of the Texas Local Government Code provides that a consolidation
election shall be held on the first authorized uniform election date prescribed by the Texas Election
Code that occurs after the period required by Section 3.005 of the Texas Election Code; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Porte desires to hold a special municipal election for a consolidation
election between Shoreacres and La Porte on the May 2, 2026, uniform election date, a date more
than 78 days before the effective date of this ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA
PORTE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The findings set forth above are incorporated into the body of this ordinance as if
fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. The special municipal election of the City of La Porte, Texas, shall be held between
seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) p.m. on the 2n° day of May, 2026, in the City of La
Porte, to approve or deny the following proposition: "Shall the City of Shoreacres, Texas, be
consolidated with and known as the City of La Porte, Texas".
SECTION 3. 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 Ordinance 2023-3943. The polling places for these election
precincts shall be as follows:
Precinct/District Polling Location
1, 2, 3, and 6 LPISD's ITC Building, 9832 Spencer Highway, La Porte, Texas 77571
4 and 5 City of La Porte City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La
Porte, Texas 77571
SECTION 4. 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, that the City is authorized to enter into a joint election agreement with 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 5. Lee Woodward, City Secretary, is appointed as the Early Voting Clerk, and Maria
Lawler, Deputy City Secretary, is appointed as a Deputy Early Voting Clerk, forjoint 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 April 20, 2026 (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 April 20, 2026 (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 (4) 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, La Porte, 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., Monday through Friday, beginning April 20,
2026, and continuing through April 28, 2026.
SECTION 6. 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 7. The City Secretary of the City of La Porte shall issue notice of said election to be
published one time in The Hometown Press, which is hereby 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 (21S1) day before election day and remain posted thorough
election day.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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 La Porte, 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 10. 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 have 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 11. This ordinance shall be in ieffect immediately upon its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this, the 16�,) day of January 202C" 1
CITY OF LA
Rick Helton,
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Clark T. Askins, City Attorney