Item 2 &4: Ballot Proposition Lettering on 8/6 Agenda

[Max Lars]

Colleagues—

Prior to tomorrow’s meeting, I’ve been in discussion with our City Attorney’s office to discuss the rules and procedures regarding setting an election for the November ballot and the lettering for the upcoming bond and charter amendments.

Chapter 2-18 of City Code provides the rules for the lettering of ballot propositions. Following Proposition Q in 2025, the next letters available for assignment are R through Z. This is enough for 9 propositions (R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z). We currently have 10 propositions.

City Code section 2-18-1(A) provides: “If the count of ballot propositions for a municipal election exceeds the remaining letters of the alphabet, then ballot proposition labels may be reset to the first letter of the alphabet without utilizing the remaining letters of the alphabet.”

Since a motion must be put forward by the Council, I am recommending one of two options with both starting with proposition (A):

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 161238.pdf

-The first option would start with the two bond items followed by the charter amendment propositions.

-The second option would start with the charter amendment proposition and end with the two bond items.

I will be asking the attorney’s office to come up to answer a few questions for clarity but wanted to make sure you all were aware prior to tomorrow’s vote.

Thanks—

Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson