HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 3915 ORDINANCE NO. 3915
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH
RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION BY THE
QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS,
TEXAS, ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID CITY, FOR ADOPTION OR
REJECTION, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS AND
ORDAINING RELATED MATTERS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 3914; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the North Richland Hills City Charter was adopted on November 3, 1964,
creating a home rule charter and the City Council/City Manager form of
government for the City of North Richland Hills ("City"); and
WHEREAS, Article XVIII, Section 21 of the Charter states that the Charter may be
amended no more than once every two years; and
WHEREAS, the City Charter was previously amended by election in 1969, 1974, 1981,
1987, 1992, 2001, and 2023, with the last amendment being in May 2023;
and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-008
appointing a Charter Review Commission to consider and make
recommendations for amendments to the City Charter related to term limits;
and
WHEREAS, the Charter Review Commission made certain recommendations to the City
Council on June 9, 2025, recommending the City Council consider
amendments to the Charter; and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously adopted Ordinance No. 3914, calling the special
election to be held on November 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to amend the ballot provisions to provide
additional clarity; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it in the best interest of the citizens of North Richland
Hills to submit proposed amendments to the existing Charter to the qualified
voters of the City in a special election to be held on November 4, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, THAT:
Ordinance No.3915
Page 1 of 7
SECTION 1: Incorporation of Recitals. The City Council hereby finds the recitals
above to be true and correct, and such recitals are hereby incorporated
into this Ordinance as if written herein.
SECTION 2: Special Election Called. In compliance with the Charter of the City of
North Richland Hills, Chapter 9 of the Texas Local Government Code,
and the Texas Election Code (the "Code"), the City Council hereby
orders that a special election be held on a uniform election day,
Saturday, November 4, 2025, for the purpose of submitting to the
qualified voters of the City of North Richland Hills, for adoption or
rejection, the proposed amendments to the existing Charter as set forth
in Exhibit "A," which is attached hereto and incorporated herein. The
election shall be held between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm, in
conjunction with other elections conducted by Tarrant County to be held
on the same day and at the same time.
The polling locations in North Richland Hills for this Special Election
include:
Library (Community Room) City Hall (Community Room)
9015 Grand Avenue 4301 City Point Drive
North Richland Hills, TX 76180 North Richland Hills, TX 76180 •
Qualified North Richland Hills voters will also be able to cast their ballots
at any countywide polling location on Election Day.
SECTION 3: Propositions to be on the Ballot. The official ballot to be used in said
election shall be prepared in accordance with Sections 52.072 and
52.073 of the Code and shall have the Propositions set forth in Exhibit
"A" printed thereon. The ballot shall be printed in English, Spanish, and
Vietnamese for use in said election. Each proposed Charter amendment
in Exhibit"A"shall contain a separate and distinct subject so that voters
may approve or disapprove any one or more amendments without
having to approve or disapprove all of the amendments by voting "FOR"
or"AGAINST" on each said amendment.
SECTION 4: Joint Election Agreements Approved. The Mayor is authorized to
enter into joint election agreements and other contracts as necessary
for election services with Tarrant County conducted under the authority
of Chapter 271 of the Code (the "Agreements"). The election shall be
conducted pursuant to the election laws of the State of Texas.
SECTION 5: Early Voting.
A. Early voting by personal appearance. Early voting by personal
appearance will be held jointly with other political subdivisions in Tarrant
County beginning on October 20,2025 and will continue through October
Ordinance No.3915
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31, 2025 at the locations established by Tarrant County on the dates
and times as follows or as may be amended by Tarrant County:
October 20— October 24, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
October 25, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
October 26, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 27-31, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The main early voting location shall be located at:
Tarrant County Elections Center
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
Early voting locations in North Richland Hills include:
Library (Community Room) City Hall (Community Room)
9015 Grand Avenue 4301 City Point Drive
North Richland Hills, TX 76180 North Richland Hills, TX 76180
B. Early voting by mail. Tarrant County Chief Elections Administrator, or
his designee, is hereby designated as Early Voting Clerk for the city's
election. The Tarrant County Chief Elections Administrator may appoint
other deputy early voting clerks as necessary. Applications for early
voting by mail may be delivered to the Chief Elections Administrator
beginning January 1, 2025, but not later than October 24, 2025 if
delivered by mail to:
Early Voting Clerk
2700 Premier Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
Early voting by mail ballots shall be mailed to the Chief Elections
Administrator at the same address.
Pursuant to Section 83.010 of the Code, the early voting clerk's email
address, phone number, and internet website are as follows:
Early Voting Clerk
electionsinfo(a�tarrantcounty.com
817-831-8683
https://www.tarrantcou nty.com/elections
C. Early voting by Ballot Board. Early voting, both by personal appearance
and by mail, shall be canvassed by the Early Voting Ballot Board, which
is hereby created. The Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Presiding
Election Judge, as set forth in the Agreements, shall serve as the
Ordinance No.3915
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presiding officer and alternate presiding officers, respectively, of the
Early Voting Ballot Board. The other election officers serving at the
election shall serve as the other members of the Early Voting Ballot
Board.
SECTION 6: Governing Law and Qualified Voters. The election shall be held in
accordance with the Constitution of the State of Texas and the Code. All
resident qualified voters of the City shall be eligible to vote in the election.
SECTION 7: Publication and Posting of Notice of Election. Notice of the election
shall be given as required by Chapter 4 of the Election Code and Section
9.004 of the Texas Local Government Code.
SECTION 8: Necessary Actions. The Mayor is authorized to execute a joint election
agreement and contract for election services with Tarrant County
whereby Tarrant County will provide all material, supplies, and personnel
to hold the election contemplated hereby, including any runoff election
which may be required, and will be responsible for coordinating,
supervising, and administering the joint election. This Ordinance shall
be construed with any action of the governing bodies of other Tarrant
County political subdivisions providing for the conduct of a joint election
as herein contemplated. The Mayor and the City Secretary of the City,
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 election, whether or not
expressly authorized herein.
SECTION 9: Effective Date of Amendments. The proposed amendments in Exhibit
"A," if approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting upon said
amendments, shall become a part of the City Charter of the City of North
Richland Hills as soon as an official action has been taken by the City
Council of the City of North Richland,Hills, declaring said amendments
adopted.
SECTION 10: Open Meetings Compliance. It is hereby officially found and determined
that the meeting at which this Ordinance was,adopted and said election
was called was open to the public and public notice of the time, place, and
purpose of said meeting was given, all as required by Chapter 551 of the
Texas Government Code.
SECTION 11: Statement of Fiscal Impact. Section 9.004(c)(2) of the Texas Local
Government Code requires a statement of the anticipated fiscal impact
to the City if the proposed amendments are approved. The City asserts
that if the proposed amendments are approved an overall analysis
reflects that there should be no immediate fiscal impact upon the
probable economic cost to the City; other than, if Proposition A is
approved, there will be a cost-savings of approximately $47,000 every
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third year because a general election will not be necessary with the first
year of savings being in Fiscal Year 27.
SECTION 12: Severability. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council
that the phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of this
Ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence,
paragraph, or section of this Ordinance shall be declared
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of
the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of
this Ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City
Council without the incorporation in this Ordinance of any such
unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, or section.
SECTION 13: Repealing Clause. Ordinance No. 3914 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 14: Effective Date.That this Ordinance, election order, call, and notice shall
take effect upon adoption.
AND IT IS SO ORDAINED.
PASSED AND APPROVED on this 28th day of July, 2025.
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
MC
e ® , �L,,®'a McCarty, Mayor
ATTEST: �eo��
vietl1/4_644::-. • n 17:11,
Alicia Richardson °
h P :
City Secretary/Chief Governics�e Ocel-'��-'4
*
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LgGALITY:
M
Bradley . nderle, City Attorney
Ordinance No.3915
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EXHIBIT "A"
THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITIONS SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT, FOR ADOPTION
OR REJECTION, BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
AMENDING THE EXISTING CHARTER OF SAID CITY IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
FOLLOWING FORM:
CHARTER AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE TERM OF CITY COUNCIL:
Place an 'X' in the square beside the statement indicating the way you wish to vote.
PROPOSITION A
Shall Article V, Section 3 of the North Richland Hills Home Rule Charter be amended
to provide that the Mayor and Council members shall be elected for three-year
terms; to provide that the Mayor and Council members must be elected by a majority
❑ For vote; to provide for the transition to three-year terms by establishing an election
schedule; and Section 3A (3,4,5) be added to define the positions of Mayor and
❑ Against Council members; to provide that 730 days served constitutes a three-year term; to
provide that a person who vacates their office after serving 360 days has served a
term; and Section 7 be amended to provide that in the event there is one vacancy
in any office with a three-year term with an unexpired term of 364 days or less the
vacancy may be filled by appointment of the Mayor with approval of council; to
provide that vacancies in any office with a three-year term with an unexpired term
of greater than 364 days must be filled by special election within 120 days of the
vacancy?
PROPOSITION B
Shall Section 3A (1,2) be added to Article V of the North Richland Hills Home Rule
❑ For Charter to provide that a Council member shall be limited to three (3) terms as a
Council member, but may serve three (3) additional terms as Mayor; to provide that
® Against the Mayor shall be limited to three(3)terms as Mayor, but may serve three additional
terms as Council member?
PROPOSITION C
Shall Article V, Section 3 of the North Richland Hills Home Rule Charter be
ElFor amended to provide that a Mayor or Council member shall automatically resign
their office upon becoming a candidate for any office of profit or trust other than the
❑ Against office then held; and to provide for filling the vacancy in the manner consistent with
filling of vacancies?
Ordinance No.3915
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PROPOSITION D
❑ For Shall Article VI, Section 7(1) of the North Richland Hills Home Rule Charter be
amended to strike the requirement that the term of the municipal court judge
❑ Against coincide with the term of the Mayor?
PROPOSITION E
Shall Article XIV, Section 1 of the North Richland Hills Home Rule Charter be
❑ For amended to provide that Planning and Zoning Commission members shall serve
terms that are the same length as the term of the Mayor and Council members;
❑ Against and to provide that the appointment and duration of members'terms shall coincide
with the terms of Council members?
CHARTER AMENDMENTS RELATED TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT:
Place an 'X' in the square beside the statement indicating the way you wish to vote.
PROPOSITION F
❑ Shall Article IX, Section 4 of the North Richland Hills Home Rule Charter be
For amended to delete references to $50,000 as the minimum purchase amount for
❑ Against competitive bidding; and to provide that all purchases must be competitively bid if
competitive bidding is required by State law?
•
Ordinance No.3915
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