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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/15/1983 - SpecialMINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 15, 1983 9:00 A. M. PRESENT: Mayor Luther Jones Council Members: Bob Gulley Herbert Hawkins Dr. Charles W. Kennedy Cliff Zarsky ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner Council Member Jack K. Dumphy City Manager Edward A. Martin City Attorney J. Bruce Aycock City Secretary Bill G. Read Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified that the necessary quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. Mayor Jones stated that the purpose of the Special Meeting was to canvass the returns and declare the results of the General Election which was conducted on August 13, 1983. He informed the Council that he had before him the General Returns from the 96 precincts plus Absentee. He suggested that, as in the past, different Council Members might call for particular precincts to be checked and asked this be done at this time. Council Member Kennedy called for Precinct 58. The returns were checked against the computer print-outs and it was determined that it was correct. Other precincts checked were the combined precincts 80 and 15, precinct 84, and precinct 42. Council Member Gulley suggested that unless a candidate asks for a recount, there will be no way of knowing if the machines are the same as the figures reported on the General Return Sheets and on the computer print-out. sr p 9 ¶ R4 Mtc.ROf LMED Minutes Special Council Meeting August 15, 1983 Page 2 City Secretary Read confirmed that this was correct and explained that the machines are locked for ten days in the event the election is challenged. He then explained that all workers at the precincts are to check the figures on the machines and on the General Return Sheets. He explained the procedures followed by the precinct judges and their clerks to assure that there are no errors. Mr. Joe McComb, a candidate for Council Member in District 5, inquired as to how long a period of time would be allowed to request a recount. Mayor Jones explained to Mr. McComb that the request for recount must be made prior to approval the results of the election which the Council intends to do very soon. Mr. McComb pointed out that it would only require 21 more votes for him to eliminate a runoff in District 5. He pointed out that since there was obviously one error in precinct 112, it is possible that other errors could occur. He then asked to have all seventeen precincts in District 5 checked to verify that the General Return Sheets are correct and agree with the computer print-out. The Council then checked all of the seventeen precincts in District 5 on the General Return Sheets and the computer print-out and they were found to be correct. A motion was made by Council Member Zarsky that the Returns as presented be approved, seconded by Council Member Hawkins. Council Member Gulley stated that he did not desire a recount but wanted to be sure that the figures were correct. Mr. McComb informed the Council that he felt that the one error in precinct 112 was just a mistake and since all the General Return Sheets for District 5 were checked and there were no other incorrect figures, he did not desire to request a recount. The motion to approve the results passed unanimously. City Secretary Read polled the Council for their votes on the ordinances and they passed as follows: 1. ORDINANCE NO. 17777: CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE REGULAR ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HELD ON THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1983; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Jones, Gulley, Hawkins, Kennedy and Zarsky voting, "Aye"; Turner and Dumphy, absent. Minutes Special Council Meeting August 15, 1983 Page 3 2. ORDINANCE NO. 17778: CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE BOND ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING AND CONSTRUCTING A NEW CITY HALL AND RELATED PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS HELD ON THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1983; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Jones, Gulley, Hawkins, Kennedy and Zarsky voting, "Aye"; Turner and Dumphy, absent. 3. ORDINANCE NO. 17779: CALLING A. RUNOFF ELECTION FOR FOUR (4) COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, TO BE HELD ON THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1983; DESIGNATING POLLING PLACE LOCATIONS; ENACTING PROVISIONS INCIDENT AND RELATING TO THE SUBJECT AND PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Jones, Gulley, Hawkins, Kennedy and Zarsky voting, "Aye"; Turner and Dumphy, absent. 4. ORDINANCE NO. 17780: CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE ADVISORY REFERENDUM AS TO A PREFERRED LOCATION FOR THE NEW CITY HALL HELD ON THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1983; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The Charter Rule was suspended and the foregoing ordinance passed by the following vote: Jones, Gulley, Hawkins, Kennedy and Zarsky voting, "Aye"; Turner and Dumphy, absent. Council Member Kennedy then asked about access for the handicapped at all precincts. He urged that if the facilities are not readily available for the handicapped that ramps or whatever is necessary be installed. Council Member Gulley then inquired about the reason the Absentee vote results required so much time and were not received until so late in the evening. City Secretary Read explained that the Canvassing Board did not meeting until 4:00 p.m. and in the future, he would suggest that they meet at a much earlier time to canvass the absentee votes. City Secretary Read also explained that there are provisions to allow the handicapped to come to City Hall on election day and a ballot can be taken to the curb for them to vote. He also explained that they are allowed, under the State Law, to vote by mail. Minutes Special Council Meeting August 15, 1983 Page 4 Council Member Kennedy reiterated that he would like to have a survey made to see if handicapped have access to the polling places. He also suggested that the media might make it known that there are other methods by which the handicapped can vote other than going to their polling place. There being no further business to come before the Council, on motion by Council Member Gulley, seconded by Council Member Kennedy and passed unanimously, the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m., August 15, 1983. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DZ/rr