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.
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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.
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