Final Results: City of El Paso charter propositions

Here are the results regarding the City of El Paso charter propositions.

Proposition 1: 58 percent for, 42 percent against

Proposition 2: 49 percent for, 51 percent against

Proposition 3: 60 percent for, 40 percent against

Proposition 4: 64 percent for, 36 percent against

Proposition 5: 61 percent for, 39 percent against

Proposition 6: 50 percent for, 50 percent against

Proposition 7: 72 percent for, 28 percent against

Proposition 8: 70 percent for, 30 percent against

Read below for ongoing results of El Paso City charter amendments on the Nov. 3, 2015 ballot.

Original Story:

Proposition 1

This proposition calls for redefining the composition of City Council to exclude the city’s non-voting mayor on matters requiring a super majority of votes.

The problem to be fixed arises, for example, in zoning cases when 20 percent of the property owners around the property sign petitions opposing the change.

That level of opposition means it takes a vote of three-quarters of the council to approve the requested zoning change, not a simple majority.

But because the mayor is counted as the ninth member of City Council – even though he cannot vote except to break a tie – it takes seven of the eight representatives to approve the protested zoning change.

Removing the mayor from the definition of City Council means the change could be approved by a 6-2 vote – the same super majority it takes to overturn a veto of the mayor.

Proposition 2

Currently, the City Charter prohibits City Council members from employment by a public entity, such as the county hospital or a federal agency. State law allows such employment and the proposition would repeal the prohibition.

Proposition 3

The City Charter now requires the council to meet every week and allows only three cancelations a year. The proposition, if approved, would require City Council meetings at least every other week.

Proposition 4

This proposal would replace the traditional roll-call votes at City Council meetings with electronic voting, which council members have wanted for years.

The proposition also requires a majority of the council to vote on taxes and certain other matters, preventing multiple abstentions and council members from leaving council chambers before the vote.

Proposition 5

If passed, this would stop the appointment of the city attorney by the mayor with council approval. That power is the lone holdover provision from the days when El Paso had a strong mayor who served as the city’s chief executive.

If it passes, the City Council will vote to hire the city attorney as it does other department heads, and the city attorney will report to the city manager and City Council, not the mayor.

Also under Proposition 5, the city attorney could be removed by City Council and the mayor would not be able to veto the termination.

Proposition 6

This proposition would let City Council approve certain actions by simple resolution rather than the slower, more cumbersome process of passing an ordinance.

Proposition 7

If this proposition passes, the city could change the start of its fiscal year from Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 – in line with the funding cycles of most cities, all Texas counties, as well as the state and federal governments.

Proposition 8

This proposition brings the city’s “more onerous” budgeting process into line with state law.

Source of proposition information:El Paso Inc.