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UPDATE APRIL 13, 2024 5:00 PM: AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL HAS AMENDED AND FINALIZED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE. THAT LANGUAGE, AS FINALIZED, IS INCLUDED BELOW.
Amarillo City Council is set to finalize the propositions set to appear before local voters during their upcoming August 13th regular meeting. With the August 19th deadline to call an election fast approaching and no plans on the table to call a tax rate ratification election, here are the local propositions set to appear on the ballot for Amarillo voters:
PROPOSITION A
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS SHALL BE AMENDED TO ADOPT AN INITIATED ORDINANCE, SUBMITTED BY THE AMARILLO SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN CITIZEN INITIATIVE PETITION INITIATING COMMITTEE, DECLARING THE CITY OF AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN; DECLARING THAT ABORTION AT ALL TIMES AND AT ALL STAGES OF PREGNANCY IS UNLAWFUL UNLESS AN ABORTION IS PERFORMED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A PREGNANT WOMAN IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY; FINDING THAT ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS ARE DECLARED CONTRABAND; AND SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO MANUFACTURE, POSSESS, OR DISTRIBUTE ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO; CALLING UPON EVERY UNITED STATES ATTORNEY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE, TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ABORTION PROVIDERS AND ABORTION-PILL DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS UNDER 18 U.S.C. SECTIONS 1461 AND 1462 AND UNDER THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ACT (RICO); ENCOURAGING ALL VICTIMS OF ABORTION PROVIDERS AND ABORTION-PILL DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, INCLUDING MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND SURVIVING RELATIVES OF ABORTED UNBORN CHILDREN, TO SUE RACKETEERING ENTERPRISES UNDER CIVIL RICO; CALLING UPON DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ALL TEXAS ABORTION FUNDS AND THEIR DONORS THAT HAVE AIDED OR ABETTED ABORTIONS IN TEXAS; PROHIBITING ABORTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF AMARILLO; PROHIBITING ABORTIONS ON CITY OF AMARILLO RESIDENTS; PROHIBITING ABORTION TRAFFICKING ON AN UNBORN CHILD; PROHIBITING ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO; PROHIBITING ANY ORGANIZATION THAT VIOLATES 18 U.S.C. SECTIONS 1461 OR 1462 BY FACILITATING ABORTIONS FROM OPERATING OR DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO; PROHIBITING THE TRANSPORTATION OR DISPOSAL IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO OF THE REMAINS OF AN UNBORN CHILD KILLED BY AN ABORTION; PROVIDING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION; PROVIDING FOR AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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(Note 1: The above language is the finalized version of the language as amended and approved by Amarillo City Council. Read the full story here.)
(Note 2: Though both supporters and opponents of the proposed ordinance have criticized the Proposition A ballot language, there is currently no indication that Amarillo City Council plans to modify the language before officially calling the election.)
PROPOSITION B
ENLARGE THE NUMBER OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM FOUR TO SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A MAYOR.
To Amend Article V, Section 1 and Article V, Section 5 (a) of the Amarillo City Charter to specify that the elective officers of the City shall consist of a Mayor plus six (6) Councilmembers (the Councilmembers shall be designated as Councilmember Place One, Councilmember Place Two, Councilmember Place Three, Councilmember Place Four, Councilmember Place Five, and Councilmember Place Six), and the Mayor and each Councilmember shall be elected by a majority of the registered voters within the city.
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PROPOSITION C
EXTEND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS OF OFFICE.
To Amend Article V, Section 2 of the Amarillo City Charter to change the length of the term of office of the Mayor and each Councilmember from two (2) year terms to four (4) year terms effective with the next regularly scheduled municipal election to be held in May 2025, with the terms staggered as established by ordinance.
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PROPOSITION D
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL RECALL PROCESS.
To Amend Article II, Section 24 of the Amarillo City Charter to change the recall procedures to reduce the minimum number of signatures required to qualify the recall election of an elective officer from an amount equal to at least thirty (30) percent of the registered voters within the city with at least one-fifth (1/5) of same certifying that each signor voted for the officer in the last election to an amount equal to at least thirty (30) percent of the number of votes cast in the last election at which the officer was elected; to increase the time limit to submit recall petitions to the City Secretary from thirty (30) days to sixty (60) days from the filing of the required affidavit; to allow a period of twenty-one (21) calendar days in which the City Secretary shall verify the required number of valid signatures are contained on each petition; to require the City Secretary, within five (5) calendar days after the date on which the verification of signatures is completed, shall present such petition to the governing authority of the City and shall notify the officer or officers sought to be recalled of such action; to allow five (5) calendar days after such notice is given for the officer sought to be recalled to resign and if the officer does not resign the governing authority of the City shall thereupon order and fix a day for holding a recall election in accordance with applicable law as amended; to provide that after the recall election date is established, the officer vacates their position, the recall election shall be cancelled, and the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the charter and applicable state law; and to change the requirements that no recall affidavit or petition shall be filed against any officer of the City within six (6) months after they assume office or within six (6) months of the end of the officer’s term, nor within six (6) months after an election for such officer’s recall.
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PROPOSITION E
ADOPTION OF A METHOD TO FILL A CITY COUNCIL VACANCY
To amend Article V, Section 3 – Vacancies, of the Amarillo City Charter repealing the existing section, and substitute provisions applying new law allowing for a fewer than 12 months remaining in office vacancy to be appointed by the City Council for all City Councilmembers and the City Council would appoint a Councilmember to the office of Mayor in the event of a vacancy in the Mayor’s office. Finally, the amendment adopts a “resign to run” provision creating vacancies in office should an elected city official elects to announce an intent to run for another office, while serving as an elected city official.
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