BALLOT INITIATIVES to Save and Transform THE VILLAGE & CITY Of MANOR

Prepared by

Robert "James B Manor II" Battaile

Rough Draft

• May 15, 2023

Table of Contents

How the Petition Works... and then, there's an ELECTION!

ITEM A. Improving Communications in Spanish

ITEM B. Protecting the Manor Cemetery

ITEM C. Protecting Old Manor & Rejecting the Comprehensive Plan

ITEM D. Creating a New Downtown

ITEM E. Creating a Parks and Recreation Department

ITEM F. Creating the 1840's James B Manor Homestead Park

ITEM G. Requiring a Plaza at Manor Crossing Mall

ITEM H. Requiring a Park in new ShadowGlen Phases

ITEM I. Requiring a Park at Monarch Ranch Subdivision

ITEM J. Council members elected AT-LARGE

ITEM K. Adding Town Halls and Council Meeting-related items

ITEM L. Compensating City Council members

ITEM M. Creating Recall Provisions for Council members

ITEM N. Recalling the Current City Council members

"Here's how it works." This is Article VI in our City Charter. This gives the people the power to direct our City Council. This lets us bring things to a vote by the citizens of City of Manor. We need 777 signatures on a Petition, and then an Election is called. We take back our City!

ARTICLE VI. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

Section 6.01. General. The citizens reserve the powers of initiative and referendum which may be exercised in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in this Article.

Section 6.02. Initiative. Subject only to the limitations provided in this Article, the people of the city have the power to propose legislation on any local government issue, except legislation appropriating money, levying taxes, affecting zoning, annexing land or setting rates, fees or charges, and ,if the council fails to adopt an ordinance so proposed, to adopt or reject the proposed legislation at an election.

Section 6.03. Referendum. The people of the city shall have the power to require reconsideration by the council of any adopted ordinance regarding any issue that would be a proper subject for an initiative, and if the council fails to repeal an ordinance so reconsidered, to approve or reject the ordinance at an election. Such power does not extend to the budget; capital expenditures; levy of taxes; any bonds, certificates of obligation or any similar obligations; zoning; annexation; or any rates, fees and charges; provided that tax increases shall be subject to petition as provided by state law.

Section 6.04. Conflict. No initiative or referendum action shall conflict with this charter, the United States or Texas Constitution or any Texas state statute.

Section 6.05. Signatures. Initiative and referendum petitions must be signed by registered voters residing within the city in number equal to twenty-five percent of the number of votes cast at the last general election of the city. The signatures to the initiative or referendum petition need not all be appended to one paper, but each signer shall sign his or her name in ink or indelible pencil and shall add or cause to be added his or her place of residence within the city by street and number, printed name and date of signature. …

Section 6.09. - Action on Petition.

Within 30 days after the date an initiative petition has been certified to the council as sufficient, the council shall request a formal legal opinion from the city attorney on the legality of the proposed ordinance. If the city attorney issues a written opinion that the proposed ordinance is clearly and facially invalid, the council shall not be required to call an election on such initiative. Otherwise, within 45 days after an initiative or referendum petition has been certified to the council as sufficient, the council shall: a) Adopt the proposed initiative ordinance without any change in substance; or b) Repeal the referred ordinance; or c) Call an election on the proposed or referred ordinance.

SUGGESTED INITIATIVES:

ITEM A. IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS IN SPANISH

The City Council shall be directed to begin a process to include spanish language translations of important city communications. The City Council Agendas shall be available in spanish. The City website will include prominent links for spanish versions of our website pages and documents; including a spanish version that will allow a person to request a spanish translator for City Council, commission, committee, town hall and similar meetings.

City will augment its training to prepare more employees to include translators as part of their job duties. City will have a goal of real-time spanish translation and subtitles during public meetings and events for its online presence.

The City will change the advance notice requirement for spanish translators from the current ten-days notice; to three-days notice; until such time as translators are readily available in an on-going basis requiring no advance notice.

ITEM B. REQUIRE A PROTECTED SPACE BY THE MANOR CEMETERY

City Council shall use immediately use eminent domaine, puchase or enforcement of our parkland rights to create a protected open space or wildlife preserve for a space of 350' to the west of the Manor Cemetery lot boundary. There is empirical evidence of multiple gravesites outside the existing cemetery fence on the west side as attested to by Manor area residents Robert Battaile, Dan Scarbrough and Teresa Johnson. There is also floodplain here.

Any development or building within this area shall be prohibited. The berm hiding the water pond to the east of the cemetery on City property shall be extended southward to hide the view of the new buildings to the east.

Shall the above directive for Council to require a greenspace by the Manor Cemetery be made:

______ YES ______NO