Title
Consideration of and action on an Order of Election for a Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District continuation election on May 3, 2025.
Body
Summary:
The Deer Park Crime Control Prevention District (CCPD) and the Deer Park Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services District (FCPEMSD) were approved by the voters in Deer Park on May 11, 2011. As discussed at previous meetings, pursuant to their respective statutes, each district will dissolve five years after the date the municipality began to impose taxes for district purposes if the district has not held a continuation.
Each district board may call and hold a referendum election on the question of whether to continue the district. The board may order a referendum election on its own motion by a majority of its members. The board shall order a referendum election: (1) on receipt of a petition that requests continuation of the district and complies with certain statutory requirements; or (2) if the majority of the governing body of the municipality that created the district, after notice and a public hearing on the matter, by resolution requests a referendum on continuation.
The board may not hold a referendum election before the fourth anniversary of the date the district was created.
In 2016, both boards called a referendum election to extend the districts for an additional 10 years and approved a joint election agreement with the City of Deer Park to hold the election. The 10 years is up in 2026 but it is being requested that we hold the election in 2025. One of the reasons to hold in 2025 vs 2026 is, if the election fails in 2025, the districts can still hold another election in 2026 (which is one year later).
For the FCPEMSD, the governing body of a municipality that creates a district under this chapter may specify the number of years for which the district should be continued. The board or the governing body of a municipality may propose continuation of a district for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years.
A continuation election planned for May 3, 2025 and February 3, 2025 is the proposed date to call the election.
As discussed at the Joint CCPD/FCPEMSD Workshops conducted on October, December and January, a plan for district continuation has been developed. The timeline for workshops/meetings related to the CCPD and FCPEMSD renewal is as follows:
• October 21, 2024 - Discussion to occur at each regular meeting to kickoff discussion about renewal of the districts.
• December 10, 2024 - Joint CCPD and FCPEMSD Workshop to discuss plans for renewal of the districts.
• January 6, 2025 - Joint CCPD and FCPEMSD Workshop to discuss and finalize plans for renewal of the districts.
• January 21, 2025 - Presentation of plans for renewal elections for the districts presented to City Council.
• February 3, 2025 - Each district board will conduct a separate special meeting to call a district renewal election.
Attorney Jim Fox has prepared the Order of Election to be considered by the Board for calling the FCPEMSD continuation election on May 3, 2025. The election would be for a continuation referendum to permit voting for or against the proposition: Whether the City of Deer Park Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District should be continued for twenty (20) years and the City of Deer Park Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District sales tax should be continued for twenty (20) years.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
Funds will be budgeted in the FY 2024-2025 FCPEMSD Budget for the FCPEMSD’s share of the election expense as an amendment to the budget.
Recommended action
Approve the Order of Election calling a Deer Park Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District continuation election for May 3, 2025.