KYLE — At its July 2 meeting, Kyle City Council approved 4-3 to bring back an item at a future meeting that could place a non-binding proposition on the November ballot, which would allow residents to vote whether council should continue to have the same access to the city’s health insurance as a full-time employee, as it was passed on April 2.
As council member Miguel Zuniga, who sponsored the item, began his discussion, he was interrupted by a statement from Mayor Travis Mitchell claiming that this item goes against council rules. According to the mayor, an item cannot be brought back to council by someone who voted against it at the original presentation for at least 12 months.
Zuniga explained that the item was not to repeal the insurance item as it was voted upon in April, but to bring a non-binding proposition to voters to decide to accept or deny city-paid insurance for council members.
“I just wanted to give the residents an opportunity to use the democratic process in our charter and on this November ballot,” said Zuniga. “This data can be used by the charter review committee next year to see if it's really what the public wants and if health insurance needs to be funded in our annual budgets.”
The beginning of his discussion was met with a round of applause from the community members in attendance.
Aimee Alcorn-Reed, city attorney, stated that the city charter does allow for a non-binding referendum that can be placed on the ballot and because it is non-binding, whether it passes or fails in November, it does not require action by council: “It’s really to gauge the community and understand if we’re doing something that they like or don’t like.”
Zuniga made a motion to direct the city manager to bring back the item at the next council meeting to decide whether to place the proposition regarding council member health insurance on the ballot in the upcoming election. The item was seconded by council member Daniela Parsley and passed 4-3, with Mitchell and council members Lauralee Harris and Bear Heiser dissenting.
Since the item passed in April 2024, community members have gathered in numbers to sign a petition for referendum, which would require the city council to suspend the ordinance immediately, upon certification by the city secretary and city attorney. Council then would have three options:
• Adopt the proposed initiative ordinance without any change in substance; or
•Repeal the referred ordinance; or
• Call an election on the proposed or referred ordinance.
According to the city charter, for a petition to be sufficient and legal, it must be signed by registered voters in the city of Kyle equal to 25% of the number of votes cast at the last general election of the city. According to former city council member Yvonne Flores-Cale, who helped organize the petition, the total number of mail-in and in-person votes in the city limits was approximately 4,214, which means at least 1,054 signatures are needed; however, Flores-Cale hopes to get 1,100-1,200 “to be safe.”
As of publication, more than half of the required signatures have been received. Those wishing to sign the petition can visit Evangelina Chapa’s house, located at 700 W. Center St., between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. any day or visit the Kyle Council Citizen Oversight group on Facebook at bit.ly/4btXxph for additional places and times to sign.
City council will meet again on Tuesday, July 16.
Kyle City Council to consider placing health insurance proposition on November ballot
At its July 2 meeting, Kyle City Council approved 4-3 to bring back an item at a future meeting that could place a non-binding proposition on the November ballot, which would allow residents to vote whether council should continue to have the same access to the city’s health insurance as a full-time employee, as it was passed on April 2.
- 07/10/2024 08:20 PM
