Houston City Council on Tuesday voted 15- 1, with Helena Brown opposed, to amend the previously approved ordinance calling a City Charter election on November 6. Ordinance  Listen

“We are not going to change the item, but we may have to amend the wording of what we passed,” explained Mayor Annise Parker.

City Attorney Steve Feldman said that the action was required because the ballot language in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese is too long for the eSlate software to tolerate.  Thus, it needed to be re-written to meet the format; and the city council was required to approve it.

Brown, who published a news release opposing the ordinance, complained that a charter election would preclude another charter election for years. Click Here

“Amendments to the City Charter cannot be on the ballot within a two year period,” she said. “If this matter appears on the ballot this November 6, 2012, then no other charter amendment can go on the ballot on November 5, 2013 or November 4, 2014 (shy of two days within the two year rule). The citizens of Houston will not be able to place a charter amendment on the ballot until November 3, 2015!”

“It was passed unanimously by council, including yourself,” Feldman reminded Brown, who was the only member to vote against the item at Tuesday's meeting.

Council Member Al Hoang was absent.

The city council meeting is scheduled to continue Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.