Roanoke City Council to vote on makeup of Crime Control Prevention District board

The Roanoke City Council is set to vote May 17 on whether to appoint citizens to the Crime Control Prevention District board or to fill those seats themselves.

During the May 7 special election, Roanoke voters approved three charter amendments, allowing the mayor to vote on city matters along with council and allowing appointments if there is a vacancy in the mayor's seat or a council seat with less than a year left in the term.

Voters also supported establishing a Crime Control Prevention District while agreeing to terminate the Roanoke Community and Economic Development Corporation.

A 2002 Texas Attorney General ruling prevents the City Council from appointing a single council member to the CCPD board. The ruling requires the entire council to be appointed or none to be allowed to serve, according to city documents.

At a May 10 meeting, council members discussed the process of appointing a board for the CCPD. Several members expressed no preference either way, with some discussion on being diligent in vetting appointees, should they choose that route. Council members also considered whether it may be more convenient to become board members themselves as they already manage the city’s general budget and could more easily manage the CCPD’s budget.

The council and city staff will draft a proposal with language to approve or deny the council being appointed as the CCPD board. The vote is scheduled to occur at a May 17 special meeting.