HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda CC 05.14.2001Council meeting date: May 14, 2001 Item No.
AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET
SUBJECT:
Discussion and possible direction to staff concerning redistricting and/or alternative
election methods, timeline, charge to citizens' committee, and process for appointment
of citizens' committee
ITEM SUMMARY:
This item is now back for the Council's continued discussion and possible direction to
staff on drafting a charge to a citizen's committee to review the City's election system
and make adjustments as needed due to the population increases identified in the 2000
Census. The City Council has discussed generally the City's current voting method, of
electing Council representatives from seven single -member districts, as 'well as some
modified at -large election methods, such as cumulative voting, preference voting, and
limited voting. A summary of the Council minutes on this item are included as
background for new Councilmembers.
Since the last workshop, I have received the analysis from Dr. Brischetto concerning
whether a majority Hispanic district could still be drawn with the current population data,
as ;d without the "gerry-mandered" lines of the existing plan. Dr. Brischetto reported that
such a plan can be drawn. The decision for the City Council will now be what options to
place before a citizens' committee on revisions to the City's election methods. The
proposed options for proceeding with the redistricting process will be presented at the
Council workshop, as well as a summary of the legal issues surrounding the redistricting
in general.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The issues to be considered by the citizens' committee in drawing districts, should also
be addressed at this meeting. A draft charge to the citizens' committee will be
presented, with what have been considered legitimate issues that can be considered in
drawing district boundaries, e.g. natural geographic boundaries, cohesive
neighborhoods, etc. It is also recommended that the City Council determine the
process for selection of the citizens' committee at this meeting, iri order that
appointment of members can be placed on the May 22, 2001 agenda, if possible.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Summary of 2000 Census Data for Georgetown
• Current Population distribution among seven districts using 1990 census data
• Summary of minutes from prior Council meetings
S bar itted By:
-,"Marianne Landers Banks, City Attorney
nerican FactFinder Pane l of 1
Basic Facts i QUick Tables age
iT-PL. Race. Hispanic or Latino _and Age:_2OOO
;eographic Area: Georgetown city, Texas
DOTE: Data not adjusted based on the Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation. For information on confidentiality protection,
ampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions see htt :ltfactfinder census goylhome/en/datanoteslemoluhtml,
,ubject
All ages
18 years and over
Number
Percent
Number
Percen
RACE
Total population
28,339
100.0
21,696
100.
One race
27,320
98.2
21,415
98.71
White
24,20
85.4
18,963
87.41
Black -)r African American
960
3.4
686
3.21
American Indian and Alaska Native
100
0.4
75
0.31
Asian
190
0.7
15
0 .71
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
15
0.1
13,
0.1
Some other race
2,355
8.3
1,526
7.01
Two or more races
519
1.8
280
1.
HISPANIC G;R L.A T I N 0 :ENO Z�C c
Total pooutation
28,339
100.0
21,695
100.01
Hiscaric �r _ ::r, {of am race
5.121
18.11
3,291
15.21
Nct :-iisaanic or Latino
23,218
$1.91
18,404
84.81
Cma racy
22.960
81.
18.249
84.1
White
j 21.763
Mal
17,36el
80.01
9321
534
3.21
0.
6; -1
3- 81
3.1
0.21
Am. 3r:con Indian and ,Alaska Na;;va
Asian
18
0.7
151
0.71
air? - iwaiian and Other Pa fic !slander
10
0.0
11
0.
' .:,� ,��e► race
?
0.
.41 '�r -lore races
2581
0.1
155
071
cur ;a. U.3. Census Bureau, Cars-:s 2000 Recisuic�ing
y'accas PL1, PL 2, PL3, and PL4.
Data (P��biic Law 94-17, Summary Liie,
EXISTING DISTRICT POPULATION DIVISIONS
BASED ON 1990 DATA
(excerpt from 2001 Dept. of Justice Preclearance Submittal)
District
Total
NHWhite
NHBlack
Hispanic
NHOther
1
2,123
759
124
1,231
9
35.7%
5.9%
58%
.4%
2
2,061
1,064
340
633
23
52%
17%
31 %
1 %
3
2,322
2,024
64
220
14
87.2%
2.7%
9.5%
.6%
4
2,313
2,134
14
140
25
92.3%
.6%
6%
1.1 %
5
2,322
2,120
35
156
11
91 %
1.5%
7%
.5%
6
2,260
1,773
82
382
23
78.5%
3.6%
16.9%
1 %
7
2,383
1,897
75
371
40
79.6%
3.1 %
15.6%
1.7%
Synopsis of Minutes of Redistricting Process 2001
Monday, March 9, 2001 City Council Workshop
A Redistricting and Charter Review
Council asked Banks to contact Houston attorney, David Brooks, for a
proposal regarding "cleaning up" the Georgetown Charter. Council would
want him to make sure it complies with State law and asked that he clarify
provisions.
Council asked Banks to explain the options regarding protecting minority
representation. Banks explained that the laws have changed significantly
since 1990, and there are alternative ways to construct the voting districts.
There was discussion regarding structuring of committees and when to
schedule the issues for election. It was suggested that there would need
to be representation from each district.
Monday, March 26, 2001 City Council Workshop
B Discussion of election methods and census data for the City of
Georgetown -- Marianne Banks
Deputy City Attorney Gary Martin introduced Dr. Robert Brischetto of
Social Research Services, Inc. Brischetto explained Limited Voting, Cumulative
Voting, and Preference Voting
Monday, April 9, 2001 City Council Workshop
C Discussion and possible direction to staff concerning redistricting and/or
alternative election methods and timeline -- Marianne Banks and George Russell
Banks asked Council for direction. At Kersch's request, Banks explained
the Court's response in 1990 to our Single -Member District Plan compared with
today since the law has changed and now that race can no longer be considered
the issue for creating single -member districts, saying that the City will need to do
something different than what we have now. It was generally agreed that the
maps showing the distribution of the ethnic percentages would need to be
reviewed before deciding which method to choose. Banks was told tc bring this
item back for a future workshop.
Monday, April 23, 2001 City Council Workshop (draft minutes)
C Update on Redistricting/Charter Issues -- Marianne Banks
Banks reviewed options on redistricting, saying the consultant is
determining if new lines can be drawn to create a minority/Hispanic district
without diluting the minority voting in the City. there was discussion as to the
various methods and differing opinions from Councilmembers as to how to
proceed.
Social Research Services
180 Jones Beach Drive
Lakehills, TX 78063
(830) 612-3643
Fax: 1-830-751-2865
Email: brischetto@wireweb.net
Seven Single -Member District Plan for Georgetown, TX:
2000
Percent of Population that is:
% Hisp. of
Total
District
Population
%Dev.
Anglo
Black
Hispanic
Other
Registered
Registered
1
Total
4,095
1.2%
35.6
8.5
55.0
1.4
38.9
1,631
VAP
2,894
40.0
8.6
50.2
1.3
2
Total
3,804
-6.0%
79.7
3.2
16.2
1.1
7.7
2,064
VAP
2,755
83.0
2.2
13.6
1.3
3
Total
4,046
-0.1 %
85.2
2.0
11.4
1.4
61
2,586
VAP
2,974
86.6
1.9
10.3
1.3
4
Total
3,995
-1.3%
97.2
0.4
1.8
0.6
10
4,032
VAP
3,789
97.5
0.4
1.5
0.6
5
Total
3,962
-2.1 %
87.2
2.4
8.8
1.6
5.0
2,599
VAP
2,838
88.9
2.0
7.6
1.4
6
Total
4,200
3.7%
77.0
5.7
14.9
2.6
8.1
2,271
VAP
3,122
79.2
5.6
13.1
2.3
7
Total
4,237
4.7%
76.8
3.4
17.6
2.4
10.6
2,227
VAP
3,323
80.0
3.3
14.3
2.5
Total
Total
28,339
76.8
3.3
18.1
1.8
8.9
17,410
VAP
21,695
80.0
3.1
15.2
1.7
Ideal
Total
4,048
VAP
3,099
Source: Population: 2000 Census; voter registration figures: Texas Leglislative Council from TX Secy. of State