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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd No. 11-3558WHEREAS, the City Council has certain responsibilities for redistricting under Federal and state law including but not limited to Amendments 14 and 15 to the United States Constitution, U.S.C.A. (West 2006), and the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973 and 1973c (West 2010); and Tex. Gov't Code Ann. 2058.001 and 2058.002 (Vernon 2008); and WHEREAS, the City Council has certain responsibilities for redistricting under the City Charter; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide for the orderly consideration and evaluation of comments and redistricting plans which may come before the City Council; and WHEREAS, these guidelines relate to persons who have specific comments or proposed redistricting plans they wish the City Council to consider; and WHEREAS, the City Council welcome any comments relevant to the redistricting process. SECTION I ORDINANCE NO. 11 -3558 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR PERSON SUBMITTING COMMENTS AND SPECIFIC REDISTRICTING PROPOSALS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. NOW, THEREFORE, The City of Plainview hereby ordains that: In order to make sure that any comment or plan that might be submitted is of maximum assistance to the City Council in the decision making process, the City Council hereby sets the following guidelines: Ord. No. 11 -3558 1. Proposed plans must be submitted in writing and be legible. If a plan is submitted orally, there is significant opportunity for misunderstanding, and it is possible that errors may be made in analyzing it. The City Council wants to be sure that all proposals are fully and accurately considered. 2. Any plan must show the total population and voting age population for Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Anglo /other for each proposed city council district, based on 2010 Census data. If a plan is submitted without a population breakdown, the City Council may not have sufficient information to give it full consideration. Citizens' Plans- Redistricting Page 1 of 3 129 130 3. Plans should redistrict the entire City of Plainview. The City Council will be considering the effect of any plan on the entire city. Also, the City Council is subject to the Voting Rights Act, which protects various racial and language minorities. Thus, as a matter of federal law, the City Council will be required to consider the effect of any proposal on multiple racial and ethnic groups. If a plan does not redistrict the entire city, it may be impossible for the City Council to assess its impact on one or more protected minority groups. 4. Plans must conform to the criteria the City Council will be using in drawing the councilmember districts. 5. Comments must be submitted in writing and be legible, even if the person also makes the comments orally at a public hearing. 6. Persons providing comments and those submitting proposed plans must identify themselves by full name and home address and provide a phone number and, if available, an e-mail address. The City Council may wish to follow up on such comments or obtain additional information about submitted plans. 7. All comments and proposed plans must be submitted to the City Council by the close of the public hearing. SECTION II This Ordinance shall be of full force and effect upon its passage and publication as required by law. PASSED AND APPROVED on first reading this 12 day of July, 2011. PASSED AND APPROVED on second reading this 26 day of July, 2011. ATTEST: 717' l a j Belinda Hinojosa, City Secr ry Ord. No. 11 -3558 Jahn C. Anderson, Mayor Citizens' Plans- Redistricting Page 2 of 3 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Les ie Spear Pearce City Attorney Ord. No. 11 -3558 Citizens' Plans- Redistricting Page 3 of 3 131