Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001/08/27-Minutes-City Council-Special Called REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 27, 2001 Date & Time On the 27th day of August, A.D., 2001, the City Council of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, met in special session at 7:10 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 1000 Throckmorton, for the purpose of conducting a public hearing concerning the number of single- member districts, to hear recommended staff proposals and to give all interested persons or citizens an opportunity to be heard regarding this matter. The following members and officers were present: Attendance Mayor Kenneth Barr; Mayor Pro tempore Ralph McCloud; Council Members Jim Lane, Chuck Silcox, Becky Haskin, Frank Moss, Clyde Picht, Jeff Wentworth, and Wendy Davis; City Manager Gary Jackson; City Attorney David Yett; City Secretary Gloria Pearson. With more than a quorum present, the following business was transacted. Mayor Barr provided opening comments regarding the redistricting process thus far. He stated various meetings had been held throughout the City to encourage citizen input and information had been made available through a staff prepared Citizen Guide; GIS mapping systems and staff support had been provided, when requested; a special web site was dedicated to redistricting that averaged approximately 58 hits each day; a redistricting hotline was installed that received 45 calls; and several articles were published in the City's City Page. Mayor Barr stated that the purpose of tonight's meeting was to review conceptual plans, hear citizen comments, and make a final determination on the number of single-member City Council Districts. Mayor Barr requested that Assistant City Manager Charles Boswell provide a briefing on the staff's proposals and recommendation for redistricting. Assistant City Attorney Charles Boswell presented a briefing to Council that outlined staff's recommendation on redistricting. He provided six conceptual plans prepared by staff that attempted to reflect Council objectives. Mr. Boswell concluded his presentation with a recommendation to maintain eight single-member districts. Mayor Barr asked if there was anyone present desiring to be heard. Citizen Mr. Jesse L. Gaines, 2501 Glencrest, representing the Fort Worth Presentations NAACP, appeared before Council and stated that the City was very Jesse Gaines diverse due to Council decisions made 20 years ago and that diversity would be best maintained in an 8-1 plan. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FORT WORTH, TEXAS AUGUST 27, 2001 PAGE 2 of 6 Sam Garcia Mr. Sam Garcia, 2809 Amber Drive South, representing the United Hispanic Council of Tarrant County, appeared before Council and stated that a 10-1 district plan would empower all minorities to elect representatives on Council. He added that the amount of money paid to the members of City Council should be raised in order to increase the number of citizens willing to run as City Council candidates. Antonio Castillo Mr. Antonio Castillo, 1015 Mayfield Street, appeared before Council and stated that he favored the 8-1 plan. Lee Saldivar Mr. Lee Saldivar, 3937 Ryan Avenue, appeared before Council and stated that there was a need for Hispanic representation on Council because Hispanics could relate to all cultures. Ted Hernandez Mr. Ted Hernandez, 3617 N. Clinton, addressed the Council on various issues including patriotism. Pauline Gasca- Ms. Pauline Gasca-Valenciano, 216 E. Drew Street, appeared before Valenciano Council and spoke in opposition to the 8-1 plan because it did not work; she then drew attention to the lack of Hispanics on the Council and stated that she wanted to see minority [Hispanic] representation on Council. Doris Harrison Ms. Doris Harrison, 6724 Jewell, President of the Handley- Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association, appeared before Council and expressed concern with the division of neighborhood associations as a result of the redistricting process. She requested that Council not draw district lines that split their neighborhood association. She further stated that their neighborhood association would like representation by one City Council representative. Pablo Calderon Mr. Pablo F. Calderon, 2307 Dell, representing the Communities of Interest, appeared before Council and stated that they were in favor of the 10-1 plan and that the citizens should decide on the number of districts. Rufino Mendoza Mr. Rufino Mendoza, 5505 Rutland Avenue, a member of Communities of Interest, appeared before Council and stated that the 10-1 plan was the best decision as the Hispanic population had increased by 30 percent over the past 10 years. He added that the dilution of the Hispanic population within various Council districts was unacceptable. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FORT WORTH, TEXAS AUGUST 27, 2001 PAGE 3 of 6 Mike Martinez Mr. Mike Martinez, P. O. Box 100523, appeared before Council and stated that the 10-1 plan would keep communities intact. He requested that Council let the voters decide the issue of redistricting at the ballot box. Fernando Florez Mr. Fernando Florez, 2744 Hemphill, appeared before Council and commended the Council on being the best Council ever and asked them to think about the future of Fort Worth. He added that diversity of a City happens when there is equal representation on Council, not diluting the minority population by combining them with the majority population. He requested Council accept the 10-1 plan submitted by the Communities of Interest. Vicki Bargas Ms. Vicki Bargas, 301 W. Drew, representing District 21 of LULAC, appeared before Council and supported the 10-1 plan and asked that Council lay the ground work today for the future. Virginia Bargas Ms. Virginia Bargas, 301 E. Drew, appeared before Council and asked the Council to be democratic and share the leadership through the adoption of the 10-1 plan. Tom Walz Mr. Tom Walz, 3500 Rashti Court, appeared before Council and stated that the 8-1 plan did not give African Americans a 50% majority in Districts 5 or 8. He asked that Council let citizens review the recent redistricting proposals and then survey them for comment. He urged Council to let the citizens vote on a plan. Linda Sandoval Ms. Linda Sandoval Foley, 1113 Idlewood, unofficially representing Foley the Tarrant Voter Registration Project, appeared before Council and urged Council to adopt the 10-1 plan. She further stated that this was the time to increase the level of Hispanic voters by having a more compact district with a Hispanic majority. Jesse Aguilera Mr. Jesse Aguilera, 2112 Daisy Lane, representing the American GI Forum, appeared before Council and stated that the City needed smaller, more compact districts for better representation on Council. He requested Council to let voters decide between the 8- 1 and 10-1 plans. John Davila Mr. John Davila, 7609 Pebbleford, representing Amigos in Action, appeared before Council and stated that the 10-1 plan would give the City better representation. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FORT WORTH, TEXAS AUGUST 27, 2001 PAGE 4of6 Giavina Irlando Ms. Giavina Irlando, 4218 Kenwood Court, submitted a comment card, but left the hearing prior to making any public comments. Cheryl Walz Ms. Cheryl Walz, 3500 Rashti Court, stated that the 10-1 plan was also a redistricting issue ten years ago and that looked at neighborhood integrity, not minority population. She urged Council to support the 10-1 plan. Al Saldivar Mr. Al Saldivar, 936 Cardinal Ridge, appeared before Council and stated he supported the 10-1 plan. Jeff Harper Mr. Jeff Harper, 2510 Hemphill Street, appeared before Council and spoke in favor of the 10-1 plan. There being no one else present desiring to be heard in connection with the redistricting of the City, Mayor Barr advised Council that the citizen presentation portion of the public hearing was closed and asked for any comments from the City Council. Mayor Pro tempore McCloud thanked everyone who attended the public hearing and for raising awareness to the redistricting process. Council Member Davis also thanked everyone who attended the public hearing and for all the hard work in preparing and submitting redistricting plans. She stated that in her opinion a 10-1 plan would dilute minority representation on Council. She further stated that the present opportunity for four minority members to serve on the Council in an 8-1 plan would give minority members on the Council a stronger voice than they would have on a larger Council. She added that she supported the 8-1 plan. Council Member Moss echoed Ms. Davis' comments and also stated that he supported the 811 plan. Res. # 2768 Council Member Silcox made a motion, seconded by Council Concerning Member Moss, that the following resolution be approved. Number of Single-Member Council Member Picht made a substitute motion to continue this City Council decision for a week to look at the redistricting plan submitted by Districts Communities of Interest. The motion died for lack of a second. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FORT WORTH, TEXAS AUGUST 27, 2001 PAGE 5 of 6 RESOLUTION NO. 2768 Concerning Number of Single-Member City Council Districts WHEREAS, the 2000 federal census reflected a 20 percent increase in the population of the City of Fort Worth between 1990 and 2000; WHEREAS, the population growth was not evenly distributed throughout the City; WHEREAS, it is necessary to redraw boundary lines for City Council districts to adjust for the growth and shifts in population among the districts; WHEREAS, factors to be considered in drawing single- member district boundary lines include: • establishing districts that are relatively equal in size; • maintaining compact and contiguous districts; • dividing districts by easily identifiable geographic boundaries; • recognizing neighborhoods and communities of interest; • ensuring that voting rights of racial and language minorities under the current redistricting plan are not adversely affected; and • ensuring that voting rights of racial and language minorities to participate in the electoral process and to elect candidates of their choice are not diluted; WHEREAS, maintaining eight City Council districts will result in 67,549 residents in each district; WHEREAS, the City's current population is approximately 50 percent white, 30 percent Hispanic and 20 percent African- American; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that 67,549 residents per district is a workable ratio between councilperson and residents; SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FORT WORTH, TEXAS AUGUST 27, 2001 PAGE 6 of 6 WHEREAS, the City Council finds that eight City Council representatives provides for efficient governance; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the voting rights of African-American and Hispanic residents can be protected from retrogression or dilution by retaining eight City Council districts and drawing two majority African-American districts and two majority Hispanic districts; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that retaining eight City Council districts can result in greater proportionate representation of African-American and Hispanic residents on the City Council than a ten-district plan; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the interests in maintaining compact and contiguous districts and recognizing neighborhoods and communities of interest can be satisfied by retaining eight council districts; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH: That the City of Fort Worth retain the current plan providing for eight single-member City Council districts and a mayor elected at large; and That City staff is directed to commence preparations for Phase II of the redistricting process to draw a redistricting plan for submittal to the United States Justice Department. /s/ Kenneth Barr Kenneth Barr, Mayor of the City of Fort Worth ATTEST: /s/Gloria Pearson Gloria Pearson, City Secretary The motion carried unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7Z_g 0" �� � (y L_L CITY SEIIIttARY MAYOR