HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0063) RESOLUTION - Reactivating Redistricting Task Force.Charging w.ResponsibilityA RESOLUTION
NO.
REACTIVATING THE REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE AND CHARGING IT WITH
RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVALUATING PROPOSED DISTRICT MAPS, CONDUCTING A
PUBLIC HEARING ON SUCH MAPS, AND SELECTING AN INITIAL DISTRICT MAP
FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS the City Council on August 4, 2020, adopted Resolution No. 5259-08-2020
(August 2020 resolution), appointing a Redistricting Task Force (Task Force) and charging the
Task Force with responsibility for advising the Council about the criteria and procedures by
which the Council should redraw its district boundaries after publication of 2020 block -level
population data by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 9 of the August 2020 resolution, the Task Force
ceased to exist as a formal entity upon completing its assigned work and presenting its final
report to the City Council at the Council's regular work session on March 2, 2021; and
WHEREAS the City Council on April 6, 2021, adopted Resolution No. 5375-04-2021
(April 2021 resolution), accepting the Task Force's final report and establishing criteria and
procedures for redrawing district boundaries; and
WHEREAS the April 2021 resolution expressed the City Council's intent to engage Task
Force members in the redistricting process, even after the Task Force had accomplished its
purpose and ceased to exist; and
WHEREAS the City Council now wishes to reactivate the Task Force, reappoint as many
of the original members as have agreed and are able to continue serving, and charge it with
certain responsibility, consistent with the principles of public participation and transparency as
set forth in Section 1 b of the April 2021 resolution; and
WHEREAS, contemporaneous with this Resolution, the City Council is considering the
adoption of a Resolution Amending Resolution No. 5375-01-2021 and Establishing Amended
Procedures for Redrawing District Boundaries to incorporate the work of the reactivated and
reappointed Task Force (Amended Procedures Resolution);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH, TEXAS, as follows:
1. The Redistricting Task Force is hereby reactivated and reappointed effective October 27, 2021, and
shall consist of eleven (11) members as follows:
Place 1:
Bill Schur
Place 2:
Salvador Espino (Chair)
Place 3:
Graham Norris
Place 4:
Janna Herrera
Place 5:
Bert Williams (Vice Chair)
Place 6:
Linda Kennedy
Place 7:
Tony DeVito
Place 8:
Lucretia Powell
Place 9:
Kent Bradshaw
Place 10:
Dr. Whitnee Boyd
Place 11:
Ossana Hermosillo
2. The reactivated Redistricting Task Force is charged with evaluating proposed district maps produced
by residents, the City Council, and staff; conducting a public hearing on such maps; and selecting an initial
district map for consideration by the City Council.
3. The Task Force Chair shall be Salvador Espino and Vice Chair shall be Bert Williams. All meetings
of the Task Force shall be open to the public and the City Manager or his designee shall post a notice of each
meeting on the City's website.
4. The Redistricting Task Force shall perform its assigned work during the months of October,
November, and December, 2021, and the Task Force shall formally submit its selected initial map to the City
Council no later than January 4, 2022. The Task Force, with assistance from the City Attorney, shall secure
an opinion from outside counsel about any pertinent legal concerns before submitting its selected initial map
to the City Council.
The City Council may amend the charge of the Redistricting Task Force at any time.
6. The City Council shall be free to change the initial map at its sole discretion and shall adopt a final
map in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in the April 2021 resolution, as such procedures
may be amended by this October 2021 resolution and the Amended Procedures Resolution.
7. The Redistricting Task Force shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, shall serve unless or until
replaced by the City Council, and shall be subject to rules applicable to other City task forces. The Task Force
shall cease to exist upon the accomplishment of the purpose for which it was created unless earlier abolished
by majority vote of the City Council.
Adopted this 19th day of October, 2021.
ATTEST:
By
Ronald P. Gonzales, Interim City Secretary