City Redistricting Process

Special City Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Background

- Per Article II, Section 2.4 (B) of the City Charter, City Council passed a resolution that established the Districting Commission on May 10, 2011

- On August 30, 2011, the City Council adopted a set of principles and criteria to serve as a framework to guide the Council and its Commission in consideration of districting plans

- On August 30, 2011, the City Council appointed all members of the Commission

City Council Resolutions

Why Redistrict?

- Article II, Section 2.4 (B) of the City Charter requires City Council to nominate one qualified voter from his or her district and the Mayor to nominate one qualified voter from the City at large

- Use of the Decennial U.S. Census data

- Changes to the Representative districts may occur more often than after each decennial census, as necessary to insure substantial equality in the populations of such Representative districts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Growth

Council

District

2000

Population

2010

PopulationChange

Percent

Change

1 71,382 90,732 19,350 27.1%

2 71,079 75,115 4,036 5.7%

3 70,984 66,410 (4,574) -6.4%

4 71,687 83,358 11,671 16.3%

5 69,473 110,977 41,504 59.7%

6 68,067 86,182 18,115 26.6%

7 69,231 66,940 (2,291) -3.3%

8 71,759 69,407 (2,352) -3.3%

Total 563,662 649,121 85,459 15.2%

Redistricting Optimal

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Council

District

2010

Population

2011 Redistricting

Optimal

1 90,732 81,140 9,592 11.8%

2 75,115 81,140 (6,025) -7.4%

3 66,410 81,140 (14,730) -18.2%

4 83,358 81,140 2,218 2.7%

5 110,977 81,140 29,837 36.8%

6 86,182 81,140 5,042 6.2%

7 66,940 81,140 (14,200) -17.5%

8 69,407 81,140 (11,733) -14.5%

Total 649,121 649,121 54.9%

Deviation

|36.8%| + |-18.2%| = 54.9%|36.8%| + |-18.2%| = 54.9%|36.8%| + |-18.2%| = 54.9%

Redistricting Process

- Districting Commission’s first meeting took place on October 3, 2011

- Total of ten public meetings held at City Hall

- Total of seven community meetings held city-wide (approx. 100 participants)

- Districting Commission Website (www.elpasotexas.gov/districting)

- Redistricting Process Media Coverage

- Districting Commission Meetings – Channel 15

- Planning staff was available to meet with Commissioners and members of the public to assist in the drafting of districting plans

- Coordinated redistricting efforts between City and County staff

• Wednesday, Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Armijo Library, Mural Room

• Tuesday, Jan. 31, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Franklin High School, Library

• Thursday, Feb. 2, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Riverside High School, Theatre

• Saturday, Feb. 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Memorial Park Senior Center

• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Cielo Vista Branch Library

• Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Mission Valley Police Substation

• Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Pebble Hills Regional Command Center

Districting Commission Community Meetings

Districting Commission Website

Redistricting Process: Media Coverage

- Staff Drafts: Five plans

- Commissioner Drafts: Ten plans

- Public Drafts: 17 plans

- Total of 32 proposed districting plans drafted

Proposed Districting Plans Drafted

- Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Commission meeting- Public Draft #13 with modifications received plurality support from the

Districting Commission

- Commissioner Draft #4 revised with modifications received majority support from the Districting Commission

- Public Draft #14 is being presented by a minority of the Districting Commission

- Commissioner Draft #4 revised is being presented by a minority of the Districting Commission

- Districting Commission progress presentation

- Detailed review of each proposed districting plan using GIS

- Opportunity to hear remarks by Commissioners who are present

- Public Comment/Input

- City Council discussion and deliberation

- City Council action

- To adopt a districting plan which establishes new district boundary lines based on the 2010 U.S. Census data, to become effective immediately upon preclearance by the U.S. Department of Justice; authorizing the City Attorney to submit the adopted districting plan to the U.S. Department of Justice for preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act; and dissolving of the Districting Commission, as they have completed their duties in the redistricting process as identified in the City Charter.

Today’s City Council Actions