Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 300 W. MAIN STREET THURSDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2021 AT 5:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER PRESENT Mayor Ron Jensen Mayor Pro Tem Mike Del Bosque Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cole Humphreys Council Member District 1 Jorja Clemson Council Member At Large Place 8 Junior Ezeonu Council Member District 6 Kurt Johnson Council Member District 2 Dennis King Council Member District 4 John Lopez ABSENT Council Member At Large Place 7 Jeff Copeland PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. Public Hearing on Redistricting Mayor Jensen asked if there were any speakers for this item. Former Council Member Tony Shotwell, 309 NE 31st, spoke in support of the most recent map but noted District Six is under limit, understandably because it is a growing and will fill in. He also noted Districts One and Five are under but would probably not increase because housing in District Five is built out. Mr. Shotwell asked to consider shuffling Districts One and Two, and Districts Five and Three. EXECUTIVE SESSION There was no Executive Session. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Jensen called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. and asked Council if they had questions on any agenda item. Mayor Jensen discussed Consent Agenda item number four. He reviewed information about nominee Kathryn Wilemon, noting she has been on the board for a period of time. Mayor Pro Tem Del Bosque moved, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Humphreys, to approve items two through four. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Minutes of the October 28, 2021, Special City Council Meeting APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA Special City Council Meeting – December 09, 2021 Page 1 of 3  3. Minutes of the November 4, 2021, Special City Council Meeting APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA 4. Resolution of Votes Cast to Elect Directors for the Tarrant Appraisal District for the Years 2022-2023 APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA RES 5242-2021 PRESENTATIONS 5. Redistricting Before the Next Census Deputy City Manager Cheryl De Leon introduced Attorney David Mendez who has assisted the city during the past three redistricting sessions. He explained the city’s responsibility when annexing property, noting territory is automatically added to the contiguous districts / surrounding property with a top to bottom deviation. Mr. Mendez said after annexation of property, possibly during election time, the 2020 Census data would be considered and may be challenged. City Manager Steve Dye noted this situation could occur during a population growth anywhere within the city. 6. Redistricting Map Drawing Mr. Mendez advised there has been no citizen input since the time the map was shared with the public. He reviewed the population chart noting the most populous is District Three and the least populous is District Six. Mr. Mendez said District Five has a 71.73 percent Hispanic population. Council Member Lopez asked what the total Hispanic population was in 2015 & 2010. Mr. Mendez said he did not recall but could review and report back. He said currently the total Hispanic voting population is at 45.29 percent. Council Member Lopez clarified there are two districts with majority Hispanic voting population and then asked to review voting precincts on the map. Council Member King asked to review areas east of Carrier Parkway and south of Pioneer Parkway. Various voting precincts were reviewed, and mapping changes were made. The total population chart was reviewed after requested changes. Mr. Mendez discussed the Hispanic Voting Age Population and Total Voting Age Population data. After various mapping changes were made, the deviation was at 9.1 percent; and council was satisfied with the proposed map. CITIZEN COMMENTS Daniel J. Bennett, 408 Pemberton, arrived after item four was considered and voted. He spoke in opposition and asked council to reconsider splitting their votes between candidates Losada and Wilemon. He noted his disappointment that Council does not cast a vote for the Dallas Appraisal Board. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:12 p.m. Special City Council Meeting – December 09, 2021 Page 2 of 3 The foregoing minutes were approved at the December 14, 2021, City Council Meeting. _______________________________ Mona Lisa Galicia, City Secretary Special City Council Meeting – December 09, 2021 Page 3 of 3