City Council Special Meeting

Port Lavaca, TX CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 20, 2021 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Monday, December 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM City Council Chambers, 202 N. Virginia Street, Port Lavaca, Texas 77979 MINUTES STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF CALHOUN § CITY OF PORT LAVACA § On this the 20th day of December, 2021, the City Council of the City of Port Lavaca, Texas, convened in a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the regular meeting place in Council Chambers at City Hall, 202 North Virginia Street, Port Lavaca, Texas, with the following members in attendance: I. ROLL CALL Jack Whitlow Mayor Jerry Smith Councilman, District 1 Tim Dent Councilman, District 2 Allen Tippit Councilman, District 3 Rosie G. Padron Councilwoman, District 4, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward Councilman, District 5 Ken Barr Councilman, District 6 And with the following absent: None Constituting a quorum for the transaction of business, at which time the following business was transacted: II. CALL TO ORDER • Mayor Whitlow called the meeting to order at 6:34 P.M. and presided. III. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC • Mayor Whitlow asked for comments from the public and there were none. IV. ACTION ITEMS – (Council will consider/discuss the following items and take any action deemed necessary) Page 1 of 4 Port Lavaca, TX CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 20, 2021 1. Conduct Public Hearing regarding Redistricting Plan for drawing election district lines for single member districts in the City of Port Lavaca based on the 2020 United States Census. Presenter is Mandy Grant Mayor Whitlow announced that the public hearing was open at 6:35 p.m. After inviting comments from the public three times and receiving none, Mayor Whitlow announced that the public hearing was closed at 6:49 p.m. 2. Consider Adoption of Redistricting Plan for drawing election district lines for single member districts in the City of Port Lavaca based on the 2020 United States Census. Presenter is Mandy Grant City Secretary Grant presented Council with a Redistricting Plan A for drawing election district lines for single member districts in the City of Port Lavaca based on the 2020 United States Census. Motion made by Councilman District 6 Barr NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA, TEXAS: THAT, the City of Port Lavaca adopts Plan A for drawing election district lines for single member districts in the City of Port Lavaca based on the 2020 United States Census. This map is on file in the office of the City Secretary and also on the City of Port Lavaca website. Seconded by Councilman District 5 Ward. Voting Yea: Councilman District 1 Smith, Councilman District 2 Dent, Councilman District 3 Tippit, Councilwoman District 4 (Mayor Pro Tem) Padron, Councilman District 5 Ward, Councilman District 6 Barr 3. Consider Resolution No. R-122721-1 confirming voting boundaries set during redistricting process, based on the 2020 United States Census, in connection with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Preclearance. Presenter is Mandy Grant The Resolution No. R-122721-1 is a typographical error in the wording of the agenda item above; however, the correct Resolution No. 122021-1 was signed by all council members, the City Secretary and the City Attorney and sent to Rolando Rios and Associates, the Redistricting Law Firm contracted by the City. Motion made by Councilman District 2 Dent WHEREAS the 2020 United States Census data indicates that THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA Single Member Districts do not comply with the constitutional one person one vote rule; WHEREAS THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA has considered the following criteria in equalizing the population in each Single Member District: Page 2 of 4 Port Lavaca, TX CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 20, 2021 1. Districts are of equal population size given the limitations imposed by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution and 42 USC § 1983. No more than a 10% top to bottom deviation. 2. Districts must comply with Sections 2 of the Federal Voting Rights act, 42 USC § 1973, as amended and the Texas State Equal Rights Provisions. 3. Population must be equalized using the 2020 US Census Data before elections can be legally conducted. 4. Districts are comprised of compact and contiguous geographic areas given the limitations imposed by the non-compactness of the jurisdiction. (COMPACTNESS and CONTIGUOUSNESS FACTORS) 5. Other considerations include: a. identifiable geographic features for boundaries; b. integrity of political subdivisions and communities; c. protection of incumbency; WHEREAS THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA wishes to comply with the federal and state laws protecting the citizens right to vote; WHEREAS, it is the considered judgment of THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA that Plan “A” is in the best interest of the community; IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA adopts the attached Plan “A” (Attached maps and data) as the new single member districts for use by THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA in all elections after this date; and IT IS THEREFORE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA authorizes redistricting counsel to make minor modifications to the adopted Plan “A” should the State Legislative Redistricting process require such modifications and subject to approval by the city councilmembers; and IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT redistricting counsel is directed to submit this plan to the U.S. Department of Justice for approval if necessary, as soon as appropriate; Seconded by Councilwoman District 4 (Mayor Pro Tem) Padron Voting Yea: Councilman District 1 Smith, Councilman District 2 Dent, Councilman District 3 Tippit, Councilwoman District 4 (Mayor Pro Tem) Padron, Councilman District 5 Ward, Councilman District 6 Barr V. ADJOURN SPECIAL MEETING Mayor asked for motion to adjourn. Page 3 of 4 Port Lavaca, TX CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 20, 2021 Motion made by Councilman District 6 Barr, Seconded by Councilman District 5 Ward Voting Yea: Councilman District 1 Smith, Councilman District 2 Dent, Councilman District 3 Tippit, Councilwoman District 4 (Mayor Pro Tem) Padron, Councilman District 5 Ward, Councilman District 6 Barr Special Meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. These minutes were approved on January 10, 2022. Jack Whitlow, Mayor Mandy Grant, City Secretary Page 4 of 4