COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE: 11/13/01	SUBJECT: FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2001-O-259 APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE DISTRICTING PLAN OF THE CITY OF LAREDO; PROVIDING FOR THE REDISTRICTING OF THE EIGHT (8) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAREDO; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (AS AMENDED)
INITIATED BY: STAFF SOURCE: Redistricting Committee Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City Secretary as per City Charter Keith Selman, City Planner
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: City Council action on June 19, 2001 to adopt redistricting plan Ordinance was introduced on October 22, 2001
BACKGROUND: A workshop was held on June 1, 2001 of the City Council on the presentation of the redistricting plans prepared by the Redistricting Committee. An initial plan was approved pending 30 days in which to allow for any changes. Mayor Flores named Council Members John Galo, Joe A. Guerra, and Johnny Amaya to serve on a Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee to review any possible conflicts in the plan. On June 19, 2001 the City Council adopted Plan B-1 of the Redistricting Committee with the following changes: That Clark Boulevard in Precinct 12A, the boundary be moved back to Gustavus Street; and that Precinct 16A’s eastern boundary be extended back to its original boundary which is Ejido Avenue.
FINANCIAL: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends motion approval.

ORDINANCE 2001-O-259

APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE DISTRICTING PLAN OF THE

CITY OF LAREDO; PROVIDING FOR THE REDISTRICTING OF

THE EIGHT (8) CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY

OF LAREDO; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND PROVIDING

OF AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, by ordinance dated November 3, 1981, the City of Laredo was divided into eight (8) districts for its municipal election; and

WHEREAS, the City was last redistricted by ordinance 92-O-006 dated January 20, 1992; and

WHEREAS, the population has grown from 122,899 as per 1990 Census count to a count of 176,576 persons in the 2000 Census count, which is an increase of 30.39%; and

WHEREAS, the existing City Council districts do not reflect equitable distribution due to the changes in population; and

WHEREAS, the Council appointed sixteen (16) registered voters, who are not employed by the City in any other capacity, to comprise the Redistricting Commission; and

WHEREAS, this Commission is directed by the City Charter to file a report with the City Secretary containing a recommended plan for the adjustment of the Council district boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the Commission submitted to the City Council at a workshop held on June 19, 2001 three (3) redistricting options and such recommended plans, which they deem best harmonize the requirements of equality of population as specified in Section 10.08 (C) of the City Charter, and of districts being compact, contiguous as nearly rectangular as possible as specified in Section 10.08 (C); and

WHEREAS, the City Council by motion dated June 19, 2001 adopted Plan B-1 as submitted by the Planning Department with the following changes: that for Clark Boulevard in Precinct 12A, the boundary be moved back to Gustavus Street; and that Precinct 16A’s eastern boundary be extended back to its original boundary which was at Ejido Avenue; and

WHEREAS, the proposed redistricting plan describes the revised districts encompassing the voting precinct boundaries as defined by the Commissioners of Webb County, Texas, and amended by the Webb County Commissioner’s Court, at the request of the City of Laredo and as further provided by the Texas Election Code.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

Section 1: That the plan as adopted and modified by the City Council on June 19, 2001, and attached hereto along with Exhibits A, B, and C, are hereby approved and adopted. The eight (8) electoral districts for the municipal elections in the City of Laredo shall be as follows:

District I shall consist of voting precincts 130, 133 and 231

District II shall consist of voting precincts 122, 129, 220, 225 and 226

District III shall consist of voting precincts 124, 128, 132, 215, 221, 417 and 423

District IV shall consist of voting precincts 212, 218, 219, 311 and 313

District V shall consist of voting precincts 239, 308, 309 and 310

District VI shall consist of voting precincts 340, 341, 342, 343, 344 and 345

District VII shall consist of voting precincts 405, 406, 407, 446, 447 and 448

District VIII shall consist of voting precincts 401, 402, 403, 404, 414 and 416

Where any of the above described precincts extends beyond the city limits, it is specified that only that part of the precinct which lies within the limits of the City of Laredo, is part of the District to which it is referred.

Section 2: The eight (8) districts for the next municipal elections shall be as shown on the map marked as Exhibit A and shall be as described in Exhibit B, attached hereto and made part of this ordinance.

Section 3: The voting precincts in said eight (8) districts shall be as shown on the map marked as Exhibit A and shall be described in Exhibit C, both attached hereto and made part of this ordinance.

Section 4: This ordinance shall be published in full once in the daily newspaper of the City of Laredo and shall be published in English and Spanish.

Section 5: That this ordinance shall become effective on the day after publication, and on such day the new council districts and boundaries shall supersede the previous council districts and boundaries for all purposes at the next regular City election. The new districts and boundaries shall supersede previous districts and boundaries for all other purposes as of the date on which all council members elected at the regular City election take office.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS THE

_________ DAY OF __________________, 2001.

____________________

Elizabeth G. Flores

Mayor

Attest:

____________________

Gustavo Guevara, Jr.

City Secretary

Approved as to form:

____________________

Jaime L. Flores

City Attorney