HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2021-R0409 - Redistricting Criteria for New Districting PlansResolution No. 2021-R0409
Item No. 8.1
October 12, 2021
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, this City Council has certain responsibilities for redistricting under federal
and state law including but not limited to Amendments 14 and 15 to the United States
Constitution, U.S.C.A.; section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, 52 U.S.C.A. §10301; and Tex.
Gov't Code Ann. §§ 2058.001 and 2058.002; and
WHEREAS, a review of the 2020 census data reveals that a population imbalance exists
among the City's councilmember districts requiring redistricting of those districts; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City to comply with the Voting Rights Act and with
all other relevant law, including Shaw v. Reno jurisprudence; and
WHEREAS, a set of established redistricting criteria will serve as a framework to guide
the City in the formulation and consideration of districting plans; and
WHEREAS, redistricting criteria will provide the City a means by which to evaluate
proposed plans; and
WHEREAS, redistricting criteria will assist the City in its efforts to comply with all
applicable federal and state laws; NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK:
THAT the City, in its adoption of a redistricting plan for councilmember districts, will
adhere to the following criteria to the greatest extent possible when establishing new
councilmember district boundaries:
To the extent practicable:
Easily identifiable geographic boundaries should be followed.
2. Communities of interest should be maintained in a single district, and attempts
should be made to avoid splitting neighborhoods.
3. Councilmember districts should be composed of whole voting precincts. Where
this is not possible or practicable, districts should be drawn considering county
election precincts. Avoid splitting census blocks unless necessary.
4. Although it is recognized that existing districts will have to be altered to reflect
new population distribution in the City, any districting plan should be based on
existing districts.
5. Districts must be configured so that they are relatively equal in total population
according to the 2020 federal census. In no event should the total population
deviation between the largest and the smallest district exceed ten percent as
compared to the ideal precinct size.
6. The districts should be compact and composed of contiguous territory.
Compactness may contain a functional, as well as a geographical, dimension.
7. Consideration may be given to the preservation of incumbent -constituency
relations by recognition of the residence of incumbents and their history in
representing certain areas.
8. The plan should be narrowly tailored to avoid racial gerrymandering in violation
of Shaw v. Reno.
9. The plan should not fragment a geographically compact minority community or
pack minority voters in the presence of polarized voting or otherwise discriminate
against protected groups so as to create liability under the Voting Rights Act.
The City Council will review all plans considering these criteria and will evaluate how
well each plan conforms to the criteria.
Any plan submitted to the City Council by a citizen for its consideration should be a
complete plan--i.e., it should include all 6 councilmember districts and should redistrict the
entire City. The City Council may decline to consider any plan that is not a complete plan.
All plans submitted by citizens, as well as plans submitted by staff, consultants, and
members of the City Council should conform to these criteria.
This resolution shall be effective upon passage by the City Council.
Passed by the City Council on
ATTEST:
Rebec Garza, City Sec Ory
October 12, 2021
DANIEL M. POPE, MAYOR
2
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
Rebe ca Garza, City Se et y
APPROVED AS TO FORM: