HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 7076: APPROVING REDISTRICTING OF THE CITY'S SINGLE MEMBER COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND ESTABLISHING NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES P.O. No. 7076
7/7/22 vrt
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT
ARTHUR,TEXAS,APPROVING THE REDISTRICTING OF THE CITY'S
SINGLE MEMBER COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND ESTABLISHING NEW
DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES FOR PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL
ELECTIONS BASED ON 2020 CENSUS DATA; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,the results of the 2020 federal Census have been considered and indicate that
the City of Port Arthur's single member council districts are sufficiently out of population balance
to require redistricting in order to comply with the "one-person, one-vote" (equal population)
principle established by the U.S. Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur, Texas (the "City") engaged the law firm of
Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP to act as the City's redistricting consultant, including
advising and assisting the City Council in preparation of a new redistricting plan in compliance
with applicable requirements of state and federal law; and
WHEREAS,on February 14,2022,the City Council adopted redistricting criteria to assist
the City and the public in developing redistricting plans which comply with applicable federal and
state laws, and the adopted redistricting criteria were applied in the development of the City's new
redistricting plan; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2022, the City Council also adopted redistricting guidelines
regarding the submission of comments and proposed plans by the public, to ensure the ability of
the City to timely receive and adequately consider them; and
WHEREAS, during the redistricting process the City provided notice to the public of its
proposed discussions and development of a redistricting plan through meeting agendas posted in
compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act,notices on the City's website, as well as providing
certain individual notices regarding public hearings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the proposed redistricting plan at City
Council meetings on April 18, 2022 and May 24, 2022, and held a public hearing regarding the
proposed redistricting plan on June 21, 2022, and has received input and counsel from its legal
counsel and redistricting consultant; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the attached city council redistricting plan is in
the best interest of the citizens of the City, complies with the adopted redistricting criteria, and is
believed to comply with all state and federal requirements;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PORT ARTHUR,TEXAS:
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
Section 2. That the existing single member city council district boundary lines for the
City of Port Arthur are hereby amended, and the new districting plan depicted on the map attached
hereto as Exhibit A defining the new wards, and as such new wards are further described in the
tables attached hereto as Exhibit B reporting populations and demographic statistics for each such
new wards is hereby adopted and designated to define the City's two single-member council wards
from and after the Effective Date;that Exhibits A and B are incorporated by reference in and made
a part of this ORDINANCE, and shall be kept on file in the City Secretary's Office.
Section 3. That this ORDINANCE shall take and be given effect immediately;and that
hereafter all Port Arthur City Council elections shall be held under and in accordance with the new
single-member council district districting plan herein adopted by the City Council until such time
as a subsequent lawfully-enacted districting plan shall be adopted to replace this plan.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of , A.D., 2022,
at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote:
AYES:
Mayor:
Councilmembers:
NOES: .
Thurman Bill Bartie, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherri Ballard, City Secretary
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Valecia R. Tizeno, Cit ttorney
Ron Burton, City Manager
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EXHIBIT A
Map
(Will be presented at or
before the Council Meeting)
EXHIBIT B
Tables
(Will be presented at or
before the Council Meeting)