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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 06 1990 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 - 1:30 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 6th day of November, 1990, with the following present: HONORABLE: Evelyn M. Lord Mayor Andrew P. Cokinos Mayor Pro Tem Councilman At Large Brian R. Alter Councilman At Large Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Guy N. Goodson Councilman, Ward II Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Delmar M. Dabney, Cathedral in the Pines Christian Center. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Samuel. -000- Five Proclamations were issued: "West Tabernacle Baptist Church Week, " November 4-11, 1990; "Child Accident Prevention Week, " November 11-171 1990; "Jump Rope for Heart Week, " November 11-161 1990; "Key Club Week, " November 4-10, 1990; and a proclamation in recognition of the dedicated efforts of the "Home Sweet Home Military Support Club" in preparing share packages and letters for Armed Forces personnel serving in Saudi Arabia. -000- Mr. Gary Hilalgo, Director of the Beaumont State Center, made a presentation to City Council. MR. HIDALGO• Mayor, Councilmembers, the last time I was here was to receive one of these Proclamations for Mental Retardation Month. It's my pleasure to be able to make a presentation to you all today. I also want to attest to the fact of the young people here that the Mayor and this Council is very dedicated to the mentally retarded. I 'm Director of the Beaumont -379- November 6, 1990 State Center, which is a center for the mentally retarded. The Mayor's on our Volunteer Services Council. I've seen almost all of the Council members at one activity or another that we've held in the community. I know that the support is there through the Mayor's Council for the Handicapped and we certainly appreciate that. A couple of weeks ago, we held a state-wide softball tournament here in Beaumont, and the, this was one of the first times that Beaumont has been the host city for a tournament this large. We had four hundred (400) special athletes here. We had the participation of the Civic Center, the Parks and Recreations Department, and without that support, we could not have put on this tournament. I 'm not sure that the Hilton will ever be the same again, but we appreciate their support as well. Before I do actually make the presentation, also with me today is, Barbara Votaw, who is the Area V Director of Special Olympics, and I think she had a few things she wanted to say, and then I will make the presentation. BARBARA VOTAW• I also would like to thank the City for opening up your fine facilities to us for this tournament. I 've gotten back several letters from coaches across the state, and I think this is probably the best tournament that we've ever had. And, they have just praised Beaumont, coming and going. I also want to thank Beaumont Recreation Department, Mr. Jackson, especially Lou Cappi who worked side by side with me on this tournament, and it was just a wonderful event. I want to thank you all. MR. HIDALGO• At this time, if I may come forward, I 'd like to present a plaque, too. It says, "Presented in appreciation to the City of Beaumont for hosting the Texas Special Olympics, 1990 State Softball Tournament. " MAYOR LORD: Thank you, Gary. We accept this with pleasure and with pride. You do a wonderful job. -000- Mayor Lord officially welcomed the Government Student from Westbrook High School and explained that members of the press are seated at the left of the Council dais and City staff members on the right. Mayor Lord reintroduced City Clerk Tu Chiappetta who served as a tour guide for the students to the Health Department and Recycling Center this morning and introduced Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk. Mr. Riley introduced Luke Jackson, Director or Parks and Recreation, Tom Warner, Director of Public Works, Amy Barton, an Assistant to the City Manager, Sterling Pruitt, Assistant City Manager, and Rande Ross, Administrative Assistant, who also served as a hostess for the students. -000- -380- November 6, 1990 Mayor Lord announced that at the close of the Workshop Session, an Executive Session will be conducted in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplated litigation; Baytown Construction et al vs the City of Beaumont et al. -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agendas. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda item was considered: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Session of City Council conducted October 30, 1990. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-251 acknowledging and approving a Beaumont Rotary Club project for development of Wuthering Heights Park (the new park on the former Jefferson County Tuberculosis Hopital property on Delaware and French Road released to the City after a donation to the Art Museum by businessman Ben J. Rogers) involving approximately a $21, 375 expenditure for improvements of approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking path, a bulletin information board, 20 decorative trash receptacles, 10 park benches and approximately 15 trail markers with the City cooperating in the implementation of the project by providing use of City equipment as necessary in construction was considered and read by City Manager Riley: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Beaumont Rotary Club is distinguished for leadership in promoting economic development and enhancement of the quality of life in the community; and, WHEREAS, the Beaumont Rotary Club each year sponsors and implements a project to help the less fortunate or improve the quality of life; and, WHEREAS, a project recommended for the current year by the Projects Committee of the Beaumont Rotary Club would consist of improvements for development of Wuthering Heights Park; and, WHEREAS, these improvements would consist of walking paths, a bulletin-information board, benches and other amenities for development of Wuthering Heights Park as a passive park in keeping with the City's master plan for the park; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Beaumont Rotary Club and the directors of the Rotary Club Foundation have approved the expenditure of approximately $21, 000 toward the development of Wuthering Heights Park; -381- November 6, 1990 ("And, also, I would add it would be labors of the members who will be participating in the installation with very strict supervision. " NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the Wuthering Heights development project of the Beaumont Rotary Club is hereby authorized and gratefully acknowledged as a contribution to community development for the benefit of all citizens of Beaumont. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the day of , 1990. -Mayor Mr. Dan Hallmark, Mr. Rick Canady, Dr. Brock Brentlinger, Mr. Elray Wilson, Ms. Margaret Cherb, Mr. Bill Munro, Mr. Bruce Irvine, Mr. Arden Loughmiller and Mr. Alan Coleman were recognized members of the Rotary Club present for today's meeting, in addition to Mayor Lord, Councilman Alter, Councilman Moore and Mr. Riley. Mr. Hallmark said that the Rotary Club was established in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, and the original purpose of the Rotary Club, and still today, is to provide avenues of service to the community. He said the Rotary Club is pleased to attend Council today and proud to be a part of this particular community service project. Dr. Brock Brentlinger and Mr. Elray Wilson, Chairman of the Projects Committee, expressed their pleasure for the opportunity of developing Wuthering Heights Park for the citizenry of Beaumont beginning this Fall and completed by next Summer. Resolution No. 90-251 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Alter and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-252 authorizing purchase of computer peripherals (19, IBM 7861-015 Modems, $44,767.80; 4 IBM Remote 5250 Emulation, $837.20; 5 IBM Remote control unit, 16 devices, $14,265.00 and 3 IBM Remote control unit, 4 devices) and 1 IBM 2200 IBM Printer, 6262/T22 at $34, 362 . 00 from IBM Corporation of Beaumont for a total of $101,045.00 and 28 IBM Local Enhanced 5260 Emulation from Entre Computer Center for $18,060.00 to be used to link outlying departments and divisions to the AS/400 main frame computer in City Hall for a total expenditure of $119,105.00 was approved on a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Alter. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- -382- November 6, 1990 Resolution No. 90-253 authorizing acquisition of Parcel No. 2 : 0.266 acre tract out of Block D of the Meentzen Brothers Subdivision for the appraised value of $2,783 . 00 from Pandora H. Tinkle Brook and Anna Patricia Tinkle Silverstein and Parcel No. 7: 0.53 acre tract representing one-half interest of the previously dedicated street right- of-way adjacent to Lots 137 and 138 of the Meentzen Brother Subdivision for the appraised value of $2, 385. 00 from Delores Ann Oliver for the Meentzen Drainage Project to relieve flooding in the Woodlands area was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-254 authorizing purchase of a tire service truck to be used by the Fleet Division for servicing on the road tire repairs to City vehicles from Iowa Mold Tooling Company of Garner, Iowa in the amount of $26,997.00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Alter encouraged everyone to vote today and announced that the four finalists for the first Babe Zaharias Female Athlete of the Year award have been chosen and urged everyone to attend the dinner December 5, at the Beaumont Civic Center when the winner will be announced. Mayor Pro Tem Cokinos thanked the students from Westbrook High School for attending Council and visiting the City facilities and invited them to return. Councilman Moore inquired about payment for school crossing guards, reported there are two guards less than one block apart on Highland Avenue and requested that relocation of one guard be considered at Lavaca and Grandberry. A student escaped serious injury last week after bouncing off a car in that area, and asked the students if they had plans for Friday night (a football game with Central High School) . They all responded with a yes! -000- Mayor Lord invited the students to address Council and comment on any subject of their choice. Demond Savoy, 4475 Fortune Lane, questioned Council about future programs similar to the one today and expressed an interest in them being more in-depth, so that students could actually be with employees to understand better about City operations. Mayor Lord explained that originally a one-on-one approach was considered, but a decision was made to attempt to give an overall view to students. Mayor Lord invited a -383- November 6, 1990 response of students' thoughts regarding the kind of knowledge that would be most helpful to them, possibly in a report form. Mark Hendrickson, 4610 Ford Street, stated that as a member of Mr. Branham's U. S. Government Class, he would like to thank Council for their time and allowing the class to spend an entertaining and educational day looking into City government and the inner workings of City Council. Mayor Lord told the students it was Council 's pleasure to have them visit the City today and said that when something is done in the community in a leadership position, it's absolutely meaningless to have done something if there aren't young people to come along and pick it up afterwards. Mr. Don Branham, Highway 90 and Pine Island Road, teacher for the Westbrook Government Class attending Council said . . . "I 'd like to express my appreciation, and also thank you on behalf of our principal, Mr. Ingram, for the Council 's creating this day and inviting us to participate. There were several comments made by Councilmembers about these students and where they might be in the future. I don't think they really realize how true that is. I 'm sitting here looking at Brian and remembering him in my class room, more years than either one of us wants to remember. " COUNCILMAN MOORE• Tell us more about Brian in class. MR. BRANHAM• He may not want me to! Actually, he was a bookworm, if I remember right and very involved in school. Very much like a lot of these kids. And, I think about the other students that I 've had that are in the State Legislature, that are practicing law, that are business leaders in the community. Most of these kids don't realize that this is my 28th year in classroom. Twenty-six of them spent in the Old South Park and Beaumont District. So, I 've seen a lot of young people go from teenagers to adults in our community. And, an experience like this one, this is a new program, I would like as Mark said to see you expand this some more. I think it's very beneficial. I 'd like to see it include more than just our honors students. I think our students in our regular classes need an experience like this, too. So, working with the School District, if I can put in a good word with them, maybe working with Council we could expand this program to include a lot more of our young people because they do need to see that city government is doing something that's beneficial for them, and we thank you very much. MAYOR LORD: Thank you. -384- November 6, 1990 Councilman Moore suggested to Mr. Branham that perhaps he and the students might be able to develop a plan that would incorporate a larger cross section of the students in this program and volunteered for Councilmembers to visit the classrooms. Mayor Lord explained that these programs require planning and a lot of City staff time, representing a lot of money to the City. Schedules have to be juggled and decisions made about wise expenditures. -000- Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council in support of the program providing the learning experience for the high school students and reminded the students that they would be replacing today's leadership. -000- Councilman Samuel said, "for the record and in response to some concerns that was raised this previous week, I think it's important that I do go on record. . . In my effort to better serve my community as well as my family, I am attending Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, and I do understand and respect the duty that's been placed on me in this office. And, I shall uphold that Oath of Office that I 've taken. And, with that responsibility, there's a trust that the people has placed in me, and I shall continue to execute my duties in a manner that will not breach that trust. And, when it is anticipated that I will be away or I might not be able to make a meeting, I do contact the Mayor or the Council 's secretary. And, anytime there is a conflict, as far as my schedule in class and the City Council meetings, I do evaluate the agenda in which we are to vote on the items, and I make a conscious decision as to what is important, and I make my decisions accordingly. And, I 'd like to just put that on record. -000- There being no other business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session. -000- I, Rosemarie Chiappetta, City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session held November 6, 1990. Rosemarie Chiappetta City Clerk -385- November 6, 1990 EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 MAYOR EVELYN LORD: Today, Al Price, our (State) Representative, and I understand that you would like to make a statement to us. Please feel free. STATE REPRESENTATIVE AL PRICE: Thank you, very much. Just very briefly. I did have someone to call me about the proposal to change the Ward boundaries so as to reflect at equal number of registered voters, the way that I understood that. And, after checking with the State Constitution and with the Justice Department, the interpretation that I have, the direct interpretation from the Justice Department, the changing boundaries is redistricting and redistricting must be based on population. That seems to be the only criteria and I would just like for you to consider that. I did leave the reference for that information with the City Attorney so that . . . I don't see much need for going through any agony that you . that is going to be meaningless at the end. So, if there is a point, perhaps we just need to check that before we go through anything any further happening. Thank you, very much. MAYOR LORD: Thank you, Mr. Price. Lane (City Attorney, Lane Nichols) , I think if I may I am going to ask you at this point if you would give us some direction in response to . . . has Mr. Price gone? That was quick. CITY ATTORNEY: I have not spoken to Justice. If it is in fact true that their criteria is solely population, then we are in an conundrum with a Charter that says one thing and requiring Justice Department preclearance review in order to get it done, then they're going to be looking at population - it's probably not impossible to comply with both and I think that is the effort that should be made to try to equalize not only electors in these Wards but equalize the numbers of population, also. Don't know how that works out. I think then in our situation, demographics are also going to be important. MAYOR LORD: Well, now, you are saying it may not be impossible to comply with both. Are we set up at this point, at this juncture with the information that we need to comply with both, if that's what we have to do. EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 2 CITY ATTORNEY: I think we have population numbers, preliminary 190 Census population numbers and we have registered voters numbers and demographics from a different source from our Planning Department. Whether we . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: Now, when you say demographics, explain to us just what you mean. CITY ATTORNEY: I am talking about racial . . racial breakout of the precincts . . . MAYOR LORD: . . . by the areas . . . CITY ATTORNEY: Yes. MAYOR LORD: We are lacking that? CITY ATTORNEY: I don't know. I ' ll have to ask Mr. Riley (Ray Riley, City Manager) or Kirt (Kirt Anderson, Planning Director) about that, about how detailed that is. CITY MANAGER: Kirt, let me make a statement and you come in and either verify or we'll talk about the terminology but first of all to try to eliminate some of the misunderstanding. We have used the 1990 Census figures, others have said why don't you wait. We actually have the preliminary census figures by census tracts. We do not have the demographics which use the makeup, the racial balance of a particular census tract but we do see the numbers and you can see in some of the information that we sent to you that you can see the population change from various areas. For example, in Precinct No. 1, we are showing that there's a change from 1980 to 1990 of 29 percent and we show you what occurred on the demographics of it were in the makeup of 1980. We feel, though, that in other words, what Planning has done is taking the current information that they have and made some determination as to whether or not there was a balance or a change was made between the percentages, either up or down, as a result of a loss or addition of population. In most cases it's not really material to the racial balance but it is to the . . . it premieres what your registered voters are. In other words, if you've lost the registered voters of a precinct, you've also lost the population. EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 3 CITY MANAGER continued: And, the other thing is that there is a correlation between the total number of registered voters and the households which are measurable on the part of the Planning Department. The difficulty here and I don't know that you will ever be able to relate that at any time is the difference between a census tract and a precinct. There will always have to be certain amount of interpolation that is done because as you can see over here on your statistical maps that were sent to you, the Planning Department does maintain neighborhood statistics that they use and they are constantly updating them, so what you have . . . you don't have a copy of it? Well, we' ll have one made very quickly. But, the point . . . the Planning Department is not just making . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: Perhaps, for everyone, Amy . . . CITY MANAGER: . . . pulling numbers out of the air, there, is something . . in other words, there's a basis to it by constantly updating the information that has been current in 190 - actually the 190 Census figures that we got on a preliminary basis, although they were lower than what some people anticipated, were virtually within a fraction of a percentage point of what they had already expected or anticipated so that when we received our population figures of less than 115, 000, I think, Kirt, you were only about 200 or 300 off . . . MAYOR LORD: . . . yes, he was less than 300 people off. CITY MANAGER: . . . of what you had actually predicted, which is again relates to the fact that they continue to update these statistics . . . MAYOR LORD: But they don't overlay precincts? CITY MANAGER: No, and so, all that I am saying is where we are today, the only thing that might change as a result of dealing with total 1990 Census figures are the actual demographics in each census tract but for the most part I think that if you'll take each one of the census tracts which are under consideration today, that the figures you can see reasonably, speaking that if they have lost population, you can determine how they . . . . . . EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 4 MAYOR PRO TEM ANDREW COKINOS: Mr. City Manager and Mayor, I'd like to make a little comment here. Last week, when Councilman Samuel wasn't present, we delayed talking about this until he'd come back and today we have two City Councilmembers who are directly effected by this and it's only fair that we delayed it last week because Councilman. Samuel not being here. Now, it's only fair that we delay it again because of Councilman Goodson (Guy Goodson, Councilman, Ward II) and Councilman Smith (Lulu Smith, Councilman, Ward I) are not here. So, I feel in all fairness to everyone concerned that we should delay this until we have a unanimous Council. MAYOR LORD: Well, I guess my response to that would be that we can't continue to postpone things and hope to get anything done prior to the election because our time is moving in on us. If it is going to be a minimum of 90 days before Justice Department could approve it, if we keep postponing it, nothing is likely to get done, rather than something might get done. Now, I can certainly see what you are saying at the same time. MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: It's all . . . . . . it's all in fairness. MAYOR LORD: Did either Guy or Lu ask us to postpone anything or was any thinking on that? That has not come to me. CITY MANAGER: No, the individual discussion we had had, realizing that it would be discussed today, and they in effect that they would be willing to go which ever preference the Council might have with the current alternatives. MAYOR LORD: Yes, Brian. COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE BRIAN ALTER: I just have a question and I don't know whether Lane or somebody was here might better be able to answer it. When the original current redistricting plan that we have now was established and approved lay the Justice Department, was it done based on electors or was it done based on population? Not that that precedent couldn't have changed, but what did they . . what did they look at then? EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 5 CITY MANAGER: I have no idea. CITY ATTORNEY: I don't recall. I don't recall. PLANNING DIRECTOR: I would like to point out a few things, if I could. MAYOR LORD: Could you speak a little louder, Kirt, because of the air conditioner? PLANNING DIRECTOR: Okay, that's fine. I'd like to point out a couple of things. Number one, we do have preliminary 1990 census as Mr. Riley pointed out, but to clarify it that was a housing unit count. For the population per tract is basically an extrapolation. The actual census tract 1990 info will come out late 1991. We don't have any racial so it's an extrapolation from 180. . . . CITY ATTORNEY: Late 1991? PLANNING DIRECTOR: That's correct. And, it may be useful just to hear a couple of pieces of data. C1, the first plan on the board there, if you look at population, you've got Wards I and II with population around 22, 000; Wards III and IV have 34, . . . and 28, . . . This is about 10, 000 short of the total population but it is because we are using neighborhood stats but still it would balance out if you shifted that 10, . . . between the different ones so you've got fairly good separation of raw population in Ward II and . . . . . . COUNCILMAN ALTER: Can you give me the numbers again, Kirt? Ward I or C1 rather? PLANNING DIRECTOR: . . . C1, Ward I is 22, 270; Ward II is 22 , 660; Ward III is 34,775 and WARD IV is 28,301. Now is the you add those up they are about 10, 000 short of our total population; but, if you look at neighborhood stats EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 6 PLANNING DIRECTOR continued: map you will see there's certain parts of the city that aren't within a neighborhood. That's because they are such a low density and scattered homes that they didn't fit a neighborhood; but if you more or less evenly distributed that, which is about what happens, it wouldn't change those numbers tremendously. The ratio would still be roughly the same. Plan C2 is about the same. Ward I is 21, 306; Ward II would be 22,989; Ward II would be 33, 621 and Ward IV would be 30, 090. So, you do have a pretty good population mix, raw population as compared to voter registration, it comes out very evenly with these plans. You can extrapolate very well as we've done on that one part of the packet about which populations have gained, which precincts have gained and lost, so, that's reflects fairly accurately. What I did was I extrapolated in per household counts times the 1990 preliminary household counts to get a population per census tract. MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: I want to interject again. I think that we are getting deep into this subject and I still think it is not fair for us to be discussing this with(out) Councilman Goodson and Councilman Smith and I think we ought to get a head count from City Council, the City Councilmembers whether they want to proceed on this or not. MAYOR LORD: Well, let me throw something else in there, too, Andrew, that may or may not be in the same pile. Am I gathering from Mr. Price's appearance and statement that he is perhaps questioning the way that we might be going about it. I gathered. . .I 'm trying to interpret. I wish he'd said a little bit more but I got the feeling that he was cautioning us, that perhaps is the word? CITY ATTORNEY: I think he is warning us that population is the basis, the criteria MAYOR LORD: Because you've had a chance to talk with him. This is the only time that I 've seen him. EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 7 CITY ATTORNEY: . . . yes, because because of his conversation with the Justice Department that that's the criteria that they use when anybody is redistricting and they would consider this to be redistricting. I think that's crucial, that's crucial information. MAYOR LORD: Well, what's bothering me here is what Andrew is saying, that we're not all here; it's bothering me that we may be hearing that some of our population, especially if it comes from the minority point, that we might not be doing it in the proper way. We are going to have to get Justice Department approval and if we have a manifestation of disapproval from our minority section coming up, that is likely to shoot down the approval and what I guess basically I am coming down is there is no great pressure for us to go ahead at this point. Are we going to serve any purpose by going ahead at this point where we might have to redo it again later and I would certainly like to have some leadership here from David (Councilman David Moore, Ward IV) and Audwin (Councilman Audwin Samuel, Ward III) , representing the minority community in this matter and how they feel. 'COUNCILMAN SAMUEL: . Well, I feel that it's essential that we find out the criteria that Justice Department will be considering in any type of redistricting. I think it is essential that we understand as to whether our City Charter will be applicable to our decision. I did receive two calls concerning our movement toward redrawing the lines and the callers did respond in a manner saying if we made any type of action toward redrawing based on population they would insure that a suit would follow so that . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: On population? COUNCILMAN SAMUEL: No, if we move based on registered voters as opposed . . . MAYOR LORD: Okay. Okay. In other words, we already have a problem going ahead with what we might be doing. David, what is your thinking on this, please? EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 8 COUNCILMAN MOORE• Well, I would like to know whether or not we are doing something that will be accepted by the Justice Department. That's my primary concern. Unlike Audwin, I have not received calls expressing their concerns or discontent with what's being proposed by Council. I am not sure everybody understands because we haven't come to shore just yet with what is the best plan. So, my only reservation is if it's based on something that we are not addressing then I 'd like to know that. If there's something we can accomplish within the guidelines of redistricting that we started out discussing, then I see no reason why we can't go forward with it. MAYOR LORD: Well, I would gather from what has been said generally and please correct me if I am not drawing the proper conclusions from what I 'm hearing that we do need, number one, to hear from Lane and through the legal aspect on what the Charter and the Justice Department are requiring us; otherwise, we may be going through an exercise in futility, especially without participation of our other Councilmen that we may have to repeat or undo and, in the doing and undoing, alienate people that we don't intend to. We want the City's citizens to be together throughout the City on this. Yes, David. . . COUNCILMAN MOORE• . . . . . . so that the public at large can understand, the only reason we are doing this is to try to create more equitable boundaries in terms of how voters receive their respective districts. And, I think it's quite out of kilter when one ward is almost twice the size of another and I think that's what brought our attention to this matter from the very beginning, I think that's the major thing that brought our attention to this matter, and I think it is important that the public understands this. This is the reason. We all know that when single-member districts came into effect, there was considerable gerrymandering of the boundaries in order to bring about the balance that was perceived as the majority/minority type of district. It looks like from the data that's been received from the Staff dealing with demographics as well as population as well as registered voters, it looks like we are still trying to maintain that same criteria and . . . what I am trying to say, I think our process is good, we just need to hear from the Justice Department as to what type form we need to be following. MAYOR LORD: Brian, you wanted to say something, too. EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 9 COUNCILMAN ALTER: Just as a point of information, Kirt. Do you know what the population mix is under the current Ward boundaries? PLANNING DIRECTOR: Yes, I do. . . . . . . MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: So, we are going to go ahead and proceed with this, right? I know but this is not fair to . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: We are not going ahead, Andrew, he is directing his comment to ., . MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: I know, but we keep digging a hole and I . . . I don't think it is fair for us to . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: We'll get ourselves out of the hole, don't worry, Andrew. MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: . . . to even discuss this with two City Councilmembers that are directly involved. And, I also got several calls, Audwin, from some leaders so I am concerned. MAYOR LORD: Excuse me, but I do think that I would like for us to give the piece of information to the Councilman that he asked for and then we will adjourn. PLANNING DIRECTOR: Once again, this is the neighborhood stats so the recorded totals are a little bit short; Ward I for existing is 27, 624 ; Ward II is 28, 012 ; Ward III is 23 ,791 and Ward IV is 29,217. EXCERPT FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION, HELD NOVEMBER 6, 1990 Page 10 MAYOR LORD: Now, at this point I would like you to, again correct me if I am wrong, but I am picking up here that if we are . . . and our whole motive in this was to give the appearance and to legitimately be acting in an effort to make things equitable and if I am moving ahead at this juncture, we are going to get just the opposite, not only because of the lack of our Councilmen here, but because we do not have the facts and figures that we need, I would suggest, Gentlemen and . . . that we do postpone any further discussion on this until Lane can put in our hands exactly what we are required to do by the Justice Department . . . MAYOR PRO TEM COKINOS: I agree with you, Mayor. MAYOR LORD: . . . it's stupid to do something for the sake of equity and cope across to our community that we are not doing it for that purpose. Nothing is served. COUNCILMAN MOORE• I think that's the point we are facing without the inquiry . . . . . . MAYOR LORD: All right. We shall move on to the next item on the agenda and discuss the rates. Thank you, very much, gentlemen. END OF EXCERPT.