HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 22-127RESOLUTION NO. 22-127
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Beaumont, Texas 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_, and the Voting
Rights Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 1973, et seq; and Texas Government Code §§ 2058.001 and
2058.002; and;
WHEREAS, the City Council has certain responsibilities for redistricting under the
City Charter; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide for the orderly consideration and
evaluation of redistricting plans which may come before the City Council; and,
WHEREAS, these guidelines relate to persons other than the City of Beaumont
who have specific proposed redistricting plans they wish the City Council to consider;
and,
WHEREAS, the City Council welcomes any comments relevant to the
redistricting process;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RES(DLA/EE) BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
THAT the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby,
in all things, approved and adopted; and,
THAT in order to make sure that any plan that might Be submitted is of maximum
assistance to the City Council in its decision -making process, the City Council hereby
sets the following guidelines:
1. Citizen Maps are those submitted to the City of Beaumont by members of the
public, special interest groups, other political subdivisions, or individual members of the
City Council.
2. Citizen Maps shall be assigned a name in accordance with the naming
convention established by the City, beginning with Citizen Map, followed by an alpha
character and if applicable, a numeric character.
3. Citizen Maps must be submitted in writing. If a plan is submitted orally, there is
significant opportunity for misunderstanding, and it is possible that errors may be made
in analyzing it. The City Council wants to be sure that all proposals be fully and
accurately considered.
4. Any Citizen Maps must show the total population and voting age population for
Black or African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Anglo, and any other race identified by
the census for each proposed City Council district. If a plan is submitted without a
population breakdown, the City Council may not have sufficient information to give it full
consideration.
5. Citizen Maps must be submitted by June 3, 2022.
6. Citizen Maps must redistrict the entire City. The City Council, of course, will be
considering the effect of any plan on the entire City. Also, the City Council is subject to
the Voting Rights Act, which protects various racial and language minorities. Thus, as a
matter of federal law, it will be required to consider the effect of any proposal on multiple
racial and ethnic groups. If a Proposed Plan does not redistrict the entire City, it may be
impossible for the City Council to assess its impact on one or more protected minority
groups.
7. Citizen Maps must conform to the criteria the City Council will be using in
drawing the City Council member districts. Citizen Maps must be accompanied by a
transmittal report identifying any criteria used other than that specified on the Resolution
adopted by the City Council. It is crucial that the foundation for decisions reflected in a
proposed plan be carefully documented.
The meeting at which this resolution was approved was in all things conducted in
strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter
551.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 17th day of
May, 2022.
ATTEST:
/3 010--
Chris Boone, Interim City Manager
Mayor Robin Mouton -
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