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Wichita Falls, Texas
Memorial Auditorium Building
December 5, 1991
Item 1
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met
in called session on the above date in the Council Room of the
Memorial Auditorium Building at 1: 00 o'clock p.m. , with the
following members present.
Michael Lam - Mayor
Terrance E. Loughry -
Angus Thompson - Councilors
Paul Hughes -
J. W. Martin -
James Berzina - City Manager
Gregory Humbach - City Attorney
Wilma J. Thomas - City Clerk
David Farabee _ (Absent)
Don Kirkham (Absent)
Mayor Lam noted the presence of the Redistricting Committee
Y P g
for this meeting.
Mr. Humbach noted three plans which have been submitted by
Guinn and Morrison. He stated that the time frame is very
narrow. The plan must be adopted by the Council, and forwarded
to the Justice Department in Washington before Christmas. They
require 60 days for review and approval. Candidates may begin
filing in February, 1992 . Two public hearings will be scheduled
on December 19 , 1991. One will be held at 5 : 00 p.m. in the City
Council Room, and the other one later in the evening in District
2, probably in a school building. The schedule will be
finalized later today.
Mr. Humbach stated that Plan Number 3 not drawn around
precinct lines most likely is illegal under Texas law. Mrs.
Thomas further commented on state law requirements. Mr. Humbach
commented that consideration should be given to Plans One and
Two, or some adjustment of these plans. We will need to have a
plan on December 19 that we are comfortable with. Notice has to
be given of the hearings. A special council meeting will be
held on December 20 , 1991, to consider adoption of an ordinance
that would adopt one of these plans.
Rosendo Rodriguez , Jr. , Attorney, appeared representing the
Mexican American Democrats. He confessed lack of preparation,
stating he had met with Mr. Esparza, President of that group,
only for about an hour. He stated they do not purport to
represent every hispanic in Wichita Falls. Their primary goal
is to have a hispanic council member. He stated that the term
gerrymandering, when coined several years ago, was a very dirty
term. In today' s society, this method can be used to achieve
the goal of virtually assuring a hispanic on the City Council.
He would not propose that any plan be unlawfully gerrymandering.
If Plan 3 is the closest that comes to assuring a hispanic,
could state law not be changed under federal guidelines? Mr.
Humbach commented that it could be a cause of action. Mayor Lam
noted that he could perhaps come up with a plan that would not
violate state law, stating they would make data available to
him.
The meeting recessed at 1: 25 p.m. into the Conference Room.
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Item 1 , cont'd.
Mr. Humbach noted that the purpose of this Committee
meeting is to see if they can arrive at any kind of consensus.
They can have a ten percent population deviation from the most
to the least populous districts. He stated that Plans 1 and 2
are the best efforts to not dilute minority strength.
Each committee member and council member expressed their
preference on the plans. All members favored Plan 1, with the
exception of Don Bowen. Councilor Thompson favored Plan 1, with
some modifications. It was suggested that he come back with a
plan for the public hearing. Reginald Blow also favored certain
modifications.
Don Bowen stated that District 5 has to go with Plan 2 . He
stated there are few registered voters on the Base. It was
pointed out by Councilor Martin that we are not dealing with
numbers of registered voters, but population numbers. Mr.
Berzina suggested that he may wish to compare numbers of voters
with the remainder of District 5, along with the Base.
Councilor Hughes pointed out that the City Clerk has that
information by precinct if he desires to obtain it.
Mr. Deleon noted that the hispanic population is located
throughout the City in different districts. Those in District '
One and Two are not enough to make a decisive difference, and
agrees with Plan One because it will be less confusion to the
voters on where they would vote. Most other members of the
committee expressed the same sentiments.
Mr. Humbach noted a consensus to consider Plan One over any
other plan. He suggested that Councilor Thompson contact him if
he had another plan. A meeting will be held on December 12 ,
1991 , at 2: 00 p.m. , to consider suggestions brought out in this
meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 2: 25 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of
1991.
Michael Lam, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Wilma J. T omas, CMC/AAE
City Clerk t