Charter Review Commission The Town of Flower Mound Single Member Districts and the Town Council November 19, 2013 Presented by: Sydney Falk Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP Austin, Texas
Issues Redistricting Legal Standards One person one vote VRA Section 2 [VRA Section 5] Shaw v. Reno
Other Issues Term length & elections Term staggering Term limits Number of seats on Council Transition
What is Redistricting? One person one vote principle U.S. Constitution, 14 th Amendment Applies to legislative bodies (city councils) Single member districts must have approximately equal population While not a safe harbor, generally districts will meet constitutional requirements if they have no more than a 10 percent deviation.
Calculating Deviation District = 40,000 Total Population Ideal Size District 1 Total Population District 2 Total Population District 3 Total Population District 4 Total Population Deviation 10,000 9,000 10,000 10,700 10,300 17% 1,000 Less Exact 700 More 300 More 10.00% 0.00% +7.00% +3.00% Highest Positive Percent - Highest Negative Percent = Maximum Deviation [ (Total Population Ideal Size) / Ideal Size] * 100 ]
What Kinds of Census Data Are Available? PL94 171 File Census Block level census geography Total population VAP (voting age population) Race Anglo, African American, Asian, American Indian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other Hispanic origin Hispanic, Non Hispanic
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act Section 2 prohibits election practices that discriminate on the basis of race or language minority status. Generally, avoid cracking or packing. Cracking (or fracturing) is dividing a geographically compact group of minority voters to fragment their voting power. Packing is concentrating minority voters in a single district when dividing them would permit the group to elect their candidates of choice in more than one district
Section 2 Threshold Gingles Test The minority group must be sufficiently large and geographically compact to be able to constitute a numerical majority in a single member district. The minority group must be politically cohesive. The white majority must vote as a bloc usually to defeat the minority choice.
VRA Section 5 Shelby County v. Holder No. 12 96 (June 25, 2013) Voting Rights Act Section 5 is the preclearance process Section 4(b) defines who must comply with section 5 ( coverage ) In Shelby County, U.S. Supreme Court held section 4(b) unconstitutional because it is based on outdated information
Effect on Preclearance Section 5 is left intact Retrogression standard But without section 4, section 5 does not apply to any jurisdictions Thus preclearance is no longer required for changes involving standards, practices and procedures affecting voting Annexations, polling locations, voting methods, districting, etc. Congress may draft another coverage formula based on current conditions. (What are the odds?)
CLOSE UP OF NORTH CAROLINA 1992 PLAN A
0045 0621 0380 0260 0585 0527 0134 0080 0336 0512 0162 0609 0376 0607 0286 0081 0656 0241 0062 0542 0535 0902 0620 0383 0050 0366 0115 0461 0498 0463 0755 0630 0257 0353 0131 0564 0411 0647 0558 0536 0541 0402 0181 0164 0849 0066 0359 0371 0347 0460 0223 0323 0496 0885 0254 0593 0273 0653 0374 0213 0467 0622 0576 0355 0318 0548 0074 0407 0818 0208 0517 0152 0117 0462 0759 0095 0458 0689 0738 0494 0321 0408 0518 0179 0418 0801 0082 0067 0211 0068 0109 0642 0814 0274 0093 0497 0218 0927 0643 0364 0107 0029 0343 0413 0754 0582 0722 0428 0506 0891 0409 0320 0663 0120 0864 0440 0325 0523 0337 0169 0155 0373 0329 0287 0661 0557 0375 0540 0925 0645 0565 0116 0016 0070 0354 0204 0453 0212 0203 0398 0221 0422 0227 0401 0259 0627 0912 0072 0327 0581 0404 0271 0266 0508 0338 0234 0083 0396 0559 0507 0019 0400 0278 0163 0578 0301 0240 0288 0153 0156 0104 0157 0150 0105 0297 0880 0292 0031 0328 0185 0216 0256 0219 0130 0158 0571 0528 0231 0450 0147 0356 0553 0036 0752 0011 0086 0611 0233 0191 0285 0001 0071 0122 0140 0765 0610 0567 0043 0176 0529 0253 0206 0566 0009 0065 0824 0457 0303 0594 0628 0579 0041 0898 0299 0584 0389 0197 0724 0701 0626 0056 0510 0242 0042 0591 0064 0580 0649 0595 0165 0282 0441 0487 0145 0180 0431 0671 0915 0010 0511 0314 0543 0419 0646 0224 0118 0312 0226 0263 0348 0258 0432 0027 0046 0255 0182 0300 0842 0935 0524 0270 0608 0480 0308 0053 0003 0384 0397 0455 0128 0076 0215 0132 0525 0822 0379 0214 0638 0295 0370 0490 0488 0267 0311 0265 0079 0171 0228 0449 0577 0202 0175 0664 0330 0252 0544 0073 0094 0492 0319 0868 0057 0583 0859 0489 0430 0195 0304 0055 0040 0652 0078 0821 0679 0572 0284 0192 0017 0210 0341 0369 0146 0309 0061 0907 0499 0569 0269 0026 0827 0298 0272 0305 0504 0445 0534 0129 0020 0345 0296 0385 0275 0439 0344 0281 0087 0616 0207 0217 0367 0310 0505 0008 0222 0200 0154 0230 0436 0044 0360 0667 0246 0048 0928 0047 0022 0302 0268 0139 0229 0395 0138 0625 0555 0059 0014 0454 0448 0651 0444 0433 0714 0437 0324 0335 0446 0293 0289 0538 0262 0503 0236 0438 0403 0148 0315 0015 0077 0144 0339 0606 0426 0189 0862 0429 0294 0365 0637 0183 0361 0237 0002 0136 0280 0133 0861 0493 0696 0392 0483 0232 0570 0135 0388 0730 0160 0166 0276 0331 0030 0573 0277 0238 0326 0085 0491 0159 0033 0892 0235 0151 0243 0007 0554 0069 0677 0390 0034 0815 0472 0495 0075 0018 0435 0032 0037 0442 0194 0178 0350 0316 0372 0052 0530 0239 0054 0735 0556 0038 0575 0427 0763 0313 0546 0264 0142 0184 0245 0678 0526 0597 0501 0425 0168 0694 0737 0123 0021 0322 0807 0560 0161 0291 0177 0810 0247 0624 0562 0172 0434 0782 0025 0188 0024 0889 0784 0424 0058 0173 0839 0727 0829 0917 0897 0406 0004 0198 0005 0394 0023 0780 0357 0716 0710 0089 0684 0702 0423 0816 0707 0888 7 22 25 18 29 9 Central Harris County PLANC657 Texas Legislative Council 11/13/98 wr98160 Source: TLC 0045 0621 0380 0260 0585 0527 0134 0080 0336 0512 0162 0609 0376 0607 0286 0081 0656 0241 0062 0542 0535 0902 0620 0383 0050 0366 0115 0461 0498 0463 0755 0630 0257 0353 0131 0564 0411 0647 0558 0536 0541 0402 0181 0164 0849 0066 0359 0371 0347 0460 0223 0323 0496 0885 0254 0593 0273 0653 0374 0213 0467 0622 0576 0355 0318 0548 0074 0407 0818 0208 0517 0152 0117 0462 0759 0095 0458 0689 0738 0494 0321 0408 0518 0179 0418 0801 0082 0067 0211 0068 0109 0642 0814 0274 0093 0497 0218 0927 0643 0364 0107 0029 0343 0413 0754 0582 0722 0428 0506 0891 0409 0320 0663 0120 0864 0440 0325 0523 0337 0169 0155 0373 0329 0287 0661 0557 0375 0540 0925 0645 0565 0116 0016 0070 0354 0204 0453 0212 0203 0398 0221 0422 0227 0401 0259 0627 0912 0072 0327 0581 0404 0271 0266 0508 0338 0234 0083 0396 0559 0507 0019 0400 0278 0163 0578 0301 0240 0288 0153 0156 0104 0157 0150 0105 0297 0880 0292 0031 0328 0185 0216 0256 0219 0130 0158 0571 0528 0231 0450 0147 0356 0553 0036 0752 0011 0086 0611 0233 0191 0285 0001 0071 0122 0140 0765 0610 0567 0043 0176 0529 0253 0206 0566 0009 0065 0824 0457 0303 0594 0628 0579 0041 0898 0299 0584 0389 0197 0724 0701 0626 0056 0510 0242 0042 0591 0064 0580 0649 0595 0165 0282 0441 0487 0145 0180 0431 0671 0915 0010 0511 0314 0543 0419 0646 0224 0118 0312 0226 0263 0348 0258 0432 0027 0046 0255 0182 0300 0842 0935 0524 0270 0608 0480 0308 0053 0003 0384 0397 0455 0128 0076 0215 0132 0525 0822 0379 0214 0638 0295 0370 0490 0488 0267 0311 0265 0079 0171 0228 0449 0577 0202 0175 0664 0330 0252 0544 0073 0094 0492 0319 0868 0057 0583 0859 0489 0430 0195 0304 0055 0040 0652 0078 0821 0679 0572 0284 0192 0017 0210 0341 0369 0146 0309 0061 0907 0499 0569 0269 0026 0827 0298 0272 0305 0504 0445 0534 0129 0020 0345 0296 0385 0275 0439 0344 0281 0087 0616 0207 0217 0367 0310 0505 0008 0222 0200 0154 0230 0436 0044 0360 0667 0246 0048 0928 0047 0022 0302 0268 0139 0229 0395 0138 0625 0555 0059 0014 0454 0448 0651 0444 0433 0714 0437 0324 0335 0446 0293 0289 0538 0262 0503 0236 0438 0403 0148 0315 0015 0077 0144 0339 0606 0426 0189 0862 0429 0294 0365 0637 0183 0361 0237 0002 0136 0280 0133 0861 0493 0696 0392 0483 0232 0570 0135 0388 0730 0160 0166 0276 0331 0030 0573 0277 0238 0326 0085 0491 0159 0033 0892 0235 0151 0243 0007 0554 0069 0677 0390 0034 0815 0472 0495 0075 0018 0435 0032 0037 0442 0194 0178 0350 0316 0372 0052 0530 0239 0054 0735 0556 0038 0575 0427 0763 0313 0546 0264 0142 0184 0245 0678 0526 0597 0501 0425 0168 0694 0737 0123 0021 0322 0807 0560 0161 0291 0177 0810 0247 0624 0562 0172 0434 0782 0025 0188 0024 0889 0784 0424 0058 0173 0839 0727 0829 0917 0897 0406 0004 0198 0005 0394 0023 0780 0357 0716 0710 0089 0684 0702 0423 0816 0707 0888 7 22 25 18 29 9 Central Harris County PLANC657 Texas Legislative Council 11/13/98 wr98160 Source: TLC 0045 0621 0380 0260 0585 0527 0134 0080 0336 0512 0162 0609 0376 0607 0286 0081 0656 0241 0062 0542 0535 0902 0620 0383 0050 0366 0115 0461 0498 0463 0755 0630 0257 0353 0131 0564 0411 0647 0558 0536 0541 0402 0181 0164 0849 0066 0359 0371 0347 0460 0223 0323 0496 0885 0254 0593 0273 0653 0374 0213 0467 0622 0576 0355 0318 0548 0074 0407 0818 0208 0517 0152 0117 0462 0759 0095 0458 0689 0738 0494 0321 0408 0518 0179 0418 0801 0082 0067 0211 0068 0109 0642 0814 0274 0093 0497 0218 0927 0643 0364 0107 0029 0343 0413 0754 0582 0722 0428 0506 0891 0409 0320 0663 0120 0864 0440 0325 0523 0337 0169 0155 0373 0329 0287 0661 0557 0375 0540 0925 0645 0565 0116 0016 0070 0354 0204 0453 0212 0203 0398 0221 0422 0227 0401 0259 0627 0912 0072 0327 0581 0404 0271 0266 0508 0338 0234 0083 0396 0559 0507 0019 0400 0278 0163 0578 0301 0240 0288 0153 0156 0104 0157 0150 0105 0297 0880 0292 0031 0328 0185 0216 0256 0219 0130 0158 0571 0528 0231 0450 0147 0356 0553 0036 0752 0011 0086 0611 0233 0191 0285 0001 0071 0122 0140 0765 0610 0567 0043 0176 0529 0253 0206 0566 0009 0065 0824 0457 0303 0594 0628 0579 0041 0898 0299 0584 0389 0197 0724 0701 0626 0056 0510 0242 0042 0591 0064 0580 0649 0595 0165 0282 0441 0487 0145 0180 0431 0671 0915 0010 0511 0314 0543 0419 0646 0224 0118 0312 0226 0263 0348 0258 0432 0027 0046 0255 0182 0300 0842 0935 0524 0270 0608 0480 0308 0053 0003 0384 0397 0455 0128 0076 0215 0132 0525 0822 0379 0214 0638 0295 0370 0490 0488 0267 0311 0265 0079 0171 0228 0449 0577 0202 0175 0664 0330 0252 0544 0073 0094 0492 0319 0868 0057 0583 0859 0489 0430 0195 0304 0055 0040 0652 0078 0821 0679 0572 0284 0192 0017 0210 0341 0369 0146 0309 0061 0907 0499 0569 0269 0026 0827 0298 0272 0305 0504 0445 0534 0129 0020 0345 0296 0385 0275 0439 0344 0281 0087 0616 0207 0217 0367 0310 0505 0008 0222 0200 0154 0230 0436 0044 0360 0667 0246 0048 0928 0047 0022 0302 0268 0139 0229 0395 0138 0625 0555 0059 0014 0454 0448 0651 0444 0433 0714 0437 0324 0335 0446 0293 0289 0538 0262 0503 0236 0438 0403 0148 0315 0015 0077 0144 0339 0606 0426 0189 0862 0429 0294 0365 0637 0183 0361 0237 0002 0136 0280 0133 0861 0493 0696 0392 0483 0232 0570 0135 0388 0730 0160 0166 0276 0331 0030 0573 0277 0238 0326 0085 0491 0159 0033 0892 0235 0151 0243 0007 0554 0069 0677 0390 0034 0815 0472 0495 0075 0018 0435 0032 0037 0442 0194 0178 0350 0316 0372 0052 0530 0239 0054 0735 0556 0038 0575 0427 0763 0313 0546 0264 0142 0184 0245 0678 0526 0597 0501 0425 0168 0694 0737 0123 0021 0322 0807 0560 0161 0291 0177 0810 0247 0624 0562 0172 0434 0782 0025 0188 0024 0889 0784 0424 0058 0173 0839 0727 0829 0917 0897 0406 0004 0198 0005 0394 0023 0780 0357 0716 0710 0089 0684 0702 0423 0816 0707 0888 7 18 29 9 22 25 Central Harris County PLANC746 Texas Legislative Council 11/ 13/98 wr98160 Source: TLC 0045 0621 0380 0260 0585 0527 0134 0080 0336 0512 0162 0609 0376 0607 0286 0081 0656 0241 0062 0542 0535 0902 0620 0383 0050 0366 0115 0461 0498 0463 0755 0630 0257 0353 0131 0564 0411 0647 0558 0536 0541 0402 0181 0164 0849 0066 0359 0371 0347 0460 0223 0323 0496 0885 0254 0593 0273 0653 0374 0213 0467 0622 0576 0355 0318 0548 0074 0407 0818 0208 0517 0152 0117 0462 0759 0095 0458 0689 0738 0494 0321 0408 0518 0179 0418 0801 0082 0067 0211 0068 0109 0642 0814 0274 0093 0497 0218 0927 0643 0364 0107 0029 0343 0413 0754 0582 0722 0428 0506 0891 0409 0320 0663 0120 0864 0440 0325 0523 0337 0169 0155 0373 0329 0287 0661 0557 0375 0540 0925 0645 0565 0116 0016 0070 0354 0204 0453 0212 0203 0398 0221 0422 0227 0401 0259 0627 0912 0072 0327 0581 0404 0271 0266 0508 0338 0234 0083 0396 0559 0507 0019 0400 0278 0163 0578 0301 0240 0288 0153 0156 0104 0157 0150 0105 0297 0880 0292 0031 0328 0185 0216 0256 0219 0130 0158 0571 0528 0231 0450 0147 0356 0553 0036 0752 0011 0086 0611 0233 0191 0285 0001 0071 0122 0140 0765 0610 0567 0043 0176 0529 0253 0206 0566 0009 0065 0824 0457 0303 0594 0628 0579 0041 0898 0299 0584 0389 0197 0724 0701 0626 0056 0510 0242 0042 0591 0064 0580 0649 0595 0165 0282 0441 0487 0145 0180 0431 0671 0915 0010 0511 0314 0543 0419 0646 0224 0118 0312 0226 0263 0348 0258 0432 0027 0046 0255 0182 0300 0842 0935 0524 0270 0608 0480 0308 0053 0003 0384 0397 0455 0128 0076 0215 0132 0525 0822 0379 0214 0638 0295 0370 0490 0488 0267 0311 0265 0079 0171 0228 0449 0577 0202 0175 0664 0330 0252 0544 0073 0094 0492 0319 0868 0057 0583 0859 0489 0430 0195 0304 0055 0040 0652 0078 0821 0679 0572 0284 0192 0017 0210 0341 0369 0146 0309 0061 0907 0499 0569 0269 0026 0827 0298 0272 0305 0504 0445 0534 0129 0020 0345 0296 0385 0275 0439 0344 0281 0087 0616 0207 0217 0367 0310 0505 0008 0222 0200 0154 0230 0436 0044 0360 0667 0246 0048 0928 0047 0022 0302 0268 0139 0229 0395 0138 0625 0555 0059 0014 0454 0448 0651 0444 0433 0714 0437 0324 0335 0446 0293 0289 0538 0262 0503 0236 0438 0403 0148 0315 0015 0077 0144 0339 0606 0426 0189 0862 0429 0294 0365 0637 0183 0361 0237 0002 0136 0280 0133 0861 0493 0696 0392 0483 0232 0570 0135 0388 0730 0160 0166 0276 0331 0030 0573 0277 0238 0326 0085 0491 0159 0033 0892 0235 0151 0243 0007 0554 0069 0677 0390 0034 0815 0472 0495 0075 0018 0435 0032 0037 0442 0194 0178 0350 0316 0372 0052 0530 0239 0054 0735 0556 0038 0575 0427 0763 0313 0546 0264 0142 0184 0245 0678 0526 0597 0501 0425 0168 0694 0737 0123 0021 0322 0807 0560 0161 0291 0177 0810 0247 0624 0562 0172 0434 0782 0025 0188 0024 0889 0784 0424 0058 0173 0839 0727 0829 0917 0897 0406 0004 0198 0005 0394 0023 0780 0357 0716 0710 0089 0684 0702 0423 0816 0707 0888 7 18 29 9 22 25 Central Harris County PLANC746 Texas Legislative Council 11/ 13/98 wr98160 Source: TLC Congressional Plans In Harris County (November 1998)
Practical Issues Term Length: 2, 3 or 4 year terms? 3 year terms mean even/odd year elections Term Limits Continuity and institutional knowledge vs. new faces, new ideas, less entrenchment Number of Seats Increase for some single member district goals Difficult to decrease in SMD system Costs if increase Staggering (how to establish in new system?)
Transition Issues: At Large to SMDs Implement all SMD seats at once? Must truncate or extend some terms Complicated to stagger in Some councilmembers not district residents Some districts won t vote first round Term lengths an issue? Increased seat number an issue?
AUSTIN as an example Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission ICRC is entirely independent of City Council Elaborate conflict of interest standards Elaborate dual selection process City Auditor role as overseer Applicant Review Committee (3 auditors) Culls ICRC applicant pool down to 60 ICRC selection Random drawing for first 8 First 8 pick last 6
AUSTIN as an example Will implement all seats at first SMD election Will truncate some current terms Draw lots for initial stagger (2 yr terms) 3 Year Terms 4 Year Terms Term limits from 3 x 2 year to 2 x 4 year 2 year initial term from stagger in not counted Change election from May to November
AUSTIN Citizen Redistricting Commission NO COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT Required number of public hearings Develop proposed plan Hearings on proposed plan Plan revision More hearings on plan Plan adoption
Charter Review Commission The Town of Flower Mound Single Member Districts and the Town Council November 19, 2013 Presented by: Sydney Falk Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP Austin, Texas