HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-11-1000AM-SpecialBF AZOS COUNTY
BRYAN, TEXAS
NOTICE OF MEETING
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The Commissioners Court of Brazos County, Texas will meet in
Special Session on Thursday, April 11, 1991 at 9:30 a.m. in the
Commissioners Courtroom of the Brazos County Courthouse, 300 East
26th Street, Room 115, Bryan, Texas.
AGENDA
1. Consider and discuss 1990 Census information relating to
redistricting.
2. Adjourn
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COMMISSIONERS' COURT
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 11, 1991
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A special meeting of the Commissioners' Court of Brazos
County, Texas was held in the Commissioners' Courtroom in the
Courthouse in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 10:00
a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 1990, with the following members
of the Court present:
R. J. Holmgreen, County Judge, Presiding;
Gary Norton, Commissioner of Precinct 1;
Walter Wilcox, Commissioner of Precinct 2;
Randy Sims, Commissioner of Precinct 3;
Milton Turner, Commissioner of Precinct 4;
Mary Ann Ward, County Clerk.
The following citizens and officials were in attendance:
Ruth McLeod
Karen McQueen
Jim Hiney
Peggy O'Connor
Bob Andron
Ray Shanaa
Ron Quarles
Steve Bickerstaff
Billie Fergusson
Carey Cauley, Jr.
Executive Assistant
County Clerk's Office
Bryan/College Station Eagle
KBTX-TV
City of Bryan
City of Bryan
City of Bryan
Bickerstaff, Heath & Smiley
City of Bryan
N.A.A.C.P.
The County Judge opened the meeting in the Commissioners
Courtroom, and announced that the meeting would be moved to
the Conference room in Suite 117.
The County Judge announced that the firm of Bickerstaff,
Heath, and Smiley, had been retained as consultants to assist
Brazos County in complying with the Federal Voting Rights Act
should it be necessary to redistrict Commissioner Precincts as
a result of the 1990 census count.
The Court heard an overview of the legal requirements for
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this action. State and Federal Law requires that every
decennial the County review Commissioner Precincts to
determine that they are equal in population.
Mr. Bickerstaff advised those present that the total
population for Brazos County according the Census Department
was 121,861; the ideal population for each precinct would be
30,466; the deviation among precincts is 28%. The smallest
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precinct, which is Precinct 4 has population of 26,803 making
it 12% below ideal. The largest precinct, which is precinct
1 has a population of 35,491 making it 16.5% above ideal. The
two added together results in a 28% deviation. The Federal
Justice Department allows a 10% deviation. Precinct 2 has a
total population of 29,349 making it 3.7% below the ideal.
Precinct 3 has a total population of 30,219 making it .8%
below the ideal. Mr. Bickerstaff indicated that a 65%
minority is the ideal standard for a minority precinct. This
is arrived at by using the 65% minority, less 5% of voting
age, less 5% for low voter turnout, less 5% of population not
registered resulting in a 50% minority in a precinct. The law
requires that the redrawing of Commissioner Precincts should
not act to dilute the voting strength of racial or language
minority citizens and should avoid fragmenting or packing
minority communities.
The Voting Rights Act, Section 5, requires before any
election can be held, changes must be approved and the Justice
Department can take as long as 150 days to make a decision.
If litigation takes place, the local entity loses control of
the division of precincts.
Mr. Bickerstaff, using visual aids, proceeded to explain
the demographics which the Court had previously received.
Commissioner Sims stated that the maps in his possession were
slightly different than the ones being displayed and asked for
new ones.
The Court was advised to seek input form local minority
groups, to hold public hearings to allow input from all
citizens in the County and then submit any such plans that
would meet legal requirements.
Mr. Bickerstaff was asked to look at the demographics and
the alignment of the Justice Precincts to determine if it
would be advantageous to redistrict the Justice Precincts at
this time as well.
After discussion of the demographics and requirements, it
was the consensus of the Court that Mr. Bickerstaff should
proceed and prepare a proposed redistricting plan for the
Court's consideration.
There being no further business, the meeting was
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adjourned.
VOL. --PAG E 5]L-
The foregoing minutes have been examined and approved in open
L, in Bryan,
Court this the 1= day of M*I-[ 19q
Brazos County, Texas.
,a- N L
R. J Holmgreen
County Judge
Walter i cox
Commissioner, Precinct 2
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Milton Turner
Commissioner, Precinct 4
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Gary N n
Commis her, Precinct 1
Randy S As
Commi ioner, Precinct 3
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Mary A An Ward
County Clerk