MEETING OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
June 16, 2011
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College met as a Redistricting
Committee on Thursday, June 16, 2011, at the HCC Administration Building, 2nd
Floor, 3100 Main in Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Christopher W. Oliver, Chair
Mary Ann Perez, Committee Member
Sandie Mullins, Alternate Committee Member
Bruce Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Eva Loredo
Richard M. Schechter
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, President, Southeast College
Betty Young, President, Coleman College
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Gene Locke, Counsel, Andrews Kurth, LP
Edgardo E. Colón, P.C.
Richard Murray, University of Houston
Alan Ainsworth, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Oliver, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m. and declared
the Board convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as
listed on the duly posted Meeting Notice.
Mr. Locke informed that he would provide an introduction first and then provide the
public the opportunity for comments.
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Redistricting Committee – June 16, 2011 - Page 2
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A PLAN FOR THE REDISTRICTING OF THE
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEE DISTRICT LINES BASED ON 2010
CENSUS AND AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF THE REDISTRICTING PLAN
TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Mr. Locke informed that demographics for the districts have been discussed
throughout the process. He noted that approximately 300,000 individuals were added
to the district due to the annexation of Alief and North Forest. He informed that the
first draft plan was presented to the Board in May 2011 and public hearings were held
in June 2011. Mr. Locke informed that the public was informed at the last hearing that
the opportunity would be provided for them to give comments at this meeting.
The following citizen came forth to speak regarding the redistricting:
Mr. William White, Northeast Concern Citizens Civic League.
Mr. Locke informed that the greatest challenge in drawing the lines was the need to
move further west. He informed that Plan B would destroy one of the existing
districts; therefore, a third plan was developed and after discussion with the Board
regarding the proposed plan, a fourth plan was developed.
Mr. Locke informed that Plan F emerged in an effort to seek compromise regarding
the plans and apprised that Plan F is similar to Plan E with two exceptions.
•
•
Precincts were cleaned up to alleviate splitting
Northeast campus will be split between Districts II and VIII
Mr. Locke informed that Plan F most closely follows the Principal of Priorities and
noted that the deviation of the plan is approximately six percent. He noted that Plan F
takes the existing districts and works around them to keep the core in place.
Mr. Locke informed that Plan F satisfies the Voters Rights Act. It keeps three districts
with an African American majority and allows three districts to have a Hispanic
majority.
Mr. Austin asked if the current proceedings are a result of the Voters Rights Act. Mr.
Locke noted this process is for drawing political lines for the purpose of elections. Mr.
Austin requested a copy of the record regarding the discussion.
(Ms. Loredo arrived at 11:14 a.m.)
Dr. Murray informed that the territory adjustments were made in order that the
Northeast Campus could be shared between Districts II and VIII. He noted that this
would divide some of the lines so that the facilities could be divided between the two.
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Redistricting Committee – June 16, 2011 - Page 3
Mr. Oliver inquired if this was an equitable split. Mr. Locke informed that it was.
Mr. Austin requested that equitable split be defined. Mr. Locke informed that the
equitable split would be defined as a line drawn down the center of the campus.
Mr. Austin informed that the definition of equitable is not true according to HCC
historical date. He noted that it was not an initial fight for HCC to provide education
throughout the city. He wanted to make certain the historical context was on record.
Mr. Oliver commended Mr. Austin for his leadership regarding equitable citing
education for HCC. He noted that those efforts could not be diminish by the drawing
of any lines.
Ms. Loredo inquired why the lines could not remain as they were. She noted that her
efforts would be to work with the community regardless of the lines. She noted that
the Plan F looks more like a division line instead of a line of unity.
Mr. Oliver informed that full representation is throughout the system and noted that all
campuses belong to the college and not to any one Trustee.
Mrs. Flores mentioned that there was discussion about keeping all natural
geographical lines. She noted that there were two precincts changed in HISD and
asked why they managed to meet the requirements of redistricting by only changing
two precincts and why is HCC making drastic changes. Mr. Locke informed that
although there is a history of HISD and HCC sharing commonality; the two are now
separate and noted that HCC is extremely different as it covers multiple school
districts.
Dr. Murray informed that District I remains a viable Hispanic opportunity district and
District VIII is protected by the adjustments made.
Mrs. Flores asked what is the difference is in population for District I as it exist today
versus the proposed Plan F. Mr. Locke responded that the Hispanic voting age is
54.3%, Anglo voting age population is 34.5%, the African American voting age
population is 7%, the Asian voting age is 3% and other is less than 1% in Plan F.
Mrs. Flores informed that her concern was the area that was removed from District I
and noted that she is in objection to the move.
Mr. Schechter asked if there were Voting Rights Act reasons for moving precincts
and asked for the reasons. Dr. Murray provided a political explanation noting that the
demography in District VIII was changing fundamentally.
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Redistricting Committee – June 16, 2011 - Page 4
Mr. Locke informed that the attempt was to protect the college from a claim that a
plan was intentionally drawn that would put a Hispanic opportunity at risk in District
VIII.
Mr. Schechter asked if the changes to the four precincts were not made would the
college run the risk of violating the Voter’s Right Act. Mr. Locke noted that is correct
Mrs. Flores noted that at the meeting of June 6, 2011, the question was asked why
the certain precincts were removed from District I and noted that Dr. Murray informed
that the other Hispanic trustees did not want to change their dividing line. Dr. Murray
noted that the common line was agreeable.
(Ms. Mullins stepped out at 11:35 a.m.)
Dr. Murray noted that although that is possible, it would cause problems in other
areas if a heavy Hispanic population was removed from District III.
(Ms. Mullins returned at 11:37 a.m.)
Mr. Locke informed that the Texas Asian sent a letter stating that the group supports
all plans except plan B and asked that precincts are not split especially precinct 17.
Mr. Oliver recessed the meeting at 11:38 a.m.
Mr. Oliver reconvened the meeting at 11:45 a.m.
Motion – Mrs. Perez motioned and Ms. Mullins seconded to approve Plan F. The
motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:46 a.m.
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Recorded and Submitted by:
Sharon R. Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved: