MEETING OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
May 12, 2011
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College met as a Redistricting
Committee on Thursday, May 12, 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 3:14 p.m. and declared
the Board convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as
listed on the duly posted Meeting Notice.
(Ms. Mullins joined the meeting at 3:15 p.m.)
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Redistricting Committee – May 12, 2011 - Page 2
DISCUSSION REGARDING REDISTRICTING
Mr. Gene Locke informed that cooperation and dialogue is needed for the redistricting
process will affect everyone. He apprised that there must be attention to the legal
consideration for redistricting and provided a presentation on redistricting process as
follows:
•
Legal considerations for redistricting:
o Population equality
o Protections against discrimination of racial, ethical and language
minorities (Voting Rights Act)
o 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause: Redistricting based on race
o Texas Constitution: Equal Protection Clause and Equal Rights
Amendment
•
Proposed priorities and principals for redistricting: Adopted by the Board of
Trustees on April 21, 2011
Mr. Locke informed that the plans presented to the Board are necessary to get the
process initiated so that the public hearings on redistricting can take place. He
requested that the Board adopt a recommendation from the Redistricting Committee
to go before the full board for approval of the proposed plans in order to proceed with
the public hearings.
Mr. Locke noted that the Priorities and Principals adopted by the Board would be the
guidelines for driving the redistricting process. He noted that the Redistricting team
would be available for the Board to discuss their concerns individually.
Mr. Oliver requested that those Board members not present are notified of the
opportunity to meet with the team by Wednesday, May 18, 2011. He recommended
meeting with the Trustees individually during the period of May 13-17, 2011.
Mr. Locke and Dr. Murray provided three proposed plans. Dr. Murray provided an
overview of the plans as follows:
Plan A:
• North Forest ISD is placed in District II
• Districts I, III and VIII, Hispanic represented districts, must go west to get
population
• Take east side districts and reach the growing minority populations that are
west
• Plan A would impacts Districts IV and IX
• District VII will include Fort Bend County and portion of Alief
• District VI will inherit remaining portion of Alief
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Redistricting Committee – May 12, 2011 - Page 3
Plan B:
• Most legally indefensible
• Eliminates one of the east side districts
• Dramatic alternations in existing districts
• Some members must be paired
Mr. Oliver stated that Plan B is not an option and apprised that Plans A and C are
most attractive.
Plan C:
• Has the same objective as plan A
• Shifting occurs in Districts I and VIII
Gene Locke noted that as the Board’s input is received an additional plan may be
drawn to reflect those considerations. He recommended announcing public hearings
at next Board meeting and noted that the hearing notices would have to be published
by next Friday in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. He apprised that this will allow
hearings to begin in early June and noted that the public hearings should be held at
the District office, east side, and west side, two to three days apart.
Mr. Locke informed that after the public hearings are completed, a recommended
final plan will be developed and presented for the Board’s consideration. He apprised
that the goal is to submit to the Department of Justice by July and informed that the
DOJ process takes approximately seventy-five days to finalize.
Mr. Oliver informed that the Plans presented during the Redistricting Committee
meeting is by no means final but set parameters of the directions.
Mr. Austin noted that in discussion of annexation, Mr. Locke talked about the possible
annexation of Spring Branch and Katy and the impact on our populations. Mr. Austin
referred to Volume 76 Number 27 of the Federal Register published February 9, 2011
concerning authority of the Attorney General to delegate responsibility to the
Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Austin noted that this statute requires proof that no
effort has been made to deny or bridge the right to vote based on race, color or
provided retrogression. He noted that Mr. Locke clearly stated that we are not
involved in anything that has provided retrogression.
Mr. Locke stated the population percentages may vary but it is not believed to have
the impact of denying African American, Hispanic and Vietnamese their right to vote.
Mr. Schechter inquired what the average constituent population is per district. Dr.
Murray noted that the average population is 190,000 and informed that the allowable
differential is plus/minus 10,000.
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Redistricting Committee – May 12, 2011 - Page 4
Gene Locke advised that the committee to recommend to the full board an adoption
of a resolution calling for public hearings to consider redistricting based on the plans
presented today.
Motion - Mr. Oliver motioned and Mrs. Perez seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 3-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m.
Recorded and Submitted by:
Sharon R. Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved: