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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> TAB 1 <br /> GENERAL OVERVIEW <br /> <br /> The Initial Assessment is a narrative analysis of the data contained in the PL94- <br /> 171 files provided by the Census Bureau, together with an explanation of the impact such <br /> data may have upon the City of Paris in light of state and federal law. <br /> <br /> Following the Supreme Court decision in Avery v. Midland City, 390 U.S. 474; 88 S. <br /> Ct. 1114, 20 L. Ed. 2d 45 (1968), Texas City Councils have been required to make a <br /> periodic assessment of their political boundaries to determine whether the boundaries retain <br /> "one-person-one-vote" balance. This requirement is now carried forward by statutory <br /> requirement in Article 42.001 of the Texas Election Code, and has been extended in turn to <br /> virtually all political bodies that elect representatives from special member districts, or <br /> geographic regions of the political jurisdiction in which the candidates for representative <br /> office must reside. <br /> Therefore, following each federal census, each Texas County, city, school district or <br /> other political entity electing representative officers from geographic regions of the sub- <br /> division should conduct an assessment of existing political boundaries. It should be <br /> carefully noted that simple comparisons between the City population of 2000 and 2010, or <br /> even a more sophisticated analysis of the urban and less populated areas of the City might <br /> not reflect the true extent of population "change" each City has experienced over the last ten <br /> years. "Change" may not directly correlate to "different" or "new" population. For <br /> example, existing populations within a City will, over time, move considerably within the <br /> City, rendering existing political boundaries constitutionally questionable over a ten-year <br /> span. In small population jurisdictions, the movement of a single large family from a one <br /> area of town to another across political boundaries may have a significant impact on the <br /> obligation of that City to redistrict. As a very general rule of thumb, any statistical change <br /> of population between the 2000 and 2010 census more than 3%, plus or minus, will indicate <br /> a potential need for redistricting in order to retain numerical balance between the governing <br /> body's representative districts. Only in rare circumstances will a City experiencing a <br /> population change in excess of 3% avoid the need for rather extensive reapportionment of <br /> the City Council ward lines. However, any assumption that a population change of less than <br /> 3% will not require reapportionment is ill advised. Populations will shift within a City over <br /> time. Every City, city, school district or other political entity electing representative officers <br /> from geographic regions of the sub-division, even those with a rather insignificant overall <br /> population change, should carefully examine actual population demographics relative to <br /> their existing political lines to determine the need for reapportionment. <br /> Demographic data is depicted in chart and graphic form for both total population as <br /> well as voting age population. While "One-Person-One-Vote" balance between the City <br /> Council Wards is based upon the entire City population, the availability of voting age <br /> populations is also important in two respects. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Initial Assessment <br /> Page 2 of 9 <br />