08-APPROVE ORDINANCE ADOPTING REDISTRICTING PLAN

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TAB 1 GENERAL OVERVIEW The Initial Assessment is a narrative analysis of the data contained in the PL94- 171 files provided by the Census Bureau, together with an explanation ofthe impact such data inay have upon the City of Paris in light of state and federal law. Following the Supreme Court decision in Avery v. Midlarrd City, 390 U.S. 474; 88 S. Ct. 1114.1 20 L. Ed. 2d 45 (1968), Texas City Councils have been required to make a periodic assessment of their political boundaries to determine whether the boundaries retain "one-person-one-vote" balance. This requirement is now carried forward by statutory requirement in Article 42.001 of the Texas Election Code, and has been extended in turn to virtually all political bodies that elect representatives from special member districts, or geographic regioiis of the political jurisdiction in which the candidates for representative office must reside. Therefore, following each federal census, each Texas County, city, school district or other political entity electing representative officers from geographic regions of the sub- division should conduct an assessinent of existing political boundaries. [t should be carefully noted that simple comparisons between the City population of 2000 and 2010, or even a more sophisticated analysis of the urban and less populated areas of the City might not reflect the true extent of population "change" each City has experienced over the last ten years. "Change" may not directly correlate to "different" or "new" population. For example, existing populations within a City will, over time, move considerably within the City, rendering existing political boundaries constitutionally questionable over a ten-year span. In small population jurisdictions, the movement ofi a single large family from a one area of town to another across political boundaries may have a significant impact on the obligation of that City to redistrict. As a very general rule of thumb, any statistical change of population between the 2000 and 2010 census more than 3%, plus or minus, will indicate a potential need for redistricting in order to retain numerical balance between the governing body's representative districts. Only in rare circumstances will a City experiencing a population chaiige in excess of 3% avoid the need for rather extensive reapportionment of the City Council ward lines. However, any assumption that a population change of less than 3% will not require reapportionment is ill advised. Populations will shift within a City over time. Every City, city, school district or other political entity electing representative officers from geographic regions of the sub-division, even those with a rather insignificant overall population change, should carefully examine actual population demographics relative to their existing political lines to determine the need for reapportionment. Demographic data is depicted in chart and graphic form for both total population as well as voting age population. While "One-Person-0ne-Vote" balance between the City Council Wards is based upon the entire City population, the availability of voting age populations is also important in two respects. Initial Assessment Page 2 of 9 33