07121993 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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.8.4 Regular Meeting July 12, 1993 Page .8 their feelings and her hope is that LULAC and the Council can work very closely to continue to forge the good relationship they already enjoy. Mayor Morris stated that it is being quoted to the council that the citizen overwhelmingly voted for single member districts in a non-binding referendum. Mayor Morris stated that was not correct. Mayor Morris read for the record the 1988 non- binding proposition #23 off the ballot which reads: "If the city of San Marcos adopts a single-member district plan, which of the following single member district systems would you prefer?" 1) Mayor elected at large, six city council members elected in districts (693 votes) 2) Mayor elected at large, two city council members elected at large, four city council members elected in districts (616 votes) and 3) Seven city council members elected in districts, Mayor selected by city council (119 votes). Mayor Morris stated that for clarification that the Council is not bound by a non-binding referendum and for the public's clarification this is not a referendum to adopt single-member districts but rather to ask people what they would prefer if at some point San Marcos adopted those. Mayor Morris stated that they have asked for quite a lot of data from the ci ty Manager, City Secretary and ci ty Attorney's Office and have determine that they need statistical data that we can get in house and have asked for ïnformation for people that can obtain that. Mayor Morris stated that the Council needs statistical data from the last decade of any facts of whether there have been any voting blocks of any kind, indication based on actual population, number of registered voters, number of actual voters, a statistical determination whether this City is in violation of or in compliance with the voter rights act. Mr. Gilley stated that the staff has not identified a single individual to do this and the staff has several different sources for that information. Mr. Gilley stated that they believe they can have that information and have an individual on board in about 2 or 3 weeks but has no idea as to what the cost will be. Mr. Gilley stated that because of the voting information the City Secretary keeps he believed that it could be put together very quickly by the statician. Mr. Gilley hopes that he can report back next Monday as to when they can obtain a person. Mayor Morris stated that the Council will not take any legal action prior to putting a binding referendum on the 1994 ballot. Mayor Morris stated that the only goal of the council is to gather the data and pursue this through the election process. By consensus the Council agreed to do that. Mr. Guerra stated that he was told by Mr. Taylor that it is possible for the elected body like this and an organization to reach agreement on a plan and then petition the federal court to instruct us to put that plan into operation thereby circumventing the Charter process. Mayor Morris stated that that would give the Council another option if that is the case. Ms. Karen Brown asked who had decided on what kind of statistical information was needed. Ms. Brown asked if the attorney had found out if that kind of information was information the court was going to ask for. Mayor Morris stated that yes that from research the attorney, the City Secretary and the city Manager had done and that information could be expanded in gender. Ms. Brown asked why the Council was coming up with a plan before it went to the voters and if the City thinks it is in jeopardy of not being in compliance with the voting rights act, and that only one organization had complained. Ms. Brown wanted to commend the Council in looking at facts before making a decision. Ms. Hughson stated that she hopes the Council will keep in mind voter confusion. Ms. Jane Hughson stated that there is a lot of confusion with the School Board single-member districts, them having five and if the City ends up with six there will be total confusion. Ms. Maria Elena Gonzales stated that she supports single-member districts and could understand the legal language the Council has to discuss and entertain and has no problems with how the Council is handling this matter. Ms. Gonzales stated that single-member districts could be entertained and that there is another perspective that the public themselves could petition the federal court. Ms. Gonzales stated that there is a new awareness