GOVERNMENT City of Katy to redistrict itswards to alignwith 2020 census data
BY ASIA ARMOUR
they live. Seaquist explained that the redistricting plan will be covered over four meetings. “After tonight’s meeting, our firm is going to prepare a draft plan to start with,” he said. “We will bring that before you at our next meeting. I’ll have a GIS specialist here; our draft plan [will be] a starting off point.” A GIS, or geographic information systems, specialist designs, develops and implements systems and data- bases to access and store geospatial data, officials said. They design digital maps using geospatial data and analyze spatial and nonspatial information. Seaquist said maps will not come from Bickerstaff. “They’ll be drawn by the council members based on what you know is best for your constituents,” he said. “We’ll have a GIS specialist available to make any changes [to show] any population shifts in real time.” According to City Secretary Becky McGrew, city officials cannot yet release demographic information
KATYWARDMAP WARD A WARD B
Ward A and Ward B make up the city of Katy, with Ward A representing the south side and Ward B representing the north.
Federal courts have ordered the city of Katy to redistrict Ward A andWard B to align with the “one person, one vote” doctrine due to data from the 2020 census. Ward A represents the southern portion of Katy and is about 7 miles wide and almost 4 miles long. The border measures 31.5 miles. Ward B on the north side is 3.3 miles wide and 3 miles long. Its border is 13.4 miles. To be in compliance with the “one person, one vote” rule, the total population of each ward must be within a 10% overall deviation, according to attorney Gunnar Seaquist of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP law firm, who is assisting Katy City Council in the redistricting efforts. During a Feb. 28 City Council meeting, Seaquist saidWard A andWard B are just outside of that 10%margin. The 1:1 rule is in context with equal protection under federal law. It deter- mines that all residents are given equal representation, regardless of where
CLAY RD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
KATY HOCKLEY RD.
MORTON RD.
KATY HOCKLEY CUT OFF RD.
FRANZ RD.
Rory A. Robertson
Dan Smith
Janet Corte
Gina Hicks
CANE ISLAND PKWY.
90
10
PEDERSON RD.
KINGSLAND RD.
1463
WESTHEIMER PKWY.
N
SOURCE: CITY OF KATY WEBSITE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
about the wards. City Council, officials and Bickerstaff are internally mapping a timeline for the redistricting efforts and scheduling for public sessions to allow the community to give input on
the process, she said. After public input is received and any changes are implemented, the plan will be ready for adoption in late spring or early summer, she said.
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KATY EDITION • MARCH 2022
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