Item2A_Redistricting Agenda Backup December 2021 — original pdf

Backup

P a g e | 1 TRAVIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AND VOTER REGISTRAR Voter Registration Division 5501 Airport Blvd., Austin 78751 512.854.9473 traviscountytax.org Date: December 7, 2021 From: Travis County Tax Office Voter Registration Division and the Travis County Clerk Elections Division Regarding: Election Precinct Boundaries Proposed Plan for 2022 Following redistricting at both the State and County level, Travis County Voter Registration undertook the task of realigning precinct boundaries. During this process, staff reviewed precinct sizes and dramatically reduced precincts that were near or exceeded the maximum size of 5,000 voters. During the process of realigning precincts, staff looked at the following as the boundary dividers: 1. Highways and Toll Roads 2. Expressways, Arterials, FM Roads 3. Neighborhood Collectors 4. Waterways—river, lake, creeks, watersheds 5. Railroads 6. Parcels—property lines 7. Parks, green belts Our goal was to bring neighborhoods back together when possible. Legislative boundaries didn’t allow us to be 100% successful, however, we were able to make modifications to legacy precinct boundaries that had split neighborhoods. We were able to reunite neighborhoods or communities of interest in many cases. A notice was mailed to both County Chairs, all election judges, and precinct chairs for both parties. In the case of the political party County Chairs, we hand delivered the notice and a copy of the backup. Additionally, the week prior to Thanksgiving, both County Chairs and key staff received email correspondence with our map link for them to share with precinct chairs for input. We consequently did receive communication back and were able in most cases to accommodate requests and/or suggestions. In some cases, we were unable to make the modifications due to legislative boundaries that do not allow us to cross over precinct lines.  P a g e | 2 With new precincts created, the Division also looked at the precinct numbering system or the lack of one. With this opportunity, a system was developed in precinct numbering. This system creates communities of interest within the system. Stakeholders who will benefit with this new system are: 1. Elections Division—in planning and directing resources regionally 2. Precinct Chairs—organizing in their region 3. General Public—organized manner in which to identify where their precinct is located 4. Elected Officials and candidates—better planning in identifying precincts as they maneuver meetings in the county. The numbering system follows this rule—the County Courthouse is ground zero. From that point the first precinct in each Commissioner precinct is the ‘00’ precinct. The Courthouse precinct is 300. The numbers fan out across the County in groupings of tens and are geographical. In the majority of number sequences, numbers remain unassigned to allow for future growth and adding new precincts. We recommend in 10 years, that the County consider moving to the 4 digit numbering system just as the other urban counties (Harris, Bexar, Dallas and Tarrant) did nearly 20 years ago. As growth continues, precinct numbers could become scarce in any one Commissioner precinct. As of today, we have 247 precincts. As you see below, we have over a quarter of precincts at or above the maximum of 5,000 voters in a precinct. With the realignments, this is now the breakdown in the proposed plan: 247 total precincts as of November 2021 15 precincts with fewer than 10 voters 22 precincts with fewer than 1,000 voters 30 precincts with 1,000-1,999 voters 54 precincts with 2,000-2,999 voters 47 precincts with 3,000-2,999 voters 16 precincts with 4,000-4,499 voters 63 precincts with more than 4,500 voters 287 total precincts proposed 1 precincts with fewer than 10 voters 11 precincts with fewer than 1,000 voters 27 precincts with 1,000-1,999 voters 95 precincts with 2,000-2,999 voters 123 precincts with 3,000-3,999 voters 21 precincts with 4,000-4,499 voters 9 precincts with more than 4,500 voters 6% 9% 12% 22% 19% 6% 26% 0.3% 4% 9% 33% 43% 7% 3% This leaves room for growth in all precincts and therefore, few precincts will need to be split over the next 10 years. Of the precincts over 4,500 voters in the proposed plan, this is the breakdown by Commissioner Precinct: P a g e | 3 Precinct Description of Location Solution Identified  Commissioner Pct. 1—2 precincts  Commissioner Pct. 2—3 precincts  Commissioner Pct. 3—1 precinct  Commissioner Pct. 4—3 precincts Reg. Voters 4,539 4,544 4,585 337 414 420 270 4,601 San Leanna South Lamar @ Menchaca East Riverside--Parker Ln. and Willow Creek Drive City Park Road, Long Canyon, Glenlake, Westminster Glen 272 437 4,637 4,640 138 4,780 290 4,787 141 4,874 Steiner Ranch South of Stassney and down to William Cannon East of Dessau Road along Walnut Creek Austin Country Club and Westlake Drive Harris Branch Line will be adjusted with 336. Line will be adjusted with 415. Will evaluate modification. Will evaluate modification--new assisted living opening at 2222 & City Park. Cannot combine with another precinct due to legislative and/or JP/Constable lines. Line will be adjusted with 273. Will evaluate modification. Could adjust line with 436. Line will be adjusted with 134. Line will be adjusted with 291. Will evaluate modification. Could adjust line with 142. Solutions have been outlined if the precincts exceed the 5,000 maximum within the next 10 years. A review will occur each January of the odd numbered years—2023, 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031 in conjunction with redistricting. We also recommend for the Voter Registration Division to contact the Texas Legislative Council to ensure that situations like the one below don’t occur. This precinct was created when the House line was set with the top line boundary and the Congressional line was set with the ‘V’ line boundary. Had we had the time to talk with them, we might have prevented this situation.  P a g e | 4 Below are the precincts with 4,000-4,499 registered voters. Precinct Description of Location Solution Identified Reg. Voters 370 4,003 221 200 230 231 302 150 350 424 354 390 4,011 4,027 4,037 4,068 4,068 4,074 4,129 4,152 4,164 4,179 274 4,190 236 483 4,192 4,304 132 4,352 130 4,360 304 254 450 462 491 4,372 4,401 4,452 4,467 4,482 Buffalo Gap and 620 Corridor Crestview and Brentwood Clarksville West Austin and Muny West Austin and Camp Mabry Downtown East of 130 and Weiss Lane MOPAC near Y Montopolis Town and Country Twin Creeks at Anderson Mill Road North of Damn along 620 Corridor NW Hills COTA area in Elroy and East of 130 North of 183 and West of I35 @ Rundberg Ln. East I35/North 290/South 183 Barton Hills Scofield Ridge Dittmar Rec Center Dove Springs Webberville and Gilleland Creek  Commissioner Pct. 1—3 precincts  Commissioner Pct. 2—7 precincts  Commissioner Pct. 3—6 precinct  Commissioner Pct. 4—5 precincts Line will be adjusted with 371. Will evaluate modification. Line will be adjusted with 201. Line will be adjusted with 231 and 232. Line will be adjusted with 232. Line will be adjusted with 301 and 300. Line will be adjusted with 151. Line will be adjusted with 358 and/or 341. Line will be adjusted with 423 and/or 427. Line will be adjusted with 355. Line will be adjusted with 391. Line will be adjusted with 275. Line will be adjusted with 238. Line will be adjusted with 481. We may have to consider splitting this one and creating a new precinct, so we don't cross over I35. Line will be adjusted with 131. Line will be adjusted with 306 and 307. Line will be adjusted with 255. Line will be adjusted with 447. Line will be adjusted with 463. Will evaluate modification. Cannot combine with another precinct. Again, the breakdown by Commissioner Precinct is as follows for the grouping above: In both groupings, an attempt at identifying solutions were made that do not require adding more precincts. At this time, only 7 precincts might require splitting and creating more precincts in the future if no modifications realigning with another smaller precinct can be accomplished. P a g e | 5 East Austin/South 290/West 183 East 183/South 290/Decker Lake/ South Manor I35 corridor/North 290/West Harris Branch We have created Overview cards for each Commissioner Precinct that shows the numbering sequence with a description of the location. It also lists the unassigned precinct numbers. Commissioner Precinct 1 Precinct 100-107 Status assigned Location Description East Austin/South E. 51st/West Springdale 108-109 unassigned 110-117 assigned 118-119 unassigned 120-127 assigned Precinct 150-156 Status assigned 157-159 160-165 unassigned assigned 166-169 170-178 unassigned assigned Location Description East 130/ NE Pflugerville/Cele North Pflugerville/45 Corridor Central Pflugerville 128-129 unassigned 130-138 assigned 179 180-186 unassigned assigned South Pflugerville 139 140-146 unassigned assigned Harris Branch/North 290/North Manor/NE 187-189 190-194 unassigned assigned Wells Branch 147-149 unassigned 195-199 unassigned Commissioner Precinct 2 Precinct 200-207 Status assigned Location Description East MOPAC Near Downtown-UT/South 45th Precinct 250-256 Status assigned Location Description East Lamar/East I35/North Parmer 208-209 unassigned 210-216 assigned East MOPAC/Central/Koenig- Airport 257-259 unassigned 260-265 assigned East 183/W to N MOPAC/S. Parmer 217-219 unassigned 220-221 223-227 assigned East MOPAC/South 183/W. Lamar/N. Koenig 266-268 269 assigned Great Hills unassigned 222 unassigned East MOPAC/South 270-275 assigned City Park/River Place/Steiner/Oasis assigned West Austin/Camp 276-279 unassigned 228-229 230-238 239 240-247 unassigned assigned 248-249 unassigned 183/W. Lamar/N. Koenig Mabry/Northwest Hills East MOPAC/North 183/West Lamar 280-283 283-289 unassigned assigned Lago Vista 290-294 295-299 unassigned assigned South of River P a g e | 6 Location Description Town & Country/'Y'/Barton Creek Southwest along County Line Precinct 300-307 Status Location Description assigned Downtown/Barton Hills Precinct 350-358 Status assigned Commissioner Precinct 3 308-309 unassigned 310-315 assigned UT/West and North Campus 359 360-367 unassigned assigned 316-319 unassigned 320-327 assigned 328-329 unassigned 330-337 assigned 338-339 unassigned 340-349 assigned Rollingwood/Westlake/360/2244/Lost Creek 368-369 unassigned 370-376 assigned Lakeway East along Pct. 4 Line/S 71 to County Line South MOPAC/Circle C/Brodie Lane Corridor 388-389 unassigned 390-396 assigned NW/Cedar 377-379 unassigned 380-387 assigned Great Hills/W. 620/2222 397-399 unassigned Park/Leander/Jonestown Precinct 400-405 Status Location Description assigned Downtown/East Austin north Precinct 450-456 Status assigned Commissioner Precinct 4 406-409 unassigned 410-418 assigned Near South Central north of 457-459 unassigned 460-467 assigned of river 290 Location Description South William Cannon/ West I35 South 71-290/E. I35/McKinney Falls/Onion Creek 419 420-427 unassigned assigned 428-429 unassigned 430-439 assigned 440-444 unassigned 445-449 assigned Riverside/Oltorf/North71/West 183 South 71-290/West I35/N. William Cannon South William Cannon/ West I35 Precincts unassigned by Commissioner Precinct: 1. Commissioner Pct. 1—26 2. Commissioner Pct. 2—34 3. Commissioner Pct. 3—21 4. Commissioner Pct. 4—34 468-469 unassigned 470-475 assigned Del Valle/Old Lockhart Road/Mustand Ridge 476-479 unassigned 480-483 assigned South River/Airport/Elroy/Garfield 484-489 unassigned 490-491 assigned North River to Manor 492-499 unassigned The decrease in available numbers is another reason for considering a new numbering system with 4 digits in the next cycle.  P a g e | 7 Please see the attached maps in this backup showing the new precincts. You may also visit this link— bit.ly/31hTz5g. It will more clearly show the countywide changes. Precincts in and near downtown and North of the river: Precincts in and near downtown and South of the river: