Lexington City Council reviews voting wards and annexation
Lexington City Council held its regular bi-monthly meeting on October 25 with a presentation related to redistricting that could impact the structure of voting wards in Lexington.
In an update on the impact of the 2020 Census data presented by Tammy Absher, director of Business and Community Development, the council learned more about shifting demographics in the city’s voting wards.
According to Absher, “Cities that elect city council members from true electoral districts, meaning that only the voters of that district vote for that council seat, must redistrict after each census to determine whether the districts have gotten out of population balance over the course of 10 years since the last census. If they have, then the city council must draw new districts to bring them into balance. Failure to do that is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.”
Absher referred to a 1986 federal court case filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to gain proportionate representation for the Black population in Lexington which ordered the city to create a six-ward system with two at-large seats and a mayor.
According to documentation presented to council, “Two of the six wards were to be majority Black population. Because the court did not define ‘majority’ in the ruling, the city requested a determination from the Department of Justice for the acceptable percentage of 65 percent. Although the court did not require the 65 percent in subsequent census adjustments, the objective is to create two wards with Black being the majority population and the Black percentage being as strong as possible.”
Absher noted the recent census showed unequal growth between the city’s voting wards, causing the total population in wards to be out of an “acceptable” range. Absher added that city staff has been meeting with leaders. “We will be ahead of filing for running for office.… The process is going smoothly.”
City personnel commented, “On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, staff met with board representatives from the NAACP in a working session to evaluate and make adjustments to the ward boundaries. Board members' knowledge of the community and having a variety of ideas to draw from greatly improved the plan. Although the census data is only available at the block level [and not per house], there are a few blocks that are recommended to be split to gain the optimal percentages.”
Absher said meeting with NAACP leaders has provided neighborhood information that wasn’t gathered through the census data. “Additionally, there are a few blocks that were added, and although the census reports show a reduction in the overall Black percentage, local knowledge dictates that it is increasing the percentage, taking into consideration that the homes in the block or split block did not get reported to the census. Because of some recommended splits or inclusions based on reality versus the census reporting, the resulting percentages may end up as an ‘at least’ estimate as opposed to an exact number relative to the census.”
Furthermore, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Engagement Manager, Dr. Patricia R. Smyre, was introduced.
Consent agenda items included:
1. Adopt Ordinance for Closure of N.C. Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) Streets for Veterans Day Parade - Ordinance No. 22-13 -
ORD 22-13
2. Interfund Loan for Golf Cart Fleet
3. Interfund Loan for Motorola Flex System Refinancing
4. Amendment to the Annual Budget Ordinance for Fiscal Year Ending
June 30, 2022 related to Motorola Flex System Refinancing - Ordinance
No. 22-10 - ORD 22-10
5. Position Classification/Pay Grade for Planning Director
6. Adopt City of Lexington Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
7. Updated Lexington Utilities Customer Service Policy
8. Set Public Hearing Date and Amendment to City's Unified
Development Ordinance Zoning Map by Rezoning property, located at
110 Trailer Dr., from Traditional Neighborhood District and Business
District to Industrial District - Ordinance No. 22-11 - ORD 22-11
9. Set Public Hearing Date and Amendment to the City of Lexington's
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Unified Development Ordinance;
Section 6 related to Sign Regulations - Ordinance No. 22-12 - ORD
22-12
Public petitions included one from educator Judy Richards, Village Dr.
Richards thanked the council for support. She noted that Lexington Senior High and other schools are 70-year-old buildings “that have outlived their usefulness.” She asked that council “consider enhancing your support in our schools…. We just need to have beacons of hope.”
The City Manager’s Report included details for water meter detection on the forefront of technology. The AMI - Advanced Metering Infrastructure - detects low flow that can capture high flow or high bills from flushing a toilet and the flapper handle being up.
The meeting concluded with a return from a closed session related to economic development. The council returned with unanimous votes related to annexation. With economic development resolution 0622, the adoption of annexation agreement 1608-54 will be added to the Nov 8 council meeting. Resolution 0722 directs the city clerk to investigate a certificate of city clerk, voluntary annexation and adopt resolution 0822 setting a public hearing Nov 10 for a special called meeting. Davidson Local is awaiting documents related to the adoptions made after the closed session.
According to the City Clerk, “City Council did receive a filed petition from petitioners YVF LLC, A Samet Property LLC, SST Properties LLC, and J.C. Little Holdings, LLC. This submitted request is to voluntarily annex approximately 763 acres located in the Churchland community off/near I-85. Council took action to consider this request with a public hearing to be held on November 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. by Special Meeting.” This meeting will be held at City Hall located at 28 W Center Street, Lexington, NC.
