The redistricting plan aims to address population imbalances across different districts, according to a presentation from attorney Bob Heath, who represented the city-appointed consulting firm Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado and Acosta LLP.
What you need to know
The new boundaries seek a balanced population distribution among four districts:
- District 1 covers the north side of the city.
- District 2 covers the western side south of Hwy. 90 and Hwy. 6, and north of Hwy. 59.
- District 3 covers the eastern side south of Hwy. 59 and north of Steep Bank Creek.
- District 4 covers the southern portion south of Hwy. 59 and Steep Bank Creek.
Heath emphasized the need to reduce the total deviation between the most- and least-populated districts to under 10%, as required by state and federal law. Total deviation is the difference in population between the largest and smallest districts within the city. It is required to be under a 10% difference for the purpose of providing equitable city services as well as voting representation, according to the presentation.
According to Heath, under the existing plan the difference was about 22%.
The redistricting process involved collaboration with a city-appointed committee and consulting firm. The committee's approved plan, endorsed unanimously, achieved a total deviation of 6.76%.
The redistricting initiative was prompted by the annexation of Greatwood and New Territory, which added nearly 30,000 residents.
Quote of Note
According to the redistricting committee, the value of not splitting up subdivisions while implementing redistricting is a positive value, as splitting up subdivisions may offer a misrepresentation of demographics within the city’s districts.
“There is only one subdivision that has been split, and that subdivision was on both sides of Grand Parkway,” Heath said. “I don’t know if I have ever been involved with a plan that has split fewer subdivisions.”
Get involved
For further details regarding the 2023 redistricting plan visit the official Sugar Land City Redistricting website, or review the City Council meeting agendas and live streamed meetings online.
