The Corpus Christi City Council is holding public input meetings about drawing new lines for its five single-member districts. Courtesy photo
New census data points to need for new district lines
The criteria and guidelines for the 2022 Corpus Christi redistricting process are now in place. The Corpus Christi City Council approved a schedule of community input sessions to be held Feb. 22 through March 8 as the next step.
To make a comment, residents must register online. Registration for the first meeting on Feb. 22 opened at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, and closes at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22. Residents will be emailed a link to the meeting and must be logged on between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines of districts from which council members are elected. It ensures that each district has roughly an equal number of people. The Corpus Christi City Council currently has five single-member districts, three at-large members, and one mayor elected at-large.
Required by the Corpus Christi Charter, redistricting takes place after U.S. Census data is released every 10 years. It impacts how neighborhoods and communities will be represented on the council.
The consistent growth of Corpus Christi since the 2010 census indicates the need for the process. With the delay of the release of census data in 2020 due to the pandemic, it was not available to City Council until recently.
Five district-specific input meetings are to be held, along with two general sessions, from 6-7 p.m.:
General sessions — Hybrid meetings, in person and virtual:
- Feb. 22 at City Council Chambers, 1201 Leopard St.
- March 8 at City Council Chambers, 1201 Leopard St.
District-specific session — all in person:
- Feb. 23, District 2 at Lindale Senior Center, 3135 Swantner Drive
- Feb. 24, District 1 at Owen R. Hopkins Public Library, 3202 McKinzie Road Feb. 28, District 5 at Veterans Memorial School, Teaching Theater, 3750 Cimarron Blvd.
- March 2, District 4 at Ethel Eyerly Senior Center, 654 Graham Road
- March 3, District 3 at Water Utilities Building, Choke Canyon Room, 2726 Holly Road
“Community input in this process is critical. Today, we have approved a plan that will include robust community outreach and involvement,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said. “I encourage residents to engage in this process by attending meetings or providing written feedback.”
Further resident engagement is encouraged by visiting the redistricting webpage on the city’s website or with comments via e-mail to 2022redistricting@cctexas.com.
