By Suzanne Sprague
FORT WORTH – Suzanne Sprague, KERA 90.1 Reporter: The 50 Fort Worth residents who turned out for a lesson in redistricting this past weekend also got one in democracy, courtesy of Fort Worth Planning Director Fernando Costa.
Fernando Costa, Planning Director, City of Fort Worth: What were beginning to undertake today is an exercise in pure democracy. We, as citizens, have the opportunity to determine the structure of the governing body for the City of Fort Worth; and that is a great privilege, a great opportunity, and we want you to take advantage of it to the extent you care to do so.
Sprague: Costa said both the City Council and staff were eager to elicit citizen input into how they should redraw council district lines.
Costa: Citizens bring an appreciation for aspects of the community and a knowledge of their own neighborhoods that city officials cannot be expected to have to the same degree.
Sprague: So Fort Worth has launched a series of public redistricting meetings, beginning with this one, where residents learned how to use the city's redistricting software.
[Ambient sound of instructor on computer: "We have customized this for you. All you have to do is hit one button.?]
Sprague: Anyone can use the software at two public workstations in Fort Worth's central library. Many residents praised the city for making it available, but some others said the process is futile.
Charlotte Landon, Fort Worth Resident: I think there's already been a predetermined outcome.
Sprague: Charlotte Landon lives in east Fort Worth. She believes the City Council has dug in its heels and won't seriously consider proposals like adding new council districts. Landon: The Council is against adding any more or changing anything. They've already determined that, and they're acting as if our input is going to be important. It's not. It's not going to make any difference.
Sprague: Fort Worth has grown by more than 10% since 1990, mostly in the north and east. But state law says the council districts must be roughly the same size. Mayor Ken Barr favors keeping eight single member districts. But other council members have been less committed to any one proposal. Residents like Larry Grider say it's time to decrease the size of each council district by adding two new ones.
Larry Grider, Fort Worth Resident: The smaller the geographic district is, the more attention a representative can give to the issues that exist in that particular district.
Sprague: The number of council seats in Fort Worth is a big issue. It could open up more opportunities for minorities to serve on the council, but it would also require voter approval in November. Once the number of districts is decided, the council then will have to redraw those district lines, which is a major issue for Debbie Liles and her south Fort Worth neighborhood.
Debbie Liles, Fort Worth Resident: We have currently in our own neighborhood association, we're represented by three council persons, so you can imagine the frustration in not getting consensus between the three on any one thing.
Sprague: Liles hopes redistricting will consolidate her neighborhood in one council district. But other residents like having more than one council person involved in their neighborhood. So any change will come only after months of debate. Public redistricting meetings will continue in Fort Worth through July. For KERA 90.1, I'm Suzanne Sprague.