Houston likely won't take a population count to add two additional council districts until 2011, after the City Council was leaning this morning toward "studying" the matter.

The city has been sued by two private attorneys, who say the city should undertake the population count now, not later. Some advocates have criticized delays. (Check out our earlier post here, with links to reporting by the Chronicle's Bradley Olson and ABC 13's Miya Shay.)

District I Councilmember James G. Rodriguez made the proposal for the study committee. At issue is whether the city should count its residents right away, neighborhood by neighborhood, or wait until after the 2010 census.

"It is going to be critically important that everybody be counted and that we have the best information available," said Mayor Bill White. White has said the city should wait for the 2010 count to redistrict.

A census count could better position the Hispanic community to elect additional Hispanic council members. The issue is charged with questions over which neighborhoods could stand to lose and gain power when the new lines are drawn.

At-Large Councilmember Jolanda "Jo" Jones said she couldn't vote to send the issue to a study committee and expressed regret the city hadn't taken up the issue earlier.

"We should have, could have, would have done it two years ago, but we didn't," Jones said.

You can find more commentary in the forum on this issue over at blogHouston.

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