DRAFT
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Work Session Minutes of
the Town of
Room 10035,
Subject: Redistricting
Present:
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Julie Robison, Council Members
Gale Adcock, Don Frantz, Erv Portman, Jennifer Robinson, and Jack Smith
Mayor
Weinbrecht called the meeting to order at
Planning
Director Jeff Ulma provided the history, guidelines, federal, state and local
laws involved with redistricting. He
included the analysis of existing districts with updated population data.
(Staff’s PowerPoint presentation is attached to and incorporated herein
as Exhibit A.)
Mr. Ulma
said that the national census will be conducted in April 2010 and the Town would
receive the data from that some time in 2011.
He said that council can choose to equal out or rebalance the districts
at any time other than during the census. He
said that the Board of Election (BOE) precincts are also frozen in anticipation
of the census.
Mayor
Weinbrecht asked if the council has the final say on redrawing the districts.
Mr. Ulma said yes, unless there was a challenge.
Mayor
Weinbrecht asked if council makes the recommendation to the BOE for dividing the
precincts. Mr. Ulma said that staff
works with the BOE on the precincts.
Mrs.
Adcock asked if any of the previous redistricting has ever been challenged.
Town Manager Bill Coleman said yes, in other parts of the country. He
said that the Town needs to meet the 10 percent threshold to meet the principle
of democracy of one-man, one-vote, defined by the supreme court.
He said that
Mrs.
Adcock asked about setting objectives for redistricting.
Mr. Ulma said that after the 2000 census staff met with council and
developed a series of local objectives which were adopted by council. He said
that those objectives are still valid and that staff worked from the premise of
the previous goals.
Mayor Pro
Tem Robison asked about the data, estimates and assumptions presented.
Mr. Ulma said looked at the total population and included estimates.
He said that staff continually runs a computer model which grows and
builds in the population. He said
that taff generates quarterly population estimates which are tagged and coded to
the census; the Town is in step with the census when it occurs.
Mrs.
Robinson said she would like to set the districts so that the population for
District A has less to allow for the growth in that area.
Mayor
Weinbrecht asked about making downtown into one district.
Mr. Moore said that he tried to do that and he wasn’t able to work out
the numbers.
Mr. Ulma
reviewed several options and staff and council worked through the various
scenarios for dividing districts according to the regulations.
Mayor Pro
Tem Robison asked for data showing the changes in districts over the last few
years. Mr. Ulma said staff would
provide that information to council.
Mrs.
Robinson asked about the anticipated population increase for the next year.
Public Information officer Susan Moran responded that it is about five
percent.
Mr. Ulma
stated that staff can create maps for council to show the various options if
council’s intent is to continue to pursue redistricting.
He said that once council has viewed the maps staff can receive direction
from them regarding which option to pursue.
Mr.
Portman asked about the rationale for pursuing redistricting at this time as
opposed to after the census. Mr.
Coleman said that the primary rational is so that the Town is not in violation
of the one-man, one-vote principle. He
said that in the past it has been done ad hoc and he suggested council develop a
policy for redistricting. He said
they are trying to accomplish a fair, democratic, electoral system and in order
to due that the Town should adhere to the 10 percent rule with every election.
He said that council can set a policy stating that the year prior to a
mayoral election council will look at the districts to ensure they adhere to the
supreme court’s definition of one-man one-vote districts.
Mr. Smith said that council has always done redistricting at end of an
election cycle.
Mrs.
Robinson said council should look at the precincts when they are split by the
BOE to figure out how to split the population.
Mr.
Portman and Mrs. Adcock said they would like to see how many precincts were
moved with the different options discussed.
Mr. Ulma said staff will generate a map and provide information for the
options discussed and identify the number of affected precincts.
Mayor
Weinbrecht asked about setting a policy. Mr.
Ulma suggested that when council adopts the plan for the new districts that
staff be directed to develop the policy at that time.
Mayor Pro
Tem Robison said that her preference is to develop a policy statement now and
have council take action that would be in harmony with that statement.
Mr. Coleman said staff can provide a draft policy statement to take to
committee.
Mrs.
Robinson asked about redistrict every years so that it’s done after the
census. Mr. Coleman said that
staff can look into that. He said
you don’t have to redistrict unless the districts are out of balance.
Mrs.
Adcock said she would like to have another work session if there is a need after
council receives the updated information.
The
meeting adjourned at