title
RATIFYING POPULATION OF CITY (B)
A Resolution of the City of Gainesville City Commission ratifying the population of the City and the increase in the number of City Commissioners as provided in the City Charter; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed Resolution.
explanation
The City Commission, at its meeting of September 9, 2002, authorized this office to prepare a resolution as required by Section 2.01(2) of the City Charter.
When the population within the City reaches or exceeds 110,000 persons, the City Charter expands the size of the commission from 5 members to 7 members: the mayor (at large), two at large commissioners, and four district commissioners. Due to the large annexation of the Southwest area effective September 1, 2002 and the growth of the City, the City Manager received the estimate of population of the City from the City's consultant and the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida. In both reports, the population of the City exceeds 110,000 persons as of September 1, 2002.
The City Charter requires the city commission to adopt a resolution, which ratifies the number of persons in the City and authorizes the increase in the number of commissioners. The Charter Review Committee has already been charged to apportion the City into 4 election districts. The Committee's initial report will be presented to the City Commission on September 23, 2002. Until such time as the additional commissioners are elected and placed in office, the governing body of the City remains vested in a commission of 5 members.