title
2002 POPULATION COUNT FOR THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE (B)
recommendation
1)Receive the official estimate of population of the City of Gainesville by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida; 2) Authorize the City Attorney to prepare a resolution as required by Section 2.01(2) of the City Charter; and 3) Charge the Charter Review Committee to apportion the City into 4 election districts.
explanation
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 Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida has notified the City that the population of the City will exceed 110,000 persons with the incorporation of the population in the Southwest area. A copy of their official count is attached.
The City Charter now requires the city commission to adopt a resolution, which ratifies the number of persons in the City and authorizing the increase in the number of commissioners. The Charter Review Committee should now be charged to apportion the City into 4 election districts. Upon completion of their work in late summer or early fall, the Commission will then adopt an ordinance that apportions the City into 4 election districts. This process should be completed in November or December to allow the election process to proceed in the winter and spring of 2003. 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.