title
ELECTION DISTRICTS - REDISTRICTING BASED ON 2010 CENSUS DATA (B)
Ordinance No. 120311
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending Section 9-1.1 Election districts of the Code of Ordinances by redistricting the City of Gainesville into four ratably or equally proportioned election districts as required by law; making findings; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
Section 2.02 of the Charter Laws of the City of Gainesville requires apportionment of the City into 4 election districts for the purpose of electing district commissioners to the City Commission. In addition, Section 2.02 also requires the City Commission to adjust the boundary lines of the districts whenever, in its judgment, the districts are not ratably or equally proportioned in accordance with the Florida Constitution and the Constitution of the United States, but not less frequently than within the second year following each decennial census. The City Commission last completed a census-based redistricting in the City in 2002 taking into account data from the 2000 census. Therefore, in accordance with Section 2.02, the City Commission is required to redistrict within the second year following the 2010 census.
In order to accomplish the redistricting effort, the City Commission on March 1, 2012, appointed a Citizen Election District Review Committee consisting of residents of the City of Gainesville, including a citizen representative from each district, to review and recommend any changes in the size and areas of the four election districts. The City Commission also approved the contract with Dr. Kenneth Wald, Professor at the Political Science Department of the University of Florida, an expert in the field of redistricting and apportionment and who previously performed these services for the City. The City Attorney's Office provided legal counsel and support to the Committee.
Beginning in late spring, the Citizen Election District Review Committee held four (4) public meetings (each noticed on the City's official notice of meetings and website) to review information and recommendations from Dr. Wald, receive legal advice from the City Attorney's Office, and hear comments from the general public. In addition, on September 18, 2012, the Committee held a public hearing (advertised in the Gainesville Sun, the Alligator, Community 12TV, and the City's website) to receive feedback from the public regarding Dr. Wald's four redistricting plans and his analysis for recommending Plan 1. Following this public hearing, the Committee held an additional public meeting on October 2, 2012, where it voted 5-2 to adopt Dr. Wald's recommendation and recommend that the City Commission adopt Plan 1 to redistrict the City of Gainesville into four ratably or equally proportioned election districts.
On October 18, 2012, the City Commission held a public hearing where it received a presentation from the Chair of the Citizen Election District Review Committee regarding the Committee's recommendation that the City Commission adopt Plan 1 and heard a presentation from Dr. Wald explaining his "Report to the Citizen Election District Review Committee" and his analysis for recommending Plan 1. The City Commission then, by a vote of 5-0, authorized the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance adopting Plan1, to be scheduled for first reading on November 15, 2012. Dr. Wald's "Report to the Citizen Election District Review Committee" is included as backup to this ordinance and his oral presentation from the October 18, 2012 City Commission meeting may be found on the City's website; both are made a part of the record hereof as if set forth in full.
On November 15, 2012, the City Commission discussed this item and continued first reading of the ordinance to a date certain of December 6, 2012.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
This ordinance requires two readings.