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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 07-15-97SpMtg33496 ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL .... SPECIAL MEETING Tuesday, July '15, '1997 -- 8:30 a.m. Social Services Conference Room Room 306, Municipal North Agenda 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. All Present. (Council Member Parrott arrived late.) 3. Statement of Purpose. Mayor Bowers. 4. Briefing on legal issues relating to a Modified Election District System. Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney. 5. Consideration of a Resolution establishing guidelines. Adopted Resolution No. 33496-071597. (6-0) 6. A review of draft Charter amendment. Mr. Dibling. 7. A review of draft ballot question. Mr. Dibling. 8. A review of maps identifying the boundaries of the proposed Modified Election Districts. Matthew J. Miller, Manager, information Services, Fifth Planning District Commission. H;'~,G ENOA,97~J U LYI 5, MO D Consideration of format for a public hearing to be held on Monday, July 28, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., in the Exhibit Hall, Roanoke Civic Center, with regard to the Modified Election Districts. 10. Adjournment. H:'~GENDA,gT~JULY15.MOD Mary F. Parker, CMCIAAE City Clerk CITY OF ROANOKE Office of the City Clerk Sandra H. Eakin Deputy City Clerk July 17, 1997 File #.40-132 W. Robert Herbert City Manager Roanoke, Virginia Dear Mr. Herbert: I am attaching copy of Resolution No. 33496-071597 adopting guidelines to be adhered to by City Council in reviewing and approving a modified election district plan for the election of members of City Council and in the drawing of election districts for City Council. The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at a special meeting held on Tuesday, July 15, 1997. Sincerely, Sandra H. Eakin Deputy City Clerk SHE:sm Attachment pc: Wilbum C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney Louella C. Thaxton, Registrar William F. Clark, Director, Public Works John R. Marlles, Chief, Planning and Community Development IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, The 15th day of July, 1997. No. 33496-071597. A RESOLUTION adopting guidelines to be adhered to by City Council in reviewing and approving a modified election district plan for the election of members of City Council and in the drawing of election districts for City Council. WHEREAS, by motion adopted April 22, 1996, the City Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia (''City Council"), created the Citizens Task Force to Recommend a Modified Election District System for the Election of Members of the Roanoke City Council (''Task Force") and requested the Task Force to study and report to City Council with respect to election of members of City Council under a Modified Election District System; WHEREAS, after an extensive public participation process, including the conduct of workshops in eleven (11 ) neighborhoods of the City, the Task Force rendered its final report to this Council on June 16, 1997; WHEREAS, it is now appropriate for City Council to review and approve a modified election district plan, including the boundaries of the proposed election districts, to be the subject of a referendum on November 4, 1997; WHEREAS, the Council intends in all of its work to comply with the legal mandates of the United States and Virgi~'nia Constitutions, and laws of the United States, including the Voting Rights Act, and the Commonwealth of Virginia; WHEREAS, the Council also intends to afford additional ample opportunity for public participation as to alternative election procedures, including the conduct of a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on July 28, 1997; WHEREAS, prior to commencing its review of the Task Force's report, City Council believes it to be appropriate to adopt these guidelines to be adhered to by Council in reviewing and approving a modified election district plan and in the drawing of election districts for City Council; THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows: 1. In reviewing and approving a modified election district plan for the election of members of City Council and in the drawing of election districts for City Council, the following guidelines shall be adhered to: a. ~. The total number of persons in each election district shall be as nearly equal as is practicable. Any deviation from equality of population is justified only when it is the result of following another guideline set forth below. In no case shall the total deviation from the most populous district to the least populous district exceed ten percent (10%) following the methodology approved by the Supreme Court of the United States in Board of Est/mates of New York City v. Morris. 489 U. S. 688 (1989). b. ~ilig_~d~l~l~. The dilution of racial or minority voting strength is contrary to law and public policy. Accordingly, no districting plan shah dilute racial or minority voting strength, and nothing in these guidelines shall be construed to supersede any provision of the Constitution of the United States or the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended. f,_o. llXglclR~. Districts shall be in reasonably compact form. Gllnligu~. Districts shall be comprised of one contiguous geographic unit and not be separated by other boundary lines. E.ollulitl~u..b.l~. The 1990 Federal Decennial Census numbers shall be the sole basis for determining the population of election districts. ~. Election district boundaries shall where possible follow clearly defined and clearly observable features, such as roads, highways, railroad tracks, rivers, streams and other permanent features. ~. No election district lines shall divide a census block. By using whole census blocks, the population of each election district can be determined solely by reference to the census reports and without relying on estimates. Prec~c~. Each precinct shall be wholly contained within an election district. Commnnifes of interest. Election districts shall be established in such a way as to preserve existing communities of interest where that can be done in compliance with the preceding guidelines. Communities of interest are defined as recognizable areas with similarities of interest, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, geographic, economic, social, cultural, or historic interests, as well as commonality of communications and transportation links. 2. The guidelines of equal population and the Voting Rights Act (Paragraph 1, subparagraphs a. and b., above) shall be given priority in the application of these criteria. ATTEST: ~.-~e,-~ City Clerk.