HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 07-15-9733496
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ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL .... SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, July 15, 1997 -- 8:30 a.m.
Social Services Conference Room
Room 306, Municipal North
Agenda
Call to Order.
Roll Call. All Present. (Council Member Parrott arrived late.)
Statement of Purpose. Mayor Bowers.
Briefing on legal issues relating to a Modified Election District System.
Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney.
Consideration of a Resolution establishing guidelines. Adopted
Resolution No. 33496-071597. (6-0)
A review of draft Charter amendment. Mr. Dibling.
^ review of draft ballot question. Mr. Dibling.
A review of maps identifying the boundaries of the proposed Modified
Election Districts. Matthew J. Miller, Manager, Information Services, Fifth
Planning District Commission.
H:~,~GEN OA.g'/~J U LY15, MOO
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, g7~JULY15. MOD
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, al~er an extensive public participation process, including the conduct of
workshops in eleven (11) neighborhoods of the City, the Task Force rendered its fmal 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 Virginia 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 revieTM 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 IT 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. Equal population, 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
Estimates of New York Ci_ty v. Morris_, 489 U. S. 688 (1989).
b. Voting Ri_ehts Act. The dilution of racial or minority voting strength is
contrary to law and public policy. Accordingly, no districting plan shall dilute
racial or minority voting strength, and nothing in these guidelines shall be
ho
construed to supersede any provision of the Constitution of the United States
or the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
C-,ollllllc, In.e~. Districts shall be in reasonably compact form.
C..Qllligll~. Districts shall be comprised of one contiguous geographic unit
and not be separated by other boundary lines.
Population bas~. The 1990 Federal Decennial Census numbers shall be the
sole basis for determining the population of election districts.
l~:glatJal~. Election district boundaries shall where possible follow clearly
de£med 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.
Precincts. Each precinct shall be wholly contained within an election district.
Communities 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 ~nterest are
def'med 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:
City Clerk.
H:~ELEC'I~R-ELEDI$,I
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Roanoke Modified Election District Task Force rendered its final report
to City Council on June 16, 1997. A copy of the report is available for review by interested
persons in the City Clerk's Office and at the Main Library and each branch library. The
report may also be reviewed on the City's home page at http://www, ci.roanoke.va, us.
In summary, the Task force recommended that City Council should consist of seven
(7) total members, with five (5) members representing five (5) single member election
districts (wards) of the City and two (2) at large members serving as the Mayor and Vice-
Mayor. The Mayor and Vice Mayor would be elected separately. The Task Force also
recommended that the Mayor and three O) district members be elected in year 2000 and the
Vice-Mayor and two (2) district members be elected in year 2002. The Mayor, Vice-Mayor
and district representatives would serve for four (4) year terms. The boundaries of the
districts recommended by the Task Force are shown on the adjoining map. The
recommendations of the Task Force, including the map, are subject to amendment by City
Council.
City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the recommendations of the'Task Force
at 7:00 p.m. on July 28, 1997, in the Exhibit Hall of the Roanoke Civic Center, 710
Williamson Road, N. W., Roanoke, Virginia. All persons desiring to be heard shall be
accorded an oppommity to present oral testimony within such reasonable time limits as shall
be determined by City Council.
GIVEN under my hand this 14.__~_t~ay of July, 1997.
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
NOTE TO PUBLISHER:
PLEASE PUBLISH ONCE ON JULY 18,
1997, BUT NOT IN SECTION RESERVED
FOR LEGAL NOTICES
Send bill and publisher's certificate to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
456 Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Publish in the Roanoke Tribune, once on Thursday, July 17, 1997.
Send publisher's affidavit and bill to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Room 456, Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
City of Roanoke
Five Wards
PUBLIC NOTICE
~ CIb/°f R¢~ M°dlfled Election Di~r~ T~mk Fon~ r~ I~ final report to Clly Council ~n June 1~ 1997, A copy of ~he repgxt I~ ~wll~ for review by interested
~ in IJm C~ Cl~rk'~ Of~ ~nd M ~he Main IJl~ and e~ch branch Ilbr~y. The r~flor~ may abo be ~ ~ ~ C~,~ ~ ~ M ~.cl.r~.
In mmm~, Itm T~k Force mcgmm~nd~d ~M City Council ~hould con~M of ~ev~n (7) to~l nmmber~, ~ five (5) member~ r~n9 five (5) ~ngle member election
w°uld ~nm f°r f°ur (4) ~ t~m~. The bound~ of b~e di~ mcomm~m~d by ~he T.k Force ~e ~mwn on ~ ~l~ ~. ~
~n~ o~ b~ T~k Fore, Includln9 b~e ~ ~re ~ to ~mendm~nt by City Council.
"~ C°ungilMII h°M ~' Pu~k~ H~rin~ °n ~he recomn~ of lhe T.k Force M 7:00 p.m. on July ~, 1~7, in ~ ~iM ~1 ~ ~ Cbb ~, 710 Will~
I,l~rY F. Rrker, C~y Ck~k