HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 07-29-97 SpMtg
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ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, July 29, 1997 - 2:00 p.m.
Emergency Operations Center Conference Room
Room 159, Municipal South
Agenda
1. Call to Order.
2. Roll Call.
3. Statement of Purpose. Mayor David A. Bowers.
4. Discussion of issues to be resolved.
5. Adjournment.
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Issues to be Resolved
1. Which 3 districts should be up for election in 2000 and which 2 districts in 2002?
Alternatives:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Numerical order: 1,2 and 3 in 2000; 4 and 5 in 2002.
Odd-even: 1,3 and 5 in 2000; 2 and 4 in 2002.
Determine by lot
Other method
2. How should the Vice-Mayor be elected for the time period of July 1, 2000, through June 30,
2002?
Alternatives:
a.
b.
City Council elects Vice-Mayor from its membership.
The person elected Vice-Mayor in May, 1998, serves a 4 year term.
3. During the transition period, should an at large Council member elected to a 4 year term in
1998 be pennitted to retain his or her at large seat and run for a district seat in 2000? (This
is not prohibited by the draft Charter amendment; before assuming the district seat the
Council member would be required to resign from the at large seat. Of course, even if
prohibited, an at large Council member could always resign his or her seat and run for a
district seat.)
4. Should the Vice-Mayor or a Council member, who has 2 years remaining on his or her term,
be permitted to run for Mayor? (This would be permitted under the draft Charter
amendment. A Council member may currently run for Mayor at mid-term.)
5. Is January 1,2000, the appropriate effective date for the Charter amendment?
6. Does the question to be placed on the ballot fairly state the question in plain English?
7. What district map should be adopted?
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CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY
464 MUNICIPAL BUILDING
215 CHURCH AVENUE, SW
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1595
TELEPHONE: 540-853-2431
FACSIMILE: 540-853-1221
E-MAIL:cityatty@ci.roanoke.va.us
WILLIAM X PARSONS
STEVEN J. TALEVI
GLADYS L. YATES
GARY E. TEGENKAMP
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS
WILBURN C. DIBLING, JR.
CITY ATTORNEY
July 29, 1997
VIA FACSIMILE
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Re: Election Districts
Dear Mayor Bowers and Council Members:
This is just a reminder to bring the notebooks you were provided at the July 15 work
session to this afternoon's work session. Also, I am enclosing another copy of the list of
issues to be resolved; this list was provided to you with last week's agenda package. Finally,
I am enclosing a one-page handout that explains how full implementation of the district
system could occur on July 1,2000. This responds to the question that Council Member
Trout asked at the June 15 work session.
I look forward to seeing you this afternoon.
With kindest personal regards, I am
WCD:f
Attachments
Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr.
City Attorney
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FULL IMPLEMENTATION
OF
DISTRICT SYSTEM IN 2000
1. How it works:
a. Three Council members are elected for 2-year tenns in May, 1998 (July
1, 1998, to June 30, 2000). All terms on Council will expire on June
30, 2000.
b. In May, 2000, all 5 districts elect representatives and Mayor and Vice-
Mayor are elected at large
c. To obtain staggered system:
(1) May, 2000, Mayor and 3 district representatives are
elected to 4-year terms (July 1,2000, to June 30,2004)
(2) May, 2000, Vice Mayor and 2 district representatives are
elected to 2-year terms (July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2002)
2. Advantages:
a. Achieves full implementation of district system as quickly as possible
so that any advantages of system are available at the earliest possible
date
b. A voids charges that persons residing in 2 districts that do not elect
representatives in May, 2000, under the "phased in" plan are
disenfranchised from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2002.
c. Allows people to elect Vice-Mayor in May, 2000
3. Disadvantages:
a. 3 Council members receive 2-year terms in May, 1998
b. Vice-Mayor and 2 Council members receive 2 year terms in May, 2000
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