01-12-02 Special Advisory Redistricting Committee

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tia1 StibiAzory Zebtotritting tountattet The January 12,2002 meeting of the Special Advisory Redistricting Committee was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by its Chairperson, Council Member Charlotte Pfeifer in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included: John W. Byorni, Gregorio Chavez, Jr., Gary Gilot, Violet Hawkins, Glenda Rae Hernazndez, Council Member Karl King, Charles S. Leone, Council Member Pfeifer, Audrey Jones Spencer, Council Member Karen L. White, George Adler, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Larry Magliozzi,and Deb Martin. Council Member Pfeifer welcomed everyone to the first Saturday meeting. Council Member Pfeifer noted that there is a one-page handout from Kathy Cekanski Farrand verifying the preliminary discussions of December 7th, At that meeting it was agreed that there would be thirteen (13) members on the Special Advisory Redistricting Committee; that the Advisory Committee would meet on the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room; that the Advisory Committee would periodically report to the Council's Committee of the Whole on their progress; and that there would be a series of community meetings held in each of the Councilmanic Districts before the final redistricting ordinance is passed by the Council on or before October 29,2002(copy attached). Council Member Pfeifer then asked Council Member King to review his Memorandum addressing "Precinct Information and Recommendations". Council Member King noted that St. Joseph County eliminated nineteen (19) existing precincts by combining them with adjacent precincts and that nine(9) new precincts were created. In the City of South Bend,fifteen(15)existing precincts were eliminated and were combined with an adjacent precinct and that one (1) new precinct was created as a result of annexation. (See Exhibit A of Council Member King's Memorandum). Council Member King then reviewed the population data (See Exhibits B and C of Council Member King's Memorandum). He then reviewed a proposed redistricting plan set forth in Exhibit D which recommends reassigning three (3) precincts, namely SB0102, SB0118 and SB0515 which would result in a maximum variance of 0.5%in any District. Deb Martin and George Adler providing copies of census track information for Councilmanic District 1; a map addressing "Census 2000 South Bend Census Tracts/Block Groups" and a map addressing"City Council Districts with new precincts" (copies attached). Council Member Pfeifer thanked everyone for their information and suggested that a preliminary report be given to the Council's Committee of the Whole. Charles Leone liked the concept of having minimal changes, but suggested that in each instance where a precinct change is recommended that the Committee check how such changes would be impacted by neighborhood groups. George Adler inquired whether the guideline of having not more than 1,200 active voters in each precinct was utilized;and Larry Magliozzi noted that census block information would be ongoing. It was suggested that a better map be prepared that includes labels of major highways and that an overlay to that map be prepared showing the neighborhood boundaries in conjunction with District boundaries.