Amend Chapter 1, Section 1-4 of the Municipal Code of South Bend Commonly Referred to as six (6) Councilmanic Districts

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Ordinance No. ` ~ ~ ~ ~~~ AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1-4 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF SOUTH BEND COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SIX (6) COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, recognizes that it is required to redistrict its six (6) Councilmanic Districts every ten (10) years based on the most recent census. The Council is also aware of the provisions of Indiana Code § 36-46-3 which requires the Common Council to pass an ordinance dividing the city into six (6) districts which: 1. Are composed of contiguous territory, except for territory that is not contiguous to any other part of the city; 2. Are reasonably compact; 3. Do not cross precinct boundary lines, except as may be permitted in limited situations; and 4. Contain, as nearly as possible, equal population. An eleven (11) member Special Advisory Redistricting Committee composed of a bi- partisan, broad-based cross-section of residents of the City of South Bend, Indiana, began meeting in public in December of 2001. This committee had five (5) resource persons who met with them in public on six (6) occasions. The Special Advisory Redistricting Committee and its resource persons met with the Council's Committee of the Whole on two (2) occasions and recommended a proposed redistricting plan. Information on redistricting, including a proposed map depicting the new Councilmanic Districts has been posted on the City's website (www.ci.south-bend.in.us) since early this summer to ensure that as many members of the public are aware of this process. The Special Advisory Redistricting Committee had the opportunity to review the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended which prohibits "vote dilution". It was briefed on the fact that decennial redistricting, in conjunction with census data, is required by the equal protection clause to ensure that there is an equal representation of citizens living in each district, consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Baker v. Carr which was handed down in 1966. After careful consideration, the Common Council believes that the following ordinance is consistent with applicable state and federal law, is in the best interests of the City of South Bend, and helps preserve neighborhood boundaries in designating the district lines of each of the six (6) councilmanic districts in the city. ~ObU, ~~j~l'~0~~, ~ ft Or~~ftt~~ ~~ l:Cj~ ~OltitttOttt kLO1Ctt~f1 OE ~~ ~tt~ 0~ ~ttl;~j ~81td, ~tt~f~t>L~(, as follows: Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, hereby amends Section 1-4 of Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code of South Bend as follows: