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Item M7 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: November 20. 2001 Division: County Administrator Bulk Item: Yes No X Department: County Administrator AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval for the establishment of a process that will consider the redistricting of County Commission districts and Mosquito Control districts in time for adoption in 2003. ITEM BACKGROUND: Every ten years, after the descennenial census, it is incumbent upon the County Commission and the School Board to consider whether the electoral districts need to be changed based upon population changes. The County Administrator, the Supervisor of Elections, and the Superintendent of the School Board have been discussing how best to proceed and have included the Director of the Mosquito Control district. Reports were made to the County Commission and demographic information has just recently been made available. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval. TOTAL COST: To be determined. BUDGETED: Yes No COST TO COUNTY: To be determined. REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH_ Year APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management _ .-~ (J-L -/-~L~~~ James L. Roberts DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: DOCUMENTATION: Included X To Follow_ Not Required_ DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM # / - /JJ ') REDISTRICTING Since the census was completed in 2000, the State government has been preparing for the possible redistricting of the legislative and congressional districts. At the same time, it is incumbent upon the County Commission and the School Board to consider redistricting based upon population increases or decreases and shifts among the various geographic areas of the County. The Mosquito Control districts coincide with the County Commission's. As has been reported to the County Commission in the past, there was anticipation that information would be available over the summer of 2001 so that recommendations could be developed for redistricting. In fact, the computerized information from the State Legislature was not available until recently and, as per agreement among the Supervisor of Elections, the School Board and the County, the information was presented to the Growth Management Division for analysis. The Geographic Information Systems staff recently completed a look into the data. As the Board of County Commissioners is aware, there has been an approximate 1,500 increase in the County. In and of itself, that would probably not create a need for redistricting. However, there have been some significant changes between certain districts and these should be considered in terms of establishing appropriate electoral districts. These also effect the School Board districts. The process for redistricting includes information being made available to the. public and public hearings to be held to give the citizens an opportunity to evaluate the available information and to comment upon proposals to be developed. Because of the late arrival of the information, it would be nearly impossible to complete this process in time for January 1, 2002. In fact, there would be little opportunity, if an~~ to communicate adequately with the citizens. In addition, County staff reports that it is extremely difficult to obtain information from the computerized disks at the level that is necessary. It took not only technical expertise but also a significant amount of time to bring forward information at the census tract level. There is also some concern that the information is not complete. On November 8, the County Administrator and Growth Management staff met with the Supervisor of Elections, the Superintendent of the School Board and the Director of the MosqUito Control district to discuss these issues. As a result, the Administrator and the Superintendent of the School Board, with the concurrence of the Director of the Mosquito district, recommend that all agencies involved enter upon a public process during calendar year 2002 to disseminate accurate information to the public concerning existing districts and the change in population identified in the 2000 census and to participate in public hearings that will result in recommended redistricting by January 1, 2003. The Supervisor of Elections has indicated his concurrence. All parties appear prepared to enter into a cooperative relationship. It is felt that this will contribute to a process in which the public can participate based upon more accurate information.