062607 CRC Redistricting & Related Topics Subcommittee
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CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Redistricting & Related Topics Subcommittee
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Date:
Time:
Place:
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
6:00 PM
Railroad Depot Room, 2nd Floor, Sanford City Hall, 300 N. Park
Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771
Present: Jason Brodeur
James Davis
Robert J. Kinney
Attorney: William L. Colbert
Janet Dougherty
Sherman Yehl
Call to Order
Mr. Davis called the meeting to order at 6: 11 PM.
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Approval of Minutes of June 7,2007
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Mr. Kinney moved to approve the Minutes. Seconded by Mr. Brodeur
and carried by a vote of the Committee as follows:
Jason Brodeur Aye
James Davis Aye
Robert J. Kinney Aye
Discussion with City Attorney William L. Colbert
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Mr. Colbert discussed the history of the City of Sanford, where we
are and legally where we can go. He stated the DeLattibeaudiere et al vs.
Sanford et al case of 1983 was caused by the city's history of electing its
Commissioners at large and people tended to vote in blocks which tended to
dilute or diminish the opportunity for minorities to elect people to the
Commission. Mr. Colbert stated the presiding judge was Judge Young, the
plaintiffs in this case were African Americans and the lawsuit was filed by
individuals through their attorneys. He stated the goal of the lawsuit was to
bring the districts in such a way that an African American would have an
opportunity and probability of being elected and representing their constituents
on the commission.
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CRC Redistrictina & Related TODics Subcommittee 062607
Mr. Colbert stated the parties looked into the number of districts;
analysis was done by all to divide the city into four equally populated districts, J. )
they agreed the purpose was to be sure at least one of those areas had the
capability statistically of electing minority people to office, Judge Young
pointed out the f]lid census data was an estimate and didn't meet the essential
requirements of the law, it was agreed adjustments where to be made using
the hard data or decennial census data not the estimate, the adjustment was
done in 1990, however, it was not done in 2000 and in December 2006 an
Ordinance was passed effectively redistricting the city using the 2000 census
data. He stated a requirement is in Ordinance form that within 30 days of
receiving hard census data the city has to initiate the process to redistrict the
city in accordance with the hard data.
Mr. Colbert stated the presiding judge in the lawsuit between the United
States vs. Osceola County was Judge Presnell, was caused by Hispanics and
filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of those people in Osceola
County. He stated that both lawsuits are similar.
Mr. Colbert stated from a legal stand point the city has done everything it
can legally do.
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Mr. Davis stated the districts can be redrawn based on the 2000 census
data, be balanced, meet the obligation of following along contiguous lines and
district 2 would not be diluted. He stated he will present an outline of the
districts at the next Charter Review Committee meeting.
The Redistricting & Related Topics Subcommittee concurred it was not
necessary to have any additional meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25PM~
CHAIRMAN
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