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06-07-2001 Redistricting Min.COMMUNITY MEETING MINUTES JUNE 7, 2001 Supervisor in Attendance: Mr. Kelly E. Miller, Vice Chrm. Planning Commission Member in Attendance: Mr. Sherman Litton, Dale District School Board Member in Attendance: Staff in Attendance: Ms. Lisa Elko, Clerk to the Board of Supervisors Mr. Lawrence C. Haake, III, Registrar Mr. Bill Handley, Planning Department Demographer Mr. Stylian Parthemos, Senior Assistant County Attorney Mr. Lloyd Lenhart, Matoaca District Media in Attendance: Ms. Meredith Fischer, Richmond Times-Dispatch The meeting came to order at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Parthemos presented an overview of the County's proposed redistricting plan. He stated that the County's total population is just under 260,000 and therefore, the average population per district must be just under 52,000. He further stated that the most growth has occurred in the Matoaca District and noted that the population must be redistributed to bring Matoaca in line with the other districts. He reviewed the boundary lines of the areas proposed to be moved from one magisterial district to another and the proposed population distribution per district. He stated that the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on June 20, 2001 to consider the proposed redistricting plan and indicated that once the plan is approved by the Board, it must be submitted to the United States Department of Justice for approval under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He further stated that it is anticipated the redistricting plan will be implemented after its approval by the Department of Justice, and new voting cards will be issued prior to the November 2001 general election for state offices. He stated 1 that the Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance on May 23, 2001 to divide the Manchester, Branches and Bellwood voting precincts and make them consistent with the State House of Delegates' adopted redistricting plan. Mrs. Joan Girone requested clarification of the three voting precincts that were split as a result of the State's redistricting plan. Ms. Ann Ketchum expressed concerns relative to a creek being the official western boundary line of the Clover Hill District and the splitting of Stonehenge Subdivision between magisterial districts. Mr. Parthemos stated that the County is required by State law to use boundary lines that are consistent with those used by the Census Bureau with a small number of exceptions, and noted that unless they are consistent with Census Bureau boundaries, subdivision boundaries are not allowed by State law for either voting or magisterial district precincts. Ms. Marie Strack expressed concerns relative to an arm of the Matoaca District which projects into the Clover Hill District. Mr. Parthemos stated that some of the Board members had indicated a desire that elected officials -- Board of Supervisors and School Board representatives, and appointed officials to the Planning Commission remain in the district in which they currently reside. He further stated that the Matoaca District School Board representative resides in the area of Matoaca which projects into the Clover Hill District. Mr. Richard Sands stated that he feels the plan could have been drawn more simply by moving areas from the Matoaca District only. Mr. Otis Patten stated that he feels the plan should be in the best interest of the entire County population and expressed concerns relative to unnecessarily moving groups of people from one district to another, specifically the Shenandoah Precinct, instead of just moving people from the Matoaca District into other districts. Mr. Fred Carreras expressed concerns with future population growth in the Matoaca District and the County's inability to redistrict for another ten years. Mr. Parthemos stated that it is not legally permissible to redistrict outside of the ten year cycle because of population growth because accurate population data is not available until the census is completed at the end of the ten year period. He further stated that redistricting can only be done prior to the next ten year cycle if there is a change in the boundary lines of the County itself. 2 Mrs. Joan Girone questioned whether the population per district would be less likely to change drastically if the County was divided into seven magisterial districts rather than five. Mr. Handley replied that the difference made by seven magisterial districts with respect to population growth would depend upon the location of the boundary lines. Ms. Ann Ketchum stated that if projections indicate that the Matoaca District's population will grow more rapidly in the next ten years than the other districts, then the current redistricting plan should allow for this by placing the smallest population distribution in the Matoaca District. Ms. Marie Quinn expressed concerns relative to the rationale for moving the Shenandoah Precinct from the Midlothian District to the Clover Hill District, and then adding two other precincts into the Midlothian District. Mr. Fred Carreras questioned the political vote from various precincts in the last presidential election. Mr. Bob Olsen presented an alternative to the County's proposed redistricting plan. A copy of the proposal is attached. Discussion, questions and comments ensued relative to Mr. Olsen's proposed plan and also to the percentage of minorities in each of the County's Magisterial Districts. When asked by Mr. Olsen, 14 people raised their hands in opposition to the County's redistricting plan and in favor of Mr. Olsen's alternative redistricting plan as a guideline. Mr. Miller expressed concerns relative to people who appear to have an interest in dividing the County on racial issues. He stated that it was not the County's intention when proposing its redistricting plan to allocate minorities either into or away from any magisterial district. He further stated that he represents everyone in his district regardless of race. Ms. Ann Ketchum stated that she feels it would be prudent to place the smallest population in those districts where the greatest amount of growth is anticipated. She suggested that the Board be careful to present a redistricting plan that is not perceived as primarily political. Mr. Dick Sands stated that he agrees that the Matoaca District should be downsized closer to minus five percent. He further stated that he feels Mr. 01sen's proposal is a good start that could be expanded upon. He stated that politics and race issues should not be a factor in the redistricting plan. Mr. Parthemos stated that when a precinct reaches 5,000 registered voters, the locality receives notification from the State Board of Elections that the precinct needs to be split. He further stated that there are voting precincts in the County that have become quite large, but noted that State law precluded localities from splitting their voting precincts for several years before the State redistricting plan was adopted, so some of our precincts have become quite large. Ms. Virginia Justice stated that she feels the population that was moved from the Midlothian District to the Matoaca District ten years ago should be returned to the Midlothian District, which would mean returning the southwestern boundary for Midlothian to Genito Road. She expressed concerns relative to the large size of the Matoaca District and stated that she does not feel the people in the less populated areas of the Matoaca District are being represented as well as those in the more populated areas. Ms. Marie Strack expressed concerns that the citizens from the small area of the Midlothian District that was moved to the Matoaca District during the last redistricting are not being represented properly because of the size of the Matoaca District. Mr. Parthemos expressed appreciation for the citizens' input and invited them to attend the June 13, 2001 community meeting and the June 20, 2001 public hearing relative to redistricting. Mrs. Joan Girone stated that she feels the Board should be considering dividing the County into seven magisterial districts. She expressed concerns that a majority of three people can make a decision for 260,000 citizens. Discussion, questions and comments ensued relative to Mrs. Girone's suggestion to divide the County into seven magisterial districts. Mr. Otis Patten stated that, under no circumstances should race be an issue in redistricting. Mr. Lenhart stated that all decisions require three votes and therefore, neither a Supervisor nor a School Board representative can make a decision specific to the jurisdiction he represents. He further stated that all votes accomplish what is best for the entire County. Mr. Parthemos again expressed appreciation for the citizen's input. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. REDISTRICTIN~ PUBLIC MEETIN~ June 7, 2001 NAME ADDRESS o 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20