City Council's Reapportionment Committee voted on Wednesday to move Reapportionment Plans A and D to the Council's Rules Committee, the next step in the city's reapportionment process. The move was made ahead of their Monday deadline, but not made without disapproval being voiced by some of those in the committee.
Council Member E. Denise Lee voiced her concerns, though somewhat reluctantly, that the Rules Committee does not have adequate minority representation. As a remedy, Council Member Warren Jones motioned that the committee petition the Council President to extend the life of the Reapportionment Committee to work with the Rules Committee as the process continues.
The plans, as they stand, can be viewed here:
A live-tweet account of the meeting can be found on my Twitter account (@CRizOFT), by searching the hashtag #JaxPol, or by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
Moving the maps to the Rules Committee sets up the process of public hearings. There will be for hearings at each FSCJ campus (North, Kent, South and Deerwood) set for the end of August through the beginning of September. Interested citizens are invited to come look at the proposed maps and comment on where they think changes should be made.
The next Rules Committee meeting will be held August 15, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. in City Hall, 117 W. Duval St., on the fourth floor in Conference Room A.
Below is a record of the Live-Tweet session: (Ordered chronologically from most recent to oldest.)
Schellenberg motions to pass Plan A and Plan D to Rules. Hopes that Council Prez will let them continue to meet. Motion passed. Gaffney adjourns mtg. #jaxpol
Jones' motion is passed. Schellenberg motion to pass map to Rules on Monday. Lee seconds for discussion. #Jaxpol
Final hearing times to be scheduled with FSCJ campuses. North, Kent, South, and Deerwood. Law require three hearings, 4 scheduled. #jaxpol
Killingsworth and Laquidara suggest ending more than one day before hearings. Don't want a meaningless public hearing. #jaxpol
Jones motions to petition President to extend Cmte life until day b4 hearings. With conditional second to Schellenberg's motion if approved. #jaxpol
Lee and Carter looking to make changes in their districts. Gaffney mentions possible ripple effect. #jaxpol
First public hearing is August 25. #jaxpol
Boyer points out that Reapportionment Cmte can continue to meet as long as proper notice is given. Just no real authority. #jaxpol
Special Cmte out of business once maps is passed to Rules. This Cmte can only continue to work w/ Rules if Council President or Rles Cmte allows. #jaxpol
Once passed to rules, and amendments to this plan will have to be made using the amendment process. #jaxpol
Public hearings are being set up for the last two weeks in August, and one in Sept. at carols FSCJ campuses. #jaxpol
Lee: widespread concern that minority interests won't be represented on Rules committee. In favor of continuing with Rules Cmte. #jaxpol
CM Brown talking about merging Rules and Reapportionment moving forward with this process. GC: Would have to be a one-time combination. #jaxpol
Lee would not support this plan today. Will sit down with planning to determine where she will pick up, and where she will give up. #Jaxpol
Two council districts make-up one school board district. Current plan does not put incumbent vs. incumbent. #jaxpol
Boyer mentioning Fletcher Park. Discussion over where it should be included. #jaxpol
CM Lee is expressing concerns about loosing 5,000. Wants planning to give her options. Not in favor of losing. #JaxPol
Lowest pop on map is 68,650. Lowest you can go is around 58,000. #jaxpol
Planning: no incumbents competing against each other. jones: "I don't think that matters." #JaxPol
Gaffney: Be mindful of the sidebars. planning dept. Presents plan B. #jaxpol
In attendance: CM Crescimbemi, SOE Jerry Holland, GC Laquidara, CM Gaffney, CM Jones, and more. #jaxpol
Waiting on others, passing maps around. #jaxpol
Reporting in right on time for today's Reapportionment Committee meeting. #jaxpol
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