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Volusia
County Redistricting Committee
Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2001
The Volusia County Redistricting Committee met at 3:00 p.m. on May 24, 2001 in the Training Rooms at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand, Volusia County, Florida. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss redistricting in accordance with Volusia County’s Home Rule Charter and the 2000 Census.Public Notice of this workshop was given in The News-Journal.
The following Committee Members were present: Committee Chair Patricia Northey, County Council Member; Committee Vice Chair John, County Council Member; Judith Conte, Volusia County School Board; Blanca Hernandez Volusia County Hispanic Association; Earl McCrary, Volusia County School Board; Cynthia Slater, NAACP; Ann H. Smith, League of Woman’s Voters
The following Volusia County staff members were present: Dan Eckert, County Attorney; Barbara Griffiths, GIS Project Leader; Betty Holness, Assistant to the County Manager; Deanie Lowe, Supervisor of Elections; Diane Marinaro Tyler, Administrative Aide for the County Manager’s Office; Elaine Whitehead, Information Technology Director
Members of the public and press were present.
Welcome/Introductions
Committee Chair Pat Northey called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. and delivered some opening remarks. She then asked all present to introduce themselves.
Overview of the Charter Process
Mr. Eckert reviewed the Charter with regard to re-districting. He said quoted, "After every decennial census and prior to the next ensuing general election, the council shall prepare a plan for the reapportionment of the five districts to in sure division into contiguous areas as nearly equal in population as possible." Mr. Eckert said that re-numbering the districts geographically would be helpful and would be done during this process. He discussed the Sunshine Laws and explained that no two members of the Committee could discuss the re-districting outside of the meeting setting. Mr. Eckert explained, "If the council is unable to complete the reapportionment of the council districts within six months after the official publication of the census, the county attorney upon authorization of the council or petition of twenty-five electors of the county shall petition the circuit court having jurisdiction in the county to make such reapportionment." He said that he does not expect that should ever be an issue. Mr. Eckert further stated that it is County Council’s intention to establish districts, which coincide with those of the Volusia County School Board.
Discussion of Census Materials/Booklet
Chair Northey enumerated the goals established for the 1991 Reapportionment Committee. She then asked if committee members wished to establish other goals.
Committee Member Conte moved for APPROVAL of the following goals and after Committee Member Ann Smith seconded the motion, it CARRIED unanimously.
Goals:
Residence of the School Board and County Council remain within their districts
No two members be in the same district
Integrity of municipal boundaries be preserved when feasible
Preservation of territorial community interest
Keep in tact large concentration of minority population
A booklet including proposed districts was provided. A copy of this booklet is with the records of this Committee.
Ms. Griffiths reviewed the booklet provided. She explained that Sample 1 represents a target population at 0% deviation. She said that it keeps the Cities of DeBary and Deltona together while the other districts move west and south. She said that Port Orange and Daytona Beach are split between several districts and the Samsula-Spruce Creek CDP is split between two districts.
Ms. Griffiths said that Sample 1 meets the following goals:
New district boundaries do not place residences of the existing School Board or County Council members outside their district.
No two district members are within the same district
Concentrated minority populations are left intact.
Ms. Griffiths said that Sample 2 represents a target population deviation under 1%. It also keeps DeBary and Deltona together with other districts moving west and south. She said that Port Orange and Daytona Beach are split between several districts and the Samsula-Spruce Creek CDP is split between two districts.
Ms. Griffiths said that Sample 2 meets the following goals:
New district boundaries do not place residences of the existing School Board or County Council members outside their district.
No two district members are within the same district
Concentrated minority populations are left intact.
Ms. Griffiths explained that Sample 3 meets the target population deviation with no districts deviating more than 5%. She said that in this sample no cities are split by District boundaries. Several cities are moved into new districts. Samsula-Spruce Creek CDP is split between two districts.
Ms. Griffiths said that this sample meets the following goals:
New district boundaries do not place residences of the existing School Board or County Council members outside their district.
No two district members are within the same district
Integrity of municipal boundaries are preserved
Concentrated minority populations are left intact
Mr. Eckert expressed concern that the population in the proposed districts (Sample 3) varies too much.
Chair Northey said that she is in favor of Sample 3. She said that it meets the 5% requirement set forth by Congress but also keeps boundaries in tact.
Committee Member John said that Districts 1, 4 and 5 are too spread out and will be poorly represented if Sample 3 is applied.
Committee Member Conte inquired about east/west districts.
Chair Northey said that east/west districts would create service issues for elected officials.
Committee Member Conte requested further information regarding east/west districts and requested that this redistricting become Sample 4.
Committee Member John requested more detailed information regarding the Daytona Beach and Port Orange splits for Samples 1, 2, and 4.
Chair Northey announced that redistricting maps would be available on Volusia County’s website –
www.volusia.org
Set Listening DatesChair Northey explained the need to set listening dates at various locations throughout the County. There was committee consensus that all meetings would be held at 5:30 p.m. and are expected to last about 90 minutes on the following dates:
Tuesday, May 29th – Council Chambers, Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand
Monday, June 4th – South Auditorium of the City Island Library, 105 East Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach
Tuesday, June 5th – Auditorium of the New Smyrna Beach Public Library, 1001 South Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach
Wednesday, June 6th – Senior Citizen Center, Building B, 351 Andrews Street, Ormond Beach
Monday, June 11th – Deltona Public Library 2150 Eustace Avenue, Deltona
The next Committee meeting was set for Wednesday, June 25th at 5:30 p.m. in the Training Rooms at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center.
Other Discussion
Chair Northey said that she had received a letter from Oswald P. Bronson, Sr., President of Bethune Cookman College stating that Bethune Cookman College "would greatly benefit by the designation of one precinct for the entire campus using the College’s official address for residence identification."
Ms. Lowe said that two city zones split Bethune Cookman College’s campus. She said that they could be placed in one precinct but it would be confusing because poll workers would have to hand out different ballots. She said that she has discussed this with representatives of Bethune Cookman College and that this issue should be handled on the city level. Ms. Lowe said that students could not register to vote using the College’s official address as proposed by Mr. Bronson but instead must register using their actual residence address.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
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