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Volusia
County Redistricting Committee
Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2001
The Volusia County Redistricting Committee met at 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 2001, in the Training Room of the TCK Administration Center, 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand, Volusia County. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss redistricting in accordance with Volusia’s Home Charter and the 2000 Census.
The following Committee Members were present: Committee Chair Pat Northey, County Council Member; Committee Vice Chair Big John, County Council Member; Judy Conte,
School Board Member; Earl McCrary, School Board Member; Ann Smith, League of Women Voters, and Blanca Hernandez, Hispanic Association. Cynthia Slater was absent.
The following Volusia County and School Board staff members were present: Dan Eckert, County Attorney, Betty Holness, Assistant to the County Manager’s Office, Barbara Griffiths, GIS Project Leader; Mark Conway, GIS, and Fred Miller, Volusia County School Board.
Public present: Robert Miller, Commissioner of Oak Hill
Approval Of Minutes:
Minutes of the June 25 Committee meeting were approved as printed. Chairman Northey opened the meeting for public participation.
Public Participation:
Mr. Robert Miller, Commissioner of Oak Hill, spoke in behalf of the City of Oak Hill. He expressed that it is their desire not to be included in District 5 but to remain with its city neighbors of Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach. Commissioners feel that Oak Hill has more in common with these cities than Deltona.
Discussion of Map Samples:
Chairman Northey asked Barbara Griffiths, GIS Project Leader, to review the proposed redistricting samples and to explain the origin of the maps. Chairman Northey indicated that letters had been received from the cities of Daytona Beach Shores, Edgewater and Pierson indicating their map preference. Daytona Beach Shores indicated that Sample 2 best preserves the coastal character of their city. The City of Pierson indicated their preference is to retain Pierson and North West Volusia County in District 1. The City of Edgewater preferred Sample 1. The Daytona Beach Chamber of Chamber also sent a letter indicating their preference was Sample 1B. (Letters are attached.) She also indicated that Cynthia Slater, a committee member, was unable to be present but had submitted a letter indicating her preference to be Map 3 and Map 1A. (See attached.) County Attorney Dan Eckert indicated that Ms. Slater preference could not be included in the Committee’s tally. Her letter could only serve as a point of information as the Committee members made their selections.
After discussion of the map samples, Chairman Northey asked each Committee member to identify three samples which was their preference. Committee members preference were:
Chair, Pat Northey-- Samples 1B, 3, and 7B
Vice Chair, Big John --- Samples 1B, 2, and 7C
Judy Conte -----Samples 4, 4A, and 5
Blanca Hernandez ----Samples 4, 7B, and 7C
Earl McCrary ----- Samples 1, 1B,and 3
Ann Smith ----Samples 1B, 3, and 7B
Samples 1B received 4 votes; Sample 3 and 7B received 3 each, Samples 4 and 7C received 2 votes each, and Samples 1, 2, 4A, and 5 received one vote each.
The Committee decided to eliminate all map samples that received less than 3 votes. After consultation with the Committe’s attorney, Sample 3 was also eliminated because the population deviation was too high. Committee members were asked to select between Samples 1B and 7B. Committee members voted in the following manner:
Sample 1B----- Big John and Earl McCrary
Sample 7B----- Pat Northey, Judy Conte, Blanca Hernandez, and Ann Smith
Judy Conte made the motion to recommend Map Sample 7B to the County Council. Motion was second by Ann Smith and was approved unanimously.
Chair Northey indicated that she would place the Committee’s recommendation on the August 2 Council meeting. Judy Conte indicated that she would try to have the redistricting recommendation discussed at the School Board’s July 30 or August 14 meeting.
Chair Northey asked Barbara Griffiths to see that the Committee’s recommendation was placed on the County’s website. This information would also be available in the Rotunda for citizens to review.
Chair Northey thanked each of the Committee members for their invaluable participation and input. She indicated that the Council has to approve their recommendation by a 5-2 super majority vote.
The Committee may not need to meet at its scheduled July 31 meeting date. If a meeting is necessary, Chair will notify the Committee members.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
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