City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. THOMAS J. TOMZAK, MAYOR HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, VICE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. BRADFORD C. ELLIS, WARD ONE HON. GEORGE C. SOLLEY, WARD TWO HON. FREDERIC N. HOWE, III, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. BEATRICE R. PAOLUCCI, WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session June 28, 2011 Redistricting The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room. Council Present. Mayor Thomas J. Tomzak, Presiding. Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Bradford C. Ellis, Frederic N. Howe, III, Beatrice R. Paolucci and George C. Solley. Also Present. City Manager Beverly R. Cameron, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Planning Director Ray Ocel, Community Development Planner Marne Sherman, Registrar Juanita Pitchford, Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Others Present. Secretary to the Electoral Board Amanda McGrady. Redistricting – City Manager Cameron began by stating that the City’s population has grown significantly in the last 10 years. The current population is 24,286, which is up 26% an increase of 5007 citizens. He said staff has developed 3 redistricting options. He said there are two constraints, the population balance in the four wards and it is important to preserve the minority vote in Ward 4. Planning Director Ocel and Community Planner Sherman began the PowerPoint presentation explaining the Federal, State, and local requirements, population comparison from 2000 and 2010, 2010 ward demographics, current deviations, existing boundaries, 2011 redistricting Options 1-3, and the timeline. Ms. Sherman reviewed each of the options and discussed the areas each Ward would lose or gain (see attachment). She explained that the proposed Option 1 is the only option that the black residents exceed the number of white residents in Ward 4 and it is also the closest 1 option in relation to voter age population. It is also the only option that does not displace a Council member or School Board Member. Councilor Paolucci asked if current projects could be taken into consideration and Ms. Sherman said they could not. She could only use the numbers that are taken from the 2010 census. Ms. Paolucci felt that Option 2 had more natural boundaries, because it does not split streets in neighborhoods. She also thought that having Central Park and Celebrate Virginia in one Ward would be too much for one Councilor and Option 2 breaks it ups. Ms. Sherman also noted that in all the option Ward 2 will exceed the 5000 benchmark in one precinct. The Ward would need to be split into two precincts. The Electoral Board will be responsible for finding the new polling location. Councilor Solley noted two concerns with Option 2. The first concern was in terms of character, Ward 2 is a downtown ward and he said it makes more sense to expand into downtown rather than across Route 1 as being proposed. He said when you cross over Route 1 it takes on a totally different character than the downtown. His second concern was that Ward 2 already has the smallest population and he said it is prudent to look at where the majority of growth will take place. He said if Ward 2 starts with a low population it will continue to get further behind as time passes. On Option 3, Councilor Ellis felt this option was the most lop sided. Ms. Sherman explained that it is like that so that she could meet the requirements. Councilor Paolucci noted that this option would break up the Rising Sun Neighborhood Association and she thought that was not a good option. Ms. Sherman said it was the option with the greatest disparity deviation. Mr. Ocel also noted that this option had the highest percentage between voter age population white and voter age population black, but it met all the criteria. Ms. Sherman said another potential issue with this option is an unseated school board member. Councilor Ellis stated that in comparison of Option 1 and 2 it would make more sense for Ward 1 to lose Altoona instead of the Preserves because the Preserves is new and it has similar but unique issues with developers as the other newer neighborhoods and its helpful for the representative to have knowledge. Councilor Devine requested that the maps be posted at the library, community center and the lobby of City Hall. Councilor Ellis also suggested putting something on the public access channel directing citizens where they can find the information. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was declared officially adjourned at 6:34 p.m. 2 Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3