Ward & Boundary Commission

WARD & BOUNDARY COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, July 9, 2020 Via Webex 2:30 p.m. To protect public health during COVID – 19 pandemic, personal attendance at the meeting was not permitted. When it was time, the public could participate by videoconference at the following link: https://cityofmorgantown.my.webex.com/meet/cityofmorgantown With meeting number (access code) 793 734 477, or by calling in at the following number 408-418-9388 and using the access code 793 734 477. All members of the public could view the meeting on Channel 15 and by streaming hosted on the City’s website at www.morgantownwv.gov. PRESENT: Via Webex Interim City Manager Emily Muzzarelli, City Clerk Christine Wade, Deputy Clerk Heather Carl, GIS Analyst Marvin Davis, Chair Sarah Barnes, Commission Members Cindy O’Brien, Moira Reilly, Roy Nutter, Alice Meehan, and Don Spencer. 5TH Ward is open The meeting was called to order by Chair Sarah Barnes at 2:03 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Roy Nutter, second by Moira Reilly, to approve the June 25, 2020, meeting minutes after correction requesting to reflect that Don Spencer was present via telephone along with Moira Reilly who was having technical difficulties. Approved by consensus once correction was made. NEW BUSINESS: None PUBLIC PORTION: Sarah Barnes declared the Public Portion open. There being no appearances, Sarah declared the Public Portion closed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Project Update: Ward and Boundary Data, Redistricting GIS Analyst Marvin Davis provided maps and data via email pertaining to mapping of the Ward Boundaries utilizing the Population and Registered Voters. See link below that was presented to the Ward & Boundary Commission to review for this meeting. Marcin provided an update on the progress of the Ward Boundary Analysis Project for the upcoming 2021 Municipal Election. The Ward Analyst maps and data is what was processed through a program using Business Analyst and Data Enrichment tools. The data used was a combined tax parcel and 2010 Census block layer with counts of geocoded addresses of registered voters and 2020 population estimates from the American Community Survey. The data presented to the Commission showed Territories and are not the same as Wards. The resultant “territories” generated from the analysis are numbered and named based on the placement, are performed by the tool and have no linkages to existing ward boundaries, but the existing boundaries. See link https://arcg.is/1zWSDf to see the analysis map provided by Marvin Davis. He stated the most balanced is exhibit 8, Tool and Manual Assignment – Attempt 3. After discussion, a work session has been suggested providing additional time to review the data received. Marvin stated he will try to have the Registered Voter Data from the most current Election from July 9, 2020, for the next meeting. He is not sure if he will be using the existing or new data from the County Clerk. The Commission thanked Marvin for all of his work and stated he is doing a very good job. A suggestion work session was made for them to meet in person to look over the information and maps, but some were not for meeting in person. Chair Sarah Barnes asked the commissioners if they could please review the maps and comment on them for the upcoming work session. MISCELLANEOUS:  A. Next scheduled meeting, time, date, and location The next scheduled meeting will be a work session on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. via Webex. The meeting will be broadcast live on Channel 15. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, motion by Alice Meehan, to adjourn the meeting at 3:41 p.m. Prepared by: Heather Carl Date Approved: July 22, 2020 _____________________ Chairman, Sarah Barnes