Districting Commission Meetings

MINUTES Districting Commission Meeting Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Commission Members Present: Tom Hurlbert (Via telecom), Barbara Brooks Johnson (Via telecom), Joseph Kippley, Mark Millage, Bob Thimjon (Via telecom) Commission Members Absent: None The meeting began at 6:11 p.m. due to technical issues with remote attendance. Once the issue was resolved, it was noted that all members were present. 2. Introductions and Opening Remarks Each Commission Member provided a brief introduction. Mark Millage represents the Northwest District; Joseph Kippley represents the Southeast District; Bob Thimjon represents the Southwest District; Tom Hurlbert represents the Central District; and Barbara Brooks Johnson represents the Northeast District. The volunteer members were appointed by the City Council on December 8, 2020. Their terms will expire upon completion of the districting process. 3. New Business A. Open Meetings Laws and Ethics by Tom Greco, City Clerk Greco described key components of open meetings requirements, which include the transacting or discussion of business among a quorum of the body. He reminded the commission that such discussions may only take place in public meetings that are noticed with proposed agenda at least 24 hours in advance. The commission was also introduced to City Ethics requirements, specifically financial interests and gifts. B. Districting Commission Purpose, Responsibilities, and Process by Tom Greco, City Clerk Greco first provided an overview of Council responsibilities as they relate to the districting process. The Council appoints members, receives the commission's final plan, and may disapprove the plan within 21 days of receipt. In the latter case, the commission has 14 days to present a revised plan. Greco also noted that a related task of the Council is to amend precinct designations to reflect any changes made by the commission. The responsibilities of the commission include: preparing a  plan to divide the districts in accordance with criteria set forth in the Charter; providing a 30-day comment period; holding at least one public hearing following the comment period and not less than 30 days prior to submission to the Council; and, submitting the plan to the City Council. Greco explained that the City Charter requires the plan to be submitted not less than nine months prior to the next election. This means, by City Charter, that the plan would have to be submitted by October 12, 2021. Because census figures will not be available in time to do this, sub-item E will be used to address alternatives. C. Designation of Commission Chair Greco reviewed the composition of the commission and the requirement to designate a chair by a majority vote of the body. The chair presides over meetings and typically presents the report to the Council. The selection of a chair will be taken up a the next commission meeting. D. Districting Criteria and Map Review (Previous Years) by Jeff Schmitt, Planning Projects Coordinator Schmitt described the criteria set forth in the City Charter that the commission is required to use in developing the plan. The criteria consists of: equal population among districts (there is an acceptable 5% deviation); contiguous territory; no division of precincts; an aggregate length of boundaries as short as possible; and limiting of the number of districts in both counties. Schmitt then reviewed districting efforts since 2001 and showed that past commissions have been able to meet the criteria given significant increases in population. Based upon preliminary figures, he expects districts to consist of approximately 39,000 residents. He explained the adopted plan from 2017 as a way to show how precincts can be moved from one district to another while meeting the specified criteria. He also discussed additional factors that the 2017 commission considered, which included: the desire to minimize the number of changes; accounting for future growth; retaining natural boundaries; and to keep the Central District relatively high in population, but still within the acceptable deviation. Schmitt provided the commission with 2021 population estimates by district and precinct. He emphasized that they were only estimates based on housing units, not census figures. However, past experience shows that the numbers are generally similar and can be used as a tool for preliminary analysis before receipt of final census figures. Presently, the Southeast District appears to have the highest population, with the Northeast District being the smallest. Schmitt concluded by showing a future growth map that includes five,15, and 25 year projections. He noted that previous commissions found future growth areas to be useful in arriving at a plan. E. Review of Timeline and Potential Changes by Tom Greco, City Clerk and Jeff Schmitt, Planning Projects Coordinator Greco reviewed a timeline based on the assumption that detailed census figures would be available in March or April. The purpose was to illustrate the time requirements set forth in Charter. However, the recent announcement that data will not be available until the end of July, means that the timeline will have to be shortened by a Council-adopted ordinance. Greco stated there are three factors the commission may want to consider in recommending a new timeline: 1) the Census Bureau announced that detailed data will not be available until at least July  30, 2021; 2) City Charter allows for a shortening of the timeline, but does not relieve the commission of developing a plan prior to the next election; and, a recent Charter amendment now requires individuals running for a district seat to have resided in the district for at least six months prior to the date of the election. The latter point was made for awareness and is not a specified criteria for adjusting the timeline. The first option provided for submission of the plan to the Council by October 12, 2021, and the second option set the submission date for no later than December 7, 2021. Greco explained that the first option was ambitious and can only be accomplished if the data is received by July 30. The second criteria provides for greater flexibility based on receipt of the data. The December date also represents the latest ideal time to submit the plan and still provide voters and potential candidates with certainty about district boundaries. A motion was made by Commissioner Thimjon and seconded by Commissioner Kippley to recommend December 7, 2021 as the latest date to submit the plan to the City Council. Roll call vote to recommend. 5 Yes: Hurlbert, Brooks Johnson, Kippley, Millage, Thimjon; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. Greco explained that next steps would include drafting an ordinance for Council consideration to shorten the time period. Bob Thimjon departed the meeting at 6:48 p.m. 4. Next Meeting Greco and Schmitt discussed the potential value in meeting prior to July 30, in order for the commission to review plan options based on the housing unit data presented earlier in the meeting. The advantage of doing this will be to provide the commission with a sense of potential actions they can take once final figures are available, thus providing for greater efficiency in the process. It was recognized that final options must be based on the Census data. There was agreement among the commission to meet in June to work through preliminary options. Greco stated he will send out a poll close to June in order to identify a meeting date and time. 5. Public Comment There was none. 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m. Choose an item.