2001-0390
INTRODUCED BY: 'RAM' RAMCHANDRAN, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIV. A
DARNELL "DEE" ABADIE, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III
ORDINANCE NO.
Title
An ordinance to reapportion the District Boundaries of the Governing Authority of the Parish of St. Charles, based on the 2000 United States Census in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws.
Body
WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statute 33:1411 and the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter, Article III, Section 3, require that the Governing Authority review its apportionment plan after the release of each decennial census; and,
WHEREAS, in April of 2001, the 2000 Census figures were released by the United States Census Bureau, which established the population of St. Charles Parish to be 48,072; and,
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2001, the St. Charles Parish Council adopted Resolution No. 4891 creating the "Reapportionment Committee", composed of Representatives from the Parish Council, Parish School Board, and Parish Justice of the Peace and Constables Association; and,
WHEREAS, the Committee has conducted several public meetings to review the various Alternate Proposals of Reapportionment Plans; and,
WHEREAS, at its meeting of August 2, 2001, the Committee recommended that Alternate Plan A be adopted as the 2000 Reapportionment Plan for St. Charles Parish; and,
WHEREAS, at its meeting on October 1, 2001, the Parish Council rejected the Reapportionment Committee's recommendation introduced as File No. 2001-0351; and,
WHEREAS, it is the wish of the people to have fair and equal representation on the Council as clearly specified in the Parish Charter from the East and West Bank of the Parish; and,
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Parish Council to keep the reapportionment process moving forward giving the citizens an opportunity of choice; and,
WHEREAS, IT IS DESIRED TO HAVE all Elected bodies like the St. Charles Parish School Board, Justice of the Peace and Constables to HAVE THE SAME DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE TO REDISTRICT AND ALIGN WITH that of Political Districts; and,
WHEREAS, the St. Charles Parish School Board has proceeded to reapportion St. Charles Parish School District for 8 Districts and has submitted their plan to the Department of Justice for approval; and,
WHEREAS, at its meeting on November 5, 2001, the Parish Council voted down a proposed Summary containing seven district proposal Plan "A" with a call for election for people to make the choice; and,
WHEREAS, St. Charles Parish Charter clearly calls for Reapportionment based on census for equal representation in the Council and mandates political subdivisions on equal population basis.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 33:1411 the Governing Authority has reviewed its apportionment plan and determined that a new apportionment plan is necessary.
SECTION II. That in accordance with Article III, Section 3, of the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter, the Governing Authority is hereby reapportioned, in accordance with the following Council District Boundaries which are drawn by South Central Planning & Development as an eight District Plan, the final selection by the vote of the people in an Election.
SECTION III. The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective upon "pre-clearance" from the United States Department of Justice, as required under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, after the will of the people is established by a majority vote in the Election to be conducted at the earliest opportunity in 2002.
SECTION IV. The Council District choice shall be limited to one districting plan: four districts in Eastbank and four Districts in Westbank with two Council Members-At-Large, elected Parishwide, the above District plan as drawn and defined by South Central Planning & Development.
SECTION V. The Parish President is authorized to proceed with the application process to the Federal Government at the appropriate time after the election.
SECTION VI. The Election District herein established shall be effective for Members of the Parish Council seeking Election in the Fall of 2003 and assuming Office in January 2004.
Vote
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted this day of , 2002, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
Reapportion Ram 0390 - revised
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: _____________________________