2001-0442
INTRODUCED BY: 'RAM' RAMCHANDRAN, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
ORDINANCE NO.
Title
An ordinance to provide for the amendment of the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter Section A of Article III to change the composition of the Parish Council to a four member district and to provide for submission of the amendment to the voters.
Body
WHEREAS, the 2000 Census was completed for St. Charles Parish which revealed that the Parish Population had increased to 48,072 residents; and,
WHEREAS, the 2000 Census revealed that the population consisted of 24,081 residents on the East Bank and 23,991 residents on the West Bank, virtually making the population equally divided between the East Bank and West Bank; and,
WHEREAS, there has been an inherent problem, that equal representation has not been provided to each side of the River by having four (4) District Councilmen from the West Bank and three (3) District Councilmen from the East Bank; and,
WHEREAS, since the 2000 Census has confirmed that there are virtually equal populations on the East and West Bank, the citizens should have the right to select equal Councilmatic District representation from each bank of the River; and,
WHEREAS, the Council on October 07, 2002, in a 4 to 4 vote defeated the 8 + 2 District proposal; and,
WHEREAS, the citizens have expressed concern that the size of government is too large for the population and decrease in representation is in order and in the event that the population grows to over 100,000 citizens these positions could possibly become a full time job.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That proposals shall be presented to the electorate of St. Charles Parish on the next regularly scheduled election date or special election called by the St. Charles Parish Council, to amend the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter Section A of Article III to provide that the composition of the Parish Council shall be changed to consist of one (1) member to be elected at large by all qualified electors of the Parish and four (4) members to be elected from single member districts as established by the governing authority.
SECTION II. That said amendment shall become effective for the general election to be held in 2003 for Council Districts.
SECTION III. The St. Charles Parish Council will set forth a charter Commission to amend all articles of the Charter to reflect the new four (4) district plan if approved by the people following the election. Consideration will be given by the Commission to update the charter provisions to reflect any other improvements brought forth by the State and Federal Laws.
SECTION IV. That the St. Charles Parish Council shall adopt, forthwith, a resolution setting forth the Proposition and calling the election for the purpose described in Section I through IV above as a "yes" or "no" vote.
Vote
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote hereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted the day of , 2002, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
Home Rule Charter Change Four Districts
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________RECD BY: _____________________________