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) me...
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