08/23/2011Workshop - Laserfiche WebLink

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IRC Staff Present: IRC Attorney, Alan Polackwich IRC GIS Manager, Will Rice Supervisor of Elections IT Manager, Gary Gordon Poll Worker Coordinator, Martha Osborne Assistant to County Administrator, Dorri Roy INDIAN RIVER COUNTY DECENNIAL REDISTRICTING WORKSHOP TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011 — 6:30 P.M. SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, Florida Also present: IRC Commissioner Wesley Davis IRC Commissioner Peter O'Bryan Fellsmere Mayor, Susan Adams Fellsmere Vice Mayor, Joel Tyson Sebastian Council Member Richard Gillmor INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS AND LEGAL OVERVIEW Attorney Polackwich explained the district system in Indian River County, whereby there are five commissioners and five districts, population in each district should be relatively equal, that a commissioner is required to reside within each of the five districts, though the commissioners are elected at large. He explained this redistricting is slightly different than State redistricting since the representatives of State districts are elected by the citizens in that district only. He said the County is working, in accordance with Florida law, to create a better balance for the five County Commission districts given the change in the population seen in the 2010 decennial census. He said the goal is to have each district's population be within 3 percent of the target of 27,606 residents, noting that each of the current districts is either over or under that goal. He outlined guidelines adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 12, 2011: 1. Equal Population: population shall be within 3% of the ideal average 2. Compact Districts and Contiguity: districts shall be compact rather than spread out and no part of a district shall be separate or apart from the rest of the district 4. Respect for Existing Districts: The geographical core of the District shall be preserved. All current County Commissioners and School Board Commissioners will be maintained in the current districts. No Commissioner can be redrawn out of their existing District. 5. Communities of Interest: Neighborhoods of communities of interest shall be included within a single district 6. Natural Boundaries: District boundaries shall follow major natural or man- made features such as major roads or canals. 7. Census Blocks: Census Tabulation Blocks shall not be split 8. Fair and Equal Representation: No district shall be drawn to split or minimize the political influence of any group of residents.