Minutes 12-18-01 (2)SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP RE: REDISTRICTING
HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH,
FLORIDA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2001, AT 6:00 P.M.
Present
Gerald Broening, Mayor
Ron Weiland, Vice Mayor
Mike Ferguson, Commissioner
Charlie Fisher, Commissioner
Mack McCray, Commissioner
Kurt Bressner, City Manager
Jim Cherof, City Attorney
Janet Prainito, City Clerk
Opening
Mayor Broening called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and stated tonight's
workshop was the first of two that will be held on redistricting. Dr. Lance de
Haven-Smith was hired by the City as a consultant who has been working on
redistricting for several months. Mayor Broening announced that a second
workshop will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2001 at the Boynton Beach
High School.
Presentation by Lance deHaven-Smith, Ph.D. (a copy of which is attached
with the original minutes)
Dr. deHaven-Smith stated he would be presenting various options for the
Commission to consider.
Overview
One of the purposes of redistricting is to address the population change in the
City. Dr. deHaven-Smith presented several alternatives on how to redraw the
Commission districts and explained the purpose of single member districts. A
great many cities in Flodda have changed to single member districts in order to
create and to achieve moderation on the Commission itself.
Districts cannot be varied by more than 10%. The City's population of 60,399, 'n
accordance with the 2000 Census, means that a district would have to be
between a minimum of 14,342 and a maximum of 15,852. Also, the City should
avoid pitting two incumbents against each other. In redistricting the City needs to
be sensitive to "communities of interest" (groups that are likely to vote together,
such a minorities, semor citizens, etc.). The districts should conform to the
geographic features of the City, which was demonstrated on the ma p.
The following is an overview of the presentation:
Meeting Minutes
Speci=l City Commission Workshop
Boynton Beach, FL
December 18, 2001
· / Currently only one of the City's Districts meets the 10% requirement (District
3); one is too large (District 4); and the other [wo are too small (Districts 2 and
3). Therefore, redistricting is necessary.
¢ Populationwise there are 38,000 Whites; 14,528 Blacks; 5,254 Hispanics; and
other categories, which were not included.
· / There is sufficient number of Blacks in the City to have a majority Black
district. There are 9,337 African/Americans who are of voting age to create a
majority-minority district.
¢ The City has a high concentration of African/Americans in the northeast
quadrant of the City.
· ,' Village Royale, which is predominately White, is located in the middle of the
northeast quadrant.
,,' The senior population is more widely disbursed, but there are some areas of
concentration.
,/ The Hispanic population is not concentrated n one area to create a majority
district.
· / Precincts that are largely African/American vote Democratic.
· / There is no clear voting pattern for Hispanics or seniors.
-/ The overall population is evenly distributed east and west of 1-95.
v' There is more disparity between north and south, with a greater population in
the north quadrant of the City (32,628 versus 27,761).
Options for Redistrictinq
· For the least change in the Districts, four horizontal bands could be drawn
across the City, which in effect would shift the current lines north.
· The second option, which would be a quadrant model, would be to divide the
City east/west along 1-95 and north/south along Boynton Beach Boulevard.
· The third option would be a vertical set of bands, which is the least desirable
method. This would create isolated parcels at the end of the bands, which
would violate keeping the districts together geographically.
Therefore, the first two options should be considered.
Dr. deHaven-Smith then compared the current district map to the two proposed
changed district maps.
The least change model was first discussed. If this model were chosen it
would not create a majority Black district, but would create one district that
would be overwhelmingly Democratic and the other Districts would be
majodty Republican. Village Royale has been moved to District 4 and District
2's northern border was raised. There would still be a majority senior district.
With a slight adjustment to the quadrant model, the population totals fall
within the parameters. This would create a majority-minority district (59%
2
Meeting Minutes
Special City Commission Workshop
Boynton Beach, FL
December 18, 2001
African/American), which is District 2. The City would still have a majority
senior district. (Dr. deHaven-Smith will furnish information on Democrats
versus Republicans, which were inadvertently omitted.)
The third model would keep the quadrant model in the south of the City and
would have bands in the north This alternative put~ Village Royale into
District 4 and extends to District 2. This model would give the City a majority
African/American District, but just barely making the voting age requirement.
The seniors would remain the same. One district would still be
overwhelmingly Democratic.
Comparison of the Options
The categories ~nciuded whether the district would (1) have a majority Black
District; (2) have a voting age Majority Black; (3) have a majority senior district;
(4) create distinct partisan differences; and (5) the compactness of the districts.
Legal Aspects of Redistricting
David Buffington, Chief Council, Reapportionment Group 2000, LLC
Mr. Buffington presented the formal legal requirements that would be necessary
for redistricting. Salient points are:
Section 17.F, Article 2 of the City's Charter states "that the geographic
boundaries for each voting district must be designated...by the first day of
January 2002 and every four years thereafter. The election district shall
be of equal population, corn pact, proportional and logically related to the
natural internal boundaries of the neighborhoods within the city. The
principle of non-discrimination and one-man, one-vote shall be adhered to
strictly."
Some of these parameters are based upon the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
Constitutional law, Federal law, Supreme Court decisions, and State law.
The City Commission adopted supplemental criteria, which is most
important, and that is to achieve population equality among the districts.
Mr. Buffington compared the proposed re-districting alternatives with the
requirements and noted how the choices met the requirements.
Public Audience
Mayor Breening opened up the meeting to the public. Since no one wished to
speak, the public audience was closed.
3
Meeting Minutes
Special City Commission Workshop
Boynton Beach, FL
December 18, 2001
Ad|ournment
There being no further business the meeting properly adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
Barbara M. Madden
Recording Secretary
(one tapes)
C¢_mmlssioner
Commissioner
(December 19, 2001
4
Beach, Florida
Census for
Districts
Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith
Florida State University
Overview
Single-member districts
e Since t
by population
· Underlying ~
· Redistricting ~
of alternatives
Districts
Requirements and
Considerations
· Numerical requirements
,J 15,097 (60,389 divided by 4)
~ Must be between 14,342 and 15,852
· Other Considerations
~ tncu~m~bents not put in same district
~ ~ ities of interests"
>~ Districts should conform to geographic
.......... contiguous
- Co New districts should
approximate existing districts
City Boundaries
Key Roads
C
Min:
Max:
14,342
' 19,292
13,336
lB~ch
12,481
15,852
15,2801
Population by Race and Ethnicity
50000'
40000,
30000,
20000,
lO000,
0
White
Black
Hispan.
Other
Voting Age PopUlation
by Race and Ethnicity
400001
30000,
20000
10000
0
~hite Black Hispan.
Other
0-25%
25-50%
50-75%
75-100%
Percent of ,Registered VOters
65 and above
0-25%
25-50%
50-75%
75-100%
Percent Hispanic
0-25%
25-50%
50-75%
75-100%
Race and Voting
100
90'
8O
70
~- 60
0 50 ,
O_ 40
-20
0 20
Democratic voting
increases directly as
% black' ~
increases
40 6'0 80
10
PP. rnRnt of Pmninnt \/ntRr.q Rlae. k
Ed' 40ed
' tnmclty and Voting
100 '
90'
80,
70,
· ·
60 ,
50 ,
4O
0
·
· oo No clear, pattern
2 4 6 8 t(
P~.rc~.nt Hi.qnR nic.
Seniors and VOting
100 '
90'
80 ,
70
·
IN°c!ear pattern [
60
50,
40
0
·
Pare. ant of Pro. ninnt \/oto. r.q fl.q ~nd un
10
Population East and West
31. 28,8001
North and
27,761
Factors
· Number of black residents is
district -'
· Overall population is evenly
across the City
· ntrated in
the NE quadrant of the City
pattern
~.~ Little of ethnic voting
~ No evidence of senior voting
Basic Options
Least Change:
Bands
Basic Options
Quadrants
Basic Options
~ands
· uous Areas
Option I:
Least Change
Least Change
Least Change
20000"
19000'
18000
17000
16000
15000
14000,
13000,
12000,
11000,
10000
2
4
Min: 14,342
Max: 15,852
Least Change
t00,
90 ~
80 ~
60.
40
20
t0
o
2 ,3
n,~ % Blaek for £ach District
Least Change
100 '
90
80
70
60
50,
40,
.- 20,
> 10
n 0
1 2 3
n~.. % Voting Age Black
Least Change
100 '
90'
80'
70,
60,
50,
40,
10,
i' 2 3 4
I% 65 and up
o
Least Change
100 '
90~
80'
70,
60,
§0,
40;
30,
20,
10,
0,
:i 2 3 4
% VOters Registered Democratic
Variation on Least Change
Least Change 2
2
n~.~T~ICT
3 4
Min: 14,342
Max: 15,852
Least Change 2
o
100 '
90
80
70
60,
40,
30,
2O
10
0
1 2 3
n~st % Black
Least Change 2
90
80
70
60,
50
40
30
20
10,
3
r~'*~'°/° Voting Age Black
Least Change 2
90
80
70
60
50
= 40
t"O 30
>o 20
~ ~0,
ri.. O,
n~s~ % 65 and up
3 4
Least Change 2
~00
90
80,
70,
60,
o 40
'~ 2 3 4
% voters Registered Democratic
Option 2:
Quadrants
Unadjusted Quadrants
Min: 14,342
Max: 15,852
i 6,76~6
14,823
2
~15,862
t2,938
Quadrant Model Adjusted
16,7'616
~4,523 1
Quadrant Model Adjusted
nlnTRIGT
2 3 ,~
Min: 14,342
Max: 15,852
~Quadrant Model Adjusted
o
Q-
100 '
90,
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
~ 2 3 ~-
Black
lO0
0
Quadrant Model Adjusted
9O
80'
70,
60,
50,
40,
30
2O
10
0
i 0/0 1
Voting Age Black
Quadrant Model Adjusted
lO0
90
80
7O
60
50
4O
30,
20,
10,
1 2 3 4
n~.~ % 65 and u p
Quadrant MOdel Adjusted
100"
90,
80 '
'tO,
60,
50,
10,
1 : '2 3 ' 4
% Voters Registered Democratic
Option 3:
Blend of
and Quadrants
of'
Blend of Bands and
I"iI~T ~Ip.T
2 3 4
Min: 14,342
Max: 15,852
lO0
9O
8O
7O
6O
5O
4O
3O
2O
10
1
I% Black
Blend of Bands and
~00
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
O,
2 3
n~sf % Voting Age Black
Blendof Bands and
100
90
80
70
60
50,
40,
2(I,
t0,
O,
r~1% 65 and up
3
Blend of Bands and
lO0
90
80
70
60,
40,
30,
20,
t0
% voters Registered Democratic
arative ASseSsment
Comparison Based on
Characteristics
MajOrity VotingMajority Distinct Com- Like
Age Total #
Black Majority SeniorPartisan Current
District Black District Districts pact districts Yes
Least
ChangeYes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
V.1
Least
ChangeNo No Yes Yes No Yes 3
V.2
Quad Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No 5
Blend
Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 4