Title
An Ordinance creating Section 2-3.2 in Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to establish procedures and guidelines for redistricting Council Districts. [Council Office, Maynard]
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - That section 2-3.2 of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances be and hereby is created to read as follows:
Sec. 2-3.2. Redistricting Council Districts
(a) In accordance with section 4.03 of the Charter of the Urban County Government and KRS 67A.023, following the official publication of each decennial census by the United States Bureau of the Census for the area embraced by Lexington-Fayette County, the Council shall, if necessary, redistrict the twelve (12) council districts.
(b) When it is necessary to redistrict council districts, the vice-mayor shall appoint a Redistricting Committee to make a recommendation to the Council concerning the revision of district boundary lines. The Committee shall consist of fifteen (15) members who shall be registered voters. One member shall be designated for each district by the councilmember from that district and one member shall be designated by each of the three (3) at-large councilmembers. Neither Councilmembers nor council staff shall serve as members of the Committee. The vice-mayor shall appoint the chairperson of the Committee.
(c) The Committee shall abide by the following guidelines in making its recommendations for the revision of district boundary lines:
(1) districts shall have population equality, based on the census data, as near as reasonably practicable, with a deviation of no more than ten (10) percent;
(2) districts shall be compact and contiguous;
(3) existing voting precincts shall be the basic unit for aggregating new council district boundary lines;
(4) existing voting precincts shall not be split or precinct boundaries changed;
(5) each district shall be composed of closely arranged precincts which are concentrated into a limited area;
(6) each district shall be composed of adjoining precincts sharing common boundaries;
(7) districts should reflect particular community interests or a range of characteristics, including aggregating areas with similar physical, cultural or socio-economic characteristics;
(8) districts should accommodate relative rates of future growth such that districts in growth areas have a population in the lower range of the ideal population;
(9) new districts should be formed with as little change as possible to existing districts;
(10) sitting councilmembers should not be moved out of their districts;
(11) recognized neighborhood associations should not be split into different council districts; and
(12) arterial highways and other corridors that have been used as boundaries should be considered in defining district boundaries.
(d) The Committee shall submit its recommendation concerning the revision of district boundary lines to the Council no later than the last working day in September of the year in which the Committee begins its work. After it has submitted its recommendation, the Committee shall cease to exist.
Section 2 - That this Ordinance shall become effective on the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CLERK OF URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL