HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/02/2012 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 105, 2012, AMENDINGDATE: October 2, 2012
STAFF: Wanda Nelson
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 12
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 105, 2012, Amending Chapter 7 of the City Code Relating to Redistricting.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Ordinance will amend Section 7-87(b) of the City Code to enact language that is consistent with the original intent
that the City Clerk, within 18 months after the decennial publication of the U.S. Census, recommend district boundary
changes necessary to ensure that, to the extent reasonably possible, there is no more than a 10% deviation between
the most populous and the least populous Council district.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On April 3, 2012, Council adopted Ordinance No. 023, 2012, amending Section 7-87 of the City Code relating to
redistricting (adjusting Council district boundaries). The purpose of the amendment was to extend the time period
within which the City Clerk must recommend to the City Council any district boundary changes necessary to ensure
that, to the extent reasonably possible, there is no more than a 10% deviation between the most populous and the
least populous district. The end of the period was extended from 12 months after the official decennial publication of
the United States Census to 18 months after the publication of the Census.
Staff recently discovered that the language in the original provision adopted in June 2011, as well as the amended
language adopted in April 2012, called for the City Clerk to make a recommendation “not less than” the specified
number of days, rather than “not more than” as was originally intended.
This Ordinance corrects the mistake, making it clear that the Clerk’s recommendation must occur not more than
(within) 18 months after the official decennial publication of the Census.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
ORDINANCE NO. 105, 2012
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 7 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
RELATING TO REDISTRICTING
WHEREAS, by the approval of the voters at the regular City election held April 5, 2011,
Article II, Section 1 of the City Charter was amended to change the method for adjusting City
Council district boundaries; and
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2011 the City Council adopted on second reading Ordinance No.
063, 2011, amending Section 7-87 of the City Code;
WHEREAS, the purpose of the amendment was to require that the City Clerk make a
recommendation to the City Council, within one year after the official decennial publication of the
United States Census concerning the population of the City, as to whether any district boundary
changes are necessary to ensure that, to the extent reasonably possible, there is no more than ten (10)
percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous Council district; and
WHEREAS, on April 3, 2012, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 023, 2012, amending
Section 7-87 of the City Code so as to extend the timeframe for making this recommendation from
one year to 18 months, since the one-year timeframe previously established did not give the City
Clerk adequate time to formulate the recommendation; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 063, 2011 and No. 023, 2012 incorrectly state that the City Clerk
must make the recommendation to the City Council regarding district boundary changes not less
than eighteen (18) months after the official decennial publication of the United States Census; and
WHEREAS, the word “less” should be changed to the word “more” so that the language is
consistent with the intent of this provision and with the actions that have been taken by the City
Clerk since June 7, 2011.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That Section 7-87(b) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7-87. Redistricting; notice.
. . .
(b) Not lessmore than eighteen (18) months after the official decennial
publication of the United States Census concerning the population of the City of Fort
Collins, the City Clerk shall recommend to the City Council any district boundary
changes necessary to ensure that, to the extent reasonably possible, there is no more
than a ten-percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous
district.
. . .
Section 2. That the City Clerk's recommendation regarding the adjustment of the City
Council district boundaries as reflected in Ordinance No. 73, 2012, is ratified, approved and
confirmed.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 2nd day of
October, A.D. 2012, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of October, A.D. 2012.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 16th day of October, A.D. 2012.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk