HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-031-03/22/2011-EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. 1 ON THE APRIL 5, 2011, BAL RESOLUTION NO. 2011-031
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED
CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. 1 ON THE APRIL 5, 2011, BALLOT
WHEREAS, under Article II, Sections 1(a) and (b) of the City Charter, the City Council
consists of seven members,including a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem,with the Mayor being nominated
and elected from the City at large and each of the other Councilmembers being nominated and
elected by district; and
WHEREAS, under Article II, Sections(1)(c)and(d)of the City Charter,the City is divided
into six contiguous districts and those districts are periodically adjusted so that the number of
registered electors in each district remains approximately the same; and
WHEREAS, on February 15, 2011,the City Council adopted on second reading Ordinance
No. 011, 2011, which placed before the electors of the City at the April 5, 2011, regular election a
ballot measure that would amend Article II, Section 1 of the City Charter (the "Ballot Measure");
and
WHEREAS,the Ballot Measure,if approved by the voters,would provide that,to the extent
reasonably possible,all districts of the City shall contain an equal number of inhabitants,rather than
an equal number of registered electors; and
WHEREAS,some members of the community have inquired as to why this proposed Charter
amendment is being presented for their consideration; and
WHEREAS,the City Attorney has recommended the Ballot Measure because,under federal
and state case law, the redistricting method used by local government must result in districts that
contain substantially the same number of residents in each district; and
WHEREAS, the reason for requiring only minimal deviation in total population from one
district to another is to conform with the constitutional principle of equal protection and to help
ensure that each person's voice in government affairs carries roughly the same weight as every other
person's; and
WHEREAS,the most direct way to achieve approximate equality in total population among
the City's electoral districts is to require that redistricting be done on the basis of the number of
inhabitants in each district rather than the number of registered electors; and
WHEREAS,because of the importance of the Ballot Measure and the uncertainty about the
rationale behind it, the City Council believes it to be in the best interests of the City to explain the
reason that it was placed on the ballot by the City Council,and to express the City Council's support
for the measure.
- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the City Council hereby expresses its support for Proposed Charter Amendment No.
1 contained on the ballot for the April 5,2011,regular City election and urges the electors of the City
to vote in favor of such measure.
Passed and adopted at an adjourned meeting of the ouncil of the City of Fo ollins this
22th day of March A.D. 2011.
Mayo
--ATTEST:--
City Clerk