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City Council's Special Committee on Ward Redistricting Announces 11/19/12 Meeting and Invites Community Input

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2012
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962             

City Council’s Special Committee on Ward Redistricting Announces Meeting and Invites Community Input

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger and the City Council’s Special Committee on Ward Redistricting today announced that the next meeting of the Committee will be held this Monday, November 19, 2012 from 5-7pm in City Hall’s Contois Auditorium and that the public is welcome and encouraged to attend and share its input. 

“We welcome and encourage Burlingtonians to join us and share their thoughts and ideas at this important meeting and at future public forums as this process continues,” said Weinberger.

Redistricting is the process of adjusting electoral district boundaries to meet US Constitutional requirements of “one person, one vote” by ensuring approximately equal representation. Redistricting often occurs in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial US Census. Based on the 2010 US Census, the City has determined that Wards, 1, 4, and 7 are outside the limits for approximately equal representation. Therefore, ward boundaries for all seven wards must be re-drawn.  As part of its responsibility to redraw the wards, the Committee is considering changing the number of wards, councilors, and school board members.

At Monday’s meeting, the Committee will focus on four plans, all of which may be viewed at http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Ward-Redistricting/.

The four plans under consideration at this point are:

  • 4 Wards, Version 3 (12 Councilors)
  • 6 Wards, Version 3 – State Districts (10 Councilors)
  • 7 Wards, Version 3 (14 Councilors)
  • 7 Wards, Version 4 (13 Councilors)

It is possible that other versions may be offered by or on Monday night.

The Committee would appreciate and encourages comment on these plans and on other variations or options at or prior to Monday night’s meeting.  The Committee’s focus quickly will narrow to a preferred version.

Please email comments to any/all Committee members:

The public comment period will continue beyond Monday, as the City Council considers this issue in December and January.  Also, further public comment opportunities will be encouraged through the Neighborhood Planning Assembly meetings in December.  Further, the City Council will hold two formal public hearings to discuss the preferred version.

The goal is to have the public vote on new wards on the March 2013 ballot.  

 

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Press Release Date: 
11/15/2012
City Department: 
Mayor's Office