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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 02 24 Consent 300 - Establishment of the 2025 Districting CommissionCONSENT AGENDA ITEM 300 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA | FEBRUARY 24, 2025 REGULAR MEETING TITLE Establishment of the 2025 Districting Commission SUMMARY The City Charter requires the City Commission to establish a seven (7) person Districting Commission every three years for purposes of adjusting the city commission voting district boundaries in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter and other applicable law. The City Commission must adopt Resolution 2025- 03 formally establishing the 2025 Districting Commission and setting forth the scope of duties of the Districting Commission and establishing other administrative duties of City Staff to assist the District Commission with completing its report within the 120 day time frame imposed by the City Charter. 1. The purpose of this Agenda Item is to adopt Resolution 2025-03 establishing the Districting Commission and related duties and deadlines. 2. Section 4.02 of the City Charter requires the City Commission to establish a Districting Commission every three years for purposes of adjusting the City Commission Voting District boundaries. Resolution 2025-03 formally appoints members to the Districting Commission and establishes the time frames for the Districting Commission to complete its report to the City Commission. The Resolution also provides for administrative duties and other requirements. 3. The following registered voters of Winter Springs will be appointed to the Districting Commission: Seat One (Commissioner Paul Diaz): Ms. Jean Hovey Seat Two (Commissioner Victoria Bruce): Ms. Brenda Lambie Seat Three (Commissioner Sarah Baker): Mr. Stephen Francis Seat Four (Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick): Mr. Christopher Riggs Seat Five (Commissioner Mark Caruso): Mr. Geoff Kendrick Mayoral Appointment (Mayor Kevin McCann): Mr. Michael Blake Mayoral Appointment (Mayor Kevin McCann): Mr. Art Gallo 4. The Districting Commission must file its final report with the City Manager by June 24, 2025 (120 days after formal appointment). 5. The City Commission has until July 6, 2026 (120 days prior to the next City election) 5 to accept or reject the Districting Commission's report. 6. Section 4.02 of the City Charter provides: Section 4.02. - Commission districts; adjustment of districts. (a) Number of districts. The city commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, shall by separate ordinance divide the city into five (5) geographical commission districts. (b) Districting commission. By the first day of February, 1991, the first day of February, 1992, and every three (3) years thereafter, the city commission shall appoint seven (7) city electors determined from the registration of the last regular election, one (1) to be appointed by each commissioner from their respective district, and two (2) appointed by the mayor from the city at large, who shall comprise the districting commission. Electors chosen shall not be employed by the city in any other capacity. The initial districting commission, creating and establishing the first commission districts, shall be appointed by each commissioner and the mayor from the city at large. (c) Report; specifications. The districting commission shall file with the official designated by the city commission a report containing a recommended plan for establishment or adjustment of the commission district boundaries. The initial districting commission, creating and establishing the first commission districts, shall file such report within ninety (90) days of appointment. Thereafter, such reports shall be filed within one hundred twenty (120) days of appointment to the districting commission. The commission district boundaries shall comply with the following specifications: (1) Each district shall be formed of compact, contiguous territory, and its boundary lines shall follow the center lines of streets insofar as practical or possible, or other boundaries available. (2) The districts shall be based upon the principle of equal and effective representation as required by the United States Constitution and as represented in the mathematical preciseness reached in the legislative apportionment of the state. (3) The report shall include a map and description of the districts recommended and shall be drafted as a proposed ordinance. Once filed with the designated official, the report shall be treated as an ordinance introduced by a commissioner. (d) Support. It shall be the responsibility of the city manager to provide staff assistance and technical data to the districting commission. (e) Procedure. The procedure for the city commission's consideration of the report shall be the same as for other ordinances, provided that if a summary of the ordinances is published pursuant to this Charter and general law, it must include both the map and a description of the recommended districts. (f) Failure to enact ordinance. The city commission shall adopt the redistricting ordinance at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the next city election. If the city commission fails to either accept or reject the redistricting ordinance, the report of the districting commission shall go into effect and have the same effect of an 6 ordinance. The proposed redistricting ordinance may not be rejected for any reason except for failure to comply with the specifications listed in section 4.02(c) of this Charter or failure to comply with other local, state or federal law. (g) Effect of enactment. The new commission districts and boundaries as of the date of enactment shall supersede previous commission districts and boundaries for all purposes; provided all incumbent commissioners shall continue to hold office for the entire term to which elected notwithstanding any change in commission district and boundaries. 7. One aspect of the Districting Commission's responsibilities will be to account for any new residential development not previously accounted for by the City since last Districting process in 2022. To guide the Districting Commission's 2025 recommendation, and the technical assistance provided by Staff, Resolution No. 2025-03 provides that the Districting Commission and Staff shall be guided not by the issuance of only residential development permits, but rather by the actual number of certificates of occupancy granted by the City for new residential dwelling units not previously accounted for by the City when the City Commission approved Ordinance No. 2022-05 establishing the current commission district boundaries. FUNDING SOURCE RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Commission approve Resolution 2025-03 establishing the 2025 Districting Commission. 7 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-03 Page 1 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-03 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE 2025 WINTER SPRINGS DISTRICTING COMMISSION; PROVIDING A DUE DATE FOR A REPORT CONTAINING A RECOMMENDED POLAN FOR ADJUSTMENT OF COMMISSION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES; PROVIDING A DUE DATE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO ADOPT OR REJECT A REDISTRICTING ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS; SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Winter Springs, Florida, was established by the Florida Legislature in 1959 and operates pursuant to its City Charter; and WHEREAS, the City Charter requires that, every three (3) years, the City Commission appoint seven (7) city electors to comprise the districting commission for adjustment of the commission district boundaries; and WHEREAS, the City Charter requires that the districting commission prepare a report containing a recommended plan for adjustment of the commission district boundaries; and WHEREAS, the City Charter requires that the City Commission adopt or reject a redistricting ordinance at least one-hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the next city election; and WHEREAS, the next City election will be November 3, 2026, and as such, the City Commission must adopt or reject a redistricting ordinance by July 6, 2026; and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to provide an open, objective, and deliberative process that will afford the public ample opportunity to participate in the districting review process; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that this Resolution is in the best interests of the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Winter Springs, Florida. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida as follows: SECTION I. The following appointments have been made to the 2025 Districting Commission: 1. Seat One (Commissioner Paul Diaz): Ms. Jean Hovey 2. Seat Two (Commissioner Victoria Bruce): Ms. Brenda Lambie 3. Seat Three (Commissioner Sara Baker): Mr. Stephen Francis 8 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-03 Page 2 of 3 4. Seat Four (Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick): Mr. Christoper Riggs 5. Seat Five (Councilmember Mark Caruso): Mr. Geoff Kenrick 6. Mayoral Appointment (Mayor Kevin McCann): Mr. Michael Blake 7. Mayoral Appointment (Mayor Kevin McCann): Mr. Art Gallo SECTION II. All appointments to the 2025 Districting Committee shall take effect upon the final passage and adoption of this Resolution by the City Commission. Vacancies on the 2025 Districting Commission occurring after the adoption of this Resolution shall be filled by appointment in accordance with the City Charter and without the necessity of modifying this Resolution. SECTION III. The Districting Committee shall have until June 24, 2025, one-hundred- twenty (120) days from the effective date of this Resolution, to file with the City Manager a report containing a recommended plan for adjustment of the commission district boundaries. Pursuant to the City Charter, the City Commission shall have until July 6, 2026, which is one-hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the next city election, to adopt or reject a redistricting ordinance. SECTION IV. The Districting Commission’s report shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the City Charter and other applicable law including, but not limited to, the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In general, and taking into account the current commission district boundaries, the City Charter requires that the commission district boundaries shall comply with the following specifications: (1) Each district shall be formed of compact, contiguous territory, and its boundary lines shall follow the center lines of streets insofar as practical or possible, or other boundaries available. (2) The districts shall be based upon the principle of equal and effective representation as required by the United States Constitution and as represented in the mathematical preciseness reached in the legislative appointment of the state. (3) The report shall include a map and description of the districts recommended and shall be drafted as a proposed ordinance. Once filed with the designated official, the report shall be treated as an ordinance introduced by a commissioner. Additionally, to account for changes in population generated by new residential development since the 2020 U.S. Census, the technical assistance provided under Section V of this Resolution and the Districting Commission’s recommendation shall be guided not by the issuance of development permits, but rather by the actual number of certificates of occupancy granted by the City for new residential dwelling units not previously accounted for by the U.S. Census. SECTION V. To the extent deemed reasonably necessary by the City Manager, the City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney, and their respective designees, shall provide technical assistance to the Districting Commission. 9 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-03 Page 3 of 3 SECTION VI. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its final passage and adoption by the City Commission. ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a Regular Meeting assembled on the 24th day of February 2025. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal to be affixed. ____________________________________ KEVIN McCANN, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ CHRISTIAN GOWAN, City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs, Florida, only: _______________________________________ ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney 10