[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
[00:00:05]
>> SPEAKER: WE WILL CALL TO ORDER TO NICE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR OVER INTO THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR DECEMBER 21, 2021.
[2. MINUTES.]
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE MEANING MEETING IT'S FROM OUR DECEMBER 7 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS AS THEIR MOVE TO IMPROVE? MOTION AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE.
[3. WATER WORKS BOARD.]
ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION CARRIES.WATER WORKS BOARD MAYOR PRO TEM WITTEN -- RHYTON?
>> SPEAKER: ONE VACANCY BEGINNING JANUARY 7, '22, AND ENDS JANUARY 6, 2028. JEFF CLARY HAS SERVED TWO FULL TERMS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. CLARY FOR HIS TIME.
SINCE THAT IS A VACANCY WE WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE
(INDISCERNIBLE). >> SPEAKER: SECOND.
>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND FOR DAVID REEVES.
ANY DISCUSSION? >> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A NOMINATION. >> SPEAKER: I THINK OUR PROCEDURE WE GO THROUGH THE WHOLE -- WE GO TO A VOTE ON THIS BEFORE WE TAKE ANOTHER NOMINATION.
CORRECT, MAKING MEGAN? >> SPEAKER: THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING. >> SPEAKER: ANY DISCUSSION COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT MR. REEVES' NOMINATION TO THE WATER WORKS BOARD? ALL IN FAVOR?
ANY OPPOSED? >> SPEAKER: LINDSAY, DID YOU
CATCH THAT? >> SPEAKER: MOTION CARRIES AND WE WILL CONFIRM MISTER REEVES LATER IN THE AGENDA.
2021 REDISTRICTING BRIEFING. CITY MANAGER CROUCH?
>> SPEAKER: BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECORD I DIDN'T SAY -- I'M NOT -- IT SOUNDED AS IF I VOTED -- I DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE AGAINST -- I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR MR. SIMPSON HAD BEEN DIFFERENT.
I DIDN'T VOTE ON EITHER ONE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECORD TO REFLECT I DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE AGAINST REEVES THE WAY IT WAS
WORDED. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, TOMMY.
WE HAVE TWO GREAT NOMINATIONS. I APPRECIATE BOTH OF THEM BEING WILLING TO DO THIS. THANK YOU, TOMMY FOR CLARIFYING
[4. 2021 REDISTRICTING BRIEFING.]
THAT. MS. CROUCH?>> SPEAKER: JUSTIN THIS EVENING WE HAVE A CONSULTANT NORMAN WALKER THAT HAD MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE WITH BINGHAM AND WE WANT TO TALK TO ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT'S LATER ON IN THE AGENDA. THE PURPOSE OF HAVING MR. DORMAN WALKER HERE THIS EVENING IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ALSO BUT NOT PRESENTING IS TO GO OVER JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLEAR ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL CRITERIA THAT THE CITY MUST FOLLOW BEFORE HE OFFICIALLY HAVE THIS ON YOUR AGENDA.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN NOVEMBER BUT MISTER WALKER IS HERE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND PRESENT INFORMATION.
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION BEING SHARED AND YOU WILL HEAR A LOT MORE INFORMATION THIS EVENING.
FROM THE PUBLIC. YOU HAVE READ A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE TRACKING AND UNDERSTAND LEGALLY AND I HAVE MISSED HER WALKER TO EXPLAIN TO YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ANYTHING YOU NEED TO LEARN ABOUT. HE WILL REMAIN HERE THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING ON THE REDISTRICTING ITEM AND BE ABLE -- AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> SPEAKER: MR. WALKER? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MISTER MR. MEHR AND MS. CITY COUNCIL.
CITY MANAGER. I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSED PLAN THAT WAS PREPARED BY CITY STAFF AND THEY WANT TO COMPLIMENT THEM ON DOING A GOOD JOB.
I BELIEVE IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, PRINCIPALLY THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, VOTER RIGHTS ACT.
IT CERTAINLY MEETS THE FIRST REQUIREMENT OVERARCHING ALL REDISTRICTING IS EQUALIZING POPULATIONS AS WE GET THE NEXT CENSUS DATA. YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF COURSE THAT THERE WAS TREMENDOUS POPULATION GROWTH IN THE CITY OF AUBURN BETWEEN THE 2010 AND 2020 CENSUS.
THE NEW DISTRICT REBELS THE POPULATION -- THE NEW DISTRICT PLAN REBOUNDS AS THE POPULATION ALONG THOSE DISTRICTS WITH EITHER PLUS OR MINUS 5 PERCENT DEVIATION ALLOWED BY YOUR RULES.
IT ALSO COMPORTS WITH THE STANDARD TRADITIONAL REDISTRICTING CRITERIA THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY FEDERAL LAW.
THE PLANS ARE REASONABLY COMPACT IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER.
THEY ARE CONTIGUOUS. THEY GENERALLY PRESERVE THE CORES OF EXISTING DISTRICT, THEY RESPECT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY DO NOT PUT PAIR INCUMBENTS IN THE SAME DISTRICT. A BONUS IS THAT WARD ONE FUNCTIONS AS A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICTS.
IT IS NOT ACTUALLY MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT BUT BECAUSE MUCH OF THE POPULATION IN THAT DISTRICT ARE STUDENTS WHO DON'T VOTE, AND THE CITY HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING IT FUNCTION AS A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT HAVE A MAJORITY OF BLACK PERSONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN PROPOSED BY THE NAACP.
THAT CAME IN AT ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK, I BELIEVE TODAY.
[00:05:03]
WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE -- I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO APPRAISE THAT. I DO NOTICE THAT IN THAT PLAN IT PROPOSES TO SKI MINORITY DISTRICTS, AND THOSE DISTRICTS ARE COMPOSED BY AGGREGATING A SERIES OF MINORITIES, ALL OF THE BLACK CITIZENS, THE ASIAN CITIZENS, THE AMERICAN INDIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER AND HISPANIC CITIZENS INTO THOSE TO CREATE MINORITIES OF FAIRLY LOW MINORITIES.ONE IS MORE ONE IS 51 -- 52.70 PERCENT, ACCORDING TO THE DATA. IT OF COURSE YOU WILL HAVE TO VERIFY THE DATA. THE OTHER ONE IS MUCH LESS OF A MAJORITY, 50.18 PERCENT ACCORDING TO THE DATA.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE APPROACH THAT IS TAKEN THERE, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY INSURMOUNTABLE, IS THAT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A SHOWING MADE THAT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS, HISPANICS, ASIANS, PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AMERICAN INDIANS AND BLACKS ARE POLITICALLY COHESIVE.
THAT IS THAT THEY ALL SUPPORT THE SAME CANDIDATES AND THAT THEY ALL SUFFER RACIALLY POLARIZED BLOCK VOTING.
THAT IS, THEY ARE NOT NORMALLY ABLE TO ELECT THEIR CANDIDATE BECAUSE OF BLOCK VOTING OF WHITES MEANS THAT WHITES VOTED FOR WHITE CANDIDATES AND SET OF CANDIDATES OF COLOR.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WILL BE CHECKING IT OUT AND I WILL BE GETTING BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THOSE LATER.
>> SPEAKER: ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE DAY IS?
>> SPEAKER: I DO HAVE ONE. THERE IS A LOT OF DATA IN HERE AND I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THERE IS SOME BIG SWINGS OF LANDMASSES AND SO FORTH. ON THE SURFACE IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A BIG CHANGES. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IN YOUR OPINION, DOES THIS PROPOSAL BY THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS OF COLOR, BLACK VOTERS, IN AUBURN, TO ALLOW MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN WHAT THE POLITICAL PROCESS ALLOWS AND ALSO REPRESENTING A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOOSING? I KNOW THAT'S A LONG QUESTION.
>> SPEAKER: I THINK A AN ATTEMPT YOU ARE SAYING.
I WILL GIVE YOU MY BEST ANSWER AND I DON'T GET IT RIGHT LET ME KNOW. AUBURN HAS TWO PROBLEMS ABOUT GUARD. IN ORDER TO DRAW A CLASSIC SECTION TWO MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BLACK POPULATION THAT SUFFICIENTLY LARGE IN TERMS OF ITS NUMBER, AND SUFFICIENTLY COMPACT TO FORM A MAJORITY IN A SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT. THERE IS NOT AN AREA OF AUBURN, IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND FROM THE DEAD I HAVE LOOKED AT, WHERE THERE IS A LARGE ENOUGH BLACK POPULATION THAT IS ALSO COMPACT ENOUGH TO BE IN ONE DISTRICT. TO FORM A MAJORITY.
SO YOU CAN'T DRAW IN AUBURN A CLASSIC SECTION TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS. BUT AS I HAVE POINTED OUT, YOU DO HAVE IN WARD ONE A DISTRICT THAT IS COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF A SIGNIFICANT BLACK POPULATION AND A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO DON'T VOTE HERE. SO IT ACTS AS AND HAS HISTORICALLY PERFORMED WELL AS A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT.
SO IN THAT REGARD, THAT IS MORE THAN WOULD BE REQUIRED BY SECTION TWO. IT IS JUST THAT THAT DISTRICT IS DRAWN THAT WAY. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT A LOT LOT OF THE POPULATION GROWTH, AND I THINK -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONY HEAD IS LIKE 37 PERCENT POPULATION INCREASE WHICH IS ASTONISHING. A LOT OF THAT IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRADITIONAL HOUSING PATTERNS.
IN OTHER WORDS, AT ONE TIME LONG AGO, PEOPLE WOULD MOVE TO AUBURN AND THEY WOULD MOVE TO A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD OR A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE.
PEOPLE MOVE TO AUBURN AND THEY MOVE MOVED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY WANT TO. PEOPLE ARE MUCH -- NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MUCH MORE INTEGRATED THAN THEY USED TO BE, AND SO IF YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND A COLLECTION OF A POPULATION, A MINORITY POPULATION, TO DRAW TO A DISTRICT, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE SPREAD OUT, IN AN EQUAL MANNER, THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRAW A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT. BUT IT IS NOT A BAD THING BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE BECOMING A MUCH MORE INTEGRATED SOCIETY. TO THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> SPEAKER: I THINK SO. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: I GUESS MY QUESTION , IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, AND I'M NOT REALLY FOR REAL, THE MAP THAT
[00:10:09]
THE NAACP, THE MAP OF THE CITY OF AUBURN PROPOSED, IT DREW WARD ONE TO BE MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT.>> SPEAKER: WELL, IT DRAWS -- IT IS NOT DRAWN THAT WAY BUT I
FUNCTIONS THAT WAY. >> SPEAKER: OKAY.
NOW THE MAP, AND I GUESS YOU HAVE HAD A MEETING -- YOU MET
WITH. >> SPEAKER: CITY STAFF MET YESTERDAY MORNING WITH THE NAACP ,.
>> SPEAKER: SO HE HASN'T SEEN THE PROPOSAL?
>> SPEAKER: WE GOT A PROPOSAL THIS AFTERNOON WHICH IS WHAT YESTERDAY WE DID NOT HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE MAP AND WE WERE FORMED YESTERDAY OF WORKING ON IT AND WILL HAVE IT TO YOU AS IT IS POSSIBLE WE GOT THAT THIS AFTERNOON.
MY STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY REVIEW THAT, WHICH I WILL HAVE DORMANT TALK A BIT ABOUT WHAT A REVIEW LOOKS LIKE. WE ABSOLUTELY WILL DO THAT.
BUT LET'S GET THROUGH YOUR QUESTION TO GET IT I WILL HIM
TOUCH ON. >> SPEAKER: MY QUESTION WILL BE TOUCHED ON IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP.
>> SPEAKER: TAKEN A QUICK LOOK AT IT BUT NOT A DEEP DIVE.
>> SPEAKER: WHAT STRIKES ME AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THAT IS WE CAN'T JUST -- THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE SAYS THAT WE CAN'T ASSUME BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S RACE THAT THEY THINK THIS WAY OR THAT WE CAN TREAT THEM A CERTAIN WAY.
WE CAN'T CLASSIFY ON THE BASIS OF RACE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN'T JUST LUMP HISPANICS, ASIANS, BLACKS, PACIFIC ISLANDERS AND NATIVE AMERICANS TOGETHER AS MINORITY GROUPS WITHOUT SOME EVIDENCE THAT IN FACT THEY PERFORM AS A COHESIVE MINORITY GROUP. WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO FIND IS EVIDENCE THAT THOSE MINORITY GROUPS ALL TEND TO SUPPORT THE SAME POLITICAL CANDIDATES BEFORE THAT CAN BE A VALID MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT. I HOPE THAT THE NAACP WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH THAT EVIDENCE.
IT'S CRUCIAL. >> SPEAKER: I GUESS -- MY QUESTION IS I GUESS YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK. UNTIL WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND MAYBE THEN -- IF THE QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED I WILL REALLY ASK IT AND RESTATE IT.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MA'AM,. >> SPEAKER: HE WILL BE HERE, AS I SAID ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND UNTIL YOU HAVE MOVED ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A QUICK COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A PRECEDENT THAT WE COULD DRAW ON IN TERMS OF FINDING EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THE SEVERAL MINORITIES TOGETHER FORM A COHESIVE BLOCK WHEN YOU SAY LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE, IS THERE A PRECEDENT IN THE PAST THAT WILL SHOW THAT?
>> SPEAKER: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COURT CASES -- IT'S NOT ESTABLISH CLEARLY IN ALL CIRCUITS, HOWEVER, OUR CIRCUIT, THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT A FEDERAL COURT IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT FROM WHICH WE CAME, BOTH ACCEPT THE IDEA OF MINORITY DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT SETS OF MINORITIES, PROVIDED THERE IS PROOF THAT THEY ARE COHESIVE.
WHAT THE COURT LOOKS FOR IN THOSE CASES WOULD BE FOR EXAMPLE , HOW WOULD YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT THESE GROUPS ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON COMMON ISSUES? YOU WOULD WANT TO FIND CAMPAIGNS IN WHICH THEY WORK TOGETHER, EITHER TO PROMOTE IDEAS SUCH AS A SCHOOL TAX OR SOMETHING COMMON OR TO SUPPORT THE SAME CANDIDATES.
YOU WOULD ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT VOTING RETURNS TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU COULD GET THOSE TO SHOW THAT THEY SUPPORT THE SAME CANDIDATES OR THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SELECT -- ELECT THEIR TOES AND CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF WHY TO BLOCK VOTING.
THAT IS THE TYPE OF DATA THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT AND THAT WE
WILL BE LOOKING FOR. >> SPEAKER: MY OTHER QUESTION IS I KNOW YOU'VE ONLY BRIEFLY LOOKED AT THIS, THE OFFERING OF THIS ALTERNATIVE MAP, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT THE TECHNIQUE BY WHICH WARD ONE IS CREATED BY THE INCLUSION OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THAT CENTRAL AREA OF AUBURN, IS THE ALTERNATIVE MAP DRAWING ON THE SAME TYPE OF STRATEGY WITH THE SECOND PROPOSED DISTRICT MINORITY MAJORITY TAPPING INTO THE CONCENTRATION OF STUDENTS IN OUR CENTER?
>> SPEAKER: I'M NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> SPEAKER: I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: BOB, IF YOU WILL REMEMBER AND I WILL TAKE NOTES WE WILL TRY TO GET THAT ANSWER ONCE WE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE.
>> SPEAKER: GOOD QUESTION. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE MAP THAT ARRIVED LATE THIS AFTERNOON. IS THIS A DIFFERENT MAP THAN THE
[00:15:01]
ONE THAT WAS PROVIDED? >> SPEAKER: CORRECT.
THE NAACP PLANS TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE PRELOADED A PRESENTATION BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND THEY WILL CLARIFY IF I DON'T HAVE THIS CORRECT FROM OUR MEETING YESTERDAY, THE PROOF OF CONCEPT WAS A PROOF OF CONCEPT.
A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY INDICATED THEY WERE TRYING TO MEET WAS PROOF OF CONCEPT IS DO YOU COULD HAVE TWO DISTRICTS THAT WERE MINORITY MAJORITY AGGREGATED AND ALSO IN OUR DISCUSSIONS YESTERDAY THEY HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY LOOKING AT AN ALTERNATIVE MAP THAT WOULD BE AN ACTUAL PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE MAP. THE OTHER ONE IS JUST A PROOF OF CONCEPT AND THEY WILL CLARIFY IF I DID NOT SAY THAT CORRECTLY.
BUT THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR MEETING YESTERDAY WHERE WE HAD GOOD DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS. THEY ASK WAS PLEASE TAKE A DEEP DIVE. YOU HAVE LOOKED AT PROOF OF CONCEPT AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT BUT PLEASE TAKE A DEEP DIVE ON THE ALTERNATIVE AND RESUBMIT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE, THE ONE WE WANT YOU
TO SPEND THE MOST TIME. >> SPEAKER: MAYBE TO PIGGYBACK BOB'S FIRST QUESTION, REGARDING THE SECTION TWO PORTION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT YOU REFERENCED EARLIER, THAT BEING THE ART OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH A BLACK OR MINORITY DISTRICT.
UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS IN THE MIX OF THE STUDENTS IN THAT CURRENT DISTRICT OR THE ONE PROPOSED, IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT THE CITY'S MAP THAT WE SAW FIRST, THE CITY'S PROPOSED REDISTRICTING PLAN, IS THAT LEGALLY FIT THOSE CRITERIA?
>> SPEAKER: YES. THERE IS NOT ACTUALLY I DON'T SEE A SECTION TWO OBLIGATION TO CREATE A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A SUFFICIENTLY NUMEROUS POPULATION THAT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY COMPACT.
BUT YOU HAVE THE HAPPY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT YOU HAVE A FAIRLY COMPACT BLACK POPULATION THAT WHILE IT IS NOT A MAJORITY OF A DISTRICT, FUNCTIONS AS A MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THERE DON'T VOTE.
>> SPEAKER: UNDERSTANDING, OUR UNIQUE SITUATION, THAT HAPPY HAPPENSTANCE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN AFOUL OF NOT MEETING --
>> SPEAKER: NO. I THINK THE PLAN SATISFIES THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE AND EVERY OTHER LAW THAT I THINK MIGHT BE RELEVANT.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: JUST TO BE CLEAR, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE SAY MINORITY, TRYING TO CREATE ANOTHER MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT, ARE WE JUST -- I NOTICED EVERYBODY USING THE WORD BLACK BOOK ALWAYS JUST TALKING ABOUT A BLACK DISTRICT OR ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT MINORITIES IN GENERAL? I DON'T WANT NOBODY -- I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE NAACP, THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE A BLACK DISTRICT. MINORITY DOES NOT JUST INCLUDE BLACK PEOPLE. I DON'T THINK -- I WILL LET THEM SPEAK ON THAT WHEN THEY GET UP. I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THEIR IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE ANOTHER BLACK DISTRICT. BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, MINDS IT'S A MINORITY DISTRICT. IT'S JUST THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WARD IN WARD ONE ARE BLACK.
THE MAJORITY OF THE MINORITY ARE BLACKS.
I JUST WANTED -- >> SPEAKER: YOU ARE RIGHT.
I WAS TRYING TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WARD ONE WAY A MAJORITY OF THE MINORITY PEOPLE ARE BLACK AND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE OF SHOWING -- WHERE I THINK POLITICAL COHESION HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT REALLY A SECTION TWO DISTRICT.
I WAS TRYING TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WARD ONE AND THE OTHER WARD WHERE THEY WANT TO DRAW AS YOU POINT OUT A MINORITY WHICH IS AN AGGREGATION OF DIFFERENT MINORITY GROUPS.
IF I SAID IT WRONG I'M SORRY. >> SPEAKER: I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE PERCEPTION THAT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.
>> SPEAKER: THE DATA PROVIDED IT IS CLEAR HOW IT HAS BEEN PROVIDED THAT MINORITIES ARE AGGREGATED.
>> SPEAKER: >> SPEAKER: IT'S AGGREGATED PERIOD. IS ALSO BROKEN DOWN BUT ALL DATA WE HAVE RECEIVED IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
>> SPEAKER: I THINK IN BOTH OF WHAT ARE CALLED MINORITY DISTRICTS AND THE NAACP PROPOSAL THAT WAS RECEIVED LATE TODAY, THE BLACK POPULATION -- I'M NOT SURE IF ITS TOTAL POPULATION, I'M NOT SURE OF ITS VOTING AGE POPULATION, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATION, IS IN THE '30S.
SO AGAIN, THAT IS THE TYPE OF THING WHEN I SAY WE WILL HAVE TO CHECK THAT DATA AND SEE WHAT IT IS.
[00:20:04]
ANY OF THE QUESTIONS? >> SPEAKER: IN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TODAY BY THE NAACP, THERE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY STATEMENTS AND I WILL READ IT SO I WILL GET IT WRONG.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE MAP OFFERS TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS WHICH WE UNDERSTAND TO BE THE NUMBER THAT THE CITY OF AUBURN IS REQUIRED TO HAVE.
IS THE CITY OF AUBURN BASED ON YOUR ANALYSIS REQUIRED TO HAVE
TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS? >> SPEAKER: MR. GRISWOLD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BASIS FOR THAT STATEMENT AND I WILL WAIT
FOR THE NAACP TO SPEAK ON THAT. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: ANY OF THE QUESTIONS?
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH
>> SPEAKER: HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
[5. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA.]
>> SPEAKER: QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER? CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING FOR US?
>> SPEAKER: I WAS ASKED A PROCEDURAL QUESTION EARLIER, IF THE COUNCIL IS WILLING TO CONSIDER THIS, ABOUT THE DENIAL OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS A REDISTRICTING VERSUS -- NORMALLY A DENIAL OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO NOT HEAR AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING IT AUTOMATICALLY EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE PUBLIC HEARING MOVES WITH IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE STILL OPENING A PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVING THIS HEARD AT ANOTHER MEETING AND KEEPING A PUBLIC HEARING OPEN THAT YOU CONSIDER SOMEBODY MOVING, IF UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS GRANTED YOU CONSIDER A MOVE TO POSTPONE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN OPENED AND CLOSED AND YOU MOVE TO POSTPONE IT TO JANUARY 4 AND CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THAT DATE IF THAT IS YOUR DESIRE. THEN IT DOESN'T -- THERE IS NO WAY IT RUNS AFOUL OF ANYBODY, COUNCILMAN WITTEN HAD BROUGHT UP WHAT ABOUT THE LIBERATION? THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT AND ALSO NOT TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC.
WHEN YOU DO NOT AGREE THAT -- CONSENT YOU ARE THINK YOU ARE DENYING EACH AGENDA ITEM AND THAT MEANS IN ENGLISH EVERYONE THAT YOU ARE JUST NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT ITEM ON THE FIRST READING. SO HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE, BUT THIS ACTUALLY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT YOU WILL HEAR IT AGAIN ON ANOTHER DATE AND THAT IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED TO KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN WHICH I RECOMMEND THAT YOU REOPEN AT ANOTHER MEETING, TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AGAIN, YOU ARE ON A TIMELINE TO THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY SO YOU CAN POSTPONE IT AS YOU CHOOSE MOVING FORWARD.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THAT.
IF THAT IS YOUR DESIRE TO HANDLE IT THAT WAY.
>> SPEAKER: ANY QUESTIONS FOR CITY MANAGER ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST
SAID? >> SPEAKER: OF COURSE I DO.
(LAUGHTER) SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT ONCE WE GET TO IT ON THE AGENDA, AND IT IS SUBJECT FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND WE CAN SENSE THAT AGREES WITH THAT, HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED THEN YOU POSTPONE.
>> SPEAKER: ANY OF YOU CAN DO THAT AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT IF THAT IS YOUR DESIRE AT THE TIME.
OTHERWISE IF YOU DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO THIS COUNCIL'S PROCEDURE TYPICALLY YOU DO NOT EVER OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN YOU DO THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY PICKS UP AND GO TO THE NEXT MEETING AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO MAY LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ON SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF YOU ABOUT HAVING THE PUBLIC SPEAK TONIGHT AND PROCEDURALLY TO NOT CONFUSE THINGS IT IS UP TO YOU. THAT IS AN OPTION.
BUT IN VETTING WITH THE CITY TO HONOR -- POSTPONING IS A LITTLE
LESS CONFUSING. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MACON.
>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION THAT WILL BE ON ITEM 8C WHICH IS THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANUAL.
IF WE HAVE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THAT MANUAL, IT DO WE BRING THEM UP, TO GO AHEAD -- IS THERE AN OPTION FOR US TO ASK FOR SPECIFIC CHANGES WITHIN THAT
MANUAL? >> SPEAKER: YOU WOULD PULL IT OFF CONSENT AND YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE ARE CHANGES THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO ADDRESS AND WE NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION THAT AT THAT TIME WE CAN WALK THROUGH THOSE.
CITY ENGINEER FRASER CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MANUAL AND IF ANYTHING YOU CAN POSTPONE THAT ITEM IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION AND WE NEED TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON SOMETHING ON JANUARY 4. THIS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NEED SOME MORE TIME TO GET BACK WITH YOU AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BASED ON DISCUSSION.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: AND ALSO, A REMINDER WE HAVE FIVE AGENDA ITEMS THAT I E-MAILED YOU ABOUT BEFORE THAT NEED TO BE POSTPONED AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT.
[00:25:04]
THAT IS AT YOUR DISCRETION, I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT WHEN I INTRODUCE THOSE ORDINANCES AND THE RESOLUTION THAT IT INVOLVES.AND WE HAVE THAT E-MAILED FROM ALL APPLICANTS.
AND LAST BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, ONE OF THE COX WIRE REZONING ITEMS PLAN DID DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT STAFF WILL ASK THAT FOR YOU AT SOME ADDITIONS TO THAT.
THIS IS A CHANGE IN HOW WE HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS AND IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT IS A SURPRISE TO THE APPLICANT.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR PLAN TO DEVELOP A DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE MANY IN THE CITY, SURVIVING 15 AND 20 AND 25 YEARS. WE JUST WANT THE EXHIBITS, THE MASS TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND SO WANT TO BE CALLED OUT AND DIRECTLY. A NUMBER OF EXHIBITS WITH THE ORDINANCES TRACKED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IT IS NOTHING THAT IS A SURPRISE BUT THIS IS CATCHING A NEW PROCEDURE BETWEEN PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL.
THAT IS ALL. WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT AT THE TIME. IT ALSO INCLUDES AT THAT PARTICULAR COX WIRE PLAN DISTRICT THE APPLICANT HAD AGREED THAT THE SECTION OF THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE ACTIVE ADULT ONLY WHICH IS A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY.
THERE IS AN E-MAIL IN YOUR PACKET WHERE THEY MAKE THAT CLEAR AND THAT IS THE OTHER CONDITION THAT WE WOULD BE REQUESTING TO CLARIFY, EVEN THOUGH THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT LOCKS SOME THINGS DOWN. IT IS CLARIFYING AND ALSO SAYING TO YOU AND THE PUBLIC THAT THIS WON'T BE ANOTHER TYPE OF HOUSING , IT IS THE ACTIVE ADULT 55 PLUS, WHICH WAS A BIG THING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I WANT TO COMMEND THE APPLICANT.
WE HAVE HAD SOMEBODY TO DO THIS UP FRONT AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I SAID I WOULD BUILD THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BUILD.
WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT AT THE TIME OF THAT AGENDA ITEM.
>> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
MOVE TO TURN? >> SPEAKER: SO MOVED.
>> SPEAKER:
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.