Jan 18, 2022 City Council

[00:00:01]

>> SPEAKER: SO MOVED. >> SPEAKER: WE ARE ADJOURNED.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.

>> SPEAKER: HOUSE PERCENT ALSO LET'S GO TO ROLL CALL AND THEN

WE WILL GO PROCEDURALLY. >> SPEAKER: LINDSAY, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE. (ROLL CALL)

>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE A MOTION -- FILL IN FOR RON

>> SPEAKER: PER ROBERT'S RULES JUST TO REITERATE AND SOMEONE WAS OUT OF THE ROOM, MAYOR AND PRO TEM ARE ABSENT THIS EVENING AND SO THEREFORE THE COUNCIL JUST TO LET SOMEBODY TO PRESIDE

OVER THE MEETING THIS EVENING. >> SPEAKER: I NOMINATE THE ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBER FROM WARD EIGHT, TOMMY DAWSON TO

PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: I HOPE YOU DO A GOOD JOB TONIGHT. THIS IS A THRILL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PRESIDE OVER OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

(LAUGHTER) I'VE BEEN AND OVER ALL MY AND I NEVER DREAMED A COUNTRY BOY FROM COX ROAD WOULD BE PRESIDING OVER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME.

I CARE ABOUT AUBURN DEEPLY AND IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME TO BE IT. DOING THIS.

THANK YOU AND BE PATIENT WITH ME >> SPEAKER: WHEN HE DEVOTES.

(LAUGHTER) >> SPEAKER: GOOD CAMPAIGN

SPEECH THOUGH. >> SPEAKER: YOU BETTER VOTE FOR ME. (LAUGHTER)

>> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVOR? YOU GOT ME ON THAT ONE.

(LAUGHTER) THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

(RECITAL OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE)

>> SPEAKER: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> SPEAKER: ALL RIGHT. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TONIGHT

[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS]

THE PROFESSOR FROM GEORGIA, WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU BEING FROM GEORGIA, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING OVER HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

WE HAD AN EXECUTIVE MEETING BEFORE, EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE THE MEETING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT.

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? MS. CHRIS WALL?

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. THE COST TO THE CITY FOR THE DIXON VERSUS CITY OF AUBURN LAWSUIT IS $55,428.91 AS OF 31

DECEMBER 2021. >> SPEAKER: ANYMORE

[5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS]

>> SPEAKER: HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL.

YOU PROBABLY NOTICED STUDENTS ARE BACK BECAUSE ROADS ARE BUSIER AND IT TAKES LONGER TO GET EVERYWHERE.

CLASSES ARE IN FULL SWING SECOND WEEK WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

YOU ALREADY HEARD AUBURN IS NUMBER TWO IN BASKETBALL.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET ALL STUDENTS TO GO TO ALL EVENTS NOT JUST FOOTBALL. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON STUDENT SECTION OF THE BASEBALL STADIUM SO STUDENTS CAN CONGREGATE IN THEIR OWN SECTION. AND LASTLY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DAME CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS IS VISITING TO DO A FORUM WHERE STUDENTS CAN GET TO KNOW HIM AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS POSITION AND HOW HE IS THE ONLY SINGLE CANDIDATE NOW FOR AUBURN'S NEW PRESIDENT. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. NOW WE MOVE INTO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION ON AGENDA ITEMS. AGAIN, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. THIS IS FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON THE AGENDA IF SPEAK NOW OC HEARING WHEN IT COMES UP IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO DO SO.

ANYBODY WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL RIGHT NOW? ALL RIGHT. NO ONE STEPPED FORWARD.

CITY MANAGER CROUCH, CITY MAGIC MEDICATIONS.

[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA.]

[00:05:03]

>> SPEAKER: TEMPORARY MAYOR DAWSON COME HERE WE GO.

FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A CONSENT AGENDA.

DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHICH REMOVE AN ITEM AND DEAL WITH

THAT ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? >> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT -- SORRY. I NEED A MOTION.

>> SPEAKER: MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVORITE? ANYBODY POST?

[9. ORDINANCES]

MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES. >> SPEAKER: AND ORDINANCES THIS EVENING ITEM 9A1 REQUEST FROM J. TORBIT AND NANCY T. HENRY TO NX APPROXIMATELY 10.51 ACRES LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF LEE ROAD 958 APPROXIMATELY .35 MILES SOUTH OF MOORES MILL RD.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL IN ITS JANUARY 13 MEETING. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.

>> SPEAKER: I WILL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK UNANIMOUS

CONSENT. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: ANYBODY HERE HAVE A REASON NOT TO MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT? NONE BEING SEEN, NOW.

>> SPEAKER: ANY QUESTIONS? >> SPEAKER: OR DISCUSSION?

>> SPEAKER: MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION ON ON THE ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO EXTEND CITY WATER OR SEWER TO THIS REGION? COME TO THIS AREA OF THE CITY? NOTHING FORTHCOMING? OKAY.

AND I NOTICE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMENTS, I RAISED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT FIRE AND POLICE COVERAGE.

BOTH SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT LIMITED.

THE FIRE BEING MORE THAN 5 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST FIRE STATION AND POLICE JURISDICTION HAVE DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES.

THOSE ARE TWO CONCERNS OF MINE. >> SPEAKER: MR. REGISTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY THING TO ADD TO THAT?

>> SPEAKER: IN THAT AREA IS WE HAVE A POLICE UNIT ASSIGNED TO THAT AREA SO I WOULD THINK THE RESPONSE TIME BE BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN MINUTES TYPICALLY ON A CALL TO THAT LOCATION.

THE OGLETREE FIRE STATION COULD SERVICE THAT AREA, OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE A LITTLE LONGER THAN SOME OF THE THINGS ON MOORES MILL RD. IT IS SERVICEABLE BUT IT COULD

BE A LITTLE LONGER. >> SPEAKER: MR. FOOT, THERE ARE ADJACENT PROPERTIES OBVIOUSLY CURRENTLY IN THE CITY LIMITS.

IS THAT CORRECT? >> SPEAKER: THERE ARE.

IT IS ON THE MAP IN THE PACKET. >> SPEAKER: THIS AREA WOULD BE SERVICED BY THE ORDER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT? TO FOLLOW UP ON GRISWOLD QUESTION.

ANYTHING THE CITY LIMITS -- >> SPEAKER: IF IT'S CITY LIMITS THE AUBURN FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL SERVE AS IT.

IF IT IS IN THE CITY LIMITS. >> SPEAKER: PURSUANT TO A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT, WOULD THAT BE TYPICAL TO DISPATCH THEM TO

SOMETHING IN THEIR? >> SPEAKER: THE AUBURN FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE PRIMARY ON ANYTHING IN THE CITY, BUT, YES, MUTUAL AID WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE KORBEL FIRE

DEPARTMENT. >> SPEAKER: IN AREAS LIKE THIS

THEY TYPICALLY WORK TOGETHER. >> SPEAKER: YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT. THEY WOULD LIKELY BE A MUTUAL RESPONSE AND WHOEVER GOT THERE FIRST WOULD BE DO WITH THE SITUATION BUT THEY WORKED TOGETHER REGULARLY IN THAT AREA.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU SIR. TO HEAR A MOTION?

>> SPEAKER: YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> SPEAKER: LINDSAY, CALL THE ROLE PLEASE.

(ROLL CALL VOTE) >> SPEAKER: ITEM 9A TO REQUEST FROM BLAKE RICE ON BEHALF OF MCWHORTER PROPERTIES AND SOCIETY HILL ESTATES LLC TO ANNEX APPROXIMATELY 48.5 ACRES LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SOCIETY HILL ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIETY HILL ROAD AND MOORES MILL RD.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT ITS JANUARY 13 MEETING. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.

>> SPEAKER: I WILL ENTERS THE ORDINANCE AND ASK UNANIMOUS

CONSENT. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: ANYBODY HAVE A REASON WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ORDINANCE TONIGHT? NONE SCENE, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LINDSAY, CALL THE ROLE.

(ROLL CALL VOTE) >> SPEAKER: ITEM NINE MAYBE IS THE 2020 WOULD BE JUST AS HE PLAN THAT REAPPORTIONED CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS FOLLOWING A FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS REQUIRED BY ALABAMA STATE STATUTE 1143 IT.

THIS ITEM WAS POSTPONED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED FROM BOTH THE JANUARY -- DECEMBER 21 MEETING AS WELL AS THE JANUARY

[00:10:05]

FOR MEETING. >> SPEAKER: MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SPEAKER: IT IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE.

YOU HAVE A POSTPONEMENT THAT IT IS ON THE TABLE FOR BUSINESS.

IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU GUYS WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSION PRIOR TO ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO OPENING TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SPEAKER: DISCUSSION NOW OR ACT AS A PUBLIC MEETING? SPECULAR PROCEEDS WILL BE TYPICAL WAS THE DEADLINE YOU GAVE US BEFORE THIS BEFORE THE UPCOMING ELECTION?

>> SPEAKER: GOING BACK, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER BY FEBRUARY 22. BACKING UP FROM THAT, THE PAPER GENERAL CIRCULATION IN AUBURN IS OFTEN CONSIDERED THE VILLAGER WHEN WE ADVERTISE GOING INTO THE DECEMBER 21 MEETING WE ADVERTISE IN BOTH THE AUBURN VILLAGER AND THE OPELIKA AUBURN NEWS TO BE SURE CITIZENS HAVE MAXIMUM COMMUNICATION.

THEY ARE ADVERTISING DEADLINES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER HAVING THIS COMPLETE BY OUR VERY FIRST FEBRUARY MEETING. IF WE GO TO THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY AND I BELIEVE THAT IS FEBRUARY 15, THE FEBRUARY 1 MEETING WOULD BE THE FIRST MEETING WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LEGAL ADS SUBMITTED TO THE PAPERS TO MAKE A PUBLISHING DEADLINE TO MEET THE SIX MONTH PRIOR TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CRITERIA SET FORTH IN STATE LAW. WE WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THOSE ADS BEFORE THE MEETING. AND TRYING TO GUESS AT WHAT THE COUNCIL WOULD DO. SO IT IS THE FEBRUARY 1 MEETING WOULD BE THE DEADLINE. IT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IF WE COULD ONLY ADVERTISE IN THE OPELIKA AUBURN NEWS. THEY HAVE A LITTLE SHORTER DEADLINES BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK THAT YOU HIT.

ALL OF OUR NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS, BUT THEY STRUGGLE AS PUBLISHING PLANTS MOVING OUT OF THIS AREA GETTING FURTHER AWAY THEIR DEADLINES -- IT'S A LONGER LEAD TIME FOR US WITH THEIR DEADLINES. THAT'S A SITUATION FOR THEM.

WE OFTEN NEED ALMOST CLOSE TO A FULL WEEK OUT TO GET THINGS INTO

A PAPER A WEEK LATER. >> SPEAKER: FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN YOU SAY THE DEADLINE FOR PUBLISHING, WHAT IS EXACTLY THE

WORD PUBLISHING? >> SPEAKER: WHEN RICHARD DAVIDSON CORRECTLY IF I AM INCORRECT.

WHEN COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AND YOU ARE CHANGING SAY SOMETHING LIKE THE ZONING ORDINANCE, IT DOES NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE. WE DEALT WITH THIS WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND OTHER THINGS, UNTIL IT IS PUBLISHED.

IT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION. YOU ARE NOTICING TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED A NEW LAW, A PROCEDURE OF SOURCE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. WE CAN'T MAKE IT USUALLY EFFECTIVE THE DAY YOU ADOPTED. IT IS EFFECTIVE UPON PUBLICATION. SO THE STATE LAW SAYING FOR THIS TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT MUST BE PUBLISHED SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. >> SPEAKER: TO CONFIRM, IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THIS ON THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY IT WOULD BE GOOD TIMING WISE TO HAVE IT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION?

>> SPEAKER: GOOD TIMING AND ALSO UPON PUBLICATION THE ORDINANCE IN YOUR PACKET IS A -- THAT LEGAL DESCRIPTION RUNS FURTHER THAN YOUR MAPS SHOW. THE REASON THAT THEY DO IS IF WE ANNEX AND RUNS TO COUNTY LINES. IF WE ANNEX PROPERTY ALONG THE WAY IT HAS TO HAVE A DISTRICT THAT IT BELONGS IN.

WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE WHO IS GOING TO ANNEX AND WHO IS NOT GOING TO ANNEX AND THAT IS HOW OUR CURRENT DISTRICTING IS DONE.

SO WE DO HAVE TO HAVE TIME SHOULD THE MAP CHANGE GET A LEGAL DESCRIPTION WRITTEN THAT IS ACCURATE TO WHAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTED PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. SO IT IS A LOT COMPLICATED, BUT,

YES, FEBRUARY 1 IS AMPLE TIME. >> SPEAKER: WITH MS. WITTEN WHITMAN AND THE MAYOR ABSENT FOR HEALTH REASONS, WITHOUT THEM HAVING A VOICE IN THE PROCESS, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE OR REASONABLE FOR US TO MOVE THIS INTO TO THAT MEETING IN FEBRUARY AND HOPES WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL HERE TO DELIBERATE AND VOTE. AS SUCH I WOULD MOVE NOW TO POSTPONE THIS TO A DATE CERTAIN -- I DON'T KNOW THE DATE --

>> SPEAKER: LOOKING FOR FEBRUARY 1 I HAD ALSO BEEN ASKED ABOUT JANUARY 25 WHICH IS NEXT TUESDAY.

>> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO SAL CALLED MEETING?

>> SPEAKER: WOULD BE A CALLED MEETING JUST ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

>> SPEAKER: IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THE FIRST ONE FEBRUARY IS FULL

NOW. >> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE -- OF MOVE THE MOOD AND TO ACCOMMODATE SEVERAL OTHER VERY LARGE ITEMS THAT GOT POSTPONED ON DECEMBER 21 AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANTS APPLICANT'S. NOT THE COUNCIL.

THOSE ARE SOME LARGE DEVELOPING PROJECTS THAT ARE ALSO ON THAT AGENDA ON FEBRUARY 1. IT IS CERTAINLY UP TO THE

COUNCIL. >> SPEAKER: I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE A MEETING ON THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THE 25TH WHICH WOULD BE NEXT TUESDAY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION DOES HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE A FEW CHOICES.

YOU CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING OR NOT.

YOU CAN POSTPONE IT STRAIGHT TO A DATE CERTAIN AND SET A TIME.

YOU COULD ALSO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE IT IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE WANTING TO DO OR SOMEBODY IS WANTING TO MAKE THAT MOTION. IT IS CERTAINLY UP TO THE COUNCIL HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.

>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME IF EVERYONE AGREES WITH THE PUBLIC

HEARING OPEN. >> SPEAKER: BEFORE WE HAVE A

[00:15:01]

>> SPEAKER: WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER THE PUBLIC

HEARING. >> SPEAKER: I'VE A QUESTION A

PROCEDURE. >> SPEAKER: GO AHEAD.

>> SPEAKER: IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON THE 25TH, WHAT IS THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL MEETING? THE BACKUP.

IF IN THE EVENT WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AND SOME CHANGES ARE PROPOSED, AT THAT TIME WE STILL HAVE TO REPUBLISH WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING FOR THE FINAL VOTE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS VERY CHALLENGING.

MR. DAVIDSON NEED TO HELP ME ALONG.

A WEEK FROM NOW IF YOU WERE TO POSTPONE A WEEK FROM NOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ADVERTISED ANY OTHER MAP OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT WAS ADVERTISED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CHANGES ARE, I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE WHERE YOU DEALT WITH THIS WITH ANOTHER ITEM A YEAR AGO WHERE WE HAD TO READ ADVERTISE BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES WERE MADE.

I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT AND MR. AND WALKER MAY WAY IN AS WELL, IS THE PURPOSE OF ADVERTISING WAS TO BE SURE THE PUBLIC WAS PROPERTY NOTICED THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING WE DISTRICTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAP THAT WAS ADVERTISED WAS JUST A MAP NOT A LEGAL DESCRIPTION.

I DON'T KNOW FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM IF A FULL WHOLESALE CHANGE WOULD HAVE TO BE READ ADVERTISED. THAT A QUESTION I CANNOT ANSWER.

>> SPEAKER: IF THERE IS A PROPOSED CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED. IF SOMEONE CAN DRAW IT OR IT HAS A SUBMISSION. THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE WHERE A MAJOR LINE IS REDRAWN AND A BIG NUMBER OF CITIZENS MOVED, THEN YES.

IF IT MOVES TEN PEOPLE FROM ONE TO ANOTHER OR ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE NEXT OVER A BLOCK AND THERE'S A LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THAT I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIVE -- SUBJECT TO CRITICISM LEGALLY. BUT I DO THINK OF IT CHANGES THE BALANCE -- I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF GERRYMANDERING. I WOULDN'T BE AS CONCERNED ABOUT

THAT AS IF IT WAS A WHOLESALE. >> SPEAKER: MR. DAVIDSON, THE QUESTION IS ABOUT LEGAL ADVERTISING.

ONE THING IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE CHANGE AGAINST ALL OF THE CRITERIA. ADVERTISING SPECIFICALLY ON WHICH I THINK COUNCILPERSON GRISWOLD IS ASKING ABOUT, JUST THE LEGAL ADVERTISING COMPONENT OF IT, LET ALONE THE ANALYSIS OF

IT. >> SPEAKER: IF THERE IS A CHANGE, WHAT IS THE -- WHAT DOES THAT DO TO US TIMEWISE SO THAT WE CAN STILL MEET YOUR FINAL PUBLICATION DATE OF THE 22ND? IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER MAP FOR WHATEVER REASON.

>> SPEAKER: WE CAN ADOPT AMENDMENT ON THAT MEETING ON

THAT MAP. >> SPEAKER: YOU COULD BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO REPUBLISH AND ANALYZE IT AND THEN HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT IS ULTIMATELY ADVERTISED IF IT MEETS ALL OF THE CRITERIA.

>> SPEAKER: BEFORE CONSIDERATION OR PUBLISHED.

YOU ARE SPEAKING TO ADVERTISING THE QUESTION ULTIMATELY IS, WE HAVE ALREADY ADVERTISED THAT WE DISTRICTING.

THE COUNCIL WAS OFFICIALLY CONSIDERING A MAP AS OF DECEMBE.

FROM THERE FORWARD, IT CHANGES ARE PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL, WE DON'T HAVE TO READ ADVERTISE THAT.

IF I'M UNDERSTANDING OUR LEGAL TEAM CORRECTLY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO READ ADVERTISE THAT PROPOSAL WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IS HAVE ANALYZE -- POTENTIAL TIME.

MAKE SURE WE CAN ADVISE YOU ACCORDINGLY PRIOR TO YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU. WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS, IF WE GOT OUT OF WHACK WITH DEVIATIONS THAT ARE ACQUIRED OR OTHER REDISTRICTING CRITERIA, WE HAVE TO BE WE ARE ADVISING YOU.

>> SPEAKER: IF WE WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION OR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THE SUBJECT ALONE THAT WOULD GIVE US TO SKI CRACKS AT THIS IF WE DIDN'T RESOLVE IT AT THE SPECIAL MEETING NEXT WEEK? WITHIN THE TIME FRAME YOU ARE

SAYING BY FEBRUARY 1. >> SPEAKER: IT WOULD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR LEGAL TEAM HAS ANSWERED THIS QUESTION.

WE ARE CHALLENGED BECAUSE WE ARE NEEDING A SCHOOL ELECTION HAPPENED TO BE THIS AUGUST. IF YOU DON'T REDISTRICT AT ALL, IF YOU DON'T MEET THE DEADLINES, I DON'T KNOW IF OUR LEGAL TEAM CAN SPEAK TO WHAT THE EVOCATIONS OF THAT ARE.

BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST A DEADLINE BECAUSE MORE TO HAS 14,000 PEOPLE IN IT. YOU ARE LEAVING WARDS THAT ARE VERY DISPROPORTIONATE WITH WHEN YOU HAD SENT HIS DATA.

>> SPEAKER: YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ACT, THEN THE MAP PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE AS THE MAPS BACK WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

BUT NOT IN TIME FOR THE SELECTION.

>> SPEAKER: I BELIEVE IT IS THE MAP.

>> SPEAKER: THERE IS A SIX MONTH CRITERIA.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO LOOK ON THE FLY AND GET BACK TO YOU ON

THAT PIECE OF IT. >> SPEAKER: IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE THIS CALLED MEETING ON THE 25TH JUST TO VOTE ON THIS PROPOSAL. IF IT'S REJECTED THEN YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> SPEAKER: I THINK IT IS PURELY OF THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL. WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND WE

[00:20:02]

THIS IS YOUR CALL. WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU ANY INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.

ABOUT THOSE DISTRICTS. WE ARE HAPPY TO PIVOT AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO TO GET TO THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. SO THAT MEANS MEETING ON JANUARE YOU STILL NEED MORE TIME, FEBRUARY 1 IS THE LAST TIME I CAN RECOMMEND TO YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT MAKE ANY CHANGES, THAT IS STILL GIVING US A VERY TIGHT WINDOW TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE. WE WOULD WORK DILIGENTLY TO DO SO. BUT IT IS GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FRAME FOR US TO MEET ALL OF THE DEADLINES FOR PUBLISHING. BEYOND FEBRUARY 1.

YOU STICK TO FEBRUARY 1 WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE IT

HAPPEN. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER

PROCEDURAL QUESTIONS? >> SPEAKER: THE AUGUST 23 IS IN

MOVABLE, MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY? >> SPEAKER: THAT IS NOT MOVABLE MR. DORTON, NOT MOVABLE. CORRECT.

>> SPEAKER: ANYTHING ELSE? >> SPEAKER: I RENEW MY MOTION TO MOTION TO MOVE TO A DATE CERTAIN OF JANUARY 25.

I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT TIME.

DO YOU NEED IT TIME? >> SPEAKER: IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE IT. I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S WORK SCHEDULES NOT EARLIER THAN FIVE BUT MAYBE 5:30 MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU ALL TO GET HERE.

AND FOR THE PUBLIC. >> SPEAKER: I PROPOSE 5:30.

>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: CALL THE ROLE.

>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> SPEAKER: ANY DISCUSSION? >> SPEAKER: I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. WITH THE PROPOSAL YOU JUST MADE.

WE WILL STILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT?

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ALSO NEED TO DECIDE.

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS MY INTENTION.

>> SPEAKER: THAT'S ALL I NEEDED.

>> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU COULD ALSO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN ACT ON THIS MOTION NOW AND THEN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING OR MR. DAVIDSON, DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE, IT'S FINE EITHER WAY YOU WANT TO DO IT.

>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. TO RECALL THE ROLE ON THIS OR --

>> SPEAKER: YOU CAN VOICE VOTE IF YOU NEED TO CALL ROLE ON IT

IF YOU. >> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVOR?

(VOICE VOTE) >> SPEAKER: MOVED TO THE 25TH

AT 530 PM. >> SPEAKER: ARE YOU GOING TO

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> SPEAKER: YES.

>> SPEAKER: NOW IS I THINK WHAT COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR WAS ASKING.

>> SPEAKER: YES, LET'S DO IT RIGHT NOW.

>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS REDISTRICTING

MOTION, STEP FORWARD. >> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS TABITHA EISNER. I RESIDE AT 4349 WHITE ACRES RODE IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, 36106.

I'M HERE TONIGHT IN THE ROLE OF EXPERT FOR THE NAACP ON MAPPING.

I THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND FOR CONTINUING TO GIVE THIS TOPIC YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT SORT OF THE VERY -- THE MOST BASIC QUESTION AT THE HEART OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION. THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR A MAP TO BE LEGAL. IN ORDER FOR A MAP TO BE LEGAL, THE RULES SAY, THE FEDERAL RULES SAY THAT DISTRICTS MUCH HAD -- MUST HAVE A LEGAL POPULATION MUST COMPLY THE MAP AS A WHOLE MUST COMPLY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

ANY MAP, LITERALLY ANY MAP -- WAY THAT YOU SLICE IT, YOU COULD SLICE IT LIKE A PINWHEEL, YOU COULD SLICE IT IN ANY WAY YOU WANTED, ALL OF YOU COULD BE MOVED TO ALL NEW DISTRICTS.

AND IT WOULD STILL BE A LEGAL MAP IF THE DISTRICTS ARE EQUALLY SIZED AND IF IT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE VOTING RIGHT ACTS SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT A MAP SHOULD NOT DILUTE THE VOTING POWER OF MINORITIES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT IS ABSOLUTELY CONTENTIOUS WHAT THAT MEANS. IT IS NOT A SIMPLE MATTER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION OF WHAT MAP DOES AND DOESN'T DILUTE THE VOTING POWER OF MINORITIES OR THE POWER OF MINORITIES TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CHOOSING.

ARE MAP IS LEGAL. IT IS LEGAL.

[00:25:04]

IT DOES NOT DILUTE THE ABILITY OF MINORITIES TO ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR CHOOSING.

OUR MAP IS LEGAL. AND I FIND IT VERY BIZARRE THAT IT IS BEING PRESENTED AS IF IT IS NOT A LEGAL MAP.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT MAKES IT NOT LEGAL.

THE -- LET'S TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT -- ORDERED MY MASK WEARING.

I HAD COVID RECENTLY SO I WON'T TAKE IT OFF.

FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY. THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT MUNICIPALITIES DO THE ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM.

THAT IS NOT WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT DOES.

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T DILUTE THE POWER OF THE MINORITY GROUP TO ELECT A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOOSING IF THEY HAVE ADEQUATE POLITICAL POWER IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO ELECT A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOOSING.

IT IS PERFECTLY ALLOWABLE UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT TO CREATE ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS WHERE MINORITIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOOSING, EVEN WHEN IT MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO SO. SO IT IS NOT A LAW THAT SETS A CEILING ON HOW MANY SEATS CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MINORITIES.

IT IS A LAW THAT SETS THE FLOOR. AT BARE MINIMUM, YOU MUST HAVE ONE DISTRICT, OR AT BARE MINIMUM YOU MUST HAVE TO DISTRICTS.

AND AGAIN, TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE WHETHER AUBURN NEEDS TO HAVE ONE MINORITY DISTRICT OR TWO MINORITY DISTRICTS, IS GOING TO BE A HOT, HOT DEBATE. IT IS NOT SIMPLE.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE WAY TO DETERMINE THAT.

THERE ARE THE JINGLES. CONDITIONS.

THE PRECONDITION TO KEEP HEARING ABOUT.

BUT THOSE PRECONDITIONS ARE ARBITRATED IN COURT.

WE DIDN'T BRING YOU A FULL JINGLES ARGUMENTS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HOW YOU CAN MAKE DECISIONS AS A CITY COUNCIL.

AS A CITY COUNCIL, YOU MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT MAP YOU LIKE. WHAT MAP YOU THINK IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN. YOU CAN SLICE IT PINWHEEL STYLE, YOU CAN SLICE IT LIKE A PIZZA, YOU CAN SLICE IT INTO BLOCKS.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE AS THE CITY COUNCIL HOW YOU WANT TO SLICE THAT MAP, AS LONG AS THE DISTRICTS ARE EQUALLY SIZED AND IT DOESN'T DILUTE THE POWER OF MINORITIES TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CHOOSING.

SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE NOT WANTED TO FOCUS ON JINGLES BECAUSE THAT IS A COURT ARGUMENT AND IF WE END UP IN COURT, YES, WE WILL BE ARGUING ABOUT THE JINGLES PRECONDITIONS.

BUT WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF A MAP? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE OF AUBURN SHOULD HAVE IN A MAP? JINGLES IS FOR COURTS.

WE WILL GO THERE IF WE NEED TO. THIRD, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT C VAP. THE CITIZEN AGE VOTING POPULATION. YOU MIGHT RECALL THERE WAS A REALLY HOT DEBATE, REALLY CONTENTIOUS ARGUMENT POLITICALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHETHER THE CENSUS WOULD INCLUDE A QUESTION ABOUT CITIZENSHIP. AND THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE COURTS THAT CITIZENSHIP COULD NOT BE ASKED AS PART OF THE SENSES. CITIZENSHIP WAS NOT ASKED AS PART OF THE 2020 CENSUS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATION AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE VOTING AGE POPULATION AND THOSE WHO ARE EXPLICITLY CITIZENS, WE ARE GUESSING. THE CENSUS BUREAU MAKES ESTIMATES. IT IS THEIR BEST GUESS BUT THEY DON'T PRETEND THAT THEY ARE 100 PERCENT ACCURATE ABOUT GUESSING WHO IS A CITIZEN AND WHO ISN'T.

C VAP DOES NOT HAVE TO BE USED PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS AN INACCURATE ESTIMATE AND ONLY AN ESTIMATE OF THE CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATION. THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE TO GO WITH THE NUMBERS DIRECTLY FROM A CENSUS.

THE 2020 CENSUS HAS NOT RELEASED THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS NOT RELEASED C VAP ESTIMATES FOR THE 2020 CENSUS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE USING TO GET THOSE, BUT THEY ARE NOT COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU, AT LEAST NOT DATA THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN GOOGLE IT AND SEE THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS SAID THEY HAVE NOT YET RELEASED C VAP FOR THE 2020 CENSUS.

DON'T BE SWAYED BY THE C VAP DATA THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT ON OUR MAP.

[00:30:01]

RACIALLY POLARIZED VOTING IS DETERMINED BY THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN A GIVEN MUNICIPALITY.

IT IS NOT DETERMINED BY A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FOUR PRECINCTS AND ONE MAYORAL ELECTION.

AS DR. HOOD RIGHTLY SAID, THAT IS NOT AN ADEQUATE SAMPLE SIZE.

WITH FOUR PEOPLE, YOU CAN'T DECIDE, YOU CAN'T CHOOSE TOOTHPASTE BASED ON A FOUR-PERSON SURVEY AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS BASED ON FOUR PRECINCTS WORTH OF DATA.

IT IS JUST NOT ENOUGH DATA FOR THEIR THE EVER TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY SIGNIFICANT RACE. SO INSTEAD, THE COURTS HAVE SAID THAT THEY LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT WORD IS A TERM THAT IS IN QUOTES USED IN MULTIPLE SUPREME COURT CASES. THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDES NINE DIFFERENT METRICS OR NINE DIFFERENT BULLET POINTS THAT THE COURTS HAVE LAID OUT. THAT INCLUDES THE HISTORY IN A MUNICIPALITY OF ELECTING MINORITIES TO OFFICE.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NOT A HISTORY OF ELECTING A LOT OF MINORITIES TO OFFICE, THE FACT THAT MINORITIES HAVE NOT ONE IN OTHER DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT ONE WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THE HISTORY OF RACIALLY POLARIZED VOTING IN THE STATE AT LARGE, WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE RACIALLY POLARIZED, INCLUDING HISPANIC AND ASIAN POPULATIONS TENDING TO VOTE IN THE SAME WAY THAT BLACK POPULATIONS DO.

THE HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE STATE OR LOCALITY.

ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES TO REGISTER TO VOTE, TO ACTUALLY VOTE OR TO OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IF THE MUNICIPALITY HAS A HISTORY OF HAVING SOME DISCRIMINATION OR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN VOTING RIGHTS OR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY ALSO LOOK AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS IN THE MUNICIPALITY BEAR THE EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. SO IF THERE IS EVIDENCE -- IF WE WERE IN COURT RIGHT NOW, WHICH WE ARE NOT, WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID THAT COURT LIKE FEELING -- WE WOULD BE TALKING AND LOOKING AT DATA BASED ON THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION THAT IS HAPPENED IN AUBURN.

THEY ALSO LOOK AT WHETHER POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY OVERT OR SUBTLE RACIAL APPEALS.

HISTORICALLY IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CANDIDATES HAVE MADE RACIAL APPEALS COURT SO ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE USED.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO ONLY BE PRECINCT LEVEL DATA.

IN A TOWN WITH ONLY FOUR PRECINCTS, IT MOST CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE BASED ON PRECINCT DATA.

I'M SORRY, NOT A CITY. A SINCE AUBURN'S MAP HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN TO COURT, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COURT WOULD SAY ABOUT THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN AUBURN IN 2020. WE WOULD BRING FORWARD ARGUMENTS NO DOUBT THE CITY WOULD BRING FORWARD ARGUMENTS AS WELL.

BUT IT WOULD BE UP TO THE COURT TO DECIDE THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS NOT FOR US TO DECIDE HERE.

THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION RAISED ABOUT WHETHER OUR MAP GERRYMANDER'S. I WANT TO TALK FOR MINUTES A MINUTE ABOUT WHAT GERRYMANDERING IS.

THE ORIGINAL TERM COMES FROM A POLITICAL CARTOON.

IT IS NOT -- IT DID NOT ORIGINATE AS A TECHNICAL TERM.

IT ORIGINATED AS A JOKE, AS A FARCICAL STATEMENT.

IT IS REALLY -- IT HAS COME TO MEAN ANY SORT OF -- WHEN A MAP IS MANIPULATED TO BENEFIT ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER ANOTHER.

ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER ANOTHER.

IT IS HARD TO DRAW A MAP THAT DOES NOT GERRYMANDER IN THE SENSE THAT THERE ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN EVERY MAP.

THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

SO WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS NOT ARE THERE ANY WINNERS OR LOSERS EVER BECAUSE IT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS, WE GET THAT.

THE KIND OF GERRYMANDERING THAT IS A PROBLEM IS RACIAL GERRYMANDERING. THE COURTS HAVE SAID, POLITICAL GERRYMANDERING, GERRYMANDERING TO BENEFIT A POLITICAL PARTY, LEGAL. TECHNICALLY -- I SHOULDN'T SAY LEGAL. NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COURTS WILL CONSIDER. THEY WON'T EVEN LOOK AT CASES IF THE COMPLAINT IS THAT IT IS ABOUT PARTS OF GERRYMANDERING.

[00:35:05]

LEGAL. NOT JUDICIAL.

NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COURTS WILL INTERFERE IN.

ALL OF THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH WE DIVIDE NEIGHBORHOODS UP IN WAYS THAT MAYBE FAIR OR UNFAIR TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, IN GENERAL THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COURT INTERVENES IN.

THE COURT INTERVENES ONLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RACIAL GERRYMANDERING. SO, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO BE RACE BLIND IN HOW WE DRAW MAPS? NO, IT DOES NOT. THE COURT HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE IDEAL IS THAT THE PROCESS BE RACE NEUTRAL, IT ALSO, THE PROCESS CANNOT ONCE AGAIN DILUTE THE POWER OF THE MINORITY TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CHOOSING IF THEY HAVE ADEQUATE POWER TO DO SO.

AND SO IT IS YOUR OBLIGATION TO TAKE RACE INTO CONSIDERATION TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT DELUDING THE VOTING POWER OF MINORITIES. SO IF POSSIBLE, TRY WITHOUT LOOKING AT RACIAL DATA AT ALL AND THEN CHECK AND SEE.

IS THE MINORITY POPULATION GETTING AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF SEATS? IF THE ANSWER IS NO, TRY AGAIN AND MAYBE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RACIAL DATA TO DO SO.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA BEING THE EPITOME OF GERRYMANDERING. NORTH CAROLINA HAD DISTRICTS THAT WERE SHAPED LIKE LONG SKINNY SNAKES IN ORDER TO CONNECT TOGETHER POPULATIONS THAT IDENTIFIED WITH ONE ANOTHER OR WORK RACIALLY CONSISTENT. SOMETIMES THAT WAS FOUND TO BE LEGAL, SOMETIMES IT WAS FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL.

IN THE CASE -- THERE WAS A CASE IN TEXAS WHERE THERE WERE TWO SKI HIS TO -- HISPANIC POPULATIONS INTO DIFFERENT TOWNS AND THEY WERE 300 MILES APART. AND SO THE STATE TRIED TO DRAW A DISTRICT THAT TOOK THIS HISPANIC POPULATION FROM THIS CITY AND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND GOT THE HISPANIC POPULATION FROM THIS CITY AND MADE A HISPANIC MINORITY DISTRICT. THE COURT SAID, NO.

THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.

THEY ARE 300 MILES APART. YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO.

BUT IN PLENTY OF OTHER CASES, IN THE CASE OF CHICAGO, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HISPANIC POPULATION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN AND ANOTHER HISPANIC POPULATION ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. THEY ARE CONNECTED SIMILARLY ALONG THE HIGHWAY. AND THE COURTS RULED THAT THAT WAS APPROPRIATE. THEY ARE NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND ALLOWED THEM TO HAVE THE MINORITY REPRESENTATION THAT THEY DESERVED TO HAVE. SO IT IS NOT THAT SHAPES CAN NEVER BE CHANGED, IT IS NOT THAT RACE CANNOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. IT IS JUST THAT IT NEEDS TO NOT BE WILD AND CRAZY. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MAPS, SIDE BY SIDE, THE CITY'S PROPOSED MAP AND OUR PROPOSED MAP, THEY ARE NOT WILDLY DIFFERENT. OUR ARE MAP IS NOT WILD AND CRAZY. IT IS REASONABLE.

THERE ARE NO ARMS STICKING OUT IN STRANGE DIRECTIONS, THERE ARE NO RIDICULOUS LOOPS. IT IS JUST A DIFFERENT MAP.

IN WHICH THE DISTRICTS HAVE THE SAME POPULATION AND IN WHICH MINORITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY -- NOT EVEN A GUARANTEE -- BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE MORE PERSON OF THEIR COMMUNITIES CHOOSING ON THIS CITY COUNCIL.

THAT IS ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR. A SECOND DISTRICT IN WHICH THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT A MINORITY COULD BE ELECTED.

IT WILL BE A DIVERSE, REALLY COOL INTERESTING DISTRICT.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHO WILL WIN. BUT IT MIGHT BE A MINORITY.

AND AT LEAST THE MINORITY POPULATION WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE OVER WHOEVER REPRESENTS THEM IN THAT DISTRICT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.

WE ARE ASKING NOT TO GO COURTS. WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO MAKE A CHOICE BECAUSE IT IS AN OPTION, A LEGAL OPTION IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER. NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING FORCED BY THE FORCE OF LAW, NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO TO COURT, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS MAP.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: ANY QUESTIONS? WHO WILL BE NEXT?

WHO WILL BE NEXT FOR THE -- >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CAROL FOSTER AND I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE

[00:40:06]

>> SPEAKER: HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA >> SPEAKER: WE NEED THE FULL ADDRESS OF THE BUSINESS OR YOUR RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD.

>> SPEAKER: 809 HIGHWAY 72 WEST , ATHENS, ALABAMA.

35612. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MA'AM,.

>> SPEAKER: I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE CONFERENCE AND OUR LOCAL NAACP BRANCH 1538. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE STATE NAACP IS PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW CITIES ARE DRAWING THEIR MAPS. WE WANT FAIRNESS, THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO ME.

I CAN'T HELP BUT TO THINK THAT OUR MAP, THE NAACP MAP, IS BEING DISCREDITED, AND I FIND THAT TROUBLING.

AUBURN HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN A STATE WITH HOW THEIR MAP IS DRAWN, SO I ASKED THAT YOUR VOTE IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU RETURN. BECAUSE WE ARE WATCHING, WE ARE INTERESTED AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO COURT.

WE JUST ASK FOR FAIRNESS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL CITIZENS TO BE FAIRLY REPRESENTED. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: ELIZABETH HILL, 274 BRAGG AVENUE AUBURN.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A PROCESS QUESTION AND A COLLABORATIVE QUESTION. I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE E-MAIL THAT WE SENT YOU ABOUT THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE.

ONE OF OUR CITIES IN ALABAMA, A SIMILAR CITY THAT IS DOING SIMILAR THINGS THAT WE ARE, REDRAWING THEIR MAPS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME AND THEIR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ARE THE SAME TIME AS WE ARE. THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THEIR REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

THEY ACTUALLY SET UP A WEBSITE THAT HAD ALL OF THE CRITERIA ON IT. THEY PUT SOFTWARE ON THE WEBSITE TO INVITE CITIZENS TO DRAW THEIR OWN MAPS AND SUBMIT THEM.

THEY GAVE HIM A DEADLINE. THE DEADLINE WAS IN A RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME SO THEY CAN REVIEW ALL OF THE CITIZENS' DATA. AND ALLOW THE PROCESS TO BE COLLABORATIVE FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE AS THE NAACP BACK IN AUGUST BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS OF HOW THE CITY WOULD DO THEIR MAP. COULD WE BE A PART OF THE PROCESS? THAT'S ALL WE ASKED.

COULD WE BE PART OF THE PROCESS? THEY SAID NO, WE WILL DRAW A MAP. WE SAID OKAY WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

AT WHAT POINT CAN WE BE PART OF THE PROCESS? YOU CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS ONCE WE HAVE THE CITIZENS OPEN FORMS. SO IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE MAP CAME OUT, WE SAW THE MAP, WE SAID, WE ARE SEEING THE DIFFERENT PICTURE ON THIS MAP. WE WILL GO TO THE CITIZEN FORMS. WE WENT TO THE CITIZEN FORMS AND ASK QUESTIONS.

WE WERE REALIZED THEN AND QUICKLY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK.

SO WE CAME TO Y'ALL WITH A PROOF OF CONCEPT MAP.

WE SENT LOOK THIS IS HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DATA.

CAN WE SIT DOWN, CAN WE COLLABORATE? WE KEPT ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. THE CITY STAFF DID MEET WITH US AND THE ANSWER IN THE MEETING WAS, WE HAVE DRAWN OUR MAP, WE HAVE DRAWN OUR MAP. THAT WAS THE ANSWER THAT WE WERE GIVEN. SO WHEN WE WENT BACK TO DO OUR ALTERNATIVE MAP THAT IS PROPOSED IN FRONT OF YOU, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOU, I HAVE A HANDOUT THAT HAS THE TWO MAPS SIDE BY SIDE. SINCE WE DID NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, WE TOOK A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. SO WE ORIGINALLY GAVE YOU A PROOF OF CONCEPT MAP THAT SAID, WE THINK THIS IS POSSIBLE TO DO TWO. CAN WE FIGURE THIS OUT.

WHEN WE WENT BACK TO DO OUR REVISIONS, WE LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT WHAT THE CITY DID. THE CITY DID A LOT OF HARD WORK.

THEY DID. THEY PUT IN HOURS.

WE HAVE HEARD THIS OVER AND OVER.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THEY DID THAT.

THEY MADE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS IN SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THESE DISTRICTS LOOK. THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL CRITERIA AND WORKING WITH OTHER CRITERIA BUT THERE WERE ALSO WORKING WITH SOME THINGS THAT THEY KNEW FROM OUR CITY THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO.

LOOKING AT THE URBAN AND SUBURBAN DISTRICTS, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WHEN WE WENT AND DREW OUR MAP FOR THE ALTERNATIVE MAP, WE TRIED TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO

[00:45:04]

MAYBE IT COULD BE TWEAKED EVEN FURTHER.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION OF HOW THIS CAN GO. SO WE DID THE BEST THAT WE COULD TO SAY, HERE IS OUR MAP, HERE'S THE CITY MAP, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE NEXT ITERATION. WE ARE NOT THROWING THEIR MAP OUT, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT THERE MAP IS TERRIBLE.

WE ARE NOT STARTING OVER. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE DATA BACK IN THE FALL GOING, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO MOVE THIS AROUND. THAT TO HIS CRAZY.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? AND THEY MADE SOME GREAT DECISIONS. AND WE TRY TO FOLLOW THAT.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAPS SIDE BY SIDE, THEY HAVE VERY SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS. BUT WE ARE ADDING THAT DATA ON TOP TO SAY, CAN YOU GIVE THE MINORITIES AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO GET A SECOND PERSON ON THE COUNCIL? TO GET REPRESENTATION THAT THEY MAY NOT BE GETTING RIGHT NOW IN ADDITION TO THE HARD WORK OF THE CITY DID? SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT WE TOOK THE MOST COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT WE WERE ALLOWED IN THIS PROCESS.

WE WISH THAT THERE COULD'VE BEEN A MORE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

I HOPE MAYBE THE NEXT TIME AROUND WHEN WE GET TO CENSUS CENSUS STUFF THAT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A MORE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. BUT THAT IS HOW WE CAME AT THIS AND SO WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PROCESS IN DOING THAT.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON. LETICIA KARLI SMITH, 2262 AUBURN OUT. 36830.

AS I HAVE SHARED WITH MANY OF YOU, I AM AN ENGINEER.

ONE OF THE KEY TRAITS OF A GOOD ENGINEER IS BEING INTUITIVE AND BEING ABLE TO PREDICT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DID PREDICT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT , AND THAT WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO COME IN HERE AND THE LAWYERS WERE GOING TO TELL US THAT THE MAP WAS ILLEGAL.

AND THAT THEY WOULD BE A LOT OF DATA ANALYSIS.

I'M NOT A LAWYER. NO ONE IN THIS ROOM PART OF THE NAACP IS A LAWYER. SO THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE ANY BANTER BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE AS SMART AS I MIGHT THINK I AM, AND AS GOOD AS I MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME APPEAR TO THEM I CAN TALK, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR ME.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IF THE LAWYER TELLS YOU THAT THE NAACP MAP IS ILLEGAL.

SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I OBSERVED.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO TELL YOU -- I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I HEARD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD ESTHER WALKER SAY WAS THAT EVEN WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE MINORITY POPULATION, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT A SECOND MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IS, WHAT IS ENOUGH? IF THE CITY OF AUBURN CAN HAVE A NEARLY 37 PERCENT INCREASE IN MINORITY POPULATION IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? I THINK EVEN WENT ON TO SAY, MAYBE AT THE NEXT CENSUS. SO YOU GUYS ARE TELLING ME THAT THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? THAT WE CAN JUST IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A 37 PERCENT MINORITY POPULATION AND THAT WE CAN JUST SO LASTED BASICALLY SAY , WE CAN JUST WAIT ANOTHER TEN YEARS AND SEE WHAT WE GET. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SPOUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT AUBURN IS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN, I THINK THE MAYOR HAS SAID THIS IN THE PAST.

THAT IT IS A GOOD THINGS THAT BLACK FOLKS IN PARTICULAR COULD LEAD ALL OVER THE CITY, TO SUCH A POINT THAT WE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE LIVING IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD WE WANT TO LIVE IN.

SO THEREFORE WE DON'T LIVE IN THE SAME LOCATION SO THEREFORE WE DO NOT CONSTITUTE A MINORITY POPULATION.

WHETHER YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO APPLY THE LITMUS TEST? MR. TRADE HOOD IS A NIGHT DATA ANALYZER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. I COULD TELL YOU FROM GEORGIA TECH. I WILL JUST LEAVE THAT WHERE THAT IS. (LAUGHTER) BUT THE THING ABOUT DATA, DATA IS NOTHING UNTIL YOU TAKE THAT DATA AND YOU TURN IT INTO SOME USEFUL INFORMATION.

[00:50:04]

MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH OF IT DO YOU UNDERSTAND? HOW MUCH OF IT DO YOU THINK IS FAIR? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD THE LAWYERS AND THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT YOU CAN THEN ACTUALLY MAKE A GOOD DECISION YOURSELF? SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE THAT DATA ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND DEMANDS THAT SOMEONE TELLS YOU WHY OUR MAP IS LEGAL? WHAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY WAS, HERE'S ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT IS WRONG WITH THE NAACP MAP.

WHAT I DID NOT SEE WAS A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS THAT SAID, HERE IS WHAT THE NAACP MAP SAID, HERE IS WHAT I SAID INSTEAD.

I SUPPORT THE MAP THAT THE CITY PROPOSED.

OF COURSE YOU DO. BECAUSE YOU WERE THE PERSON THAT GIVE INPUT INTO IT. SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE REVIEWER AND THE APPROVER OF THE DATA THAT YOU CREATED AND NOT SUPPORTED? WHY WOULD YOU PAY HIM IF HE IS GOING TO DISCREDIT HIS OWN DATA? SO I'M JUST TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO YOUR HEARTS AND TO TRY TO BE FAIR ABOUT THIS. WE TRIED TO COLLABORATE IN THE COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER COME TO THE TABLE AS MS. ELIZABETH JUST SAID AND REALLY SAY, HERE IS OUR MAP, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MAP. LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

INSTEAD, WE PROVIDED A PROOF OF CONCEPTS.

WE SENT THAT TO YOU GUYS. THE CITY SPENT A LOT OF HOURS, AND YOU GUYS KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS THE CITY SPENT.

THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO.

THERE IS DOORS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, THAT IS THEIR JOB.

WE DON'T GET COOKIES FOR DOING WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALSO SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS LOOKING AT THIS MAP ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT IS NOT PAID TO DO THAT. THAT LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT. SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS NOTHING TO BE PRAISING THEM ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE HERE. I WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WORK FOR YOU. THEY ARE GIVING YOU THIS DATA SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT SO THAT YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SHARED WITH SOME OF YOU IS THAT YOU HAVE TO THEN BE THE ONE TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND DEMAND THAT CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALREADY SAID HERE IN THE PUBLIC FORUM THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT TELL US HOW TO DO MORE THAN WHAT SHE IS ALREADY DONE.

SHE GAVE US ONE MAP. AND BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING WRITTEN THAT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANYBODY ELSE, SHE IS DONE WHAT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND SO WHAT MS. HILL JUST TRY TRIED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT WE HAVE A PROOF OF CONCEPT. WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY AND HER TEAM, WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HER TEAM.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED IN THIS MAP TO MAKE THIS MAP MORE PALATABLE? AND THEY SHARED SOME STUFF WITH US AND THAT'S HOW COME WE GAVE YOU GUYS THAT MAP AT 3 O'CLOCK THAT EVERYBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. BECAUSE WE SPENT SOME HOURS TRYING TO TAKE OUR MAP AND UPDATE AND GIVE YOU A MAP THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL WAS GOOD ENOUGH. SO WE LOOK AT THE CITY'S MAP AS VERSION ONE. WE LOOK AT THE NAACP MAP AS SIMPLY VERSION TWO. OF THE CITY MAP.

THAT IS WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS GIVE YOU SOMETHING AND MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF YOU STAYED IN YOUR WARDS AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE MAP IS IMPERFECT BUT I WILL ARGUE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CITY MAP IS NOT PERFECT EITHER.

WE CAN'T STRIVE FOR PERFECTION. WHY DON'T WE STRIVE FOR SOMETHING CLOSE. WHY DON'T WE STRIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE? WHY DON'T WE STRIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE HERE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER? AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO, AS ONE OF THE CITIZENS HAS SENT TO YOU OFTEN, LOOK IN YOUR HEART. BE OPEN AND LISTEN AND THAT IS ALL THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO.

THANK YOU. (LAUGHTER)

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BILL LEE. I LIVE AT 1652 SAINT ANDREWS LANE, AUBURN, ALABAMA, 36830. I AM A MEMBER OF THE

[00:55:05]

MY REQUEST AND MY COMMENTS WILL BE SHORT.

I DON'T NEED TO REITERATE WHAT ELIZABETH, LETICIA AND TABITHA SAID. WHAT I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO DO, AND I APPRECIATE THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE VOTE UNTIL NEXT WEEK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO REALIZE THAT IN MY OPINION, YOU AS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS MAY PASS A MOTION YOU MAY PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND PASS A MOTION THAT SAYS, WE AS CITY COUNCIL DIRECT THE CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF, TO MEET WITH THE NAACP AND MAKE BEST EFFORTS TO COLLABORATE AND MERGE THESE TWO MAPS. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE. MR. WALKER TALKED ABOUT, AND AND THE OTHER CITY ATTORNEY TALKED ABOUT, IF YOU CAN MOVE TEN PEOPLE HERE ARE THERE -- I THINK IT MAY REQUIRE MOVING A FEW MORE PEOPLE THAN THAT, BUT SOME OF YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME THAT YOU LIKE THE NAACP MAP.

BUT IT FALLS SHORT IN SOME CASES I THINK WE CAN ACCOMMODATE, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO MAKE MAYBE LESS DRASTIC CHANGES FROM THE CITY MAP TO THE NAACP MAP, BUT MAKE CHANGES THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE GIVEN ME CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT CRITIQUES ABOUT THE NAACP MAP.

IF WE CAN DO THAT BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK, I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO PASS THAT MOTION TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY MANAGER HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, AS WE ALL TALKED ABOUT, AND SHE IS NOT REQUIRED TO MEET WITH US. BUT YOU CAN REQUIRE HER TO.

YOU CAN REQUIRE HER AND HER STAFF TO BE COLLABORATIVE.

IF WE CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT, MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN EITHER ONE OF THE MAPS WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGES. BUT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE AS NAACP MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE ARE REASONABLE PEOPLE AND WE CARE ABOUT THE WORK THE CITY HAS DONE.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO DESTROY IT, WE ARE NOT HERE TO CAUSE TROUBLE. WE ARE HERE TO CREATE SOMETHING FAIR. IF YOU REALIZE AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE STAFF WORKS FOR YOU YOU DO NOT WORK FOR THE STAFF.

SO THEREFORE, A MOTION IS PERFECTLY IN ORDER FOR YOU TO MAKE THE MOTION AND PASS IT AND WE WILL BE AVAILABLE ANY TIME, ANY DAY, THAT THE CITY IS AVAILABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

I THINK WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS PROUD OF.

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> SPEAKER: MR. DAWSON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM IN THEIR ABSENCE, 12 LIKE OPELIKA RD. 111.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN A BIT OF LEVITY, I AM A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA TOO ALONG WITH DR. HOOD.

(LAUGHTER) GO DOGS! BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ATHENS, GEORGIA, YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A COMMISSION,. GUESS HOW MANY MINORITIES ARE IN THAT COMMISSION? THREE.

THEY HAVE THREE MINORITIES ON THAT COMMISSION.

RIGHT NOW, AS WE SPEAK. SO IN TERMS OF COLLEGE TOWNS IN THE SEC, I HATE TO SAY, ATHENS, GEORGIA, IS AHEAD OF US.

THIS IS WHY GROUPS LIKE THE NAACP AND GROUPS LIKE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND CITIZENS LIKE YOURS TRULY, ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THE MAPS ARE GOING TO TURN OUT.

I AGREE WITH THE NAACP THAT IT IS NOT ILLEGAL, DESPITE WHAT YOUR CITY LEGAL PEOPLE HAVE TOLD YOU.

AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, I GOT A DEGREE IN HISTORY.

FOR MY SENIOR THESIS PAPER, I HAD TO WORK ON SOMETHING DEALING

[01:00:03]

HOW THEY GOT THERE AND HOW THEY WERE REMOVED.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS A LOT OF VIOLENCE, A LOT OF LEGAL STUFF, THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED JIM CROW TO PREVENT AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM EVEN HAVING ANY REPRESENTATION IN THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE. AND IT WAS 60 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR THAT VERY FRENCH AS EARLY BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT IN ATHENS, GEORGIA, AT THAT TIME.

NOW TODAY, THEY HAVE THREE PEOPLE ON THAT COMMISSION.

THEY HAVE EVEN HAD A COUPLE OF POLICE CHIEFS AND SHERIFFS DEPUTIES, SHERIFFS, WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

SO IF IT COULD BE DONE IN THE ENEMY TOWN OF ATHENS, GEORGIA, THEN IT CAN BE DONE HERE IN AUBURN, ALABAMA.

AND WHY IS THIS CONCERN, SO THAT WE CAN RAISE CERTAIN ISSUES LIKE THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW CONCERNING A BLACK CEMETERY THERE UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS IN GEORGIA CAMPUS, CERTAIN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY THAT WAS SORT OF LEVELED SO THAT SOME OF THE DORMS COULD BE BUILT THERE. AND EVEN THE PRESENT BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS OF ATHENS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICTS BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND BY THE CITY OF ATHENS AND BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

AND DECISIONS LIKE THAT ARE BASED ON WHO IS ON THOSE COUNCILS AND THOSE COMMISSIONS, NOT JUST THE ELECTED ONES BUT ALSO THE APPOINTED ONES. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CULTURAL CENTER, FIRST OF ALL, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LIBRARY, WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE LIBRARY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MOVE THE RECYCLING CENTER, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE AIRPORTS? THE AIRPORT SITUATION.

OR EVEN THE HAMILTON PLACE OR EVEN SOMETHING LIKE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE THAT WILL REPRESENT THEM IN MATTERS LIKE THIS.

IT EVEN CONCERNED THAT MR. GRISWOLD RACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT. SOMEONE MUST HAVE APPROACHED HIM IN A ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS MUST HAVE APPROACHED HIM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND EVEN IN YOUR CASE, MR. DIXON, CONCERNING YOU AND EVERYONE HERE.

AND OF COURSE YOU, MR. DOCENT -- DAWSON, CONCERNING PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS. AND THE SITUATION INVOLVING COX ROAD. ONE OF THE CAN SITUATIONS HAD TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SITUATION. THIS IS WHY WE ARE RAISING THIS ISSUE AND ALL I AM ASKING FOR AS A CITIZEN IS FOR THIS ALL TO BE FAIR. I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW IN AN APARTMENT COMMUNITY WHICH IS NOT PREDOMINANTLY ONE COLOR OR ONE CLASS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE THERE. YES, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BLACKS AND A COUPLE OF WHITES. THIS IS THE REAL WORLD.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED FISCAL DATED -- DATA, IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER IT FINE. YOU LOOK AROUND YOU IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. JUST LOOK AT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

LOOK AT HOW THEY CHANGED. THE SITUATION INVOLVING THE STUDENTS, THAT JUST GOES WITH BEING A COLLEGE TOWN.

BUT STILL, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE STUDENTS FEEL WELCOME AT A PLACE LIKE AUBURN, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THEM TOO.

BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE AN INFLUENCE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO I WOULD ASK YOU, JUST AS A CITIZEN, AND ALSO AS A PERSON WHO HOLDS NOT ONLY A HISTORY DEGREE BUT A PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE, A PH.D. FROM AUBURN, SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD TO STUDY STUFF LIKE WHAT YOU ALL ARE PROPOSING. WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS MESS.

FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THAT ONE MAP IS A LEGAL JUST BECAUSE IT IS NOT THEIR MAP IS -- I DON'T THINK THAT IS VERY ACCURATE TO SAY. I DID THE LAST TIME I SPOKE -- I DID MENTION SOMETHING LIKE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND FROM WHAT

[01:05:02]

AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PRESENT AND YOU MOST CERTAINLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, BECAUSE IF THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY ARE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO, WITH OR WITHOUT LOOKING AT CENSUS DATA. AND WITH THAT I WILL FINISH.

AND AGAIN I SAY, I KNOW WILL PROBABLY LOSE TO THE AUBURN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM. (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

MY NAME IS DR. JOANNA ABRAM, 206 TIMBER DEAL COURT, AUBURN, ALABAMA. TWO.

I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO COME IN. BUT I HAVE TO SAY WHAT GRIEVES MY SPIRIT. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF DELTA SIGMA BETA SORORITY INC. WE HAVE BEEN HERE AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THIS AREA SINCE 1978.

WHAT GRIEVES MY SPIRIT IS THIS. I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR SEVERAL MEETINGS AND JUST LISTENING.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE BEEN DOING IS LISTENING.

AND WHAT GRIEVES MY SPIRIT IS THAT I AM A VERY PEACEFUL PERSON AND I REALLY TRY TO HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND TO HEAR THEIR HEART AND TO SEE.

NOT SAYING THIS, FROM THE COUNCIL, BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPOKEN, NOT FROM YOU.

I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

BUT WHAT GRIEVES MY SPIRIT IS THIS: THIS HAS TURNED INTO AN US VERSUS THEM OR THEM VERSUS US OR TWO MATCH AGAINST ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD OF REALLY TRYING TO HEAR , UNDERSTAND AND HEAR THE HEARTS OF INDIVIDUALS, AND TO WORK TOGETHER.

I HAVE BEEN HERE AS I SAID BEFORE, I DATE MYSELF.

I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE AND I ALSO SAID THAT MILITARY FAMILY. AND SO I HAVE SAID ALL OF THAT PRIOR BEFORE. BUT I DO LOOK FOR PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER, NOT BE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER.

IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THE PREVIOUS RECORDINGS, IT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH A LOT OF US, THEM, AND THIS, THAT. IT IS BEEN FILLED WITH A LOT OF THAT. THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO HEAR HIS PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER. AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HEAR THAT. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE NOT. IT IS VERY SAD TO SAY.

THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT. WHEN WE MOVED BACK HERE, WE RAISED OUR KIDS HERE. MY NEIGHBORS AND I LONG WONDERFUL. WE REALLY DO.

I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO IS 78 YEARS OLD, CAUCASIAN, AND SHE IS MY SISTER. EVEN WHEN HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY AT 103 YEARS OLD, SHE SAID, DO YOU GUYS NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT THEY HAVE THAT SEPARATES THEM. WE REALLY DO.

IF I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HER HERE TODAY SHE WOULD HAVE COME FORWARD WITH ME. AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN DO JUST THAT.

BUT IT SADDENS MY HEART BECAUSE THAT IS NOT BEEN WHAT I HAVE SEEN. COMING TO THESE MEETINGS AND TALKING ABOUT THE MAPS. SO I HAD TO SAY THAT THE GUY WAS NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING BUT I HAD TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

AND I HAD TO SAY IT AND BRING THAT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AND BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS NOT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING HERE. IF YOU JUST -- I SAY YOU BUT IT'S NOT REALLY YOU, EVERYONE WAS STANDING AND SITTING BEHIND ME AS WELL. IF THEY ARE HONEST WITH THEMSELVES THEY WOULD KNOW THAT IS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

I JUST HAD TO MAKE THAT PLANE. WHICHEVER WAY THE VOTE GOES, I JUST THINK WE COULD'VE MADE AND GOT ABOUT THIS IN A BETTER

[01:10:02]

AND NO, I DID NOT ATTEND AN SEC SCHOOL.

I ATTENDED TWO HBCU SCHOOLS. (LAUGHTER) SO I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT UNDERSTAND THAT I AM JUST A PEACEFUL PERSON AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEACE AND FOR PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER. IT IS NOT AS HARD AND IS NOT AS COMPLICATED, BUT IT SADDENS ME THAT THIS IS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS JOE DAVIS I'M AT 311 LANCASTER AVENUE.

I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE NAACP'S EFFORTS TO CREATE AT LEAST TWO MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS OUR CITY.

IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE FAIR REPRESENTATION OF AUBURN'S GROWING AND DIVERSIFYING POPULATION.

IF IT'S OKAY WITH MR. DAWSON, FOR THE REMAINDER OF TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A PRAYER OVER THIS PROCESS.

WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? LET US PRAY.

OH, GOD, BECOME BEFORE YOU NOW WITH GRATITUDE IN OUR HEARTS.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOD OF LOVE WHO IS WITH US NOW IN THIS VERY ROOM. YOU NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS CITY IN YOUR OWN IMAGE WITH DIGNITY AND WORTH.

EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY WITH DIGNITY AND INFINITE WORTH.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE CALLING YOU HAVE GIVEN EVERYONE OF US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR CREATION AND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES. GOD, THANK YOU FOR THESE ARE SERVANTS, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY STAFF, OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. I GIVE THANKS FOR THE WAY OF SERVICE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE UP ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE.

WE ALL COME TO THIS ROOM TONIGHT AS COMPLEX PEOPLE CARRYING BURDENS OR CARRYING JOY AND HOPE.

OF TRUSTING THAT YOU ALONE CAN HOLD IT TOGETHER, GOD.

IN YOUR LOVE AND PEACE. HELP US TO TRUST YOU MORE, MORE THAN OUR FEARS AND MORE THAN OUR WOUNDS AND EVEN MORE THAN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MAYBE LEAN ON YOUR EVERLASTING ARMS TONIGHT. GOD, WE REMEMBER THAT IN YOUR WORD YOU MAKE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE WHO SIT IN PLACES OF AUTHORITY. AND PSALM 72 WE HEAR THE PRAYER THAT FOR THE KING TO ENDOW THE KING WITH YOUR JUSTICE, OH, GOD, THE ROYAL SON WITH YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, MAY HE JUDGE OR PEOPLE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOUR FLIPPANT ONES WITH JUSTICE, MAY HE DEFEND THE AFFLICTED AMONG THE PEOPLE AND SAVE THE CHILDREN OF THE NEEDY. FOR THE KING WILL DELIVER THE NEEDY WHO CRY OUT, THE AFFLICTED WHO HAVE NO ONE TO HELP.

HE WILL TAKE PITY ON THE WEEK AND THE NEEDY AND SAVE THE NEEDY FROM DEATH. HE WILL RESCUE THEM FROM OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE. THROUGH THE PROPHET JEREMIAH IN CHAPTER 22 YOU REMIND US THAT YOUR BLESSING CAME ON KING TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY BECAUSE ISN'T THAT WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW ME? DECLARES THE LORD.

WE REMEMBER THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITING TO THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME AND HIS TEACHING THAT THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST YOUR SERVANTS. THAT HONORING YOU AND DOING YOUR WILL IS THEIR HIGHEST PURPOSE. THAT ANY PORTION OF POWER THEY ENJOY AS GIVEN BY YOU AND CAN BE TAKEN AWAY.

AND SO WE PRAY, I PRAY THAT YOU CAN BE GLORIFIED TO THE DECISIONS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL. I PRAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE EYES TO SEE HOW OUR LIVES ARE CONNECTED AND HOW OUR COMMON GOOD IS UPHELD WHEN WE LISTEN AND RESPOND TO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. WE PRAY THAT YOUR KINGDOM WOULD COME IN AUBURN AS IT IS IN HEAVEN THROUGH YOUR POWER WORKING IN EACH OF THESE YOUR SERVANTS.

MAY YOUR TRUTH BE REVEALED MAY YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTER.

ME THE VOICES OF THOSE MOST SILENCE BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.

LORD, DEFEND THEIR CAUSE. TO THIS GOVERNING BODY TONIGHT.

WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, FOR STRENGTH, FOR COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR ALL CITIZENS.

WE PUT THE INTEREST OF OTHERS ABOVE OUR OWN WORK THAT WE ACT WITH LOVE FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND MAYBE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS RECOGNIZING YOUR IMAGE AND EVERY PERSON HERE.

WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS COUNCIL, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY STAFF, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ESPECIALLY REMEMBER OUR HOSPITAL STAFF IN ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TO MAKE THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME TO WONDERFUL CITY.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS WHOSE PERFECT LOVE SETS US FREE FROM ALL OF OUR FEARS, AMEN. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE) >> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT?

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK? >> SPEAKER: JOHN SOPHOCLES, 530 LEE ROAD, 115. OPELIKA, ALABAMA, 36804.

I AM GOING TRY TO BE BRIEF. IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT GROWTH IN AUBURN.

[01:15:01]

IF I GET THE DATA WRONG, FORGIVE ME, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CENSUS DATA SAYS WE HAVE GROWN 43 PERCENT.

SO WHY HASN'T THIS BODY GROWN? I THINK THAT THREE INCREASED MEMBERS ON THIS BODY WOULD BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT DIVERSITY.

OUT OF ALL OF YOU, THE ONE THAT I KNOW AND SPEAK TO THE MOST IS CONNIE FITCH TAYLOR WHO I THINK THE WORLD OF.

NOT BECAUSE OF HER GENDER OR HER COLOR, BUT THE CONTENT OF HER CHARACTER AND HER SPIRIT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN SAY, I THINK, THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND, AND I THINK THAT MOST OF YOU HATE CASUAL EMPIRICISM AS MUCH AS I.

BUT I LOOK AT THIS BODY AND I DO NOT SEE DIVERSITY.

HOW ABOUT WE HAVE SOME MORE MEMBERS ON THIS SO THAT REAL REPRESENTATION WILL REMAIN CONSTANT, OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO CONSTANT, AND WE MIGHT SEE SOME MORE DIVERSE FACES, VIEWS, CONCEPTS, PERSPECTIVES BROUGHT BEFORE YOU.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

IN 1929, OUR U.S. CONGRESS LIMITED ITSELF TO 435.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO POPULATION, MY DEAR COUNCIL, SINCE 1929? IT HAS GROWN IMMENSELY. WE HAVE ONE HOUSE MEMBER FOR SOMETHING LIKE 700,000 IN ALABAMA.

AUBURN CAN BE BETTER THAN THIS. MAKE A REAL REPRESENTATION TO WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH MEMBERS HERE THAT CAN HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. COME TO YOU AND SAY, THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS. IF NOT, I CAN ONLY FORECAST THAT FOLKS WILL THINK IT AS WELL OF YOU AS THEY DO OF THE APPROVAL RATING OF OUR CONGRESS, WHICH CAN'T POSSIBLY BE REPRESENTATIVE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO HEAR ME SPEAK. SOME FOLKS SAY I AM TOO PASSIONATE, SO FORGIVE ME IF INDEED I AM.

(LAUGHTER) >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS MATTER? ANYBODY ELSE?

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. LEAH BILIRUBIN, 112 NORTH 11TH STREET, PART APARTMENT FIVE, AUBURN.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE REQUEST MADE EARLIER THIS EVENING. AS A COUNCIL, PLEASE WILL YOU PASS RESOLUTION TONIGHT DIRECTING THE CITY STAFF TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NAACP REPRESENTATIVES BEGINNING THIS WEEK TO CREATE A MAP THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE)

>> SPEAKER: ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. OF I WILL CLOSE THE HEARING.

DISCUSSION? >> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE MOTION AND SECOND TO POSTPONE. SO DISCUSSION IS UP TO YOU.

>> SPEAKER: I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO RESPOND TO AS MANY OF YOU AS I CAN. THERE WAS A LOT TO LISTEN TO AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CONVERSATION. A COUPLE OF THINGS IMMEDIATELY TO ME. I MUST SAY, THE IDEA THAT WE LOOKED INTO OUR HEARTS IS CERTAINLY FRONT AND CENTER FOR ME. AND I THINK THERE ARE MANY OF YOU HERE TONIGHT WHO HAVE SEEN ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AT MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED YOUR ARGUMENT AND PRESENTED YOUR CASE. AND I HAVE LISTENED AND I HAVE LOOKED INTO MY HEART. I KNOW FOR A FACT -- I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE COME TO KNOW SOME OF THE STAFF DIRECTLY WORKING ON THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, AND I BELIEVE I KNOW THEIR HEARTS.

I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE ASSESSED THEM TO BE GOOD PEOPLE WITH A LARGE PICTURE IN THEIR MIND. I THINK -- I AM GLAD WE HAVE HAD

[01:20:01]

EVERY TIME HAS COME BEFORE US, ONE OF US HAS VOTED TO POSTPONE, AND WE HAVE DONE SO OVER THE COURSE SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER.

SO I THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THIS BODY IS CERTAINLY OPEN TO A SECOND MINORITY MAJORITY.

I AM CERTAINLY OPEN TO IT. I'VE MADE NO SECRET OF THAT.

I HAVE GONE TO EVERY MEETING THAT I CAN TO SHOW THAT I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA OF A DIVERSE COUNCIL.

I AGREE WE LOOK INCREDIBLY HOMOGENOUS APPEAR, AND I THINK THERE IS -- THE LOOK OF US DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE POPULATION OF OUR TOWN. BUT THERE IS A NUMBER OF DEGREEE WRINKLES TO IT THAN SIMPLY THE LINES IN OUR TOWN.

THERE MUST BE PEOPLE TO RUN, THERE MUST BE COMPELLING REASONS TO RUN, THERE MUST BE A GREAT ARGUMENT THAT YOU PRESENT.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE IN THIS TOWN. I THINK WE HAVE COMPLICATED OUR CONVERSATION THROUGH THE CORRESPONDENCE OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT MAKES CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND OTHER BODIES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT NOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DRAWN LINES IN THE SAND, LEGAL LINES THAT MAKE COLLABORATION INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE, LEGALLY, FOR US TO COLLABORATE. I DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE I LIVE ON WHITFIELD RD. AND I'M FIRE INSPECTOR.

I HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE -- I HAVE TO BE IN FRONT OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CONVERSATION AND DIVINE AWAY, WHILE I LOOK AT MY HEART, ABOUT FAIRNESS FOR EVERYONE.

I BELIEVE MY REPRESENTATION ON COUNCIL HAS FOCUSED ON THAT SINCE BEING ELECTED IN 2018. I DON'T EVEN KNOW -- I WOULD BE WILLING TO EXTEND THE HAND OF COLLABORATION FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE IF I SAY, HEY, WHO HAS AN APPETITE HERE ON THIS COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE NAACP? IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT? I DON'T KNOW. YOU CAN SAY YES, BUT I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW THAT LEGALLY WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY , GIVEN THE INTERVENTION OF LEGAL COMMENTARY I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN PURSUE IT ANY FURTHER THAN THAT, OTHER THAN TO SAY, I HAVE LOOKED INTO MY HEART.

>> SPEAKER: ANY OF THE DISCUSSION?

>> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY , I JUST HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT TONIGHT PUBLIC HEARING.

I LISTEN TO EVERYONE THAT SPOKE TONIGHT AND I ALSO HEARD VALID POINTS FROM BOTH SIDES, EVEN WITH THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

AND THE NAACP IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WORK.

WHEN YOU SIT ON A POSITION -- I WOULD JUST TALK ABOUT ME BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE -- WHEN YOU SIT IN A POSITION APPEAR LIKE I'M SITTING IN, BEING THE ONLY MINORITY ON THIS COUNCIL, YOUR MIND SORT OF MAKES YOU THINK, -- WHO IS ACTUALLY BEING -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT THIS -- EVER -- IS EVERYBODY TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF THE MAPS?

[01:25:12]

BUT JUST TO SAY AT -- IT'S ILLEGAL, I KNOW WE HEARD FROM LEGAL COUNCIL AND THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD THEY GAIN FROM IT? AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW ACTUALLY HOW MUCH AS A COUNCIL PERSON THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK ON SOME OF THE THINGS I PROBABLY WANT TO SAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE LEGAL ADVICE IN OUR SESSION. IT MAKES THIS SORT OF HARD TO ASK CERTAIN QUESTIONS, BUT I UNDERSTAND I CAN AFTER WE GO IN PRIVATE. ALTERNATIVES TO ANY SITUATION IS NOT BAD. THAT'S EVEN INCLUDING WHEN WE ARE RAISING OUR CHILDREN, IN OUR MARRIAGES, OR EVEN IN OUR WORKPLACE. SO THERE SHOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANY SITUATION BUT BEFORE YOU.

THERE SHOULD NOT ACTUALLY EVER HAVE TO BE THAT THIS IS IT.

WE ARE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT WORLD, IN A DIFFERENT TIME.

WE ARE NOT LIVING IN A TIME WHERE SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ON THE TABLE AND WE GOT TO EAT IT. JUST BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE.

SO I AS A COUNCIL PERSON, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE ASK THIS COUNCIL -- NOT THE COUNCIL BUT THE CITY STAFF, TO MAYBE REACH A DECISION -- NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT TO SAY.

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY -- MY MIND IS GOING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS RIGHT NOW. IS THAT THE PROPOSAL THAT MR. SOPHOCLES PROPOSED THAT THE CITY STAFF AT LEAST TRY TO COME BACK AROUND THE TABLE AND NOT JUST DESTROY ALL BIRD MAP BUT AT LEAST LOOK -- AUBURN MAP, BUT AT LEAST LOOK AT SOME TWEAKS IN THE MAP AND PUT IT TOGETHER AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THAT MAP

[01:30:05]

(APPLAUSE) >> SPEAKER: WAS THEIR MOTION?

>> SPEAKER: WAIT A MINUTE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND

ON THE TABLE. >> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED TO POSTPONE. THIS MATTER IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, COUNCILPERSON DAWSON. ANY TIME THE COUNCIL CANNOT DIRECTLY CITY STAFF IT'S UP TO DO ANYTHING.

IT CAN ONLY DIRECTLY CITY MANAGER.

AND I WOULD NEVER ASK YOU TO TAKE A FORMAL VOTE ABOUT THIS, OTHER THAN IF YOU ARE DOING IT BY CONTRACT ITSELF.

AT THIS TIME IF A MAJORITY OF YOU ARE ASKING US TO TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK, WE HAVE INFORMED YOU WE HAVE TAKEN MULTIPLE LOOKS WE ARE HAVING TO LOOK AGAIN. I NEED SPECIFICS AS TO WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT AND NO I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION. I WILL HAVE TO VET WHO WE CAN MEET WITH A SOME THINGS YOU HEARD TONIGHT IN LETTERS WE RECEIVED IF WE CAN MEET AND COLLABORATE AS COUNCILPERSON PARSONS ALLUDED TO. WE WILL HAVE TO VET THAT WITH LEGAL COUNCIL. I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION TONIGHT UNLESS LEGAL COUNCIL IS READY TO ANSWER IT.

>> SPEAKER: WELL, LET ME SAY THIS.

WE HAVE POSTPONED TO THE 25TH SO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE HAVE SOME INPUT AS TO WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARING HAD TO SAY.

SO THIS MATTER IS CLOSED. WILL BE BACK ON THE 25TH.

>> SPEAKER: THE ACTUAL REDISTRICTING PLAN, YES, BUT ANY OF YOU -- I HAVE RECEIVED AS WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE, ONE COUNCILMEMBER PROPOSED MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER THEY WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THIS CHANGE. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFICS, ANY OF YOU, IF YOU THEY WANT THE STAFF TO READ LOOK AT OR FIGURE OUT, I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO DO THAT.

BUT TODAY FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES I HAD NO OTHER FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT. AND SO UNTIL COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR SAID SOMETHING THIS EVENING, BUT OUR ABILITY -- THERE HAS BEEN MUCH SAID ABOUT COLLABORATING WHEN THE MAP WAS FIRST DRAWN. THE WAY THAT WAS DONE IS THE CITY ATTORNEY INDICATED, WE PUT OUT AN E-MAIL, THE NAACP RECEIVE RECEIVED THE SAME E-MAIL, IN JULY EXPLAINING WHAT THE PROCESS WAS. I HAD ONE COUNCILMEMBER ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, THAT WAS COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR.

THAT WAS IT. AND THEN WE MOVED MOVE INTO NOVEMBER. WE DON'T COLLABORATE WITH ANY ONE GROUP WHEN WE ARE PUTTING THE CITY'S OFFICIAL MAP TOGETHER. THAT IS A PROPOSED MAP BASED ON DATA AND LAW AND THAT IS IT NOT OPINIONS, NOTHING ELSE.

SO THAT MAP IS OUT THERE. WE HAVE TO BY LAW, AND I HAVE SAID THIS REPEATEDLY AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HEARING IT, BUT THE STAFF HAS NO GOAL OTHER THAN TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE DATA AND OUR PROFESSIONAL BEST EFFORTS WITH THE DATA TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT DIDN'T JUST MEET SOME OF THE CRITERIA.

WE TRY TO MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA.

WE TRIED TO DO ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING WE COULD DO, EVERY CRITERIA OUT THERE THAT IS KNOWN WITH REDISTRICTING.

NOBODY SAID A MAP WAS PERFECT. WHAT WE DID AS HE PUT SOMETHING FORWARD FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AND WE ARE HERE IF SOME OF YOU ARE ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING SPECIFIC, I AM HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IT. I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT IT IS YOU WANT. WE WILL MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO YOU. TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ASK FOR INTERACTION WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE HAD SOME DIALOGUE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY UP TO YOU. I DON'T -- NOBODY HAS ASKED TO DATE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND SO I AM HAPPY TO TRY TO OBLIGE AS LONG AS WE CAN TRACK LEGALLY IN DOING SO EXPECT TO BE THE DO AT THIS POINT IS TO MEET THE 25TH AND VOTE ON THIS

PROPOSAL BEFORE US RIGHT NOW. >> SPEAKER: IF IT'S PAST IS PAST, OR WE WILL START OVER AGAIN AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING TO

DO AT THIS POINT. >> SPEAKER: SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THAT WE VOTED ON THE 25TH.

SO IN BETWEEN TIME, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE CAN COME

TO YOU. >> SPEAKER: ANY OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL. I JUST NEED AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. IF YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS OR YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING SPECIFIC, GIVE ME A CALL, TEXT ME, WHATEVER. I WILL MAKE ALL THE TIME I CAN MAKE TO TALK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT IT IS YOU ARE WANTING TO GET AT. TO THE PUBLIC, I DON'T MEET WITH MORE THAN A COUPLE COUNCILMEMBERS AT A TIME.

WE DON'T DO THAT. THERE WOULD NOT BE A BODY ASSEMBLED. BUT ANY OF YOU REACH OUT TO ME I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET AT AND RESEARCH WHAT WE CAN BETWEEN NOW AND THE 25TH TO

[01:35:02]

HAPPY TO DO IT. >> SPEAKER: AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE WAS TOLD THAT WE COULD ASK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WOULD BE TO US BEFORE THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

AND WE COULD PUT -- WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF FEEDBACK OR WHATEVER. THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED, WE DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THEM UNTIL AN HOUR BEFORE THIS MEETING. IT'S SORT OF HARD TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE A MEETING TO GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> SPEAKER: THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS FROM TWO WEEKS AGO?

IN MY UNDERSTANDING? >> SPEAKER: I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO SET UP SOME TYPE OF, OR WE COULD AT LEAST ASK SOME QUESTIONS. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE WORDING THAT WAS PUT OUT BEFORE US, BUT IF THERE WERE QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT WE NEEDED TO ASK, THOSE QUESTIONS WOULD BE SUBMITTED AND WE WOULD HAVE ANSWERS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

BUT NOT AN HOUR PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION TONIGHT, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE A SPECIAL

MEETING. >> SPEAKER: I'M TRYING TO RECALL -- I AM HAPPY TO GO BACK AND LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES AND MINUTES. I DON'T RECALL SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO. WE DID GIVE YOU QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND I ACTUALLY HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU.

WE WILL BE E-MAILING THAT. WE HAVE RECEIVED A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ON THE COUNCIL'S REDISTRICTING SITE AND WE PROVIDED THOSE TO YOU ALL ALONG SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING. OR WERE THEY CALLED, ETC.

THAT IS ONE QUESTION AND ANSWER HE REFERRED TO.

IF THERE'S ANOTHER THING I WILL GO BACK AND CHECK AND MAKE SURE WE ARE TRACKING. AS WE DISCUSSED LAST MEETING, YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST TO KNOW, YOU ARE THE ELECTED BODY AND DECISION-MAKERS ON THIS. WE HAVEN'T BEEN WITHHOLDING INFORMATION. HAD TO PRESENT IT TO YOU ALL AT ONCE. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH HE COULD DO THAT. THERE IS NO MEMO GENERATED IN THIS BODY NEED TO SPEAK TO THE ALTERNATIVE MAP PROVIDED TO GIVE GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION. OBVIOUSLY, THE CITIES MAP PROVIDED IT WAS PROVIDED FOR A SPECIFIC REASONS, WHICH WE HAVE PROVIDED TO YOU SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO IT FURTHER.

BUT IF WE HAVE SPECIFIC, SO THAT WE WILL SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.

>> SPEAKER: TONIGHT AN HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE NAACP MAP WAS ILLEGAL.

>> SPEAKER: ILLEGAL? >> SPEAKER: BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, THAT THE MAC WAS ILLEGAL.

>> SPEAKER: TONIGHT THE MEETING WAS TO GET INPUT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AND WHATEVER ATTORNEY HE HAS SELECTED.

I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD HAVE GONE ANY EARLIER WHEN WE GET EVERYBODY AND ASK THE QUESTIONS AND BEGET THE PROFESSIONAL

OPINION. >> SPEAKER: I APPRECIATE YOUR

COMMENTS BUT. >> SPEAKER: TWO POINTS, THE INFORMATION WE SHARED WASN'T FINALIZED UNTIL YESTERDAY.

WHEN I GET A LETTER FROM ANOTHER LAWYER OR ANOTHER GROUP THREATENING A LAWSUIT, IT IS GOING TO BE MY ADVICE TO GET ALL OF OUR INFORMATION AND MEET WITH LEGAL COUNCIL FIRST AND YOU HEAR IT FIRST BEFORE YOU SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

I THINK THAT IS PRUDENTLY IT WAS PRUDENT ADVICE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT LEGAL ADVICE AND AS LONG AS WE ARE UNDER THREAT OF BEING SUED BY ANYBODY THAT WALKED TO THIS PODIUM OR SENT A LETTER I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PROTOCOL BECAUSE IT SERVES THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS BODY.

EVERYBODY DESERVES HERE THAT INFORMATION WILL BE ARE UNDER THREAT OF LITIGATION BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE HEARS IT.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE TONE AND TENOR THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US AND NOT BY OUR CHOOSING. IT'S WHAT WAS DICTATED TO US.

WE ARE PLEASED TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION BUT IT HAS TO GO IN

A CERTAIN MANNER. >> SPEAKER: OKAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED IT TO BE KNOWN THAT WE WAS THREATENED -- THAT THE NAACP THREAT TO BE SUED. I WAS HOPING -- I DIDN'T KNOW IF

I COULD SAY IT OR NOT. >> SPEAKER: JUST FOR CLARITY AND SO THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICULARLY MYSELF STAYS IN OUR LANE, -- IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY, I COULD CALL YOU AND SAY, HEY, I MET WITH SOMEBODY WHO WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SIT DOWN AGAIN WITH YOU. BUT THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE ME DIRECTING YOU TO DO SOMETHING IN THERE FOR ME OUT OF MY LANE AND NOT BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BODY.

[01:40:01]

>> SPEAKER: MY QUESTIONS WOULD COME AS FOLLOWS.

THERE IS BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE CITY'S LACK OF ATTENDANCE AT SOME BOARD MEETINGS.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BECAUSE OF SOME ITEMS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED WITHOUT OUR LEGAL COUNCIL PRESENT.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE BUT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. AT THE END OF THE DAY I CAN MEET WITH INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS BUT I DO HAVE TO VET WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LEGAL COUNCIL BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN THIS PATH.

IT IS NOT THE IDEAL SITUATION. IT IS THE CARDS WHICH HAVE FALLEN WHERE THEY HAVE IN THIS PROCESS.

WE TRY TO MEET WITH INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND WE TRY TO MY KNOWLEDGE TO RESPOND IS BEST THAT WE CAN TO EVERY ONE.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT THE PROCESS DOES ACKNOWLEDGE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THIS -- IS A CONFUSING PROCESS FOR CITIZENS.

WE ONLY DO IT ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS.

STATE LAW SAYS A FEW THINGS ABOUT IT AND FEDERAL LAW SAYS AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT ADD NAUSEA HIM ABOUT IT.

AND ALSO THIS IS A NONPARTISAN COUNCIL.

SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH PARTISAN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL COUNCIL DISTRICTS WERE I BELIEVE THE MOST IMPACT IS. AT THE END OF THE DAY I AM HAPPY TO TRY TO MEET WITH ANYBODY, IF I AM ABLE TO, THAT WANTS THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AS TO WHERE WE STAND WITH THE CITIES MAP IF YOU HAVE A PROPOSED MAP IN FRONT OF YOU AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE. ANY COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER CAN MOVE TO AMEND IT IN ANY FASHION IN WHICH THEY SEE FIT TO.

THE SOONER YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT, THE MORE WE CAN ANALYZE.

AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAINST LEGAL MEASURES OR IF YOU WANT A REPLACEMENT MAP.

THAT IS FINE. ANYBODY AT THIS DAIS CAN PROPOSE THAT. WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

WE JUST NEED THE INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THEIR STUFF YOU WANTED TO CONSIDER AS COUNCILMEMBERS OR CITIZENS ARE ASKING YOU, AND YOU WANT TO CONSIDER IT, TO GET TO THE STEPS WE CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION.

>> SPEAKER: READY TO MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS?

>> SPEAKER: ONE MORE QUESTION. >> SPEAKER: FOLLOWING UP ON BOB'S MAKING SURE WE ARE IN OUR LANE.

OUR ABILITY TO BE COLLABORATIVE AT THIS POINT IS VERY LIMITED BECAUSE THE SITUATION WE HAVE BEEN PUT IN, WHICH IS POTENTIAL LAWSUIT. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE POTENTIAL, IF I SAY SOMETHING I SHOULDN'T SAY LET ME KNOW.

WE SIMPLY CAN'T DISCUSS THINGS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LITIGATION. OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AT THIS POINT ARE VERY, VERY LIMITED.

>> SPEAKER: THEY ARE. I WILL LET THE CITY ATTORNEY

SPEAK TO THAT. >> SPEAKER: I THINK YOU SPOKE TO THAT. WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN HAVE TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC AND PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE SAME TIME. AND MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON THAT. WHEN SOMEONE IN ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUALS HAVE THREATENED A LAWSUIT FROM THE PODIUM AND IT PUT THAT IN WRITING, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SUGGEST THAT ANY SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER MEET WITH A GROUP OR WITH A SPECIFIC GROUP WHO HAS THREATENED LITIGATION UNLESS YOU HAVE LEGAL COUNCIL THERE. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT.

IT IS HAMPERING THE PROCESS, NOT ANYBODY'S CHOOSING BUT IT JUST THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN.

>> SPEAKER: THAT ALSO DOES NOT STOP ANY COUNCILMEMBER FROM MEETING WITH ME, THE CITY MANAGER, AND I CAN BRING SOME STAFF WITH ME. OR IF WE NEED TO ANALYZE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SUBMIT. ANY CITIZEN E-MAILS, WE WILL

[10. RESOLUTIONS]

TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT. >> SPEAKER: MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS? MS. CROUCH?

>> SPEAKER: ITEM 10A'S REQUEST FROM N.P. ALABAMA INVESTMENTS LLC FOR VACATION OF A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT LOCATED AT 114 EAST VETERANS BOULEVARD. A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED.

>> SPEAKER: MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? (VOICE VOTE)

>> SPEAKER: TEMPORARY MERIT ALSO, THOSE OF THE ALL OF THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

>> SPEAKER: BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO CITIZENS OPEN FORM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR AS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL, I SUPPORT MS. SHE HAS WORKED HER REAR END OFF TO GET THIS TO THE TABLE.

WE HEARD FROM EXPERTS TONIGHT AND DONE A GOOD JOB THAT WOULDN'T BE DONE. I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE TAKING THE HEAT SOMETIMES FOR STUFF. I'VE WORKED IN CITY GOVERNMENT FOR A LONG TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.

I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST FAIR PEOPLE I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM]

[01:45:01]

NOW IS THE TIME FOR CITIZENS TO SPEAK IN ANY MATTER THEY WANT TO FOR THREE MINUTES. ANYTHING AT ALL?

YES, MA'AM? >> SPEAKER: I AM LINDA LEE, 1652 ST. ANDREWS LANE. IN AUBURN.

36830. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT I WAS READING AN ARTICLE TODAY AND I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS. I WAS GOOGLING THE DISTRICTING AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER TOWNS IN ALABAMA WERE DOING WITH THIS. IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ ABOUT WHAT MOBILE IS DOING. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND OF COURSE THEY ARE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION WE ARE. THEY HAVE NOW GONE FROM I THINK 47 PERCENT MINORITY TO 51 PERCENT MINORITY.

AND SO THEIR COUNCIL HAS TIPPED TO WHERE THERE IS NO LONGER -- I THINK THEY HAVE SEVEN, BUT THERE IS NOW FOUR MINORITY AND THREE MAJORITY COUNCILMEMBERS. BUT I THOUGHT THE MAYOR MADE A VERY INTERESTING STATEMENT. HE SAID, WHAT WE WILL BE DOING GOING FORWARD WITH THE REDISTRICTING, THEY HADN'T DEALT WITH IT YET. OBVIOUSLY THEIR ELECTION IS FURTHER OUT THAN OURS. IS THAT AT THIS POINT, WE WILL BE TAKING MAPS. MAPS, PLURAL.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE LOOKING AT MAPS.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE LOOKING AT MAPS.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THOSE MAPS AND MAKING SOME DECISIONS.

ABOUT THEM. WE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH HERE.

FOLKS, I THINK IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS BROKEN.

THAT HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

I THINK EVERYBODY INVOLVED HERE HAS EXCELLENT INTENTIONS, LOVES AUBURN AND WANTS TO THE BEST FOR OUR TOWN HERE.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND -- I THINK THE PROCESS, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS AND THE PROCESS IS BROKEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CHANGE IT, BUT IT IS BROKEN. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE) >> SPEAKER: ANYBODY ELSE WANT

TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? >> SPEAKER: HELLO, BILLIE WILBURN, 112 NORTH APARTMENT FIVE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A LAWSUIT, PRESUMABLY FROM THE NAACP, AND THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS DOING THEIR JOB, WHICH IS TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL AND TO PROTECT THE COUNCIL, THE CITY, EVERYONE FROM LIABILITY.

MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THE NAACP HAS THIS TOOL AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO USE THAT TOOL TO ENSURE THAT AUBURN GETS A SECOND MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICT.

FROM WHAT I HEARD WHEN THE PREVENTATIVES CAME UP AND SPOKE TONIGHT, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, AND I KNOW -- I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOESN'T WANT US TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LAWSUIT EITHER.

CITY COUNCIL, EVERYONE HERE. SO FOR THAT POSSIBILITY TO EXIST , AND FOR US TO RESPOND TO THAT POSSIBILITY BY SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO COLLABORATE BECAUSE IT COULD OPEN US UP TO THAT RISK, SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF A SELF-DEFEATING, SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY FROM WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF RACIAL INJUSTICE, AND I THINK THE TACTIC OF PROTECTING OURSELVES -- SPEAKING AS A WHITE

[01:50:08]

AND I THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH, SO TO SPEAK, AND SAY, HEY, COUNCIL HAS ADVISED US, IT DOES PUT AT RISK.

BUT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, TO TAKE ON A LITTLE RISK TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT ONLY HAD RISK BUT HAVE HAD HARM OVER OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY POWERFUL DECLARATION TO OUR CITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE WANT TO BE FAIR, WE WANT TO WRITE THE WRONGS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK AND MAKE THAT DECISION. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE) >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, MOVE FOR ADJOURNMENT? ONE MORE?

>> SPEAKER: I AM ROBERT WILKINS AT 261 DENTON DRIVE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE 3288 SHORT-TERM RENTALS. I KNOW THAT Y'ALL SPENT THREE YEARS IN DEVELOPING THE ORDINANCE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE LOOKED AT THE ORDINANCE AND IT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE 1999 ORDINANCE. I LOOKED UNDER A MICROSCOPE AND DIDN'T SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE. IF DEVOTED 5-3 AND 1 PERSON COULD MAKE IT IN TIME THEY WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED.

I DON'T CONSIDER IT A UNANIMOUS TYPE SITUATION.

SOME THINGS Y'ALL WERE MENTIONING TODAY WAS THERE WAS NO STATISTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHY NOT TO HAVE THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR WHAT Y'ALL CALL TONIGHT THE RAW DATA DEALING WITH THE REDISTRICTING. IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THAT I HAVE NOTICED THERE WAS FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT OBJECTED TO IT. THEY DID SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF DOING THE PETITION THAT GOT LIKE 1100, 1200 PEOPLE.

AND OF COURSE, THE WAY THAT THEY DID THAT WAS THEY TOOK SIGNATURES FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE LINES AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND SAID, DO YOU WANT TO BE A HOTEL IN THE CITY.

IF I WAS IN THAT LINE WITH MY GRANDSON AND THEY ASKED ME THAT I WOULD SIGN IN A HEARTBEAT. I DIDN'T WANT ANY HOTELS.

AND ALSO YOU DEVELOP THE TASK FORCE.

I THINK TASK FORCES ARE INCREDIBLE.

THERE WERE FIVE CITY RELATED PEOPLE ON THEIR AND THREE NON- CITIZENS. THREE NONAFFILIATED CITIZENS.

THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDATION BY THE TASK FORCE.

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE TASK FORCE THAT HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS. IF YOU HAD INCLUDED SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE AFFECTED LIKE ME, AND HUNDRED 51 FAMILIES THAT YOU SAID WE WERE IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, I BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE GONE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. PROBABLY TOO MANY GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR. SOMEHOW ELECTION YEARS ALWAYS SEEM TO PUT PEOPLE IN A POSITION OF NOT DOING A LOT IF IT HAS CONTROVERSIAL THINGS. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT -- I HAVE BILLS HERE. YOU TOOK AWAY HALF OF MY INCOME AND YOU HAD NO VALIDITY TO THAT THING.

MR. GRISWOLD, YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT KEEPING US INFORMED ABOUT THE LAWSUIT COST. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHEN Y'ALL GO TO BIRMINGHAM TO GET YOUR LAW FIRM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IT COST TO GO FROM BIRMINGHAM TO HEAR, BUT PER HOUR IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE JUST TO COME.

I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS CAPABILITY OF THE AUBURN AREA THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HANDLE THIS THING, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASONING IS.

ALSO YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR CONTINUANCE THESE THAT COST MONEY. WHY? WHY WOULD YOUR LEGAL COUNCIL DO THAT? I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT THE ORDINANCE -- GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND. 3288 HAS TAKEN AWAY 152 FAMILIES WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND WHY.

>> SPEAKER: PLEASE WRAP IT UP. >> SPEAKER: WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE IN THE OLD DUSTY 247-YEAR-OLD DOCUMENT THAT'S HOUSED IN THE PHILADELPHIA. IT SAYS WE THE PEOPLE.

(APPLAUSE) >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE, MOVE FOR ADJOURNMENT?

>> SPEAKER: SO

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.