MIN RDC 2011-11-22 PH-HILO CHAMBERS.tif

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CHR. SIRACUSA: As representatives of our districts, we have each shared our district's concerns with each other, so that we are all aware of the local issues around the island. In addition, we had eleven meetings and ten public hearings in each of the current council districts and listened carefully to your input. Based on that, we have come up with a final draft plan that we are presenting to you this evening. This plan determines the geographic boundaries for each of the nine council districts based upon census data, as well as the criteria found in the Hawaii County Charter and legislation passed by the Hawaii County Council. Please note that we are only concerned here with County Council districts and not State or Federal Legislative districts. Copies of the Hawaii County Charter and the laws relating to the Redistricting Commission are available for your review at the sign in table. There are also blow -ups of each proposed district, as well as the map of the whole island that you can see the actual boundary lines and the streets. The Commission is first and foremost governed by the principal of "one person, one vote." We are required by law to adopt boundaries which make each of the districts approximately similar in resident population. Both case law, and the laws applicable to the Redistricting Commission allow for a deviation of a maximum of 4.99% above or below the ideal resident population of 20,462 residents per council district. This is after extraction of non - resident military, dependents and students. Therefore, the maximum number of residents in any district can be no more than 21,483 and the minimum number of residents no less than 19, 441. Following all of these sometimes competing guidelines has been a real challenge. We attempted to create the fairest map possible with the least amount of negative impacts to any given area. The Commission has reviewed just about 50 suggested maps showing various configurations of the district boundaries. We have received and reviewed maps submitted by members of the public, staff at the Elections office, and those produced at Commission meetings. From those maps and public testimony, our final draft plan has been distilled. Please look carefully at the close ups of you district, and when you testify, let us know if you want to suggest any minor changes. You, the public, have had an important role in the creation of this map, and we hope that you approve of the result. We thank you for all your suggestions and acknowledge your civic mindedness and your willingness to help us create the map that will be fair not only to your own neighborhood, but island wide. You will be asked to keep you comments to no more than five minutes. A buzzer will go off and there will be a warning buzzer, and Nora will let you know, in case you didn't notice it when it went off, when it is time to wind up and summarize. The Commissioners may or may not have questions to clarify your testimony at this public hearing, but please do not expect us to answer your questions or to engage in dialogue, as our job today is strictly to hear what you have to say. If you have not done so already, and wish to offer testimony to the Commission, please fill out one of the sheets at the sign in table. You can continue to do that until we close for the evening. Mahalo for coming out to learn about this process, and to share your thoughts with us. 2