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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1. FINAL REPORT (2)Countp Of 30atuat `l 2011 Redistricting Commission FINAL REPORT RENE SIRACUSA Chair DRU MAMO KANUHA Vice Chair December 22, 2011 VALERIE POINDEXTER JEFFREY MELROSE JOHN "MIKE" MIDDLESWORTH PATRICK KAHAWAIOLA`A LINDA UGALDE CRAIG `BO" KAHUI JOSEPH CARVALHO 2011 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION Jamae K.K. Kawauchi, County Clerk Office of the County Clerk Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 RE: Redistricting Commission Written Report r.a Q -o C--) C3 :=� rn -c -- I c The 2011 Hawaii County Redistricting Commission hereby submits its Written Report to the County Clerk. This communication transmits the Final Plan that was chosen by the Commission and supporting documentation pursuant to Chapter 36, Hawaii County Code (2005 Edition, as amended), and Article III, Section 3 -17, Hawaii County Code. The Commission wishes to express thanks to the administration and the county council for its support in the Redistricting process and thanks the citizens and organizations of Hawai `i County for their participation and input. Sincer ly, c Rene Siracusa Valerie Poindexter Member John "Mike" Middlesworth Member in a galde Member l G4. fit/ Cz �-k"- ► "__. iosgtfrv-alho Member .." Dru Mamo Kanuha Vice Chair Melrose Member raig ` o" Kahui Member Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island a TABLE OF CONTENTS Final Report 1 (1) Final Vote of the Commission as to Choice of Final Plan 2 (2) Total Permanent Resident Population Base Used by the Commission 2 (3) Total Deviation of the Final Plan 2 (4) Each Proposed Council District's Population and Associated Deviation 2 (5) Maps of Each Council District and Written Description of Each Council District's Boundary 2 (6) Map of the Island With All Proposed Council Districts 2 (7) Justification for any Divergence from Requirements or Criteria 3 (8) Minutes of all Meetings and Public Hearings 3 (9) Documentation for Accepting or Rejecting Alternate Plans 3 (10) Any Other Data Used by the Commission 3 (11) Redistricting Commission Recommendations 3 LIST OF EXHIBITS EXHIBIT I Rules of Procedure EXHIBIT 2 Section 3 -17, Hawaii County Charter Chapter 36, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) EXHIBIT 3 Council District 1 Council District 2 Council District 3 Council District 4 Council District 5 Council District 6 Council District 7 Council District 8 Council District 9 EXHIBIT 4 Written Description of Each Council District's Boundary EXHIBIT 5 Map of County of Hawaii Showing all Council Districts EXHIBIT 6 Minutes of all Commission Meetings and Public Hearings EXHIBIT 7 Alternate Plan History Log EXHIBIT 8 Redistricting Commission Recommendations RENE SIRACUSA Chair DRU MAMO KANUHA Vice Chair 2011 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION FINAL REPORT VALERIE POINDEXTER JEFFREY MELROSE JOHN "MIKE" MIDDLESWORTH PATRICK KAHAWAIOLA`A LINDA UGALDE CRAIG "130" KAHUI JOSEPH CARVALHO The Hawai'i County Redistricting Commission consists of nine members representing each of the 9 current County Council Districts. The members of the Redistricting Commission are chosen by the Mayor of the County of Hawaii and approved by the Hawaii County Council. District 1 Commissioner: Valerie T. Poindexter District 2 Commissioner: Jeffrey M. Melrose District 3 Commissioner: John "Mike" Middlesworth District 4 Commissioner: Patrick L. Kahawaiola`a District 5 Commissioner: Rene Siracusa District 6 Commissioner: Linda Ugalde District 7 Commissioner: Dru Kanuha District 8 Commissioner: Craig `Bo" Kahui District 9 Commissioner: Joseph Carvalho The work of the Redistricting Commission is governed by the Rules of Procedure of the 2011 Hawai'i County Redistricting Commission, a copy of which is attached to this report as EXHIBIT 1. In addition, the Commission is also required to follow the provisions of both the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, Section 3 -17, Hawaii County Charter, Chapter 36, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), as well as applicable case law found from both the Federal and State Courts. Copies of Section 3 -17 of the Hawaii County Charter, and Chapter 36, of the Hawaii County Code are attached as EXHIBIT 2. The commission is required, pursuant to Chapter 36, Section 36 -10, of the Hawaii County Code, to submit a written report to the county clerk transmitting the final plan chosen by the commission. The written report shall include: Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island (1) FINAL VOTE OF THE COMMISSION AS TO CHOICE OF FINAL PLAN. The final vote of the Commission as to the adoption of the Final Redistricting Plan was unanimous. (2) TOTAL PERMANENT RESIDENT POPULATION BASE USED BY THE COMMISSION. The total permanent resident population used by the Redistricting Commission was 184,158. This resident population was determined by using the Total Population as determined by the United States Census of 2010: 185,079 and deleting 793 non permanent resident students by census block, 125 non permanent resident students by zip code, and 3 non permanent resident military living on base located by census block. (3) TOTAL DEVIATION OF THE FINAL PLAN. The total deviation in the final plan is: 9.47 %. (4) EACH PROPOSED COUNCIL DISTRICT'S POPULATION AND ASSOCIATED DEVIATION. The ideal Council District is comprised of 20,462 people. (184,158 total population divided by 9 Districts) COUNCIL DISTRICT TOTAL POPULATION DEVIATION District 1 20,017 -2.17% District 2 21,281 4.00% District 3 21,439 4.77% District 4 20,503 3.20% District 5 21,335 4.27% District 6 19,648 -3.98% District 7 19,820 -3.14% District 8 19,501 -4.70% District 9 20,614 3.74% (5) MAPS OF EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT AND WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT'S BOUNDARY. Maps of each Council District are attached as EXHIBIT 3. Written descriptions of each Council District are attached as EXHIBIT 4. (6) MAP OF THE ISLAND WITH ALL PROPOSED COUNCIL DISTRICTS. A map of the County of Hawaii showing all Council Districts is attached as EXHIBIT 5. FINAL REPORT 2011 COUNTY OF HAWAII REDISTRICTING COMMISSION 2 (7) JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY DIVERGENCE FROM REQUIREMENTS OR CRITERIA. The Commission did not diverge from any requirements or criteria. (8) MINUTES OF ALL MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS. Minutes of the 2011 Redistricting Commission Meetings and Public Hearings is attached as EXHIBIT 6. MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON DRAFT PLAN April 25, 2011 October 1, 2011 District 1 November 21, 2011 West Hawaii May 12, 2011 October 1, 2011 District 9 November 22, 1011 East Hawaii June 23, 2011 October 6, 2011 District 2 July 28, 2011 October 11, 2011 District 5 August 11, 2011 October 12, 2011 District 6 August 24, 2011 October 15, 2011 District 4 September 9, 2011 October 15, 2011 District 3 September 23, 2011 October 17, 2011 District 8 October 21, 2011 October 20, 2011 District 7 November 3, 2011 November 10, 2011 November 30, 2011 December 16, 2011 December 22, 2011 (9) DOCUMENTATION FOR ACCEPTING OR REJECTING ALTERNATE PLANS. The plan adopted by the Redistricting Commission includes in large part portions of alternate plans recommended to the commission by various community members. The minutes of the meetings of the 2011 Redistricting Commission reflect the reasons for the rejection of any plan prepared by a member of the public or staff or Redistricting Commission Member. An Alternate Plan History log reflecting the reasons for accepting or rejecting submitted plans is attached as EXHIBIT 7. (10) ANY OTHER DATA USED BY THE COMMISSION. The Redistricting Commission did not use any other data or criteria in the adoption the Final Redistricting Plan nor did they consider any other criteria in the deliberation on the selection of a plan. (11) REDISTRICTING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS. The following are recommendations of the 2011 Redistricting Commission: FINAL REPORT 2011 COUNTY OF HAWAII REDISTRICTING COMMISSION 3 The County of Hawaii Office of Elections work with the U.S. Census Bureau to undertake a comprehensive review of problematic census blocks within each Council district and consider generally following roads and natural boundaries in developing census boundaries to be adopted prior to the 2020 census; 2. Redistricting Software be made available as soon as possible to allow Commissioners more time to become familiar with the program. In that regard, the County might consider purchasing its own Redistricting Software tailored specifically to Hawaii County; 3. Non - resident students and non - resident military extraction numbers be provided as soon as possible to allow for accurate use of the software program; 4. The 2011 Redistricting Commission found that overwhelming public input supported keeping "communities of interest" together, which proved to be far more important than the lowest numerical deviation. Accordingly, the Commission recommends that the Hawaii County Council consider amending Chapter 36, Hawaii County Code (2005 Edition, as amended), as follows: • Delete Section 36 -9(2), Alternate Plan Requirements, in its entirety as it places too much emphasis on the numerical deviations without consideration for other equally important criteria. The maximum council district deviation provided for in Section 36 -6(a) be increased to 5.99% without changing the total deviation for the entire plan to allow the Commission flexibility to accommodate perceived community boundaries. Comments submitted by individual Commissioners are attached as EXHIBIT 8. FINAL REPORT 2011 COUNTY OF HAWAII REDISTRICTING COMMISSION 4