County Council Sets Vote for Redistricting Commission Proposal

The  is slated to meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday to decide on district boundary changes proposed by the Redistricting Commission.

The Redistricting Commission submitted proposed council district boundary changes during an Aug. 8 meeting. The council has 10 working days from that time—until Aug. 22—to make a decision on the map.

Council Chairman Joe Brazil, R-District 2, said he expects the council members to send the maps back to the Redistricting Commission.

“It’s not uncommon to send it back. It would be more unusual to approve it the first time,” Brazil said.

During the Aug. 8 meeting, Brazil questioned why a section of Foristell south of Interstate 70 was moved out of his district into District 1.

An audience member had an similar question regarding an area south of I-70 that includes the Noah’s Ark redevelopment area. The proposal puts it in District 6.

Commission members said their primary goal was to keep population numbers as close to the ideal number—51,498—as possible. They said that preserves the “one person, one vote” ideal.

“I don’t think they should have been so focused on hitting 51,000,” Brazil said. “We feel it’s more important that we represent our existing constituent base (as much as possible).”

During the Aug. 8 meeting, council members said the commission has leeway to even out district borders. Under the proposed maps, the districts with the highest and the lowest populations are 1 percent apart. They cannot be more than 5 percent apart, according to the charter.

During the Redistricting Commission meeting, County Executive Steve Ehlmann said that when council members requesting map changes, it is not a rejection of the commission’s efforts.

“The (county) charter recognizes that; it allows for some back and forth,” Ehlmann said.

If the maps are returned, commission members have until Nov. 30 to make changes. However, they are not required to follow the council’s recommendations. The commission can make other changes or no changes before resubmitting the proposal.

If the commission and the council cannot agree on the boundaries, the issue would be decided by the circuit court.