HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-012-468_-_Amending_Residential_Area_Boundaries_-_AdoptedORDINANCE NO. 2023-012-468
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL
AREA BOUNDARIES; PROVIDING THE NEW RESIDENTIAL
AREA BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE
RESULTS OF THE 2020 UNITED STATES CENSUS;
OFFICIALLY DELINEATING THE BOUNDARIES OF EACH
RESIDENTIAL AREA AS SET FORTH IN OPTION #1 ATTACHED
HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF
REPRESENTATIONS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on August 23, 2022, the voters in Miami Gardens voted to amend
Section 2.3(C) of the City Charter to include a provision authorizing the amendment of
residential area boundaries by Ordinance from time to time to ensure equitable
representation in each district, and
WHEREAS, the City engaged Redistricting Expert Attorney Miguel De Grandy of
Holland & Knight LLP who provided a public presentation on redistricting during the July
26, 2023, City Council Meeting and City Council provided direction regarding which
traditional redistricting principles it wished to employ in drafting a proposed redistricting
plan for Council consideration, and
WHEREAS, the City Council directed that the plan achieves the following
objectives:
Achieve substantial equality of population (as opposed to mathematical
equality);
Preserve the core of existing districts to the extent feasible
Factor in ongoing or planned residential developments when balancing district
populations, as feasible
Develop two alternative redistricting plans for the Councils' consideration
Present alternatives that include the recently annexed area in Residential Area
Two or Three, and
WHEREAS, as a result, the City's consultant developed three draft plans with
Option 1 being a minimum deviation plan which was designed in a manner that would
maintain the core of existing districts and equalizing the population of the respective
areas to the greatest extent possible, and
WHEREAS, Option 2 & 3 plans are based on the directives provided by the
Council, recognizing first and foremost the legal requirement to balance the official
Census reported population in a manner that would result in plans with an overall
deviation of less than 10%, and
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Ordinance NO. 2023-012-468
WHEREAS, in addition, option 2 placed the recently annexed area in residential
area 2; while option 3 places the annexed area in residential area 3; developments were
also redistributed in the different options, and
WHEREAS, the City Council has selected the preferred plan as outlined herein,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS: The foregoing Whereas
paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true, and the same are hereby
made a specific part of this Ordinance.
Section 2. AMENDMENT OF RESIDENTIAL BOUNDARIES: The City Council
hereby officially delineates the boundaries of each residential area as set forth in Option
#1 as outlined hereto in Exhibit “A.”
Section 3. CONFLICT: All ordinances or Code provisions in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
Section 4. SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase
or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court
of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and
independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance.
Section 5. INCLUSION IN CODE: It is the intention of the City Council of the City
of Miami Gardens that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and be made a part
of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Miami Gardens and that the section of this
Ordinance may be renumbered or realtered and the word “Ordinance” may be changed
to “Chapter,” “Section,” “Article” or such other appropriate word or phrase, the use of
which shall accomplish the intentions herein expressed.
Section 7. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall become effective
immediately upon its final passage.
PASSED ON FIRST READING BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GARDENS AT ITS REGULAR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8, 2023.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS
AT ITS REGULAR MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 13, 2023.
________________________________
RODNEY HARRIS, MAYOR
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Ordinance NO. 2023-012-468
ATTEST:
________________________________
MARIO BATAILLE, CMC, CITY CLERK
PREPARED BY: SONJA KNIGHTON DICKENS, CITY ATTORNEY
SPONSORED BY: MARIO BATAILLE, CITY CLERK
Moved by: Councilman Leon
Seconded by: Vice Mayor Wilson
VOTE: 5-1
Mayor Harris Yes
Vice Mayor Wilson Yes
Councilwoman Campbell No
Councilwoman Ighodaro Absent
Councilwoman Julien Yes
Councilman Leon Yes
Councilman Stephens, III Yes
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City of Miami Gardens
Agenda Cover Memo
Meeting: City Council - Dec 13 2023
23-269
Department
Office of the City Clerk
Sponsored By
City Clerk
Agenda Item Title
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS,
FLORIDA, AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL AREA BOUNDARIES; PROVIDING THE
NEW RESIDENTIAL AREA BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING
THE OFFICIALLY CENSUS; STATES UNITED THE OF RESULTS 2020
DELINEATING THE BOUNDARIES OF EACH RESIDENTIAL AREA AS SET FORTH
IN A; THE FOR PROVIDING EXHIBIT HERETO ATTACHED #1 OPTION AS
ALL ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; REPEALING ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION
IN THE CODE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (2ND READING - PUBLIC
HEARING)
Staff Summary
On August 23, 2022, the voters in Miami Gardens Voted to amend Section 2.3(C) of
the City Charter to include a provision authorizing the amendment of residential area
boundaries by Ordinance from time to time to ensure equitable representation in each
district. The City Council then directed the City Clerk to engage the appropriate
experts to undertake the appropriate studies and to make recommendations for an
ordinance to amend the residential district boundaries.
The City engaged Redistricting Expert Attorney Miguel De Grandy of Holland & Knight
LLP who provided a public presentation on redistricting during the July 26, 2023, City
Council Meeting. During said meeting the City Council provided direction regarding
which traditional redistricting principles it wished to employ in drafting a proposed
redistricting plan for Council consideration. The plan was to achieve the following:
Achieve substantial equality of population (as opposed to mathematical
equality).
Preserve the core of existing districts to the extent feasible.
Factor in ongoing or planned residential developments when balancing district
populations, as feasible.
Develop two alternative redistricting plans for the Councils' consideration.
Present alternatives that include the recently annexed area in Residential Area
Two or Three.
As a result, the City's consultant developed three draft plans. Option 1 is a minimum
deviation plan which was designed in a manner that would maintain the core of
existing districts and equalizing the population of the respective areas to the greatest
extent possible. Option 2 & 3 plans are based on the directives provided by the
Council, recognizing first and foremost the legal requirement to balance the official
Census reported population in a manner that would result in plans with an overall
deviation of less than 10%. In addition, option 2 placed the recently annexed area in
residential area 2; while option 3 places the annexed area in residential area 3.
Developments were also redistributed in the different options.
The next step in this redistricting process is to have a public meeting at which the
Council can choose a preferred plan by Ordinance and direct the consultant to make
any additional changes, if any, it wishes to see in its preferred plan. Keep in mind that
any changes to a specific district result in changes to the overall deviation and will
impact other Districts in the plan that may need to shed or acquire residents in order
to re-balance the population within constitutional parameters.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact for completion of drafting this plan is appropriately budgeted within
the City Clerk's Office budget for the 2024 Election Cycle.
Recommended Action
The City Council to decide which option they would like to amend the residential area
boundaries.
Attachments
Ordinance 2023 - approving redistricting
Exhibit A - Minimum Deviation Plan (Option 1)
Exhibit B - Redistricting Report 10-19-23
EXHIBIT A
OPTION 1 – MINIMUM DEVIATION PLAN
This illustrative plan was developed without consideration of the impacts of new developments, instead concentrating on achieving a minimal
deviation among the districts based on the population figures reported in the most recent census. The plan has an overall deviation of less than
one half of 1% (.39 of 1 percent). The boundaries of the districts mainly follow major roads, with some jagged edged necessary to equalize
population.
EXHIBIT A
Seat 1 in Minimum Deviation Plan
Seat 1 total population: 27,861
EXHIBIT A
Seat 2 in Minimum Deviation Plan
Seat 2 total population: 27,902
EXHIBIT A
Seat 3 in Minimum Deviation Plan
Seat 3 total population: 27,971
EXHIBIT A
Seat 4 in Minimum Deviation Plan
Seat 4 total population 27,906
EXHIBIT A
Minimum Deviation Plan By Seat Statistics
Seat No.TOTAL
Population
Target
Population
Target
Deviation
Target
Deviation
(%)
Total
Population
Total
Voting Age
Population
Single-Race
Non-Hispanic
White Voting
Age
Population
Non-
Hispanic
Black
Voting Age
Population
Hispanic
Black Voting
Age
Population
Hispanic not Black
Voting Age
Population
Other Voting
Age Population
Seat 1 27861 27910 -49 0.0017 27861 21690 308 10523 950 9658 251
0.7785 0.0142 0.4852 0.0438 0.4453 0.0116
Seat 2 27902 27910 -8 0.0003 27902 21324 646 16136 687 3306 549
0.7642 0.0303 0.7567 0.0322 0.155 0.0257
Seat 3 27971 27910 61 0.0022 27971 21571 358 16808 655 3539 211
0.7712 0.0166 0.7792 0.0304 0.1641 0.0098
Seat 4 27906 27910 4 0.0001 27906 21516 463 10307 819 9730 197
0.771 0.0215 0.479 0.0381 0.4522 0.0092
EXHIBIT A
Metes And Bounds Report
Plan Name: minimum deviation plan approved by City Council Residential Areas
Residential Area Seat 1
Beginning at the most northerly point of Seat 1, thence southerly 1.64 miles along NW 27th Ave , thence westerly 0.81 miles along NW 191st St , thence
southerly 0.25 miles along 34th Court , thence westerly 0.02 miles along NW 187th St , thence southerly 0.25 miles along NW 34th Court , thence westerly 1.17
miles along NW 183rd St , thence northerly 0.85 miles along NW 47th Ave , thence northerly 0.14 miles along NW 47th Ave , thence northerly 1.17 miles along
NW 47th Ave , thence easterly 0.99 miles along 215th St , thence northwesterly 0.00 miles along SW 89th Ave , thence easterly 0.97 miles along Unnamed
Boundary to the aforementioned point of beginning.
Residential Area Seat 2
Beginning at the most northerly point of Seat 2, thence southerly 1.09 miles along NE 2nd Ave , thence westerly 0.24 miles along NW 199th St , thence southerly
0.71 miles along N Miami Ave , thence westerly 0.13 miles along NW 188th St , thence southerly 0.05 miles along NW 1st Ave , thence westerly 0.44 miles along
NW 187th St , thence southerly 0.10 miles along NW 5th Court , thence westerly 0.12 miles along NW 185th St , thence southerly 0.15 miles along NW 6th Court
, thence westerly 0.56 miles along NW 183rd St , thence northerly 1.01 miles along NW 12th Ave , thence westerly 1.54 miles along NW 199th St , thence
northerly 1.14 miles along NW 27th Ave , thence easterly 0.01 miles along Unnamed Boundary, thence southerly 0.01 miles along NW 27th Ave , thence easterly
0.95 miles along NW 215th St , thence easterly 2.08 miles along SW 41st St to the aforementioned point of beginning.
Residential Area Seat 3
Beginning at the most northerly point of Seat 3, thence southerly 1.01 miles along NW 12th Ave , thence easterly 0.56 miles along NW 183rd St , thence
northerly 0.15 miles along NW 6th Court , thence easterly 0.12 miles along NW 185th St , thence northerly 0.10 miles along NW 5th Court , thence easterly 0.44
miles along NW 187th St , thence northerly 0.05 miles along NW 1st Ave , thence easterly 0.13 miles along NW 188th St , thence southerly 0.30 miles along N
Miami Ave , thence easterly 0.53 miles along NE 183rd St , thence southwesterly 1.01 miles along Unnamed Line, thence southerly 0.00 miles along Unnamed
Ramp, thence westerly 0.00 miles along Unnamed Boundary, thence southwesterly 0.02 miles along Unnamed Line, thence northerly 0.02 miles along US Hwy
441 , thence westerly 0.06 miles along Unnamed Boundary, thence westerly 0.02 miles along NW 171st Terrace , thence westerly 0.15 miles along NW 171st St ,
thence southerly 0.14 miles along NW 4th Ave , thence southerly 0.04 miles along Seaboard Road , thence southwesterly 0.02 miles along Unnamed Boundary,
thence southwesterly 0.03 miles along Unnamed Private Road, thence southwesterly 1.66 miles along Unnamed Boundary, thence westerly 0.22 miles along NW
151st St , thence northerly 0.22 miles along NW 19th Ave , thence westerly 0.25 miles along NW 155th St , thence northerly 0.03 miles along NW 22nd Ave ,
thence westerly 0.50 miles along Unnamed Line, thence northerly 2.77 miles along NW 27th Ave , thence easterly 1.54 miles along NW 199th St to the
aforementioned point of beginning.
EXHIBIT A
Residential Area Seat 4
Beginning at the most northerly point of Seat 4, thence southerly 2.27 miles along NW 27th Ave , thence easterly 0.50 miles along Unnamed Line, thence
southerly 0.03 miles along NW 22nd Ave , thence easterly 0.25 miles along NW 155th St , thence southerly 0.22 miles along NW 19th Ave , thence westerly 1.63
miles along NW 151st St , thence northerly 0.26 miles along NW 37th Ave , thence westerly 2.08 miles along Unnamed Shoreline, thence westerly 0.02 miles
along Unnamed Line, thence northerly 0.81 miles along N Red Road , thence easterly 1.02 miles along Palmetto Expy , thence northerly 1.01 miles along NW
47th Ave , thence easterly 1.17 miles along NW 183rd St , thence northerly 0.25 miles along NW 34th Court , thence easterly 0.02 miles along NW 187th St ,
thence northerly 0.25 miles along 34th Court , thence easterly 0.81 miles along NW 191st St to the aforementioned point of beginning
Holland & Knight LLP
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3300 Miami Florida 33131
REDISTRICTING THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS’
FOUR RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS AFTER THE 2020 CENSUS
REPORT ON DRAFT PLANS FOR THE FOUR RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICTS
Miguel De Grandy, Esq.
Redistricting Consultant
Introduction and Recap:
At the beginning of May, 2023 your consultant delivered to the City Council a preliminary
report on redistricting issues in the City of Miami Gardens. This initial report analyzed the
current composition and population of the existing residential districts and the need to
redistrict based on the fact that the overall deviation of the current districts --- at 21.13%
-- exceeded the “safe Harbor” parameters set forth in the case law. The initial report also
included a brief legal primer to inform the Council regarding the legal issues relevant to a
re-districting process.
Figure 1 below is a map of the current residential districts in the city. The recently annexed
area, which is not assigned to any district, is labeled “District 5” :
Figure 1
The Table below sets forth the current population of each of the four residential districts
as reported by the U.S. Census:
Population of Current Districts
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
24,775 30,654 26,834 29,397
(Ideal district population is 27,910)
The City of Miami Gardens then advertised a pubic presentation on redistricting to be
heard on its July 26, 2023 meeting of the Council. At said meeting, your redistricting
consultant made a public presentation, summarizing the contents of the Initial Report.
Your consultant also solicited policy guidance from the Council regarding which
traditional redistricting principles it wished your consultant to employ in drafting a
proposed redistricting plan. The Council resolved to direct your consultant to:
• Achieve substantial equality of population (as opposed to mathematical equality)
• Preserve the core of existing districts to the extent feasible.
• Factor in ongoing or planned residential developments when balancing district
population, as feasible.
• Develop two alternative redistricting plans for the Council’s consideration.
• Present alternatives that include the recently annexed area in District two or
District three
Units Being Developed in the Current Districts per City Clerk.
Clerk Mario Bataille provided your consultant with a list of residential projects that were
in the planning, permitting or development stage prior to the results of the 2020 Census
and were therefore not factored in the Census population of the City. Below is a listing of
the planned or proposed development information that was provided by the Clerk:
Developments in District 1:
No developments were provided
Developments in District 2:
282 units
DR Horton: 20800 NW 14th Place – $70 million project valuation (Completed)
DR Horton has three (3) new communities wrapping up construction within the City made
up of the Walden Place I and Walden Place II townhome developments with a combined
total of 161 units, in addition to the fifty-one (51) single family homes known as Majorca
Estates. This is in addition to the Princeton Park starter townhomes adjacent to the
Gardens Promenade Shopping Center with seventy (70) residential units that were
completed last year.
341 units
Gateway Apartments: 20775 NW 17th Avenue – $36.5 million (Under Construction)
Site plan review is currently underway for the Gateway Apartments project. This market-
rate, multi-family complex will consist of 341 units spanning ten (10) residential buildings.
This state-of-the-art development will feature world class architecture and original
artwork. Amenities will include a gym, yoga area, and other common areas and gathering
rooms for residents to enjoy.
113 units
Lennar Townhomes: 627 NW 203rd Street - $25 million project valuation (Under
Construction) –
This site will house one-hundred thirteen (113) townhome units with a Clubhouse
building. Building permits are currently under review by the Building Department with
construction start expected in early 2022.
288 units
Vista Lago: 468 NW 207 Street - $120 million project valuation (Completed) – SEAT 2
This property was used for decades to house a television antenna complex. The site is
now under development to transform it into a multi-family residential community with
two-hundred eighty-eight (288) garden style apartments, of which one-hundred twenty
(120) will be condominiums. Recreational facilities include a clubhouse, pool, gym and
tot lot. A five (5) acre public park has been deeded to the City by the developer to benefit
current residents within the surrounding neighborhood, where no common areas for
recreation currently exist. A TCO has been issued for two of the apartment buildings,
while the condominium side is still under construction.
Developments in District 3:
420 units
Oak Enclave - $60 million project valuation (Completed)
This four-hundred twenty (420) unit rental community is currently under construction and
is located near the intersection of NW 167th Street and NW 24th Ave. This is an appealing
location for young professionals and working families providing quick local and regional
access via the Palmetto Expressway. The project consists of five (5) residential buildings
offering amenities such as a clubhouse. Construction is now approaching completion with
the first TCO expected to be issued in early 2022.
259 units
The Pomelo: 19333 NW 27th Avenue - $39 million project valuation (Completed) – SEAT
3
This is a new, resort-inspired mid-rise complex with two-hundred fifty-nine (259) modern
rental units available at market rate. This community features a 5,000 square feet
clubhouse, fitness center, and outdoor recreation center all within a secured gated entry.
A TCO has been issued with the CO package being wrapped up by the building
department.
504 units
Miami Gardens City Center (19199 NW 27th Avenue)
Under site plan review for 504 units
Developments in District 4:
22 units
Hiram Village: 19205 NW 37th Avenue - $2.4 million project valuation (Under
Construction) –
Hiram Village is a multifamily two (2) story development with twenty-twenty (22) units
consisting of 2-bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Building permits are still under review with
groundbreaking expected at the beginning of 2022.
60 units
Oak Villages: 3311 & 3341 NW 189th Street - $11.6 million project valuation (Site Plan)
This project is currently under review by the Planning and Zoning staff. As proposed,
there are sixty (60) units planned for the five (5) acre site. The design will be similar to
that of the Villages at Miami Gardens development to the west of the site.
51 units
Villages at Miami Gardens Apartments: 3400 NW 191st Street - $9 million project
valuation (Completed) – estimated 50 units
60 units
Vista View Apartments – 2.56 ACRE/FOLIO 34-2118-005-0010
The project consists of 60 two-bedroom dwelling units, associated parking and landscape
improvements.
In order to estimate the population impact of those developments, your consultant
reviewed the official Census for the City. According to the Census website, the average
persons per household in the City from 2017 to 2021 was 3.38 persons per household.
(see: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Miami Gardens city, Florida) Based on the
developments and unit numbers provided by the Clerk to your consultant, and using the
3.38 person per household figure set forth in the Census, your consultant estimated the
following population increase for the existing districts resulting from these developments
as follows:
Estimated Population Impact in Current Districts From New Developments
District 1: District 2: District 3: District 4:
no impact
1024 units x
3.38 =
3461
persons
1183 units x
3.38 =
3999
persons
193 units x
3.38 =
652 persons
Total new units citywide: 2400
Total estimated citywide population
impact from new developments: 81121
Development of Draft Plans
Although not directed to do so by the Council, your consultant first developed a Minimum
Deviation Plan for illustrative purposes. The plan was designed in a manner that would
maintain the core of existing districts to the extent feasible, and with the goal of
equalizing the population of the respective districts to the greatest extent possible. This
plan was developed without consideration of the placement of new developments and
has an overall deviation of less than one half of one percent.
Your consultant then proceeded to develop alternative plans based on the directives
provided by the Council, recognizing first and foremost the legal requirement to balance
the official Census reported population in a manner that would result in plans with an
overall deviation of less than 10%. We developed two alternative plans; one alternative
places the recently annexed areas into District 2, the second alternative places the
recently annexed area into District 3. Developments were also redistributed in the
different alternatives.
Below we present the three plans, noting the population of each district. With regard to
the two alternative plans, we present two population charts. The first shows the
population of the districts in the new plan as drafted. The second shows the population
of the districts after factoring in the population impact of the new developments.
1 Population estimates are rounded off to the nearest whole number throughout this report.
Minimum Deviation Plan
This illustrative plan was developed without consideration of the impacts of new
developments, instead concentrating on achieving a minimal deviation among the
districts based on the population figures reported in the most recent census. The plan has
an overall deviation of less than one half of 1% (.39 of 1 percent). The boundaries of the
districts mainly follow major roads, with some jagged edged necessary to equalize
population.
Figure 2 below is a graphic depiction of the plan.
Figure 2
The districts in this Minimum Deviation Plan would have the following population based
on the most recent census:
Total Population in Minimum deviation plan
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
27,861
27,902
27,971
27,906
(Ideal Population 27,910)
Below are enlarged images of each district in this plan:
District 1 in Minimum Deviation Plan
District 1 total population: 27,861
District 2 in Minimum Deviation Plan
District 2 total population: 27,902
District 3 in Minimum Deviation Plan
District 3 total population: 27,971
District 4 in Minimum Deviation Plan
District 4: 27,906
Alternatives 1 and 2 Factoring Development Considerations.
Your consultant also developed two alternatives taking into consideration several factors
as directed by the Council. Both alternatives factor in the potential population impact of
the above-referenced developments.
The challenge was to create districts that would be within the 10% deviation threshold
when drafted and also would be within acceptable parameters after factoring in the
population impacts resulting from the new developments. In both alternatives there was
emphasis on maintaining the core of existing Districts to the extent feasible.
One of the challenges in crafting plans with these development considerations was the
location of the different planned developments. For example, two of the major
developments comprising a total of 763 units and a potential population impact of 2,579
people ( The Pomelo 19333 NW 27th avenue with 259 units and Miami Gardens City
Center 19199 NW 27th Avenue with a possible 504 units) are being developed on 27th
avenue on the District 3 side of the border between Districts 3 and 4. Both are within the
same census block – the smallest unit of measure. Therefore it is not possible to separate
these two planned developments and assign them to different districts. In Alternative 1
we left those developments in District 3, whereas in Alternative 2 we moved those
developments into District 4.
District 1 had no developments reported by the Clerk. Thus, in both alternatives we
shifted the northeast boundary of District 1 into District 2 in order to capture a
development with 341 units (Gateway Apartments at 20775 NW 17th avenue). In both
alternatives, the development impacts are shifted, resulting in all districts having some
development impact.
1) Alternative 1 Plan Factoring Development Considerations with
Annexation Area in District 2
This plan was developed with an attempt to factor in planned developments as provided
by the Clerk, while also including the annexation area (which has no population) in District
2. As referenced above, we did not move any of the developments in District 3 to another
district, thereby maintaining the boundary line between District 3 and District 4 at 27th
avenue. We also intentionally underpopulated District 3, anticipating greater growth in
that district based on the number of developments. This alternative also shifts the
boundary between District 1 and District 2 further east to includes a development that is
currently in District 2 into District 1. In this alternative, we tried to use major roads to the
extent feasible to delineate the boundaries of the districts.
The plan has an overall deviation of approximately 6.2 %.
The graphic depiction of the plan is shown below in Figure 3 below:
Figure 3
Without factoring in the new developments, the new districts would have the following
population based on the most recent census:
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
28,669 28,012 26,887 28,072
( Ideal Population is 27,910)
Factoring in the population impacts of the new developments the hypothetical district
population estimates after full development and occupancy of the expected units would
be:
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
28,669 +
1152 =
29,821
28,012 +
2308 =
30,320
26,887 +
3999 =
30,886
28,072 +
652 =
28,724
Below are enlarged images of each district in this plan:
Alternative 1 - District 1
District 1: 28,669 +1152 = 29,821
Alternative 1 - District 2
District 2: 28,012 +2308 = 30,320
Alternative 1 - District 3
District 3: 26,887 + 3999 = 30,886
Alternative 1 - District 4
District 4: 28,072 + 652 = 28724
The estimated total population of the city factoring in the population impact of the new
developments would be 119,751 and the ideal population number per district would rise
to 29,938. The overall deviation of the hypothetical districts including the impact of the
new developments would be slightly under 7%
Of course without knowing what additional developments may be approved and built
throughout the decade and in which districts those developments may occur there is no
way to estimate whether the plan would still be within acceptable overall deviation
parameters at the end of the decade. All that can be said with confidence is that the
proposed deviation of the plan at approximately 6.2% (not factoring in new
developments) is within the safe harbor provisions set forth in the case law and is
therefore constitutionally acceptable.
2) Alternative 2 Plan Factoring Development Considerations with
Annexation Area in District 3
This plan was also developed with an attempt to factor in planned developments as
provided by the Clerk, but including the annex area (which has no population) in District
3. In this alternative, we moved the census block with two developments in the northern
area of District 3 into District 4. This movement and the additional boundary shifts in the
southern portions between these two districts to re-balance population, created a more
jagged boundary between Districts 3 and 4. We also shifted the boundary between
District 1 and District 2 further east to move a development into District 1.
The graphic depiction of the plan is shown below in Figure 4 below:
Figure 4
Without accounting for the population impacts of the new developments, the plan has an
overall deviation of slightly less than 1.2% The districts would have the following
population based on the most recent census:
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
27,835 28,055 27,725 28,025
(Ideal population: 27,910)
Factoring in the population impacts of the new developments, after full development and
occupancy of the expected units, the hypothetical districts would result in the following
estimated population:
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
27,835 +
1152 =
28,987
28,055 +
2308 =
30,363
27,725 +
1420 =
29,145
28,025+
3231 =
31,256
The estimated total population of the city, factoring in the population impact of the new
developments would also be approximately 119,751 and the ideal population number per
district would rise to approximately 29,938. After factoring in development impacts, the
plan would have an overall deviation of approximately 7.2%.
The following pages depict the enlarged images of each district in this plan:
Alternative 2 - District 1
27,835 + 1152 = 28,987
Alternative 2 - District 2
28,055 + 2308 = 30,363
Alternative 2 - District 3
27,725 + 1420 = 29,145
Alternative 2 - District 4
28,025 + 3231 = 31,256
Again, without knowing what additional developments may be approved and built throughout
the decade and in which districts those developments may occur, there is no way to estimate
whether the plan would still be within acceptable overall deviation parameters at the end of the
decade.
However, while Alternative 2 is somewhat less compact, it creates districts with a much lower
overall deviation and the development impacts still maintain the overall deviation of the districts
below the 10% threshold at approximately 7.2%, which is nearly equal to Alternative 1’s
performance after factoring development impacts.
In summary, we have provided a plan with minimal deviation for the Council’s consideration.
Because the goal of that plan is to create districts which are even in population as reported by the
Census, we did not factor the impact of new developments in that plan.
However, consistent with the directives of the Council, we have also provided two plans which do
factor in the impact of known developments with somewhat different configurations to
respectively include the recently annexed area in District 2 or District 3. For the two alternatives,
we tried to make the least changes necessary to re-balance the population while at the same time
factoring in the impact of new developments that the City is aware of at this time.
After the Council has had an opportunity to review this report and the several plans, the next step
in the process is to have a public meeting at which the Council can chose a preferred plan and
direct your consultant to make any additional changes, if any, it wishes to see in its preferred
plan. Keep in mind that any changes to a specific district results in changes to the overall deviation,
and will impact other Districts in the plan that may need to shed or acquire residents in order to
re-balance the population within constitutional parameters.
I look forward to your thoughtful deliberation and discussion at the upcoming public meeting.