ITEM TITLE:
#21-38 - Supporting Adoption of the Alaska Redistricting Board Proposed House District 36 Boundaries as Depicted in the Draft Composite Redistricting Plan Version 1 and 2 Maps Published on September 9, 2021 (Item Postponed from the City Council Special Meeting on September 21, 2021)
SUBMITTED BY: Jake Staser, City Attorney
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve resolution # 21-38
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Alaska Constitution tasks the Alaska Redistricting Board with drawing new state legislative districts every ten years when the census of the United States is completed.
Alaska’s resident population determined by the 2020 census is 733,391, which means the target population for each of Alaska’s 40 House districts will be 18,335 for the current redistricting cycle.
The Alaska Constitution requires that new districts meet four criteria: compactness, contiguity, socio-economic integration, and equality of population (definitions of each criteria available here: <http://www.akredistrict.org/mapping-criteria>). Any recommended map drawings will be evaluated by the Alaska Redistricting Board using these requirements.
During a public hearing on September 7, 2021, the Alaska Redistricting Board provided direction to third-party map submitters that their map plans for presentation on September 17, 2021 must be submitted to board staff for review no later than noon on September 15, 2021.
During the September 7, 2021 regular Valdez City Council meeting, Council expressed interest in holding a special meeting on September 14, 2021 to develop a map recommendation for submission prior to the September 15th deadline.
During a public meeting on September 9, 2021, the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted two Proposed Redistricting Plans: Board Composite v.1 and Board Composite v.2 (both versions attached and also available online here: <http://www.akredistrict.org/map-gallery>).
Both Proposed Redistricting Plan versions have Valdez incorporated in a different, large rural district (district 36), which is drawn north along the Richardson Highway and encompasses land around/north of the Fairbanks area. (The current 2013 district boundary map is attached for comparison purposes).
The attached resolution provides Council a place to start discussion during the special meeting and does not necessarily reflect a specific staff recommendation. Amendments may/should be made to both the resolution language and the map attachments as Council determines necessary.
City administration also received the attached (draft) letter from the executive director of the Prince William Sound Economic Development District on September 9, 2021. The contents of the (draft) letter may or may not align with Council preferences regarding redistricting recommendations. The letter is being provided as part of this packet for awareness and consideration during Council discussion.