 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Districts redrawn to reflect census
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG -- Since his election two years ago, City Council member John Bryan has lamented the lack of amenities in his north St. Petersburg district. During debates over city services, he often reminds colleagues that the area he represents has no parks, no recreation centers, not even a library. The complaint may have been an effective bargaining tool, but it's a strategy Bryan may soon have to relinquish. Under a plan now being considered by the council, Bryan's district would be redrawn to include a golf course and two baseball fields. Under the city's charter, the council must redraw its district boundaries every 10 years after updated census data are released. All eight districts would change under the plan, which will be formally presented to council members at their next meeting May 1. A vote is scheduled for May 15. The differences aren't dramatic, but they will be noticeable to many of the registered voters who plan to participate in the city's Sept. 23 primary. For example, council member Bill Foster would lose Harbor Isle, but retain Snell Isle and Fossil Park. Virginia Littrell will lose portions of downtown but pick up additional neighborhoods in the northeast section of the city. Bryan's area would shrink geographically, while Rene Flowers' Midtown district would grow. Dave Goodwin, assistant director of development services, said the biggest changes will be in Midtown, where the districts will be expanded due to a large drop in population since the 1990 census. "The goal is to have the same number of people in each council district. Of course, that's virtually impossible," he said. However, city officials try not to allow more than a 2 percent population difference between districts, Goodwin added. Also, Districts 6 and 7 are drawn so that each has a majority of minority voters, a self-imposed guideline the city traditionally honors. "We want the mix on the City Council to reflect the diversity of the community," Goodwin said. Council members have been working with city staff members to create the proposed redistricting plan over the past six months. The new districts would only affect voting in the primary; the general council election is open to voters throughout the city. Assistant City Attorney Mark Winn said the council must approve the new plan by the end of May to implement the changes in time for the next election. Under city law, districts can't be changed within four months of an election, he said. Registered voters will be notified of the change by the Supervisor of Elections Office after the plan is final. After rejecting six previous drafts, most City Council members seem satisfied with the current plan. -- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 892-2273 or cjohnson@sptimes.com
.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks | ||||||||||||||||||||||
