Agenda - 03-21-2006-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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z 4) some limited boundaries and statistical information showing the population distribution as it may relate to the consideration/formulation of district representation for Orange County. The report was intended to provide an initial framework of information upon which the Board of Commissioners could deliberate and determine as appropriate any further steps in evaluating this issue and responding to the request and petition submitted, The Board then pursued a series of meetings over the past nine months. Those meetings included two public hearings, one on August 24 and the other on August 31, 2005, to receive input from the public on this issue, The Board then discussed, at an October 17, 2005 work session, five initial draft maps/plans, an introductory preamble, a draft set of Principles, and a draft Process/Timetable. From that meeting, the Board scheduled and conducted a public hearing at its November 2, 2005 regular meeting on three of the initial draft maps/plans, The next discussion occurred at the Board's November 15, 2005 regular meeting. At that meeting, the Board determined that it would like to invest more time at a work session for specific discussion of the issues and possibilities associated with the district election of commissioners. The Board did approve a motion at the meeting ".,.[to] pursue a district election system and have a referendum in the general election of 2006 on the map that the Board of Commissioners adopt." The Board also briefly discussed district elections at the January 20, 2006 BOCC Retreat as part of the "Priorities" review, and members of the Board indicated an interest in reaching a conclusion on district elections discussions with two additional meetings, if possible, At a February 16, 2006 work session, the Board: 1) decided there would be a total of 5 members on the Board in a district plan submitted to the voters; 2) determined the district map/plan would be the one designated as "Proposal 5", with one member from District 1 (all of the County except Chapel Hill Township); two members from District 2 (encompassing Chapel Hill Township); and two At-Large members; 3) decided that members elected from District 1 and District 2 must reside in their respective District, but the qualified voters of the entire County would nominate all candidates for and elect all members of the Board; 4) confirmed that a referendum on "Proposal 5" along with related items would occur in November 2006 (As noted above, the Board, at its November 15, 2005 regular meeting, had already determined to have "a referendum in the general election of 2006 on the map and plan that the Board of Commissioners adopt'; 5) confirmed that implementation of the district election plan for the Board of County Commissioners, with the approval of County voters in November 2006, would begin with the 2008 Primary Election, At the March 2, 2006 BOCC regular meeting, the Board received public comment on Proposal ,5 and other items related to district elections, It was contemplated that the March 2, 2006 meeting would also provide the Board with an opportunity to consider and give direction to staff and the County Attorney concerning the content of a resolution for the call of a referendum on a change in the way members of the Board of Commissioners are elected, However, because of the amount of time devoted to public comment and the fact that Commissioner Foushee could not attend the March 2, 2006 meeting, the review, consideration and direction did not occur. Tonight's meeting provides the opportunity for Board review, consideration, and decisions as the Board determines appropriate.