BEAG Meeting Summary 032521 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 8. Discussion on Various Information Requests Group discussion moved to the information provided by staff in follow-up to requests from the February 25, 2021 Group meeting. Brian Carson highlighted Orange County population and demographic information for the period 1980 to 2010, estimated Orange County population and demographic information for the period 2010 to 2020, and mapping related to Orange County Precincts, Electoral District, Census Blocks. Mr. Wilder briefly discussed some additional population and demographic information, and also detailed population, demographics, and budget information from Orange County Schools (OCS) and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). He also noted Recent and Planned Development Activity information that had been provided with the agenda package and expressed appreciation to the County's Planning staff for compiling that information. Mr. Wilder then referenced the "Election Methods for 100 North Carolina Counties" document from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) and noted that Mr. Carson had developed the map that was provided based on the list from NCACC. Group Co-Chair Hazirjian expressed appreciation for the map of the NC counties and asked which counties required NC General Assembly legislative action for their voting methods. County Attorney Roberts shared that he could not specifically identify which counties required legislative action, but noted that all the counties that aligned with the the four methods outlined in the NC General Statutes would not have required specific General Assembly action. Group Member Bremer noted that this topic had been confusing as part of her work on redistricting research, and that Orange County was one of the few in the state that utilized the districts nomination/at large general election method. She also referenced a chart she was working on that summarized election methods. Mr. Wilder noted an article provided in the agenda package, "Redistricting for Local Governments After the 2000 Census", by Robert Joyce with the UNC School Government. Mr. Wilder noted that Group Member Bremer had recommended the Group members review the article by Mr. Joyce and that Mr. Joyce might be a potential speaker to the Group, as well as Rebecca Tippett with the Carolina Demography Center. Group Member Bremer noted that she was not necessarily pushing Mr. Joyce as a speaker, rather as something for the Group to consider as possibly useful. Group Member Jenkins noted that it might be useful to hear from him, and County Attorney Roberts stated that Mr. Joyce is considered an elections law expert. Judge Bryan noted that inviting the speakers would be a discussion topic for the Co- Chairs for the next Group meeting