City of Jacksonville

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thursday, April 22, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Thursday, May 27, 2021, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thursday, June 10, 2021, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
NOTE: The Meeting ID and Passcode are the same for all the meeting dates.
 
The meetings will be held in the Jacksonville City Council Chambers, located at 117 West Duval Street, Jacksonville, Florida. The Committee Members (3) quorum will need to be present in person, but other members may attend utilizing Communications Media Technology (CMT). The meeting will discuss topics related to the background and charge of the Committee and any other items noted on the meeting agenda or the Chair's discretion. 2021Redistricting@coj.net is the designated email for comments to be included as a part of this meeting.
 
 
Background:
Whenever the Council President deems appropriate, but not more than six months after the official date for taking the decennial census (April 1, 2020), the Council President shall appoint a special committee or designate a standing committee to serve as a Redistricting Committee.
 
Charter Sections 5.02 and 13.03 impose upon the Council the duty and responsibility of redistricting the Council districts and the School Board districts. The Council is obligated to ensure that all districts are as nearly equal in population and are arranged in a logical and compact geographical pattern as possible to achieve compliance with federal and state laws. The geographical arrangement and territorial boundaries must take into consideration other factors, particularly compactness and contiguity, so that residents of the City and their varied economic, social and ethnic interests and objectives are adequately represented in the configuration of Council and the School Board districts.
 
Charge:

1. Selection of Redistricting Consultant

The Redistricting Committee shall investigate possible persons or entities, including the Planning and Development Department (PDD), qualified to serve as a Redistricting Consultant, which may be sent out as a request for proposals. After its investigation, the Redistricting Committee shall present to the Council the names of the persons or entities recommended to be chosen as the Redistricting Consultant, based on their professional qualifications and experience in redistricting.
 
If a consultant other than the PDD is chosen, the Redistricting Committee shall follow Chapter 126, Ordinance Code, the City’s Procurement Code. The final selection of the Redistricting Consultant shall be approved by Council.
 
In order to meet the 30-day deadline for submission of a proposed plan, discussed in c) below, the Redistricting Committee must work with the selected consultant well in advance in order to establish the City’s assumptions, ground rules and expectations in a proposed plan. The consultant must have received the City’s “marching orders” from your committee and be ready to work on various plan proposals as soon as the final Census date is certified (by March 31, 2021).
 

2. Obtain Legally Permissible Considerations for Redistricting in accordance with state, federal and case law

The Redistricting Committee will hear from the Office of General Counsel about the criteria and analysis consistent with the current status of federal law and court precedents that will determine what rules must be followed in developing legally defensible districts and the Redistricting Committee will develop guidelines based off of these legal considerations.
 

3. Schedule for Preparation of Plan to be Submitted to Council

The Redistricting Committee shall adopt a schedule for preparation of a plan and present the plan to Council. This plan must be submitted by the Redistricting Committee to Council within 30 days after the U.S. Census data is certified, which is scheduled to occur by March 31, 2021. The redistricting consultant or PDD shall begin drawing alternative proposals in early 2021 using guidelines for new districts supplied by the Redistricting Committee and preliminary census data that usually becomes available later in the year the Census is taken. By spring 2021, the consultant or PDD will produce the final proposed map(s) for presentation to the Redistricting Committee.
 

4. Reapportionment Committees Present a Plan to the Rules Committee and City Council

Within 150 days after the U.S. Bureau of the Census certification of the final population count for the City (before August 28, 2021), the Redistricting Committee will submit its final proposed plan to Council, in the form of an ordinance that will be referred to the Rules Committee.
 
The Redistricting Committee shall have available alternative plans considered but not recommended for review by Council. If the PDD is not selected as the Redistricting Consultant, the PDD shall serve to advise the Council and the Redistricting Committee as to matters related to the process.
 
The meeting noticed herein can be accessed virtually through the Zoom.US- computer application or in-person at Council Chambers. Council Members, City staff and the public may attend the meeting at the physical location- Council Chambers, but CDC guidelines will be adhered to due to COVID-19. A mandatory mask requirement is in place for all public buildings pursuant to the COJ Emergency Executive Proclamation 2020-005, as extended. The public will be encouraged to share general comments with individual Council Members by email or telephone. 2021Redistricting@coj.net is the designated email for comments to be including as a part of this meeting.  
 
WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS THE MEETING:
 

1. Sign up for Zoom.  Type - Zoom.US – with Chrome Internet Browser.  Go to:  JOIN A MEETING On Dashboard Information regarding the Zoom meeting ID and meeting password is listed below:

 
Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 980 7971 5856     Passcode: 550441
 
(You can LISTEN to the meeting and VIEW the meeting this way.
 
ALL PARTICPANTS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION MUST LOG IN WITH (It would be helpful to identify bill to be addressed)
                Full Name – IE:  Cheryl L. Brown 2020-0200
 
2.  Watch it on your computer. Streaming site (or COJ streaming site):
 https://www.coj.net/city-council/city-council-meetings-online
 
3.  Joining a Zoom Meeting by phone:    

Dial:  1 646 568 7788 - Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 980 7971 5856
Passcode: 550441
            Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aH9Ihu8jm
 
WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS OR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ZOOM MEETING
           
1.  Refer to:  City of Jacksonville Citizen Guide to Council Meetings (Attached)
2.  Legal Name must appear on Zoom to be recognized by the Chair.
3.  DO NOT state your residence- address as this is not required in this forum – only state
      County and Zip Code
4.  Timeframe set by Chairman – No more than 3 minutes per speaker.
5.   The Timer will be viewable.  Must be in “Gallery View” to see countdown; Sort those in
       meeting by going to “Participant” and typing in Timer.
6. Chairman will “ONLY” call on speakers using the ELECTRONIC “RAISE HAND”
    feature located within the Zoom App.   This feature is found- Click on “Participants” scroll to the bottom click on “Raise Hand” … wait to be recognized.  (Must have a Microphone, Video, and Speakers to participate with the function.)

INSTRUCTIONS: JOINING A MEETING BY DIAL-IN PHONE ONLY

1. Dial numbers provided above.  If you dial a toll number, your carrier rates will apply.
2. You will be prompted to enter the meeting ID – the Meeting ID: 980 7971 5856     Passcode: 550441
3. If the meeting has not already started and join before host is not enabled, you will be prompted to press # to wait if you are participant.
4. You will be prompted to enter your unique participant ID. This only applies if you have joined on the computer or mobile device or are a panelist in a webinar. Press # to skip.

If you join by computer or mobile device later, you can enter the Participant ID to bind your phone and device session together and show your video when you speak on the phone. To enter your participant ID once you are in the meeting, enter #Participant ID# on your phone.

PHONE CONTROLS FOR DIAL-IN PHONE ONLY PARTICIPANTS
The following commands can be entered via phone tones using your phone's dial pad while in a Zoom meeting:

• *6 - Toggle mute/unmute (While this is a function that is available the mute and unmute function will be controlled by the Host not the participant. To speak, the participant must use the *9 function to be recognized.)
• *9 - Raise hand (Electronic Zoom feature that “Must” be used to be recognized by the Chairman to Speak)
• Refer to:  City of Jacksonville Citizen Guide to Council Meetings (Attached)
• Legal Name must appear on Zoom to be recognized by the Chair.
• DO NOT state your residence- address as this is not required in this forum – only state

 County and Zip Code

• Timeframe set by Chairman – No more than 3 minutes per speaker.
• Phone in participate will be informed of remaining time.
• Chairman will “ONLY” recognize or call on speakers using the ELECTRONIC “RAISE HAND” feature   located within the Zoom App *9 … wait to be recognized.  (Must have a Microphone and Speakers on phone to participate with the function.)

 
ADA and TDD ASSISTANCE
 
Pursuant to the American with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.  Please allow 1-2 business days’ notification to process; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to fulfill.  Please contact Disabled Services Division at: V- 904-255-5466, TTY-904-255-5476, or email your request to KaraT@coj.net.
 
All legislative inquires contact Jessica Matthews, Chief of Legislative Services at 904 255 5169 or JMatthews@coj.net.  Please contact Dr. Cheryl L Brown, Director/Council Secretary at CLBrown@coj.net  904 255 5193 or refer to the information provided with the notice for specific contact information and/or details.
 
Please refer to the Jacksonville City Council Webpage at https://www.coj.net/city-council/events for future meeting notices, cancellations and other notifications.
 
For general meeting information please contact Dr. Cheryl L Brown, Director/Council Secretary, at CLBrown@coj.net or Jessica Matthews, Chief of Legislative Services, at JMatthews@coj.net.