TO: Assembly President Tim Navarre

Members of the Assembly

FROM: Borough Clerk Linda Murphy

DATE: January 15, 2001

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2001-02

Last year, the Legislature amended Alaska Statutes Title 29 to provide for Assembly reapportionment following the adoption of the state's redistricting plan under Article VI, Section 10, of the State Constitution. Ordinance 2001-02 will amend the Borough Code to reflect these changes in state law.

The State Redistricting Board should receive final census figures from the Census Bureau in March. The Board will then have 90 days in which to adopt a final state redistricting plan. Within 60 days of final adoption of the Plan, the Borough Assembly must declare whether or not the Borough Assembly is malapportioned. If the Borough finds that the Assembly is malapportioned, one or more new apportionment plans must be submitted to the voters at the October election.

Practically speaking, the Borough Assembly should be able to make a determination with respect to apportionment once we receive the final census numbers in March. President Navarre could then appoint a Reapportionment Committee to begin work on developing one or more new apportionment plans prior to final adoption of the state plan. Once the state plan is adopted, the Borough Reapportionment Committee would have another 30 days or so to refine its plan (or plans) for presentation to the Assembly. The Assembly must approve the plan or plans to be submitted to the voters no later than August 7, 2001 in order to have this proposition on the October ballot.

If the State's final plan is appealed, it is possible that this time line for approval of the Borough's reapportionment plan will change. I have asked the Borough Attorney to look at this issue. Ms. Thompson and I will be preparing a calendar outlining the steps to be taken by the Assembly and the time frame for completion of each step. We hope to present this calendar to you at Tuesday's meeting.