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An ordinance approving and adopting a plan for redistricting the Councilmanic Districts of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and revising the school districts pursuant to Article 18, Section 18.06 of the Metropolitan Charter.
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WHEREAS, Article 18, Section 18.06 of the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, provided in part, as follows:
Within six (6) months after the decennial census of 1970 and each one thereafter is published by the United States Census Bureau showing the population in the area of the metropolitan government, it shall be the duty of the planning commission to recommend to the council whether redistricting of the councilmanic districts is necessary to prevent substantial underrepresentation of particular areas as the result of population changes. If the planning commission shall recommend that redistricting is necessary, it shall also submit a proposed ordinance designed to accomplish its recommendation. Such ordinance shall also revise the school districts to the extent, if any, that may be deemed necessary. The council shall not amend, but may adopt without change such proposed ordinance. Upon approval thereof by the mayor, or passage over his veto, redistricting shall be accomplished and district councilmembers shall be elected accordingly at the next general metropolitan election; and,
WHEREAS, the decennial census of 2020, which included voting age population data relevant to the next councilmanic election to be held in August 2023, was published by the United State Census Bureau on August 12, 2021, showing substantial underrepresentation of certain areas of the Metropolitan Government, said publications being on file with the Metropolitan Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, in order to avoid substantial underrepresentation of certain areas of the Metropolitan Government and to conform with the mandate of the United States Supreme Court and the Voting Rights Act, the Planning Commission, pursuant to Section 18.06 of the Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, has recommended redistricting of the councilmanic districts, said recommendations being in the form of a resolution (Planning Commission Resolution RS2021-321 attached hereto), and has prepared a plan for such redistricting; and
WHEREAS, Article 18, Section 18.06, of the Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, states that such ordinance revising the councilmanic districts shall also revise the school districts to the extent, if any, that may be deemed necessary, and such revision is so deemed by the Planning Commission to be necessary;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1: That the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County does hereby adopt the plan of redistricting the councilmanic districts of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, as recommended by the Metropolitan Planning Commission, from and after the effective date of this Ordinance, and the description of the Metropolitan Councilmanic Districts, numbering thirty-five (35), shall be both by Census geography and by pictorial map as described in the Planning Commission's Resolution RS2021-321, said descriptions being attached hereto and incorporated herein in full by reference.
Section 2: That the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, pursuant to Article 9, Section 9.02 of the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, does hereby adopt the plan for revising the school districts of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, as recommended by the Planning Commission, from and after the effective date of this Ordinance, and the description of the Metropolitan school districts, numbering nine (9), shall be both by Census geography and by pictorial map as described in the Planning Commission's Resolution RS2021-321, said descriptions being attached hereto and incorporated herein in full by reference.
Section 3: Pursuant to the Charter of the Metropolitan Government, Section 18. 06, district council members shall be elected according to the redistricting plan in Section 1 at the next general metropolitan elections.
Section 4: Pursuant to the Charter of the Metropolitan Government, Section 9.02, the members of the Metropolitan Board of Public Education shall be elected according to the redistricting plan in Section 2 at the next general election and future general elections as determined by the expiration of their terms of office.
Section 5: This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance adopts a new redistricting plan for the council districts and school board districts as required by the Metropolitan Charter. Section 18.06 of the Charter provides that within six months after the decennial census is published by the U.S. Census Bureau showing the population in the area of the Metropolitan Government, it is the duty of the Planning Commission to recommend to the Council whether there has been substantial under-representation of particular areas as a result of population changes. The decennial census of 2020 was published on August 12, 2021, and showed substantial underrepresentation of the current council districts and school board districts. The planning department prepared three version of a redistricting plan, held public meetings, and solicited feedback online regarding the plans. The Planning Commission approved the planning staff’s recommendation, with amendments, on December 9, 2021.
The redistricting plan proposed by the planning commission accomplishes the necessary redistricting to assure population representation so as to provide for the required "one person, one vote." The council may adopt or reject this plan, but the plan may not be amended. In the event the council rejects the plan it may adopt its own plan and submit the council plan, together with the plan forwarded by the planning commission, to a referendum vote.