1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/12/2010 10:48am
A bill for an act
relating to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis; providing for two
members appointed by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, on the
Minneapolis redistricting commission; establishing standards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
Notwithstanding chapter 1, section 3, of the home rule charter of the city of
Minneapolis, the Board of Education of Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, may
appoint two members to serve on the Minneapolis redistricting commission to replace the
two members of the commission appointed by the majority and minority caucuses of the
city council for the purpose of determining the redistricting of Special School District No.
1, Minneapolis Board of Education districts.
new text end
new text begin
The two members appointed by the school board shall participate with the other
appointed members of the redistricting commission, except city council appointees, to
determine the redistricting of school board districts. School board appointees shall not
sit in considering the redistricting of city council ward boundaries. The redistricting
commission may adopt necessary procedures to ensure full participation by school board
appointees in its process.
new text end
new text begin
Within the time specified in chapter 1, section 3, and chapter 16, section 1, of the
home rule charter of the city of Minneapolis, the redistricting commission shall set the
boundaries of the school board districts in accordance with the following standards:
new text end
new text begin
(1) The ideal population for each district shall be determined by dividing the total
population of the school district by six. In no case shall any district, when readjusted, have
a population more than five percent over or under the ideal population.
new text end
new text begin
(2) Each district shall consist of contiguous compact territory not more than twice
as long as it is wide. The existence of a lake within a district shall not be contrary to
this provision. Whenever possible, district boundary lines shall follow the center line of
streets, avenues, alleys, and boulevards and as nearly as practicable, shall run due east and
west or north and south.
new text end
new text begin
(3) To the extent possible, each newly drawn district shall retain the same numerical
designation as the previously existing district from which the newly drawn district
received the largest portion of its population.
new text end
new text begin
(4) The districts must not dilute the voting strength of racial or language minority
populations. Where a concentration of a racial or language minority makes it possible, the
districts must increase the probability that members of the minority will be elected.
new text end
new text begin
(5) The districts should attempt to preserve communities of interest where that can
be done in compliance with the preceding standards.
new text end
new text begin
(6) Population shall be determined by use of the official population, as stated by
census tracts and blocks in the official United States Census. Whenever it is necessary
to modify census data in fixing a district boundary, the redistricting commission may
compute the population of any part by use of other pertinent data or may have a special
enumeration made of any block or blocks using the standards of the United States Census.
If the population of any block or blocks is so determined, the redistricting commission
may assume that the remainder of the census tract has the remaining population shown by
the census. In every such case, the determination of the redistricting commission as to
population shall be conclusive, unless clearly contrary to the census.
new text end
new text begin
Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day after Special School District No. 1,
Minneapolis, complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3.
new text end