By Andrea Kobrin
Co-chair Local Government Committee
Time has almost run out for members of the public to submit redistricting proposals for the six districts that make up the Orange County Board of County Commissioners.
At the Aug. 24 Redistricting Advisory Committee meeting, chairman Derek Bruce, outlined a “roadmap” for the panel’s next five weeks. Proposals have to be submitted to the county commission by Oct. 1.
Bruce said that 10 proposals had been submitted by RAC members and three by the general public. The deadline for submitting proposals is Wednesday, Aug. 31 but in order to avoid violating Government in the Sunshine Laws proposals will need to be submitted by Friday, Aug. 26.
At its Sept. 7 meeting, Bruce said, the RAC will begin winnowing down the proposals in order to come up with its final recommendations to the county commission.
The Wednesday meeting drew many of the same speakers who have made their cases for remaining in one district or another since the committee began meeting in early April. Six of the meetings were public hearings held in the various districts.
Based on the 2010 Census figures, the committee has to reduce population in districts 1 and 4 and increase the figures in districts 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Residents of Orlo Vista pleaded to be in District 1 and not District 6. Hispanic representatives pushed their case for an Hispanic minority/majority district, representatives of Hunters Creek asked to be left in District 1, which is about 60,000 above the population target, residents of Pine Hills called for leaving the area north of Silver Star Road in District 2 and not putting all of Pine Hills in District 6, Wedgefield and Christmas residents asked to be left in District 5.
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