Bill Summary for S 897 (2015-2016)

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Summary date: 

Jun 22 2016

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2015-2016 Session
Senate Bill 897 (Local) Filed Wednesday, June 22, 2016
AN ACT TO PROVIDE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS FOR THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE.
Intro. by Apodaca.

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Bill summary

Amends the Charter of the City of Asheville, Section 6, Chapter 121, Private Laws of 1931 (as amended by city ordinances) as follows. 

Moves existing language into new subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e).

Provides that all city councilmembers are to be nominated and elected in the manner provided in the Charter (previously, all nominated and elected from the city at large in the manner provided in the Charter). Changes the years that staggered terms for councilmembers, as specified, are to begin. Provides that, commencing with the 2021 election (previously, the 1999 election), all terms of office for council members are to be four-year terms.

Adds new subsection (c) to require councilmembers to reside in and be elected from six separate districts delineated in Section 6, as amended. Provides that if Section 6 does not specifically assign any area within the City to a district and the area is entirely surrounded by a single district, then the area will be deemed to have been assigned to that district. Provides that if Section 6 does not specifically assign any area within the City to a district and the area is contiguous to one or more districts, then the area will be deemed to have been assigned to the district that contains the least population according to the most recent federal decennial Census. Provides that if Section 6 specifically assigns to a district any area that is not in the corporate limits of the City, that area is not added to the corporate limits and no voter that resides in that area may vote in the City election. Delineates the six districts.

Amends existing language concerning the mayor, moved to new subsection (d) by the act, to provide that the mayor of the City is to be nominated and elected from the city at large.

Directs that all members of the city council of Asheville elected in 2017 are to serve a two-year term.

Sets out that, notwithstanding Part 4 of Article 5 of GS Chapter 160A (modification of form of government in cities and towns) and GS 160A-23 (district map and reapportionment of corporate limits of cities and towns), the structure of the City of Asheville is not to be altered under Part 4 prior to the return of the 2020 Census.

Repeals SL 1969-165, which reduced the term of office of the Asheville City Council to two years.

Effective January 1, 2017, and applies to elections conducted on or after that date.