WS Minutes - Redistricting 2024.07.301
PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024
6:02 P.M.
The Prattville City Council held a W ork Session on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 6:02 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at City Hall.
Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as present with the exception of Councilor Striplin.
Council President Boone declared a quorum and called the Work Session to order.
Mayor Bill Gillespie, Jr. was recorded as being present, in addition to the following staff: City
Attorney Andrew Odom, City Planner Scott Stephens, City Clerk Paula G. Barlow and Assistant
City Clerk Loucretia Harrell. Also present was Nathan Willingham, consultant representing
Slaughter and Associates, PLLC.
Council President Boone opened the Work Session inviting City Planner Scott Stephens and
City Attorney Andrew Odom to introduce the consultant and opening remarks. Mr. Stephens
stated the 2020 U.S. Census released on April 1, 2020, calculated the City of Prattville
residences at 37,781 compared to the 2010 Census of 33,960 residences, a difference of 3,821
or an 11% increase in population over the ten (10) year period. Mr. Stephens discussed the
Benchmark Plan distributing the total population amongst the seven districts giving an ideal
population of 5,397 per district, with the goal of every district being plus or minus 5%. Mr.
Stephens continued stating that current numbers reflect the highest District as 3 and the lowest
District as 2 with every district excluding 7 being outside of the 5% range currently due to the
growth of Prattville. Since the Benchmark Plan provided by Mr. Willingham, a series of drafts
have been provided with the most recent being discussed tonight. Mr. Stephens stated we are
still in the process of redistricting, nothing has been decided. He further advised that a map
received from a member of the public has been incorporated into the Alternate Plan 2 map.
Mr. Odom discussed the timeline and dates leading up to the W ork Session. On December 19,
2023, the City Council adopted the Redistricting Guidelines and Milestones and on February
20, 2024, the Council entered in the contract with Slaughter and Associates and on March 19,
2024, the Benchmark Plan was started. Mr. Odom continued stating that on April 9, 2024, the
first Public Hearing was held followed by Alternate Plan 1, a second Public Hearing on June
25, 2024, and currently we are conducting a Work Session for Alternate Plan 2. Mr. Odom
advised there was still the presenting the final draft map and council adoption on the timeline.
Mr. Odom referenced the milestone listed in the December 19,2024, Resolution to further detail
the timeline. Endeavor to engage a consultant and cartographer by December 19, 2023, which
was done on February 20, 2024. Present a draft plan by April 16, 2024, that was done on May
14, 2024. To complete the Redistricting process by July 23, 2024, and we are now at July
30,2024. In reference with Councilor Jackson questions of when this needed to be adopted by,
Mr. Odom referenced §11-46-23 Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended, stating 3 months prior
to an election. Mr. Odom advised completing this process will assist candidates with being
familiar with the new boundary lines in order to campaign and know who is on the voters list
for each district.
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Councilor Jackson inquired about the specific Code for a timeline and asked for clarification
based on the one-year goal of August previously passed to have the Redistricting completed.
Mr. Willingham informed the Council that his goal is to provide plans that will satisfy the
residents as well as the Council. Mr. Willingham discussed providing plans that are sound and
provide equal representation. Mr. Willingham further informed the Council he has the
Redistricting software used to generate the current plans and that could allow them to make
and see the process of calculating of blocks, percentages and configuration of different
variables as they are input.
Council President Boone began the session by addressing the timeline. She informed the
Council that Governor Ivey added a fifth year to the current quadrennium and without this the
City would be currently conducting elections and the redistricting would have had to have been
completed last year. Councilor Boone noted that in June 2021, City staff started the process
on redistricting and on September 6, 2022, at the request of Councilor Jackson, all Councilor’s
voted to postpone the redistricting ordinance and allow the Supreme Court to litigate all
Redistricting disputes. Council President Boone stated the Probate Judge will need this
information 6 to 9 months in advance to be able to enter and verify each address and verify
street files. She continued by stating the goal of having the finalized map to the Probate Office
by August 2024, with the election being August 26, 2025, to give enough time to have
everything completed and in place by the absolute deadline of May 26, 2025, affirming ideally
the only way to make this work for the Probate Office would be having this process completed
no later than November 2024. Council President Boone continued by stating in addition,
candidates may begin raising campaign funds for the upcoming election August 26, 2024, and
in order to fairly prepare for a campaign, Councilors/Candidates must know which areas
encompasses their district. She expressed the importance of establishing and meeting this
timeline and expectations. Council President Boone opened the floor for opening comments
from the Council.
Councilor Jackson spoke on his concerns of keeping the majority/minority district and having
representation on the Council.
Councilor Chambers thanked everyone in attendance as the Redistricting process is being
worked through and on being fair to all Council members, constituents as well as any other
candidates as well as having materials needed for Probate completed in a timely manner.
Councilor Merrick thanked everyone in attendance and expressed this being new for everyone
and is being taken seriously to ensure what is best.
Councilor Whaley thanked the public and everyone who gave their input and submitted plans.
He discussed learning throughout the process and understanding the different district
makeups.
Councilor Strichik discussed his concerns in changes to streets in his district compared to what
it has been in the past. He commented on loss and gain of residents and understanding
change.
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Council President Boone made a comparison of this process to building a home. After living
with the plans, you begin to make little changes and that is what is happening after looking over
the proposed map, the Councilors will be looking over or asking questions.
Mayor Gillespie gave his appreciation on how serious and important the Council is taking the
Redistricting process along with City staff and citizens.
The Council discussed likes and dislikes of Alternate Plan 2 with Mr. Willingham. They looked
into proposed changes and asked questions regarding neighborhoods being split and census
blocks. The Council had discussion on changes to boundary lines and the numeric balances.
In closing Mayor Gillespie thanked the Council and expressed the importance of getting the
needed information to the two different counties to input the necessary data. Mr. Willingham
thanked the Council and the public for their input. Mr. Odom thanked the Council and discussed
the education and learning behind the scenes needed to understand the process. He also
thanked those who participated and gave input during the process. Mr. Stephen commented
that will maps can be found on http://prattvilleal.gov/redistricting-2024.
Council President Boone adjourned the Work Session at 7:45 p.m.
APPROVED:
Paula G. Barlow
City Clerk
Lora Lee Boone, President
Prattville City Council
SUBMITTED BY:
Loucretia Harrell
Assistant City Clerk