(A) A Redistricting Committee of consisting of nine members, one from each Council District, is hereby created. Committee members shall be electors and residents of the district represented. In addition, there shall be nine alternate members of the Committee, one from each Council District, who are electors and residents of the district represented. Each Councillor shall appoint the Committee member and alternate from his or her district. Each alternate may attend and participate in all meetings and functions of the Committee, but may not vote on any question, except that at a meeting at which a regular member is absent the alternate from the absented member's district may vote.
(B) The members and alternate members of the Redistricting Committee attached to Resolution No. 26-2001 as "Exhibit A" are hereby approved.
(C) The task of this Committee is to use the population data from the official 2000 U. S. Census along with any other pertinent information to make a report recommending changes in the Council District boundaries that the Committee decides are necessary and or desirable, taking into account the following considerations:
(1) The necessity to comply with constitutional principles governing voting rights, population and other related factors;
(2) Minimization of changes in existing Council boundaries;
(3) The desirability of Council Districts that are relatively compact with as few geometric extremes as possible; and
(4) Adherence to existing precinct boundary lines.
(D) The Committee shall be provided staff support from Council Services, the City Attorney and the State of New Mexico's consultant on redistricting to carry out the tasks outlined in this legislation.
(E) The Committee shall make every effort to send its final recommendations to the Council by May 2001.
(Res. 26-2001, approved 2-16-01)