Not later than December 15, 1992, the Mayor shall, with the consent of Council, appoint an Apportionment Board consisting of six (6) electors of the City of Toledo. Two (2) of the six (6) members shall be of the same political party affiliation as the party receiving the most votes for governor at the preceding gubernatorial election within the City of Toledo. Two (2) of the six (6) members shall be of the same political party affiliation as the party receiving the second most votes for governor at the preceding gubernatorial election within the City of Toledo. No more than two members of the Board may be of the same political party affiliation. The Mayor shall appoint, from among the members of the Board a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary; and shall appoint a replacement for any Board members that are unable to complete their terms.
The term of the Board shall be for a period of six (6) months or until completion of the apportionment process, whichever is longer. The members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
The Board shall meet upon the call of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or any four (4) members thereof, and shall adopt rules regulating its deliberations. The Board shall meet not less than monthly. All meetings of the Board shall be in compliance with the applicable provisions of the open public meeting laws of the State of Ohio. The Board shall provide members of the public with a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the subject of apportionment. All books, records, papers, and other information obtained or produced by the Board shall be public records of the City, and shall be retained under the supervision of the Clerk of Council.
The Board shall have the power to employ such experts, consultants, and other staff as authorized by appropriate legislation, all of whom shall not be deemed employees of the City but independent contractors. The Mayor shall arrange for suitable accommodations to facilitate the duties of the Board.
The purpose of the Board shall be to review in detail the demographic characteristics of the City and establish a plan of apportionment by a vote of not less than five (5) of its six (6) members, apportioning the City into six (6) districts, as nearly equal in population as possible based upon the most recent federal census. All districts shall be bounded, as far as practicable, by county lines, wards, streets, alleys, lot lines, avenues, public grounds, canals, watercourses, municipal corporation lines, center lines of platted streets, or railroads, and shall be composed of adjacent and compact territory. The Board shall prepare periodic reports to the Mayor and Council summarizing its activities, in order that the Mayor, the Council and the public shall be informed.
Not later than May 15, 1993, and thereafter by May 15 of the first odd numbered year following the federal census, the Board shall complete its apportionment of the City and file its plan with the Clerk of Council unless barred by circumstances beyond the control of said Board. In any event, the Board shall complete its apportionment process within fifteen (15) days after the proclamation by the Secretary of State of the population of the cities of Ohio, or June 15 of that year, whichever is later. In the event that additional territory is annexed to the City during the interim period between Apportionment Boards, the territory shall become part of the most adjacent district or districts by adoption of appropriate legislation until the next formal reapportionment of the City.
In the event that the Board fails or refuses to adopt a reapportionment plan by the above- stated deadlines, the Director of Law shall forthwith take legal action necessary in a court of competent jurisdiction in order to accomplish the lawful apportionment of the City in furtherance of the constitutional rights of the electors.
(Added by electors 11-3-92)