Agenda 06/22/2021 Item #11C (Establishing new Collier County Commission District Boundaries)06/22/2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve criteria for establishing new Collier County Commission
District boundaries, pursuant to Chapter 124, Florida Statutes, and the Florida
Constitution.
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OBJECTIVE: To obtain Board approval to use the below specified criteria to establish new
Collier County Commission District boundaries.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Constitution of the State of Florida, Article VIII, Section1.(e),
requires that, after each decennial census, the Board of Commissioners is to divide the County
into districts of contiguous territories as nearly equal in population as practicable, with one
Commissioner residing in each district elected as provided by law. Chapter 124, Florida Statutes,
also provides for more frequent redistricting to maintain population balance but provides that
redistricting shall only occur in odd-numbered years.
Traditionally, pursuant to Public Law 94-171, the United States Census Bureau would provide
population data to Florida counties in March of the year following the completion of the
decennial census. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic the State and County level
population data is not expected to be distributed until mid-August. While the data delay will
push the timeline for redistricting towards the latter portion of the year, in April 2021, the Board
approved staff’s proposed schedule for the redistricting process to be presented for adoption at
the Board’s December 14, 2021, public hearing.
The Census Bureau did provide an estimate of the County’s 2020 population at 392,973, which
is an increase of 71,453 persons over the 2010 population of 321,520. Staff does not anticipate
that the population increase was evenly allocated to the five districts, and expects that the data
will show that some districts grew at a faster and larger rate than others. The redistricting process
is designed to achieve population equity within the five districts, which would be 78,595 persons
per district based on the Census Bureau’s current estimated 2020 population. Once the final data
is released in August 2021, staff will identify the necessary increase or decrease adjustments that
must be made to achieve a lawful population distribution.
To comply with the Florida Constitution, and for the convenience of the electorate, staff
proposes the following four primary criteria be used for the purpose of redistricting, which is the
same criteria approved by the Board in 2011:
1. The population of each district should be as similar as possible.
2. All districts should be as compact and regularly shaped as feasible.
3. The incumbent Commissioner’s residence (and the same for School Board
members) must remain in his or her current district.
4. Consider racial and ethnic populations in accordance with the law.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prohibits denial or abridgement of the right to vote based on
race, color or minority language status including the opportunity to participate in the political
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process and elect representative of their choice. Section 2 further forbids creating election
districts that improperly dilute minorities’ voting power. Tactics commonly used to dilute
minority voting strength include:
1. Cracking - Dividing groups of people with the same or similar
characteristics into more than one district to diminish their ability to
elect a desired candidate.
2. Packing - Cramming large groups of people with the same
characteristics into the same or as few districts as possible to dilute their
voting strength elsewhere.
The 2011 redistricting was guided by additional criteria and staff is also requesting approval of
the four supplemental criteria stated below:
1. Any plan that has a retrogressive effect on minority voting strength
would be eliminated from further consideration.
2. Well-defined, easily recognizable, and major boundaries, such as rivers,
arterials and major roads, should be utilized when not in conflict with
other criteria.
3. Former district boundaries should generally be maintained when not in
conflict with other criteria.
4. Communities of interest, such as Golden Gate Estates, and neighborhood
integrity should be preserved when not in conflict with other criteria.
On July 27, 2021, County Staff will appear before the District School Board of Collier County
requesting agreement to draw coterminous district boundaries with the County Commission
District boundaries, and to request School District staff support, including language interpreters
to assist at redistricting public meetings, as similarly carried out during the 2011 redistricting.
Finally, as in past redistricting efforts, the Collier County Supervisor of Elections, Jennifer
Edwards, has made her staff available to provide technical support as needed.
Independent Review: Staff also plans to take an additional step to ensure compliance with the
constitutional and statutory requirements of redistricting, which the County authorized during the
2011 redistricting effort, by engaging a private sector law firm to provide an independent review
of the County’s redistricting process and final proposed district boundaries. Specifically, the firm
retained will:
1. Use GIS mapping techniques to ensure the data accuracy of map options
developed by the Comprehensive Planning Section.
2. Observe one community feedback session (public meeting).
3. Review and provide feedback to the County on the process used to
garner feedback from the community.
4. Review the five map options for compliance with redistricting criteria,
prior to the presentation to the Board.
5. Prepare a brief overview of the accuracy and completeness of the
process used, for presentation to the Board when map options are
presented.
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FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impacts to the County are for use of existing County staff and
resources; translation services; advertisements associated with public meetings; and contractual
services for independent review and evaluation of the redistricting process - all of which costs
are included in the current fiscal year budget.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This item has no Growth Management impact.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The Florida Constitution, Article VIII, requires Commission
Districts to be adjusted following each decennial census so as to achieve population balance, if
Census data reveals a population imbalance exists. Based upon Census 2020 population data
released pursuant to Public Law 94-171, Commission District populations are expected to be
disproportionate. The proposed redistricting criteria are consistent with the Florida Constitution.
This item has been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney’s Office, is approved as to
form and legality, and requires a majority vote for Board approval. -SRT
RECOMMENDATION: That the BCC approve staff’s above recommended criteria and the
process for establishing new Collier County Commission District boundaries.
Prepared By: Anita Jenkins, Director, Zoning Division
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.C
Doc ID: 16015
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve criteria for establishing new Collier County
Commission District boundaries, pursuant to Chapter 124, Florida Statutes, and the Florida Constitution
(Mike Bosi, Director, Planning and Zoning Division).
Meeting Date: 06/22/2021
Prepared by:
Title: Planner, Principal – Zoning
Name: Anita Jenkins
05/20/2021 3:15 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Planner, Principal – Zoning
Name: Anita Jenkins
05/20/2021 3:15 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Zoning Anita Jenkins Zoning Director Review Completed 05/20/2021 3:15 PM
Growth Management Department Lissett DeLaRosa Growth Management Department Completed 05/21/2021 10:59 AM
Growth Management Department Lissett DeLaRosa Transportation Skipped 05/21/2021 10:57 AM
Zoning Mike Bosi Additional Reviewer Completed 06/09/2021 4:34 PM
Growth Management Department James C French Growth Management Completed 06/09/2021 4:50 PM
County Attorney's Office Scott Teach Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 06/10/2021 12:00 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 06/10/2021 2:49 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 06/10/2021 4:31 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 06/15/2021 12:22 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 06/16/2021 10:28 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 06/22/2021 9:00 AM
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