§ 25. Commission districts; adjustment of districts.

(1)

There shall be four (4) city commission districts. Each district shall be formed of compact, contiguous territory, and its boundary lines shall follow the center lines of streets whenever possible. The aggregate length of all district boundaries shall be as short as possible. The districts shall be approximately equal in population based upon the principal of equal and effective representation as required by the federal and state constitutions. Deviation in the population of a district when formed may not exceed five (5) percent of the average population for all commission districts.

(2)

A five (5) member districting commission shall be created to study and propose the readjustment of district boundaries when required herein. The five (5) member districting commission shall be appointed in the following manner. The mayor-commissioner shall appoint one (1) elector who resides in the city and each of the four (4) commissioners shall appoint one (1) elector who resides in their respective district. Residency of the districting commission members is to be determined from the most current voter registration rolls. Each appointment to the districting commission shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the city commission. Electors chosen shall not be employed by the city.

(3)

A districting commission shall be created upon the following circumstances:

(a)

Within forty-five (45) days following official certification of the decennial census of the state; or

(b)

Commencing on April 30, 2008, if the population of any district in the city becomes fifty (50) percent greater than the population of the smallest district prior to the decennial census of the state, unless such occurs within one (1) year of the decennial census. The city shall annually review the estimated population of each district.

(4)

Within one hundred and twenty (120) days of being created, the districting commission shall file with the official designated by the city commission, a report containing a recommended plan for adjustment of the commission district boundaries. The report shall include a map and description of the proposed districts and shall be drafted in the form of a proposed ordinance and upon filing shall be treated as an ordinance introduced by a commissioner.

(5)

It shall be the responsibility of the city manager to provide staff assistance and technical data to the districting commission.

(6)

The procedure for the city commission's consideration of the report shall be the same as for other ordinances, provided that if a summary of the ordinance is published pursuant to this charter and general law, it must include both the map and a description of the recommended districts.

(7)

The commission shall adopt a redistricting ordinance at least ninety (90) days before the next regular city election, however if the commission fails to do so, the report of the districting commission shall go into effect at that time and have the effect of an ordinance.