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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County providing for the creation of a Special Committee of Council to study the issue of Council District reapportionment and formulate an ordinance to accomplish such reapportionment in accordance with the deadlines established under applicable law.
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WHEREAS, the final results of block-level data from the most recent federal decennial census were provided to the states and local governments on August 12, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the provision of this federal decennial census data is the starting date for a one year window of time for mandatory municipal reapportionments within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the terms of both Article IX, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Pennsylvania Municipal Reapportionment Act, 53 P.S. Section 901, et. seq.; and
WHEREAS, these municipal reapportionment requirements apply to Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, Article 301 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County reaffirms that the required reapportionment is to be completed by Council no later than one year from the date of official and final publication of any federal decennial census; and
WHEREAS, Council desires to accomplish the statutorily required reapportionment as efficiently as possible while ensuring the greatest possible degree of transparency and public access to the reapportionment process; and
WHEREAS, it is accordingly the desire of Council to establish a Special Committee on Reapportionment as herein provided;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby moves as follows:
Allegheny County Council hereby authorizes the creation of a Special Committee on Reapportionment. The membership of such Special Committee shall be seven (7) members of Council, as follow:
A. The President of Council, who shall also chair the Special Committee; and
B. Each of the two At-Large Council Members; and
C. Council Members Duerr, Klein, Naccarati-Chapkis, and Prizio.
The Council hereby further moves that:
A. The Special Committee on Reapportionment shall conduct its first meeting no later than seven (7) days after the date of final approval of this Ordinance, and as frequently thereafter as is necessary to complete its duties under the terms of this Ordinance. The Special Committee is hereby charged with the duty to study reapportionment of Council districts within Allegheny County in accordance with applicable state and local law.
B. During the Course of the Special Committee's deliberations, all Rules of Council governing the conduct of Committee meetings shall apply to its proceedings, as shall all other applicable state and local law, including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.
C. No later than June 15, 2022, the Special Committee shall complete its study and forward an ordinance amending §5-301.03 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County to reflect its recommended reapportionment of Council districts to the full Council for approval.