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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-087 CCR Member Howard Heck introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 66 -87 RESOLUTION STATING OBJECTION TO THE REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON REAPPORTIONMENT WHEREAS, there is not now a valid legislative apportionment act in effect in the State of Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the laws of Minnesota provide for elections to be held during 1966 to elect the entire state legislature; and WHEREAS, the Governor of Minnesota has appointed a commission to prepare a proposed plan for legislative reapportionment, and such plan has been submitted to the Governor and may be used as a basis for redis- tricting should the Minnesota Legislature be called into special session for such purpose; and WHEREAS, this plan has refused to recognize available official federal special censuses; reliable population estimates of the Metropolitan Planning Commission; and other estimates by the State of Minnesota, and insists on using old outdated figures of the 1960 population to the detriment of the rapidly increasing communities of our state; and WHEREAS, estimates of the Metropolitan Planning Commission reveal that from 1960 to 1965, there was a population increase in the seven county Metropolitan Area of 210, 000 people; and WHEREAS, special federal mid decade censuses reveal that in those communities of the Metropolitan Area that took such censuses, there was an increase of population from 1960 to 1965 of 160, 000 people; and WHEREAS, the following breakdown of Commission Senatorial Districts in Hennepin and Anoka County shows that: 1965 Special Census Senate Dist. No. 1960 Pop. 1960 Pop.where Special Census not taken 25 (Anoka pt. Henn.) 48,073 67,865 26 (pt.Anoka Pt. Henn.) 53,932 77,568 27 Hennepin 52,321 76,279 28 Hennepin 50,618 60,767 29 Hennepin 47,915 53,950 30 Hennepin 51,395 60,368 31 Hennepin 48,393 54,802 32 Hennepin 49,590 54,069 Resolution No. 66 -87 I In areas where special 1965 censuses were not taken, even MPC estimates of estimated growth were not used, but rather the 1960 census was used. Therefore, the far right column reflects actual valid federal census count. We know, of course, that there has been growth in almost all communities as indicated by MPC estimates; and WHEREAS, the above breakdown clearly demonstrates that those districts in rapidly growing areas are already far too large, and each year they will become larger according to present population trends; and WHEREAS, there is ample precedent in the 1959 Redistricting Act of the Minnesota Legislature, recent Federal and State Court decisions, and H.R. 1505, relating to Congressional Redistricting passed by the United States House of Representatives and now pending in the Senate of the United States for the use of the most recent official and reliable population data in order to recognize growth in sections of our states; and WHEREAS, based on the above examples, the redistricting plan of the Governor's Commission has the effect of a further denial of the people's constitutional rights to the United States Supreme Court's principle of one man one vote; and WHEREAS, voting precincts and other significant boundaries of political subdivisions should not be violated except when the necessary equal population principle dictates: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Village Council of the Village of Brooklyn Center go on record as opposing the Commission plan, or any .other reapportionment plan which fails to take into account the principles as set forth herein or which denies the citizens of the several legislative districts their constitutional right to equal representation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be distri- buted to the Governor,. Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other appropriate members of the Legislature. April 18, 1966 Date l/ Mayor ATTEST• C� Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Theodore Willard, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Philip Cohen, Earl Simons, john Leary, Howard Heck and Theodore Willard, and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.