Donaldsonville eyes remap options

DONALDSONVILLE — City Council members have discussed required changes to council district boundaries with hopes of approving a plan by late March.

During its second public hearing on the matter, the council on Tuesday viewed suggested changes made by Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies of Gonzales, its contracted demography firm.

Just as during the first public hearing, no residents spoke on the matter Tuesday.

John Diez, president of Magellan’s Gonzales branch, said the city is required by federal law to address district boundaries every decade to ensure proper representation.

Current boundaries show two districts — Districts 3 and 4 — are well outside of an allowed 5 percent deviation above or below the ideal figure of 1,487 residents per district, Diez said.

According to 2010 census numbers, District 3’s population fell from 1,481 residents in 2000 to 1,236 residents in 2010, and currently sits at 17 percent under the ideal figure.

Meanwhile, District 4’s population grew from 1,558 residents in 2000 to 1,739 residents in 2010, placing it 17 percent above the ideal figure.

After the first public hearing, Diez said, a common theme among councilmen seemed to be to find a way to downsize District 4, which saw the largest population increase and stretches across the city.

Diez said the city must also maintain a proper representation of minority, or black, voters in each district, or the plan could be rejected by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“We’re not allowed to present a plan that dilutes minority voting strength or where the minority candidate of choice can’t get elected,” he said.

Four suggestions presented for redrawing districts included proposed changes to shrink District 4, while also maintaining minority representation in each district.

Diez stressed that the plan is still open to changes from the council or from city residents, until the council adopts a suggested map under ordinance.

The city will hold another public hearing on redistricting and possibly vote on a suggested plan at its Feb. 28 meeting, Council Chairman Raymond Aucoin said.

The proposal would then be advertised before being introduced as an ordinance at the March 13 council meeting, and opened for public hearing and subsequent vote at the council’s March 27 meeting.

Maps of the redistricting
suggestions are available for public viewing at the city’s municipal building, 609 Railroad Ave.