Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
(Charter Amendment)
Introduced by: President Mosby
A Resolution Entitled
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council concerning
title
Charter Amendment - Council Redistricting
For the purpose of amending the process of redrawing City Council districts; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the City for adoption or rejection.
body
By proposing to amend
Article III - City Council
Section 7(b)
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
By proposing to add
Article IV - Mayor
Section 7(e)
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the City Charter is proposed to be amended to read as follows:
Baltimore City Charter
Article III. City Council
§ 7. Council districts.
(b) Redistricting plan.
[Following each census of the United States the Mayor shall prepare a plan for council redistricting. The Mayor shall present the plan to the City Council not later than the first day of February of the first municipal election year following the census.]
[After the Mayor’s plan is presented to the City Council, the Council may adopt it or amend it or the City Council may adopt another plan. If no plan has been adopted by the City Council within sixty days after the Mayor’s plan is presented, the Mayor’s plan shall take effect as the redistricting ordinance.]
(1) In general.
Following each decennial census of the United States the Mayor shall prepare a redistricting plan for the City Council districts.
(2) Presentment of the redistricting plan.
(i) Prior to presenting a redistricting plan to the City Council the Mayor shall:
(A) circulate the redistricting plan to the public in an equitable
manner; and
(B) hold public hearings where the public is able to offer comment
on the redistricting plan.
(ii) No later than the first day of July of the year following the publication of the decennial census data, the Mayor shall present to the City Council:
(A) the redistricting plan; and
(B) all relevant source materials used to create the
redistricting plan.
(3) Introduction and consideration.
(i) The Council President shall introduce the redistricting plan as a resolution of the Mayor and City Council.
(ii) The City Council shall hold committee hearings on the redistricting plan.
(4) Passage.
(i) Upon its passage, the redistricting plan resolution of the Mayor and City Council shall take effect.
(ii) The Mayor may not veto the redistricting plan resolution of the Mayor and City Council.
(5) Boundaries to remain in effect.
The adopted council district boundaries shall remain in effect for the entirety of a regular City Council session.
Article IV. Mayor
§ 7. Approval or veto of legislation.
(e) Exception to veto authority.
The Mayor may not veto a redistricting plan resolution of the Mayor and City Council passed under Article III, §7(b) of this Charter.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to the legal and qualified voters of Baltimore City, for adoption or rejection, in accordance with Article XI-A, § 5 of the Maryland Constitution, in the form specified by the City Solicitor.