DETROIT CITY COUNCIL - S.B. 726: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 726 (as introduced 9-23-99)
Sponsor: Senator Burton Leland
Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
Date Completed: 10-6-99
CONTENT
The bill would abolish the existing Detroit City Council on January 1, 2001; establish a new nine-member Detroit City Council; reapportion the city of Detroit into nine single-member election districts; impose residency requirements on candidates for the proposed council; impose certain duties on city officials; and require the question of the adoption of the bill to be submitted to the voters of Detroit.
Abolition of Current City Council
The at-large Detroit City Council, provided by charter, would be abolished on January 1, 2001. The at-large council would be replaced by a nine-member council elected from single-member election districts at regular municipal elections, beginning with the municipal primary election in 2000.
Apportionment Commission
Within 30 days after the bill's effective date, the city redistricting commission would have to meet as the apportionment commission to adopt an apportionment plan. The commission would have to consist of the mayor of the City of Detroit, the Detroit city clerk, and the president of the Detroit City Council. The commission would have to meet, again, within 30 days after the publication of the latest official figures of the Federal decennial census to reapportion the city. The procedural aspects of the apportionment process would have to be governed by the same statutory procedures as those provided for a county charter commission apportionment under Public Act 293 of 1966.
The city clerk would have to convene the city redistricting commission, sitting as the apportionment commission. As the apportionment commission, the redistricting commission would have to adopt its own rules of procedure. Two members would constitute a quorum, and all actions would have to be by majority vote.
Apportionment Plan
The city redistricting commission would have to provide for equal representation for each single-member election district (which would have to be as nearly equal in population as was practicable based on the latest official Federal decennial census figures, and would have to be designated by name and number). In developing an apportionment plan, the redistricting commission would have to follow the lines used for planning sectors and subcommittees as provided by Detroit's master plan and charter. In subsequent reapportionments, the apportionment plan would have to make only incremental changes to the single-member election district boundaries that were necessary to accommodate population change requirements.
City Council
Membership. Each candidate for the proposed Detroit City Council would have to be a resident of the single-member election district he or she sought to represent. If the member moved his or her residence outside of the single-member election district that the member represented, the office would have to be vacated.
Rules and Procedures. The Detroit city clerk would have to promulgate necessary election rules and procedures consistent with other provisions of the Detroit City Charter to comply with and implement the bill. The proposed council could amend the Detroit charter to comply with the bill as provided by the Home Rule City Act, and by the charter for the adoption of an ordinance. Any charter amendment that complied with the bill's intent and findings would have to take effect immediately upon adoption by the proposed council. The city clerk would be required to file a copy of any charter amendment with the Secretary of State and the Wayne County clerk.
Ballot Question
The bill would not take effect unless submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of Detroit and ratified by a majority of the electors voting on the question. The question of adoption of the bill would have to be submitted to the voters of the Detroit at the next regular election to be held at least 60 days after the bill's effective date, or at a special election called by the city for that purpose. The ballot question would have to be submitted in substantially the form described in the bill. The vote result would have to be canvassed by the local board of canvassers under the Michigan Election Law. If the question were approved by a majority of the electors voting on it, as determined by the canvass of votes cast, the bill would take effect 10 days after the certification of the election results.
- Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: R. RossS9900\s726sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.