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252 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, February 7, 1997 AT 8:00 a.m. IN THE Second Floor Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Discussion of issues related to reversion to town status process BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox (signed) SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM - February 7, 1997 Council met in special session on this date with the follo,ving members present: Mr. Cox, Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. Ms. Slaughter said the reversion hot line has been a modest success to date. Responding to a question from Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Gouldman said that the Commission on Local Government is likely to complete its study six to eight months after receiving the petition, which should occur no earlier than mid-March. Mr. Gouldman said he has spoken to Election Data Services (EDS) and Timothy O'Rourke of Washington University about conducting a voting district study. EDS proposed a three part process: session with Council to walk through parameters that would meet with Juvenile Department and court approval ($1,500 - $2,000); racial block voting analysis ($10,000); and computerized mapping and alternatives ($5,000 - $10,000). Mr. O'Rourke proposed to meet with Council to determine objectives and to help to set parameters and coach the mapping process ($5,000). Mr. Cox said that Paul Puryear with the Center for Public Service is an authority on voting rights and issues and has raised critical questions and concerns regarding future voting strength of the African-American community. Mr. Cox said this constitutes a key issue of reversion for him. Ms. Daugherty made a motion to authorize staffto draw up a proposal for a study of voting districts, not to exceed. $15,000. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cox. Mr. Toscano raised concerns about the proposed voting study. Mr. Toscano said he feels Council has to proceed with the assumption that there will be no negotiation with the County on voting districts, and it will be the County's prerogative, prior to a town vote, to determine the voting districts. Mr. Toscano questioned the point of doing the study, noting that it will either raise expectations ora future voting district make-up, or will do the County's work for them by showing what would work best for the County politically. Mr. Toscano said that while the study might provide some information, he feels it is the most inefficient use of City taxpayers' dollars at this time. Mr. Toscano said that while he will not support the study, he will be willing to work with the consultants to get the most useful information possible. Mr. Toscano left the meeting due to a prior commitment. Ms Richards said that she shares Mr. Toscano's thoughts. Ms. Richards said that she feels future town voters will be somewhat dis-empowered as City residents now vote for all five Councilors and in the future would likely be represented by only one superhsor. Richards said that with the current African-American population in the Cky, there could not be even one majority African-American district unless you increased the number of Supervisors to eight or nine. Mr~ Cox said he disagrees that the City's voting power would be diluted, and said that he feels the City may have to go through short-term pain for long-term political gain.