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At the first of two public hearings, the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission put forth its recommended plan for reapportioning County legislative districts.  About ten people attended tonight’s hearing in Dryden, including several members of the County Legislature and two Town Supervisors.

The Commission’s currently favored proposal would reduce the number of County legislative districts from 15 to 14, keeping the boundaries of the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights intact and decreasing the number of “sliver districts” in the Town of Ithaca.  Four legislative districts would be created within the City of Ithaca, none of which would extend into the Town.

Many of tonight’s comments were favorable.  David Bravo-Cullen, of Dryden, called the recommended scenario “a very nice plan” and congratulated the Commission for coming up with it.  Caroline Supervisor Don Barber also praised the Commission for working with objective information based on clear direction from the Legislature and producing a plan that effectively apportions the county’s rural districts.

Cora Yao, of the City’s Fall Creek neighborhood, voiced some concern about how boundaries have been drawn between Districts 4 and 5, in the University Avenue/Linn Street area of the City of Ithaca. Commission member Linda Duttweiler, the only member who had voted against recommending the current scenario, stated that while she sees it as a good plan overall, she is not happy with the split of two sides of Coddington Road in the Town of Ithaca into two districts.

While thanking the Commission for keeping the Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing intact in District 10, which she represents, Legislator Dooley Kiefer said she is concerned about how the reduction from 15 to 14 districts would affect legislator workload.  And she suggested a 15-member Legislature, including 4-and-a-half City districts, might have some merit.  Kiefer said she hopes the Commission provides some alternatives for the Legislature to consider.

Concerning legislator workload, Commission Chair Hank Dullea observed that, while some legislators at hearings early on in the process had expressed concern about increased workload from a smaller Legislature, others had commented that would not be a problem or could be helpful.  Legislator Mike Lane tonight said he believes the Legislature can do well with a one-person reduction, observing that neighboring Tioga County has only 9 legislators.  Lane said he thinks the current proposal solves some of the reapportionment problems experienced in establishing districts ten years ago.

There will be another opportunity to comment at a second Commission-sponsored hearing next week.  That hearing will take place Thursday, February 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Library, 101 E. Green Street, Ithaca.

Chair Dullea said he believes the Commission over the past six months has engaged in a “good, transparent process” in working toward its recommendations, and he assured that the Commission will take all comments at the two hearings into account, then consider any modifications that should be made to its recommendation before presenting to the Legislature.

Under its charge from the County Legislature, the Commission must submit its recommendations by March 1, 2012.

All county redistricting scenarios may be view at the Redistricting Commission’s web site (click on “Maps”).

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