Judge Rules Against Redistricting Board and Keeps Cases in Fairbanks

Chris Eshleman at the Fairbanks News-Miner reports that Judge McConahy ruled the court challenges to the Alaska Redistricting Board's redistricting plan will be heard in Fairbanks in January.

The board's attorney, Michael White, sounded fairly confident at last Monday's meeting that the case would be consolidated (the two Fairbanks challenges and the Petersburg challenge) and was hoping the trial would be in Anchorage.  When I talked to him after the meeting Monday he said he was hoping a decision to move to Anchorage would come before the Friday hearing in Fairbanks.  In the memo to the board on the lawsuits he concluded with:

We recently filed a Motion to Consolidate and Change Venue of City of Petersburg, et al. v. State of Alaska, Alaska Redistricting Board, to move the case to Anchorage.  The Petersburg plaintiffs do not oppose this motion.  Plaintiffs in both Fairbanks cases oppose changing venue to Anchorage.  The motion also requests the court consolidate the Fairbanks proceedings with the Petersburg case in Anchorage.  We asked for expedited consolidation of this motion requesting a decision by Thursday, July 21.  [bold emphasis added]

But based on the FNM article, the judge is going to hear the case in Fairbanks in January.

A judge said this morning he’ll consolidate challenges to state redistricting plans and plans to hold a January trial in Fairbanks.

Three parties, including the Fairbanks North Star Borough, are suing over the Alaska Redistricting Board’s map of tentative state House and Senate districts.

Superior Court Judge Michael McConahy met today for the first time with attorneys for all three parties. The state, after any appeals to the Alaska Supreme Court, will need final jurisdictional maps in place by early summer to guide residents interested in running for public office.

Clearly, having the case in Fairbanks gives the Fairbanks plaintiffs home court advantage.  That doesn't change the legal basis of the challenge, but it does have an impact.  Board attorney White, for example, will have to either commute by air to Fairbanks or stay there in a hotel or with friends. He won't be able to drop into his office as easily.  The Petersburg plaintiffs will have an even further commute.  But according to the Eshleman piece, the court will accommodate them:

McConahy said the trial will travel to Petersburg for witness testimony before returning to Fairbanks.

But, the attorneys still need to go to Fairbanks to keep up on all the details. And Fairbanks residents will be able to attend the trial. 

Having a Fairbanks jury that understands the neighborhoods involved does mean that the deliberations will be made by well informed jurors which would not be the case in Anchorage.  As much as I listened and watched, I simply could not absorb what was said about Fairbanks the way I could about what was said about Anchorage.  It's just the way the human brain works.

In fact, only one board member was from Fairbanks (none were from Anchorage).  Bill [Jim] Holm is a former Republican legislator who lost his 2006 reelection bid to Democratic representative Scott Kawazaki.  For both the draft plan and the final plan, Holm was the one who prepared the Fairbanks plans (outside of the public meeting) which was then presented to the board who made no substantative changes.  Already in the draft plan, Holm had cut off the communities of Ester and Goldstream.  I already knew that Ester (nicknamed the Ester Republic*) was considered a liberal bastion and from the discussions it sounds like Goldstream may lean left of the rest of Fairbanks too.

HTML Tables *From the blog Ester Republic: "Ester earned its moniker when a former Fairbanks North Star Borough assemblyman, Joe Ryan, proposed that downvillage Ester be zoned for mining only, as opposed to the General Use zoning still current. While it is true that there are many mines in the area (three right in the village and one nearby), there are also other endeavors (such as residences, bars, rentals, artists' studios, etc.), so Ester showed up en masse to the pertinent borough assembly meeting and told Mr. Ryan and his compatriots just what they thought he could do with his idea. The measure failed, Mr. Ryan got annoyed and, in a letter to the editor, accused Esteroids of living in the People's Republic of Ester. Ester generally (and the capitalists in particular) thought this was pretty funny, and took to referring to their village by this new title. The name stuck, and Ryan became known, in the village at least, as the Father of the Republic. (So now you have an idea of what Ester humor is like.) He was later invited to judge the 4th of July Parade one year, but, alas, declined."

In the final plan, Ester and Goldstream were still amputated from the rest of Fairbanks and put into a district (38) that stretches out to the Aleutians, creating a district that combines surban Fairbanks residents who live a short drive from shopping malls and the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus,  to Native villages off the road system, like Hooper Bay, where people use 'honey buckets' instead of sewers.  Below is a video tape made by local resident Jacqueline Agnew in 2004 and 2005 showing the how they empty the honey buckets and offering a tour of Hooper Bay.



In the video, she discusses a future water and wastewater system, so I checked online to see if it is complete. I found this state budget item. You can see the yourself it's not scheduled for completion until 2016.  And this is a only budget request.  Let me check if it was funded.


I checked the FY 2011 budget and the only item listed for Hooper Bay was for Boat Harbor and Barge Loading Reconnaissance for $300,000.   The FY 2012 budget doesn't seem to have it either.  Just more Boat Harbor funding for Hooper Bay. Since I had a video for Hooper Bay, I decided to see what I could find on Ester.  This is audio over slides of the Fourth of July parade in 2009.



I believe that we humans have a lot more in common with other human beings who live in different cultures than we generally think.  Surely living in a remote Thai province for two years helped me come to this conclusion.  And as I look at the videos, while it is clear that residents of Ester and Hooper Bay live in very different worlds and have very different needs from their legislators, they also have some very human similarities.  But the state constitution says the districts should be socio-economically integrated and clearly that is not the case here. The question before the court will be whether there was any way to follow the Voting rights Act  which requires keeping the nine Native districts without creating a district that is so clearly in violation of the Alaska Constitution. I guess I should also note that while it appears district 38 is the focus of the Fairbanks' challenges there are other issues and, of course, Petersburg's challenge is totally different.

Redistricting Board Meeting Highlights August 23, 2021

The Board met from 10am today through  with a break for Executive Session to get briefed by the attorney on Alaska Redistricting Cases and lunch.

It's been a long day. It's clear that I'm ten years older than I was when I went to the Board meetings

ten years ago.   Let me try to pull up some key points from the meeting.  Then I'll add my very rough  notes from the meeting below

• Time table for map proposals
• Established Aug. 12 as official day they received numbers from Census Brea
• That starts the Constitutional clock for 
• preliminary map(s) adopted  by Sept 11 (non-Board maps by 9/17) and 
• final map by November 10 
• What Census data show  (see charts on Redistricting Website  and also here)
• Changes in districts and regions from 2010 to now - this was shown in a series of slides.  There was lots of detail and it will affect the makeup of the legislature.  Some key takeaways
• statewide, the smallest population increases in decades
• biggest gains in Matsu - plus 18,000 people (but previous decade gained 30,000);  Kenai plus 3400; Western Alaska plus 900
• both Anchorage (JBER lost @3000) and Fairbanks declined
• Executive Session with Board's attorney on lessons from previous Alaska Court cases.  The Board made a nod to my suggestion to make some of this public by having the attorney discuss the standards  Constitution and the Supreme Court have set for the Board to follow in making their maps.  But that sentence was pretty much all he said publicly and then they went into Executive Session for and hour or more (it was combined with lunch which was brought in for them)
• Attorney Matt Singer said (as best as I could type) 

"Meeting to review my legal advice.  Reviewing my opinions are confidential.  For public key places - 

Article 6 of Constitution Section 10 outlines process and requirements and Sec. 6    AK Supreme Court each time established guidelines for Redistricting Board  process by which it must be done and directions for deviation and how down in light of decisions - so another sourceAvailable where public can search those cases.  Guided by Constitution and Alaska Supreme Court."

• My recollection is that ten years ago the attorney did much of this in open session.  Here's a post from March 2011 that gives a lot of the requirements as outlined by the 2010 Board attorney.  There were other sessions where he gave other such overviews in public.  
• Discussion over how the Board is to go about creating maps.  The staff recommended dividing the State into six to eight regions and having subcommittees of Board members work on a couple regions each.  Then they would come together and put them all together and work out the edges.  There was pushback from a Doyon mapper and another group Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting (There were two groups with similar names last time.  I believe AFFR was representing Native groups and Unions generally and Alaskans For Fair and Equitable Redistricting (AFFER) was more of a Republican oriented group) both of whom felt that by making the six regional blocks first, the Board would lock things up and miss options to have better districts inside those regions.  It appears the Board is going to try with the Regional Approach but also try to be flexible with those challenges in mind.  Also the Board Chair said that the two groups - Doyon and AFFR - could submit their maps for the Board to compare and there would be 6o more days to get public reaction and make changes.
• Public Testimony  - you can find some of this in my notes below.

  

  Board ED Peter Torkelson and Chair John Binkley
  talking to Doyon mapper during break

  
  

My running notes from the meeting. Beware:  These notes give you the gist of what was discussed.  It's not verbatim but you can get a sense of who spoke and what was said.  The meetings of  the 2020 Census round are all available live and I believe recordings will all be available at the Board's website.  On the one hand, that makes these notes less important.  On the other hand, these notes can alert you to where to look for things of interest when the tapes are available.  For figuring out names of Board members, see this post.  I've tended to use first names because that's how they are being called and it's easier to type on the fly.   For staff, see this post.   You can also see pictures of the attorneys at this post of their mapping training.  

Redistricting Board Meeting

(Everyone masked as required)

10:10am  

All the Documents/Slides are available at:  https://www.akredistrict.org/alaska-population/

Public Testimony

Kay Brown - . . . .former legislator - Use maximum deviation possible.  competitive districts, where every vote matters,  consistent with public interest.  Finally do not gerrymander the map.  There is a party in control of this process, do not make that an issue.  Thank you for your service.  Actions you take will affect state for ten years.  

Question, Binkley  What do you mean by max deviation?  Given our size, be ready to protect minority strength using maximum deviation if necessary.  

Online:  Hooper Bay - William Manning - Camai.  [Cut off]

Move to Anchorage, no, audio tech says ok.  Brief at ease - kicked off the system.  

10:20 back on line after break where people were talking.  

William Manning - Hooper Bay, waiting for the connection.  Believe they can hear us, but we can’t hear him.  

Christopher Constant - MOA Assembly - Substantially consequential because we created a 12th member of Assembly - Downtown will be growing and we’ll be doing our own redistricting process in parallel with you.  Hope we can keep our precincts as close to your statewide districts.  

14 people in the audience.

Time frame:  immediately after State - we need 60 days and then 6 months to complete.  We are beginning internal process to get it done sooner and try to be early.  Probably won’t go into effect for 2022 because we need to do it by Dec. 2021.   Based on State’s initial final plan, not after all the court decisions.  

10:26  Suspended again because, I think, recording system isn’t working.  

10:32 Tech problems solved, hopefully.

Joelle Hall - President of Union.  Chair of Alaskans for Fair Redistricting.  Thank you for work you’re doing.  Important for so many of us.  

Look at size of districts - looking at rural Alaska maps, getting bigger and bigger as pop grows.  Max deviations to allow a little less geography.  Clearly have a majority-minority issue and diversity growing and should be recognized.  Community interest and urban diversity reflected in the districts.  This should be an educational and entertaining process.  

Paul Kendall - 

?? Silvers - Hulbert?  on council,  [Wanted to change pairings of Senate districts M and N]  Senate districts M and N in South Anchorage - underrepresentation for ??? Anchorage residents.  These districts should be mapped to reflect the issues of the two - Combing 25 M  and 26N ?? and 26 M 28 N Would better reflect socially .  East Anchorage in one district and South Anchorage in another district.  Go east/west not north/south.  

Major Felisa Wilson - Ret AF Med Officer, recently retired.  Came to give insight how Base is set up.  Now Joint Base El is in one district and Fort R with Eagle River.  Helpful if base communities stay together - near Boniface is lower rank folks,  Govt Hill more senior.  

Cols and Generals w/o off base homes on.   Lot more diversity in army personnel than Airforce.  Based on Housing areas.  

How can we get in touch with you to follow up?  

Melanie - took notes, lots of info, but would be helpful to be specific for maps later.

Try online:

William Manning in Hooper Bay - [We did receive letter from mayor of Hooper Bay - connected with that?]  Thanks for letting me speak.  Local leaders on the record letter, Hooper Bay should be part of Bethel district - it’s the key hub for us, funding, housing src services served by Bethel.  Consider ourselves as part of YK Delta.  

John:  Having lived in Bethel for many years, I understand what you’re talking about.  

Sarah Oped   From Doyon.  Morning from Fairbanks.  Thanks for opportunity.  Sarah Obed From Fairbanks testifying on behalf of Doyon.  20K  AK Native shareholders.  Strengthen our way of Life.  Fairbanks Native Association to create maps to ensure state support of Native Alaskans.   Communities are not included together in single districts - fractured.  We will be presenting Board with our efforts to make statewide map.  Approach to mapping interior to overcome current fractured interests.  

John:  Thanks, looking forward to seeing your maps.  If you can keep Doyon in a couple of House districts I’ll be impressed.  

Nicole - elaborate on how many districts fractured 

Sarah - voter turnout data, polled McGrath and other villages a minority vote for voters in that region. People in villages it’s very hard to have impact.  

10:58  John:  Followup, when you see fracturing, not socially economically related.  [If split into different districts] then have multiple senators or reps looking for you interests.  

Sarah:  Great question - that was discussion argument in 2014 amended proclamation plan.  We had a number of representatives for Doyon, but overall we need more focused representative.    That’s been in place since 2014 -

All the testimony - Mr. Kendall - Paul Kendall - concerned about our government, lost sense of purpose, priority, you are all very accomplished.  Open plea to you Juneau is now an embarrassing.  Magnitude is unprecedented. Keep plan target images, concentrations of populations.  Hubs of activity.  Like it or not, Anchorage is the hub of the state.  

[This is a macro critique about problems of the world, I’m not sure the direct connection to redistricting.]

No one else?  Close public testimony

Census Data presentation from Mr. Eric Sandberg  - 32 slides of changes from 2010 census and the 2020 Census.  Graph of growth over time - this last decade smallest growth

2.  Change by census areas.  Purple decreased

Largest growth Matsu 18K   Kenai 3400.  Outside of those in Western Bethel 900, Slope 

Fairbanks and Anchorage declined.  Unusual.  Much of missing growth in those two borroughs.

3.  Non-Census slide - Dept of Labor estimates - rate of early natural increase (births-deaths) everywhere had more births than deaths.  Highest natural increase in Western Alaska.  Lower map, rate of yearly net migration. 

4.  Pop changes for precincts  - Current house districts on top.  Western Alaska pop growth, remote as well as hub.  Decreases - Kotzebue, Red Dog mine went down.  Aleutians lost >100/precinct.  

5.  Anchorage- top JBER districts largest loss @3000.  Anchorage neg for decade, not just JBER.  Mt. View, Fairview, Seward Highway down,  Hillside up.  Downtown core up 500

6.  Eagle River stayed at 35K, but people shifted.  Downtown loss, but pop growth, north fork of ER Road.  

7.  Matsu - highest growth - 18K - a slowdown for them, last time by 30K - all over the Borough except for city of Palmer, Sutton and chicaloon.  Bishop region and Pt Mckenzie growing - prison is much of that.  

8..  Fairbanks lost 1600 people throughout all, but UAF campus 2010 1400, 2020 400, could be COVID related, appears some issue on counting.  Growth areas  - Frt Wainright  only base to grow, changed how deployed soldiers counted.  2010 - overseas pop in state where they enlisted, in 2020 at home base.  

9.  Kenai, about 3400 people up - Much of road system growth - outskirts of Seward, Homer, Kasiloff, Sterling, and parts of Kenai, Soldotna.  Off road system - all lost - Tyonek etc.

10.  SE mixed growth - highest Mendenhall Valley, Ketchikan, Hoonah, Skagway fastest, Haines down 500, still looking into why.  Number of housing units dropped.  Sitka and Wrangell declines.

11.  Juneau - airport lemon creek growth.  Downtown, North Doughlas, declined.  

12.  Same maps but with rates of change.

Questions:  Matsu faster or slower than state average.  3 areas grew 15% points.  Matsu, 20% also Slope 17% growth, and Skagway 28% growth.  

Above average - rural SE, Kenai,   Western Alaska- 

Answering question about rural areas - unclear why, could have been undercounted in 2010

14  JBER stands out for large decline -15%  also large sections of Western Anchorage- Mt. View, Bayshore.  Other parts grew - Downtown Core - Basher/Stuckagain,  Lower Hillside, Kincaid

15  Eagle River roughly same 2010 to 2020

16.  Fairbanks - Ft. Wainwright   Most FB -12%;  wondering if F35’s to eastern side of Borough, but did not seem to be the case.  Eilson declined.  

How districts from 2010 how far off on 2020 data.

12:06  

Back in session - Peter Torkelson Exec Dir  talking about how Board received information from Census.  This is on the Board’s website

Expect by Sept. 30.  Ohio sued.  Census determined they could get data done by mid-August.  

Aug 5 tweeted - August 12.  I checked if that was real.

Got data on drop site August 12, we downloaded the zip file.  Unzipped opens into four large text files.  About 45 MB of data.  Do contain fields.  Also have cells, but separated by a special character.  Shift Option key.  

Easy for program to read, not for people.  

Converted to excel

Validation - Compared 3800 cells we matched - they all matched perfectly.  Quite confident we have the right data.  

Census Bureau will ship us a disc and when we get that we’ll double check it all again.  

Look at Website you can see district by district changes in population.  

More files you can open with Google Earth.  

You can explore 2010 data vs. 2020 data.  [I tried and none of my programs worked.  KMZ  But now I know I need Google Earth to open them.]

Q:  What happens if the data doesn’t match when you get the final.  

John - Going into ES, but maybe we can have a little introduction. 

Peter:   AK Constitution   Board must adopt one or more plan within ?? Days - Last Board adopted 5 maps including their own and ones other had made.  They felt more better.  Trying to find areas of agreement.  Hoping we’ll get 3rd party maps and heard from some people we will.  

Constitutional part :  30 days to draft one or more proposed plan, the 60 more days (90 after official receipt) need to do that.  Need to take our plan(s).

Attorney Matt:

Asking Matt to talk a little about why going into ES and a little about the cases so public knows.

Matt  Meeting to review my legal advice.  Reviewing = my opinions are confidential.  For public key places - 

Article 6 of Constitution Section 10 outlines process and requirements and Sec. 6

AK Supreme Court each time established guidelines for Redistricting Board  process by which it must be done and directions for deviation and how down in light of decisions - so another source

Available where public can search those cases.  

Guided by Constitution and Alaska Supreme Court.  

Going into ES.  Motion with vague reason for going into ES.  

If lunch comes during ES, we’ll eat.  Come back when we’re done.  Not sure how long.  Maybe up to an hour.  

12:30 now.  Should we say 1:30?  

Coming back at 1:30.

1:50 post ES and lunch back in session.  9 audience members now

Timeline - Peter constant contact with Census because our timeline based on release of Census Data.  Told Sept. 30.  After the official release date by law.  Noticed that it said “Official” on our website for date.  Talked to CB and date of Aug. 12 is NOT official.  Don’t actually know for sure what the official date.  We are asking the Board to make Sept 11 which is 30 days after Aug 12.  

Sept 11, adopt at least one map.

John - Pushing process forward instead of pushing it back.  

Matt - tied to release of census.  In prior decades it occurred in March.  90 day deadline, 30 to put out proposed plan and then 60 days.  

Also had file deadlines, election dates that give time pressures for getting plan in place.  Treating Aug 12 as official data is most consistent with Constitution.  

Peter:  Sept 11 adopt ‘a plan’ by.  Then 90 days from official receipt - Nov. 10.  We can be earlier.  I recommend that due to change of dates:

Sept. 11 and allow 3rd parties a little longer - Dec. 2 - if a 3rd party gets a realistic plan allow them to explain their plan and allow it.  Adopt all 3 as drafts so when go on public tour we can have more plans.  

We’ll take the 2nd week and Board could have a second plan.  

John:  Census B had a later date, then gave preliminary data Aug. 12, then decided that Aug. 12 was official.  June 1, 2022 = expedite process as much as we can given the lateness already.  So legislators can know and file for office.  

Melanie - with shorter time frame, public needs adequate time to write up plans and comment on draft plan.  

John:  One of most important aspects is getting comments from public.  

Melanie:  Be clear, still waiting for official letter from CB, we just have email and cut and paste from their website.  CB could still change it to Sept 30 again.  

John:  We have better tools - software - and public has that too so it should be easier for public to make maps too.  

Recommended motion?

Peter:  

TJ:  Aoption of draft plan….?  

Matt:  Best practice to adopt a proposal and publish it.

 Nicole:  At least one draft by Sept 11 and 17 for others to submit and final plan by November 10.

John:  some flexibility.

Nicole:  Don’t intend to have flexibility for the end day.  It’s a Wednesday.  

John:  Can’t go beyond the 10th. 

Nicole:  In ES also talked about give public maximum chance to participate.  Not willing to add flexibility to end date.  

John:  We could work on 4th and 5th and have it by the 10th. 

Melanie:  Don’t want to be like CB saying maybe, we should have a clear and final dates.

John:  No objections?  Adopted.

Workflow process.

Peter:  No formal presentation.  One member to draw it up and show Board. Adopt that part of the state.  Probably most flexible.  Having two members in subcommittee might be better than just one.  Break it into smaller pieces.  Something that 

1st .  If do whole state, end up with one terrible district.  If we divide it into region, but each region must be given a population and divide it up.

Six natural regions.  And then interlock all six at the end.  There will be a reconciliation at the end.  

Regionalization to avoid the left-over seat problem.  

TJ:  2 members plus staff.  1 and floating member.  1+chair on each committee.  They would come to office and work with staff, public could come in.  There would be dead times and then time when full committee comes together.  Work of subcommittees is just to break up the work.  Make sure public is involved and subcommittee work not meant to be binding.  

Peter - this office belongs to Legislature and not available all the time.  In our office we’ll have big screen that people can watch.  Database with questions and rationale.  

Start with ??.  Questions, recs, rationale.  

Started with city X and did this and that for these reasons.  

Learned from Mr Sanders we have a lot of changes.  Can we modify existing districts.  Document decisions and bring them back to the Board.  We have room for maybe 20 people.  

John:  Start with Eric (Sandberg) thoughts on regionalization.  

Eric Sandberg:  

Kodiak Kenai 4.1 districts

SE  3.91 districts

Western - 37-40, over 4 districts

Nicole - How many 

Eric: 2010 1-6 

Nicole - were are the district boundaries of the 1-6

Sandberg:  Peter asked me to use the new data and do the same thing

Anchorage Same geography and add back Fort Rich with ER and back to Anchorage.  13.92 districts   

Questions from Board -  slides and handouts

[The regionalization process does make some assumptions about how to divide the population, but I’m guessing this is pretty neutrally intended.  Using terms like over and under populated - but that means compared to previously and related to 18,335 people per district. It seems to me that when the regional groups come together there will be big probs. As you adjust on one regional border, it will affect the other regional boarders.]

Melanie:  Can you drill down to see Alaska Native percentages?  

John:  Thanks for presentation  Board discussion?

Nicole:  In ideal world, preference we come together as a Board, but given the compressed time line.  We could work in different combinations of members on different regions.  More interaction among board members and also better understanding of the regions.  

Discussions of how to divide the regions up. Looking at total population in region along with geography.  

Each subcommittee represents  

How many people involved in how many regions - familiarity with regions 

John:  Maybe since Anchorage is so significant we do that as a whole Board.  

3:14  - Peter:  Agenda is for two days. Recommend we recess now.  Anyone who wants to work on map making now can stay and do that.  

Tomorrow Agenda 8c and 8d, 9 was done, tomorrow 10 Map making

5 minute recess  3:17

3:39  After lots of audience/Board (John and Peter) discussion during break about the impacts of starting with the Board’s regions and how that locks things in later.  

Now in session again.  Down to seven audience.  

Peter - looking at Matsu - where are the people - northern edge.  Talking about how to link people as social-economic community - debating how you make new Matsu districts - north, east, south?

The board is working on a a map starting from Matsu.  I’ve lost track of what they are doing.   Now they have focused on Fairbanks.  

4:25 - John - opening up to more public comment - a response to comments during last break

David Dunsmore - Alaskans for Fair Redistricting - suggest by Borough how much population and regionalization discussion.  One of most objective criteria is respecting local government boundaries.  Maps don’t allow the Anchorage-Matsu boundary - population doesn’t allow much combination.  Start by identifying - Anch has about 15.88 ideal house seats.  Choice of 16 house seats keeping socially-economically integrated, where you you get extra population.  Issues like that across the state.  Appreciate you taking time to listen to us.  

Tanner Ander???  Working with Doyon - Interior and SE Coalition.  Regionalization issues.  Work we have done shows some of the pitfalls when doing regionalization of interior.  Puts assumptions that regionalization imposes

1. Assumption - putting Matsu B with Ahtna region - so made changes in those areas.  But if you took the Denali B and assigned those instead of Glenallen Ahtna area, the numbers work out perfectly.  If you go to Fairbanks and take two districts and combine with rural communities that allow dominant rural voice.  We have 1.6%.  Numbers can work.  We hope Board will take our map into consideration.  Not presenting magical thinking, but a real map.  If you think Denali B has to be combined with Fairbanks B.  

Peter - are you going to have a statewide plan?  Yes

Nicole:  Can we see this?  Yes

BuDD-   

We’ve been working for months to get this done.  We know everyone is under compressed time frame.

Melanie:  Big change from ours?

Tanner:  Except for pairing Denali Borough with Matsu instead of FB, otherwise very similar.

John:  Anyone else?  

Matt:  As bord thinks about how it organizes itself, there’s no constraints, 

John:  Ultimately whole board makes its decision as a whole.  Just trying to figure out the best way to get the job done.  

Delta Junction and Tok, Nome and Kotzebue, Unalaska and Cold Bay - Your Turn with Redistricting Board Today, Tuesday

The Board members are headed out in pairs Tuesday, April 26 and altogether they'll visit 6 locations.  They've completed two options for the draft plan.  Now they have until June 14 to submit a final plan.  So now is your chance to tell them what's good and bad about what they've done with your districts.

The board will have statewide maps to hand out at the meetings and lots of maps on the wall, but if you want the detailed maps of your own districts go to their website where you can download pdf files and print them out.  Click for the option 1 maps and the option 2 maps. 
You  can get maps of the current districts here.

According to staff, board chair, John Torgerson, former legislator from Fairbanks, and board member Bob Brody, a Kodiak Realtor, will be in Delta Junction and Tok.

Delta Junction folks - Your meeting is 10 - 12 noon at the Delta Junction City Council Chambers.   In Option 1 you are in District 2 and in Option 2 you are in District 12.

The proposed districts go from almost Fairbanks along the mainly on the east of the Richardson Highway to Valdez and most of Prince William Sound except for Whittier. 

BrdOp1Dist2

The only difference I can tell is that Option 2 includes a lot of land with few if any people - much of it around the Denali Highway almost to Cantwell. You can get a pdf of District 12 here.


Tok folks - Your meeting is from 3pm - 5pm at the Tok Legislative Information Office.  Your district 6 is the super district.  It goes from Southwest Alaska (Holy Cross, Anvik) up north (Wiseman, Venetie) over and around Fairbanks (Nenana, Manley Hot Springs, Ester) and then down along the Canadian Border (Eagle) south Chitina and McCarthy.)

AK Redistricting Board Op1Dist6


Board members Marie Greene, CEO of Nana Regional Corporation from Kotzebue, and PeggyAnn McConnochie, a realtor from Juneau, will be visiting Nome and Kotzebue.

Nome Folks - 10am - 12 noon at the Nome City Council Chambers.   Nome is in District 39 in both options and in both looks to be pretty much the same.  The district is the far West including Shishmaref, Wales, Diomede, Nome, down to Hooper Bay and Russian Mission.

AK Redistricting Board Option 1 - Dist39



Kotzebue folks - You're scheduled for 3pm to 5pm at the NW Arctic Borough Assembly Chambers.  You're in District 40 which looks pretty much like your old district.  It includes the far North from Buckland and Kotzebue, Point Hope, to Kaktovik.

 AK Redistricting Brd Op1Dist40



The last team consists of Board Member Jim Holms, former legislator from Fairbanks and  Board executive direction Ron Miller.  They're scheduled for Unalaska and Cold  Bay.


Unalaska folks - You're on from 1pm to 3pm at the Unalaska City Council Chambers.  You are in District 37 which looks the same in both options.  You're gaining a chunk of the old District 38 which includes Quinhagak, Goodnews Bay, and Platinum from the 2001 Districts and part of the old 36 on the west which includes: Port Alsworth, Nondalton, Newhalen,  Iliamna,  Igiugig, and Pedro Bay.

Cold Bay folks - Your meeting is 7pm - 9pm at the City of Cold Bay Community Center.  You are in the same district as Unalaska - 37 - so the map above applies to you too.

So, what should you do at these meetings?  The Board hasn't given out a lot of information, but you can check out the criteria they are using on their website and see if the maps meet the redistricting guidelines.  These are things like:  socio-economic cohesion, compactness, and equal sizes for all districts with minimum deviation. 

The Alaska Redistricting Board tab above lists all the other posts I've done on the board with short descriptions.

Alaska Redistricting Board: Approve All Plans But One For Road Show

 

Today was rather tedious at the Board.  Let me highlight first what they did and then, if I'm still awake, let me look at what it might all mean.

1. Public Testimony
1. Former Sen. Cathy Geisel called in to oppose a district in the AFFER (The Randy Ruedrich Group) plan which combined south Anchorage with Nikiski.  She said she'd represented a district like that and the interest of the hillside are very different from the interests of Nikiski.
2. Several others who I'm not characterizing because my notes aren't clear enough to accurately reflect what they said.
2. Questioned the 3rd Party Map Presenters from Friday

   

   Why for example is part of Palmer seemingly missing

   
   
1. Covered all the maps except the Matsu map.  If they explained why that was missing, I didn't hear them.  Maybe because it was only Matsu.  I'd heard it was very much like the AFFER drawing of Matsu, so maybe that's why.  
2. Questioning was very sharp and detailed.  Member Borromeo kept saying, I don't want to just hear general comments, I want specific evidence that it's more compact or more socio-economically integrated.  She was pretty harsh with Randy Ruedrich.  And with the Democrats.  It seemed for every district they had some problems and they said well this one was really hard so we had to do X.  But then they said the same about the next district, they had todo Y.  My thought was that she should have asked if there were any districts they were proud of.
3. Board's new v3 and v4 plans.    Peter Torkelson reported that over the weekend the Board came up with updated versions of the maps they presented Sept 9.  They called them versions 3 and 4, or v3 and v4.  They then went through the two new maps, district by district.  There's nothing quite so challenging as listening to someone talk about districts by describing them border by border.  Maps were on the screen, but it wasn't clear which district was which because you couldn't make out street names.  The Board did seem pretty pleased with v3 and v4 and after the descriptions they approved them as the new proposed plans.  
4. Adoption of Board's v3 and v4.  This happened very quickly.
5. Adopting 3rd Party Plans To Take On The Road.  They went plan by plan.  Nominating each for approval and then voting.  The approved all the 3rd Party plans EXCEPT the Democratic Party Plan.  Actually, the plan was approved and then member Borromeo asked for reconsideration and said she thought there was just too much wrong with it that they shouldn't waste the public's time on it.  There are enough other maps for them to consider. Member Bahnke argued that the public should be able to see as many plans as possible.  John Binkley agreed.  They voted and 3 to 2 voted not to accept the Democratic Party's plan.  Borromeo, Marcum, and Simpson voted against the plan.  Binkley and Bahnke voted for the plan.  It didn't seem like a political decision.  I think both sides had reasonable points.  It does seem symbolically a questionable move. Borromeo was also not pleased with the AFFER map but did say it had very low deviations and that might be something useful as they go forward.  
6. Discussion of Travel Plans To Take The Maps To The Public And Get Feedback.  Peter Torkelson, the executive director of the Board, explained they are making plans to visit communities around the state in person or online so they can discuss how the maps affect the communities and what issues people want changed.  Invited other communities to send in requests for a visit.  But did say they need to be done by Nov.1 because their final proposal is due Nov 10 (I think that's the date, didn't get into my notes.)  When they get back from tour they have to collate everything and finalize the maps.  

Some extra observations:

1. The Board essentially rejected any corrections over the weekend of the 3rd Party maps, except for the Senate Minority Coalition map which noted an error Friday and sent in a corrected file over the weekend.  I understand there is a time constraint, but the Board itself had time since they first offered their own maps and changed their maps over the weekend.  I'd note that at this point I have no idea how the new versions affect incumbents.  
2. The Board was fairly (and rightfully) critical of the various plans of the 3rd parties.  When I say critical here, I mean they asked very pointed questions for justification for every protrusion or pairing of communities or high deviations etc.  But the Board's own new maps, didn't get that kind of scrutiny.  The public testimony did a lot of that Friday of course.  And they'll get more as the go on the road.  But there is a tendency to get protective of one's own creation.  I think of many times that I'd have classes break up into groups and put together some sort of plan.  They often liked their own plans best.
3. I'd also note that Board Member Borromeo, when talking about spending the weekend working on maps, raised the point that someone had suggested that the Board members report on whether they had had help from outsiders to make their maps.  She thought that was a good suggestion and said the only help she got was from Eric - who's on loan from - one of the State Departments, maybe commerce and who worked with the previous board on mapping - and from the staff.  Then Melanie Bahnke said she hadn't consulted or been contacted by anyone else.  So that just leaves three other members of the board to declare their contacts.  No one else volunteered.  

There's lots more, but I'd need to look carefully through my notes.  And as a reader of the previous post commented, "I fell asleep reading it."  So this is probably enough.  Below are:

1. The email that board subscribers got today about today's meeting.
2. The Board's press release
3. My very, very rough notes of today's meeting

The Email

The Alaska Redistricting Board met today and adopted six proposals, which will serve as the basis for the public meetings starting next week.

• Board composites v.3 and v.4, which will replace the v.1 and v.2 maps previously adopted;
• The following 3^rd Party Maps:
• Coalition of Doyon, Ltd., Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Native Association, Sealaska, and Ahtna.
• Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting (AFFER)
• Alaskans for Fair Redistricting (AFFR)
• The Senate Minority Caucus

 

I know that everyone would like to see the maps. The staff will be working diligently to ensure there are no errors in the maps before creating new shapefiles, .pdf maps, and interactive Google Earth files. We will let you know as soon as the maps are posted.

 

The Press Release

ANCHORAGE – Today the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted six proposed redistricting plans which will be the basis of public meetings across Alaska. The Board-drafted plans, v.3 and v.4 adopted today replace Board Composite Plans v.1 and v.2, which were previously approved by the Board on September 9, 2021.

In addition to the two revised board composites, the following plans submitted and presented by the following organizations were also adopted:

• Coalition of Doyon, Ltd., Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Native Association, Sealaska, and Ahtna.

• Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting (AFFER)

• Alaskans for Fair Redistricting (AFFR)

• The Senate Minority Caucus

"I was pleased that the Board came together today to bring six proposed redistricting plans forward for Alaskans to consider,” said Board Chair John Binkley. “We will now be traveling around the state to learn which plan best reflects Alaskans’ desire for their legislative districts. "

The Alaska Redistricting Board will now start a public meeting tour, seeking feedback from Alaskans on all proposed plans before adoption of the final plan is required by the Alaska Constitution by November 10, 2021.

“We were pleased to hear from Alaskans from every region of the state and replace our initial maps with new and improved versions three and four, which better reflect the socio-economic integration characteristics of each region,” said Board Member Nicole Borromeo. “We look forward to hearing feedback from Alaskans on our new draft maps, as well as the four adopted third-party draft maps, as we present them in public meetings in communities across the state.”

Detailed maps will be posted on the Alaska Redistricting Board’s website at https://www.akredistrict.org/when they are available.

For additional information please contact TJ Presley at (907) 229-1385.

###

My very, very rough notes. 

Again, the main point is to give a sense of the discussion so when the transcript is posted you know where to look.  I tried being a little more conscientious about putting in the time now and then.

Alaska Redistricting Board Monday September 20, 2021

9:08 am People gathering.  Melanie Bahnke will be here by phone.

9:10 Chair opens meeting.  Quorum.

Simpson, Marcum, Borromeo, Bahnke (online), Binkley - all present.

1. Adoption of Agenda 
2. Borromeo move to adopt and move to Executive Session
3. John:  We aren’t going to do that.
4. Withdraw.  Agenda approved.

[Note Socio-Economic Integrity (or Integration) was used a lot.  I shortened it to SEI]

Public testimony

Cathy Giessel - appreciate board discussion about rural communities.  I recommend reject AFFER district ???.  It connects South Anchorage over large stretch of water to connect to one community - Nikiski.  This was done before at recommended of same people.  At that time all of N Kenai connected with South Anchorage.  I was the rep in that district.  Big learning curve because issues of Kenai totally different.  Set nets.  Historical businesses.  Sports fishing.  All very different from hillside.  People in Kenai complained to me about being connected to Anchorage.  In 2013 Courts corrected this redistricting.  I realize contiguity goes over water, but this is an absurd connection.  Urge rejection of AFFER map connecting S. Anchorage to Kenai.  

William Staff ??? - Fairbanks - thank chair and members for hard work.  Not easy.  Irrespective of your decisions, someone will be unhappy.   FBKS NSB - either break it down.  Or Keep integrity of Socio-econ intact.  CAn’t replicate old scenario because of population change.  3-4K people to strip out of Borough and keep us SE-coherent.  Against breaking B boundaries for population.

Soldatna - Gail Limon ?? Moore - Map not acceptable connecting Nikiski to S. Anchorage

Anchorage, sign up - Ann Brown - brief comment to record of Sept 17.  Discussion of role of community councils.  Organization to connect to community councils.  SC has talked about this patterns can’t   - by definition Anchorage is SE-Integrated.  Court also says patterns lack differences to adjust districts. In favor a map that would take that into consideration.  

Yarrow Silver in Anchorage - Board of Foothill community councils.  Advocating for fair redistricting. Started out optimistic, but disappointed Friday.  Your openness Friday were good.  Looked at Maps.  AFFR and ????   Treated east Anchorage.  AK Dem map similar to current districts and compact.  AFFR put thought and effort into putting neighborhoods and keeping them intact.  Community councils keep communities together for 50 plus year.  Chanshtnu park happened through community council.  

John:  Others signed up are reps of 3rd party maps ready to answer questions.

9:24

Move to consideration of 3rd party maps.

Exec Dir.  Peter Torkelson.  We have identical sized maps for side by side comparisons.  Sen. Minority Plan made a couple of small change.  Brought in Deering to NS Borough.  And Matsu to get  ???borders straight.  Matsu didn’t change deviation, but Deering change moved it up to 4+%

Begich not available but Sen. Kiehl will be.  

Melanie:  Can you hear me?  Yes

Borromeo:  Yes I do have questions for Sen. Kiehl.  

John:  Brief at ease til we get Sen. On he line.  

9:29

Melanie:  Asked staff to screen share.  OK, there it is.  [There are two screens.  One facing the Board and one facing the audience]  

9:31 back in session.  Member Bahnke has questions

Bahnke:  They put Deering back into North Slope district so matches Board version, but substantial difference is 37, 38, 39.

John:  Is Sen Begich on the line?

BEgich?  Yes

John:  I see Sens Kiehl and Kawasaki also online.  See changes slight.  Adding Deering into NS and Houston city limits incorporated.  

Yes.

Bethany?  Peter, scroll into Gulf Coast district.  Rational for Valdez and Cordova?  

Begich:  Complexity of puzzle pieces.  Both Cordova and Valdez part of unorganized Borough.  Valdez solves Kodiak underpopulation without undue deviations.  Has traditionally been with Interior in the past.  To avoid overpopulating SE,,  Template to have you look at.  Have to account for the population.  

John:  thanks

Bethany:  Thanks

Nicole:  Overall low deviations to be commended.  But also lack of compactness and SE-disparity.  Bering Straits and YK by taking Doyon villages with YK and Bering Straits.

Begich;  Follows up and down the river.  Old House district Chairman was apart of.  Relationships between Unalakleet and McGrath - study I did and upheld ten years ago.  Trade relationships - trails documented, part of the record ten years ago.  River connection and the past constitutionally accepted connection to trails and early trade.  

Nicole:  Thank you.  37 and 38.  Looks like cut YK districts into 3 districts, they want to be in one.

Begich:  Thanks.  Spoke to Calista.  Request use the villages that use the two rivers.  Doyon and ??? Boundaries to insure follow corporate boundaries.  Making up pop difference.  Directly connected to river connected to Bethel.  ???

Nicole.  Thank you.  32 - Valdez, Halibut Cove, Kodiak, left Valdez and connected Alaska Native groups together, but they don’t have historical connection.  Court found.

Begich:  I can. I was the expert witness in those case.  Tyonek relation only ??  Court said while boundaries important but ??? Also important.  Hard line to draw.  Only material difference between this and previous cycle is change to Cordova to Valdez.  We can’t honor every boundary, driven by population and SE-integration.  Alaska Native villages in the borough and rather isolated villages.

Nicole:  33 couples downtown Juneau with Haines and Skagway.  I’ll give my reasoning and then defer to SEn. Kiehl.  Two house districts and Sen. Districts.  Direct relationships between Juneau, Haines, and Skagway.  Court upheld this very map.  Whether connected to north and south not relevant.

Sen. Kiehl -  Thanks for opportunity.  Begich said well, court heard this and Board heard substantial testimony to keep Mendenhall Valley together compelling.  Small boat harbor and significant maritime elements of Haines and Skagway.  Tlingit Haida Juneau works well with Klukwan.  Significant connections.  Not things that would cause court to strike it down.  Looking for more perfect pairing…???

Melanie - comment about 38, 39, 40 maps.  39 now spread across 3 different ANCSA regions.  Have to fly from Nome to Anchorage to McGrath.  YK experienced tremendous growth and put Into 3 different districts.  I understand court recognized historic trade agreements.  But current practice is different.

Nicole:  There is a flight from Nome to McGrath.

Melanie:  Still have to go thru Anchorage

Begich:  Thanks for your comments.  Always difficult questions.  Don’t want to repeat problems from ten year ago maps.  Didn’t want to go deeper and deeper into ??.  Less of Doyon is in 39.  SE-considerations.  Difficulty with any maps with compactness and contiguity because of strangeness of census blocks were gifted.  Map not perfect but tries to reduced the disparities and also balance one person one vote which is also important.  

John:  thanks   Any other 3rd party maps Board has questions about?

Melanie:  Asked Friday.  Is Matt there?  

Peter:  Not now

Attorney Lee Baxter is here.  Distinction between ANCSA and Borough boundaries

Attorney:  Local - Borough and cities.  We don’t have that for ANCSA but it could be.  No SC precedent saying ANCSA boundaries dominant over local.  

Melanie:  Borough boundaries over ANCSA?

Attorney:  We know local boundaries are SE integrated.  ANCSA boundaries we have to analyze that.  Not precise answer because we don’t have one.  

Bethany:  

Peter:  Done with minority caucus map?

John:  Yes.  Bringing up Doyon coalition maps

Tanner and Marna Sanford From Doyon to mic.  [Nathaniel Amdur-Clark -went by the name Tanner last time and that’s how I identified him in my notes.  He told me later that Nathaniel is his middle name.]

Melanie - looks like map bisects Palmer.

Tanner - No parts of Palmer outside of district.  Might be one census block, but we’ll address that.  

Marna - we have redrawn map, we have a new map, a little different from Board map and the one you saw with split Palmer.  We thought we’d submitted the other one.

Melanie:  Which version should I look at.  I didn’t get your email.  New position not going with that version

John:  We’re looking at adopting 3rd party maps and they have to be complete.

Tanner:  I think submit it for public comment.  Public will comment on that and other districts.  I suspect that other 3rd party maps will be adjusting maps based on public comments coming in  

John:  I’m not sure we’re going to be able to go back and come up with all those changes as we go on the road if we have multiple versions as we go around the state.

Budd:  What I hear them, because of the timing, they have to submit and this is what is ready now.  Idea isn’t to change every time someone comments, but to track them and make a new map at the end.  

Tanner:  Keeping track and making changes will be internal, but helpful but between Friday and now very short turnaround.  If Board wants to set another date for 3rd party map updates would be helpful.  Keeping track would be internal.  Board can decide what they’ll do.

John:  At meeting Friday decided to adopt maps today because we have tight framework.  But as long as we take the maps we have now will be presented in public.  And you’ll see potential changes later.

Bethany:  Anchorage into Matsu?

Tanner:  Population realities of all SC Alaska.  To get right size, need parts of Kenai and best is to have Seward, then need a small pop from elsewhere.  Most SE integrated area is up the highway.  Also when coming S from the N.  Matsu.  Additional population has to be given up - SC precedent saying there is SE integration between North Anchorage and S. Matsu.  

Marna - Lazy Mountain….

John:  Can we look up north?

Melanie:  Can we look at YK area - how many different districts between split

Marna - Calista is 3.

John:  Southern part of Denali, looking at Cantwell.  Where is Denali Highway. Denali the Boundary?

Marna - Can’t see it on this map.  Have to get real close.  

John:  Boundary is Nenana River?  South fork?  Basically Nenana river is boundary.  Broke Borough boundary to include Cantwell.  Clear Boroughs all SE integration.  ANCSA could be but no precedent.  Why include Cantwell?

Tanner:  Board can take into consideration local boundaries including Boroughs, but doesn’t mean can’t take other factors.  Nothing that says B more important than Muncipalities.  If they are split there are rules about how that happens.  If they don’t have controlling votes in enough districts.  If split Denali Borough into three districts so B wouldn’t have controlling ??? In any districts.  

John:  population of Cantwell?

Marna About 220ish

Whole b?  

Marna Don’t know

Tanner:  Not enough for a house seat, but can be part.  1600 in Borough.  

Nicole:  Thanks.  You tried to connect Doyon villages ????  Like to bring up Kenai Pen Borough.  Another that took hits to its boundaries.  Why breach so often?

Tanner:  Wouldn’t accept premise that changes to Kenai is to keep Interior intact.  Changes to Kenai comes from view that Valdez is not SEI to Interior.  Have to build Kenai in way we have done. Not reflection of trying to keep Kenai and Ahtna.  

Marna Some maps take some Homer neighborhoods out.  Making case for Seward.  I think ours is only one that keeps PWS whole.  We believe B boundaries are not necessarily the best measure of SEI

Tanner:  SEI always referred as relative.  Most SEI you can be all things considered and population considerations.  37 has largest downward deviation of all the maps.  All maps will have at least one district with downward deviation.  To keep SW as SEI.  If not have these communities, deviation even higher.

Nicole:  evidence of SEI, because court has been critical that really should e evidence of historical linguistic and other evidence.

Tanner:  Relative.  In comparison to other possibilities.  Connecting the maritime coastal communities on Peninsula with SW Alaska makes some sense and compared to other option.  Connect them to Kodiak and a long skinny district along all of SC Alaska.  

Nicole:  District 24?

John: While at 37 I have question.  You made a value judgment here that in D37 that Good News and Platinum more SEI  with Seldovia and Halibut Cove, rather than PWS whole rather than YK District

Tanner:  100%  More SEI as a whole than to include Valdez in 

Marna Or Dillingham with McGrath..  To keep them together and have them in maritime district in entirety as a voting block. 

Nicole:  24 - Peters Creek, breached Anchorage and Matsu, plus finger into ER.  Clarification.

Marna We thought that was one single neighborhood.  Other maps stretched down to Base.  Could have one Downtown/Eagle River.  

Nicole:  AFFER reps?  

Mr. Ruedrich:  Good Morning.  Randy Ruedrich, Anchorage on behalf of AFFER.  This morning we filed new shape files with the board that clean up a few block files.  I said Friday we had 29 districts below 1 %  as of this morning we have 35 districts below 1%  Our new max is 2.8%

Nicole:  Thanks. Haven’t had chance to review new maps, so asking the Friday map.  Appreciate work in Matsu Borough.  An entire restructure of rural Alaska and problems with SE.

Taking Saxman out of Ketchikan is unconstitutional

Ruedrich:  Saxman dependent on resources in D2.  For that reason alone.  

Nicole:  AK SC has been clear about this area.  1992, they said it was impermissible.  Why did you do it anyway.

Ruedrich:  Because of VRA changes there were different rules.  I can go back and come up with better solution.

Nicole:  D2 - Metlakatla and Hyder.  Metlakatla wants to be with Ketchikan but you put them with Sitka.  

Ruedrich:  Tried to put Native communities with connection to Sitka into D 2.  Only way I could find to get Yakutat population to assist us in most severed pop deficit.  SE always has problems because of length, lack of width, my surprise we could do this. 20 years ago Icework district, Hyder up to Linn Canal.  

Nicole:  I’ll say that the justification from Sitka to Metlakatla.  Had to fly from Metlakatla to Ketchikan to Sitka.  

Budd:  This map looks like we tried to draw.  As soon as it hit the presses got comments from Ketchikan, Saxman, Metlakatla communities that we missed a portion of Ketchikan south.  When we went back, couldn’t see a way to make it work population wise   When we put people back into Ketchikan, couldn’t make it go up to Wrangell.  Fishhook to Hyder and Metlakatla.  Petersburg had to go with Sitka.  

Nicole:  38, Uniting Hooper Bay and Bethel.  Appendage to SE to Quingahak.  Not compact 

Ruedrich:  In consultation with Calista.  Hooper Bay wanted to be with Bethel.  If we colored that all yellow, it wouldn’t look so unique.  Specific trade and individuals from Hooper Bay have testified.  Expect Calista to testify, tomorrow if you are in session on why this is what they prefer to have.  Have not been with Bethel for years and they say they are SEI.  

Nichole:  56 villages in area have significant ties to Bethel.  Consider 

Melanie:  Look at criteria - three of those quantitative - compact, contiguous, numbers are numbers - the qualitative issue SEI is where we have all the discussion.  Breaking YK into 3 districts.  Also problem with Saxman.  Did SC already decide on this matter?

Lee:  For the record, that’s my recollection too.

10:41

Nicole:  Previous supreme courts have ruled against this?  

John:  Yes.

Mr. Ruedrich:  Part and parcel from Calista moving those 5 villages into 37.  Not requiring Doyon villages above into 37.  That’s the biggest positive impacts on Western Alaska districts.  2013 Map had 13?? Villages Doyon in D37.  Big step to compactness and reduces length of arc the Doyon villages were subjected to.  Calista sees this as improvement.  Villages in3 districts.  We had villages in 2 districts and no one voting on where their Sen comes from.  

Nicole:  Is Calista a member of your organization?  

Ruedrich:  Yes part of it.

Nicole:  Can we have someone from Calista with authority to testify to this.  Haven’t heard from other Calista villages.

Can we go to 39  Down coast from Shishmaref to Emmonak - what is the SEI for a district like this.  

Ruedrich:  Allow Calista to respond because all part of Calista.

Nicole:  Negative

Ruedrich;  Right, some are not  Population to reduce deviation.  Not enough people to avoid severe deviation.

Melanie:  Not only breaking B boundary, but also breaking four different ANCSA boundaries  Not a SC ruling, but something we should consider.  Doesn’t appear SE muster.  I have concerns..  Also too much emphasis on deviation over other factors.

Nicole:  Done with rural.  Let’s look at 32.  We did hear from resident in Nikiski who protested

Ruedrich:  Briefly back to NW Alaska situation.  Two villages we put into D39 from NANA in area highly influenced by deviation challenges.  2002, SC directed Shishmaref to be added to eliminate deviation.  In 2012 not enough population in Shishmaref, so whole area to Wiseman 

was included in NSlope/NANA district.  Now population large enough, even have surplus.  Would be largest deviation if that problem is not addressed.

Melanie:  Question for Peter - Two versions of Board maps, NS borough - what is that % deviation?  

Peter:  Positive 2.65%????  Wanted it noted that less than 3%.

John:  At ease for 5 minutes.

10:54

11:01  Back to order

AFFER map questions

Nicole:  District 5:  Different from others.  Specifically did rural and included Cordova with Interior district

Ruedrich:  Complicated problem as Cordova as a place in PW Sound.  In 2011 hearings they testified, they said they wanted to be with Kodiak 48-2 rather than Valdez.  Made decision to not put in SE.  Not enough population without Yakutat to properly build D36.  Only option we had left was a pre 1980 which puts Cordova with eastern Alaska.  So I saw no other solution.  Couldn’t make it work with Kodiak.  No possibilities.

Nicole:  No SE reason, just for population

Ruedrich:  Doesn’t have road access so has same problems.  Does have a seaport.

Nicole: And does have daily flights to SE.  Done to separate Valdez to Cordova.  Even tho said at one point in one meeting that they didn’t want to be connected to Valdez.

John:  Sen. Begich testimony said there were traditional trade routes and connections to keep in district.  If one considers that there is the railroad and Copper River connections.

Nicole:  Hillside and Nikiski.

Ruedrich:  What happens to SE Anchorage - over population.  Some parts of state terribly overpopulated and thus very under represented.  Kenai pop for 2.?? House seats.  When pairing Anchorage with Matsu, surplus population on both sides.  .4 of seat had to be pushed out of B to create eastern Matsu Richardson Highway district.  Only way this works, still have surplus population you put it into36  Kodiak-Valdez.  What we’ve done here was done in 1984 map.  Not ideal, but if these folks are not give opportunity to vote with citizens on Anchorage side, will have zero true representation because will be buried by Kenia.  Kenai overpopulated in 2001 and 1011.  Habitual abuse of Kenai.  

Nicole:  thank you.  Habitual abuse.  See breaching of B boundary.  You’ve weighed deviation above B boundary.  We can ask those residents when we go there.

Nicole:  Struggled constitutional requirements to keep thee districts compact, and apendages.  30 into 28.  27 is pretty compact in Turnagain area, but 22 and 25 encroaches western of 20, 20 into 25.  I could understand that you do have places that push and pull because I worked on Anchorage about 20 times.

Ruedrich:  The version we presented this morning resolves most of those problems.  Sorry, we were pressed for time.  22 compact N-S NL to Base.  36 cleaned up - put mostly into Hillside.  

Nicole:  Going to focus testimony because I don’t have access to new map.  Focus on rational basis fordrawingof Anchorage.

Ruedrich:  Tried to use Chester Creek as much as possible, Fish Creek, Campbell creek.  Divided E/W using Seward Highway and have as few deviations as possible.  D24 like shapes.  Different corners, tales, ears, a function of the creeks.  Not covered by waterways, in NE corner added to get population.

Nicole:  appreciates the deviation, but not the compactness.  Extend it again to FB, boundaries of NSborough broken.  I do appreciate time you put in map.  Shows problem when concentrate on deviation you lose other factors.  

Bethany:  Can you overlay house districts on this map.  Current districts not at all compact.  Balancing act between compactness and deviation.  

John:  Thank you  

11:19  Questions from Board members about other 3rd party maps.

Nicole:  if AFFR reps, I do have questions.  

Robin and David go up.  David Dunsmuir and joined by colleague Robin O’Donahue.

Nicole.  Thank you appreciate the work and commend you on low deviation.  Some community groupings and appendages.  Start withSE.  Start with D1.  Why Thorne Bay this way?

David:  I don’t believe that’s a B boundary.  For population purposes it was necessary to add population.  Looking for most compact, contiguous and SE-I way to do this.  Determined Thorne Bay most compact way to do it.  What is your evidence for ties of Thorne Bay to Ketchikan and why have you broken up ?? This way.  

David:  Not one specific hub communities, note transportation links by ferry and scheduled air travel.  Most commercial flights to Thorne Bay go to Ketchikan.

Nicole:  that helps.  Petersburg and downtown Juneau, puzzling to me why?  What’s evidence to group this way.

David:  Desifre to correct major SE flaw with current districts.  Fails to recognize close ties between Petersburg and Juneau, and fails to see Skagway and Haines on road connected to Juneau the largest off the road city.  Air Travel more than 6 times thru Sitka.  Ketchikan is not in top ten of passenger destinations for Petersburg.  Still didn’t have enough population.  Determined Prince of Wales had connection best way to get population.

Nicole:  coupled outer islands with Sitka, but also Skwagwary and Haines.  What’s justification.

David:  Hyder is in D1 allows unique issue of border crossings.  Sitka off roadway while Haines and Klukwan on system.  Rely on maritime, Marine Highway major SE and transportation factor .  Significant small plane activity.  

Nicole:  No one said transportation was a tie.

Gulf Coast - adding Aleutians and Whittier?

David:  Not Alleutians - Iliamna and 

Nicole:  SE ties, when looking at Gulf Coast region, we struggled to balance and you’ve seen actions with Valdez which is an offload system as opposed to unload system.  Believe better SE and cultural integration when include Lake & District.  Similarly allows Lake Iliamna in same district as Tyonek.  Only ferry link is to Kodiak.  Lake & Peninsula Borugh access to Bear Viewing.

Nicole:  Kept S portion intact around Homer and up east coast and Western.  Did you split Soldotna to two districts.

David:  We followed the city limits.  If a misclick not our intention.  

Nicole:  thought…. Maybe Soldotna not that far south.  

David:  Also followed City of Kenai boundary.

Nicole:  39

Bethany:  Only map we saw with Kenai and Soldotna split.  Population makes one neat district.

David:  Better reflects connection with highways.  Although close geographically, have own downtowns.  More along Sterling Highway closer ties with Soldotna.  Also, if you put them together Kenai communities have to go to Seward.  This is the most compact along Sterling Hwy and Kenai Spur Hwy.

Nicole:  Coupled Valdez with interior villages and split Doyon???.  What does Valdez have in common with Bettles/  

David:  Another …. Sorry missed this.  Alaska Highway.  Balancing desire from Doyon communities keeping their region integrated including road system portions of Doyon.  Balancing those concerns.  Believe will be constitutional, but awkward off road system communities with Doyon road system communities.

Nicole:  Note, board also struggled with Valdez.  D. 39, down YK, but took a lot more in.  An area that Melanie calling from Nome has questions about.

Melanie:  Similar to Q about others.  NW Alaska tied to Interior Alaska - what are the ties?

David:  Another area with problems .  Balancing community concerns.  Doyon desire to have region in as few districts as possible.  And hooper bay wanting to be with Bethel.  And Calista trying be be in two house districts?????   SE integration along Yukon River - Doyon and Calista  Already historic ties of commerce.  Another thing.  Mining is a commonality.  Made D39 one of our smallest to minimize how many Doyon into it and 38 bigger to get as many Calista communities as possible.

Melanie:  Not hearing SE Integration.  Again mentioned historic, but remind that historically there was warfare between Coastal and Interior communities.

David:  We have struggled through this process.  We believe it’s constitutional district best way to balance these concerns.  Multiple cultural groups being merged.  We will monitor with coalition partners and Doyon on how we can find better ways to resolve concerns.  Ms Bahnke we hear your concerns.  

Melanie;  Looking at current SE ties compared to past warfare.  Not much travel between Coastal and interior.  No animosity with our neighbors now.  

11:45

John:  Questions about Interior. Zoom into 31.  Looking at D33, loops down below ?? road.  Appendage to the east

David:  The Lakeview area - active gravel pit and trailer park.  Outside of city limits.  Looking at most urban parts of FB outside of city.  Not appropriate to put it in D31.  Either 33 or D?? Not part of North Pole - D35 greater NPole.  Want to recognize North Pole’s unique character

John:  31 on western side appendage that comes down.  Seems to come into Chena River neighborhood.  Parks Hwy north, integrated neighborhood.  Mr. Chair, we that is an unfortunate artifact of meeting population and census blocks. Would draw too much population in.  Since using Chena river as boundary, that that is the best.  You are correct that it splits a small neighborhood.

John:  Go toward Aurora and totem Park.  North college road.  Using ??? As boundary for D32.  Major collector street as strong boundary. No one lives in that census block.  

[John asking about details of Fairbanks  that I have trouble following and keeping up with][David’s mic is much too loud each time he starts talking.]

Thank you  

11:54am

John:  We have someone from Calista cCorp.  We have Mr. Leonard on line.  Still there Tom?

Tom  Leonard:  AFFER speaking on behalf of Calista Corporation, my Cupic name???

Calitsta invited comments from YK delta, Hooper Bay into Bethel - HB, Scammon Bay and Chevak move to 38.  And Quinigahak, Platinum Bay and Goodness Bay to 37.  Don’t have to include Doyon into our map.  Buckland and Deering into 39 as a placeholder solution, but open to other changes to help with overpopulation.

Melanie:  Thanks for calling in.  When we go to Bethel, what will we hear? 

Tom;  Thru the chair, great question.  Haven’t been able to speak with every community wouldn’t speak on their behalf.  Wanting fair representation would be their top choice.

Melanie:  Other than Hooper Bay, get comments from other villages?  Encouraged them to submit their comments to the board.  Thanks for calling in.

John:  Break for lunch.  Back in 30 minutes?  Enough.

TJ:  Also have members of AK Dem party online if Board has questions.

John:  Good idea.  Back at 12:30.  Stand adjourned, No recess.

12:01pm

12:36 Back on record. Alaska Democratic Party online.  Mike Wen??

Budd:  Putting Petersburg with S. End of Juneau?  Can you explain?

Erin:  Largely based on population constraints, political boundaries.

Nicole:  District 38 - Hooper Bay in Bethel  appendage on NE side.

Erin:  Two large census blocks.  Generally natural boundaries.

John:  Eek is in 38 and Quingahak in 37?  

Nicole:  D6 - Eilson and = Military base plus Valdez and interior villages.

Erin:  District we struggled with.  Tried other options that had other problems.  Minimizing ??? communities, include FB because of size of Borough.  

Mike:  Difficult population of FB with rural communities around FB and down Richardson Hwy.  Keeping Air force base in district similar to current D6.

Nicole:  Not hearing strong rationale, but appreciate the struggle.

See NPole and ?? together.  ButDistrict 5 Ester, Goldstream all the way to ??? River.

Mike:  Familiar.  North Pole more cohesive.  As you go further out, very similar.  Large area not much population.  How to draw most compact map.  Salcha, Eilson Chena Hot Spring Road, Ester, Goldstream more aligned than base or downtown FB.  

Nicole:  Neg 742 Alaskans.  Did you take that into consideration when doing FBNS borough.

Erin:  Goal to keep communities as contained as possible. 

Nicole:  D4 - deviation .00%.  Odd shaped district and appendage into western side of city.

Erin:  contiguous outside of city without breaking an additional boundary.  

Nicole:  Do you know pop in appendage.  SC said appendages that go to populated area will be suspect.   438.  OK.

Overall process of FB - troubled by lack of compactness when I see the map.

Mike:  Still looking at appendage.  Overall compactness and why went outside?

Nicole:  Understand you needed population.  D4.  1 and 2 followed city boundary.

Mike:  D4 where we had to go out of the city to get population.  It is a compact district.  Putting them together with populations to get them compact.  

Melanie: 

John:  I have question on FB first.  Same as Nicole in terms of compactness. D6 big appendix  D.5

Boundary of Eilson AF base.  

Melanie:  D39 - deviations in various districts.  North, assuming D40.  Why Deering and Buckland in 39.  

Erin:  Hooper Bay and Bethel that underpopulated 39.  So domino effect.  

Melanie:  Interior villages in 39? 

Erin:  a few Nulato Quinhagak…..struggle with population, pushed 39 east and north until we could achieve a decent deviation.

Melanie:  Understand challenge in that part.  You put Buckand and Deering because underpopulated.

Erin:  Largely based on location.

Melanie:  Factor any ANCSA boundaries.

Erin:  Yes, we began with ANCSA boundaries and worked from there.  Cascading effect.  

Melanie 39 had four distinct ANCSA regions.  

Nicole:  To Kenai, D29?  Area of state lots of concerns because of appendages throughout the district.  Compactness of 29 and 30.  Why shape like it did.  

ERin:  Census Blocks

Nicole:  Troubled with Kenai Pen.  

Erin:  Challenging has relationship with 32, Kodiak and Chugach borough.  Trying to look thematically SE at entire communities.  Kenai itself being the hub it is  

Nicole:  Anchorage.  Compactness and shape pleasing.  Deviation run on higher side.  Worried that court will struggle with some of these.

Erin:  Recognize deviation high in Anchorage.  Trade off or high deviation or people complaining about feeling part of community  Not want to go to Matsu.  But also not to Kenai.

Bethany:  Related 13 and 14 in ER overpopulated 4.5 4.92 and neighboring districts underpopulated.  Why not balance?

Erin:  Recognize residents actively organizing to exit from MOA.  SE very diverse.  Community park at Chanshtsu.  

Nicole:  Matsu  comes down from North, then over the top to Palmer.  D10.  Largely population and related to D9 which is also a large district.  Palmer D11, to city boundary of Wasilla.  

Erin:  Largely based on where other lines were drawn.  Butte and Lazy Mt area.  Cross pollination with many of these groups.  

Nicole:  D29 next question. Includes Butte, Sutton, Chickaloon, Knik,  Most others have gone south, not north to get population.  SEI point would help.

Erin:  Valdez didn’t want to be part of Matsu.  Looked at other communities in that part of Alaska.  

Nicole:  looking for specifics not generalizations about the commonality.

Erin:  A district we struggled with we though all were equally valid and equally challenging.

Bethany:  Boundaries 9 to 6.  Glenn Allen cut off from Copper River.  

Erin:  double check my map.  

Mike:  

Erin:  Valdez and ?? Not in same district.  Valdez and Palmer. 

Bethany:  Glenn Allen in D9 and Copper Center in D6.  Why split.

Mike:  Comes down to members in the reason prefer SE than Matsu.  Trying to keep them with Valdez, in D6 based on people we were talking to.

Erin:  If we remove Glenalnlen would ….

John:  Erin and Mike thank you very much.   Think that’s all the 3rd party maps.  Shift to Board’s version 1 and 2.  Peter, how do you suggest we proceed to do that mechanically.  

Peter:  Can we stand at ease til we get them up.  

1:13  At ease

1:17

Peter:  Board adopted two plans and spent time over the weekend to refine more refined versions.  V3 and V4.  Show and tell.  

John:  Start with V3.  

Budd:  Earlier I referred to error we made in Ketchikan.  Asked staff to make map to show how we changed our first plan.  

V1 and V2 both have the same.  

Budd:  Thin strip.  Included several 100 people.  Put it back pushed population too far.  Concept initially Ketchikan, Wrangell Petersburg into and interior region, lots of common interests.  But population wise wouldn’t work out.  Only way was to remove Petersburg from the district, then need to bring population from Southern part - Hyder and Metlakatla.

New one:  Ketchikan and Wrangell and Hyder and Metlakatla.  Then one island district gets more compact.  Two Juneau districts similar to previous versions.  Changes in D2 allowed to bring ?? To D4.  City and Borough of Juneau Split, a few census blocks to get population right.

Peter:  Moving north.  Changes in Anchorage.  Competition between deviation and compact.  Many hours of work to 

Matsu largely based on earlier version.

Bethany:  When first learned Matsu and Anch SEI, heard they wanted to see version which respects the borough boundary.  New dividing line and to get minimum deviations had to redraw many districts.  

Two dif maps opportunity to discuss and find out what residents think.

D25 - Palmer Lazy Mountain district.  Going north was detrimental to compactness.  30 between Palmer and Wasilla north.  Sutton and Chickaloon

26, to the South.  Fairview Loop and Cottonwood.

Just shy of two more Matsu districts.  Tried going north with D28, but messed up compactness.  Nice clean n border.  D29 short by 500 people, so added Nenana .  Matsu deviation at .39%

Anchorage:  ER and East Anchorage.  New version.  ER is now a donut district.  Most of core of ER.  Then outer ER more likely to have wells.  24 and 23.  Not enough.  But instead of using E. Anchorage used Elmendorf.  Lots of military live in ER.  No east Anchorage.  

In town.  Horizontal or vertical blocks.  Trying to find tighter deviations.  Trim blocks and become very uneven, due to census blocks.  Getting near zero deviation, but balance compact v deviation.  All but one district has less than 1%, total .88% deviation.

D18 Elmendorf side kept whole.  Nice compact district.  Discussion when we get more feedback.  Orientation of the airport, in that area east west, but south of Tudor more logical for North/South orientating  

Downtown w of Ingra, Tudor as southern for next district.  D15 south to Raspberry, Dimond.

D13 n. Border of Dimond to Johns Road.  

Back n. D19 from5th avenue many odd shaped census blocks.  !2 natural SH on West and Elmore to east.  

22 - southern part of Ft Rich and ER

Turpin and Nunaka Valley D21.  

Hard where 19,20, 21 intersect.  Cheney Lake, Baxter Bog Park.  Shapes not as compact, but got good deviation.  

District 10.  Chugach Foothills and Stuckagain Heights, Upper Huffman.

Down to Whittier

1:40pm

Peter:  Gulf Coast and Kenai unchanged .  Some changes in FB, no material changes - deviations and more compact.  Western AK unchanged.  Interior includes Valdez.

D37 -.?? %

John:  Move to version 4?  Nicole.

Nicole: I’m going to move to withdraw v2 and replace with v4.  Never done with v2, but it was only to show there were other options.  To show MOA could be whole without taking population from the north.  Last Friday, we spent Friday with Eric at office.  Started in interior with 36.  Rural interior underpopulated by about 20% and North Slope over populated.  Went into FBNS borough, because of SEI between FB and  surrounding rural villages.  Break at Eilson because currently with interior villages.  Roe v ??  1963 = Military an be transient  In Alaska on involuntary bases and often have residency in other states.  **** that was pre PFD

D32 City within a borough. 1.75 seats in city itself.  

[This is really hard to track for me and I’m sure worse for anyone reading this.[  32 encompasses all of City of FB.  UAF SEI and wanted to include places around U but population too low.  Had to go toward city limits.  

Norther Pole, Badger Road, Eilson.  Homes Road on north.  

Melanie:  32 some weird red line.  

S35 rural FB.

D34 - NE FB.

D25 moving south.  Valdez question for Board and 3rd parties.  Decided to move it with Matsu because Matsu is underpopulated. 

1:52  - Keeping Huston, Willow and Palmer whole.  2.94 deviation.  

D29 Wasilla and west Meadow Lake. 1.76% deviation.

D28 Palmer, whole, Lazy Mt. And Butte. Highest deviation for Palmer/Wasilla 4.??  Can decrease the high deviation.  

Melanie:  That little island, populated? 

Nicole:  There are people there, but not very many.

D27 Cotton Creek and RR  D1.2% high

D26  Palmer/Wasilla gateway

To SE:  underpopulated by about 1100 Alaskan.  Compact SEI reasons.  3.24 low deviation

D2 starts at Yakutat puts it into SE.  Includes Petersburg. 

Anchorage keeping intact.  Separate East Anchorage and South Anchorage.  Ended up redrafting whole MOA starting from South.  Where you begin shapes the rest of the map.  

Potter March - looks big, but no population.  

D12 - Turnagain and the airport.  Public said keep Turnagain with the airport.  This part of city changed most because of sizable subdivision in Sandlake.  

13 Spenard residents have showed up and want Spenard separate from Airport and Turnagain.  Used major roads as dividers - NL, Fireweed Chester Creek, Lake Otis

D14 midtown n- 13 boundary  eastern is Seward and Lake Otis , southern Dimond, Minnesota.  

D15 lower hillside

Campbell Airstrip and Park.  Looks large, but not much highway

D17 U-Med district Dowling and Tudor.  Wes is Lake Otis - natural occurring geography 

[It’s really hard to pay attention to lists of boundaries with not being sure which of the blocks on the screen.]

Base united despite testimony.  Military service more transient.  Applicable to Anchorage as to FB.  

D22 looks like very large - significant unpopulated by park

D23 NE Anchorage 

D24 South ER.  

Overall low deviation and relatively compact.  

Budd:  Mentioned transient nature of bases in Anch and FBKs.  Any data that shows the bases 

I was reading SC from our state.  Wasn’t looking at voter turn out.

Last time question from public about who helped us with maps.  Got help from Eric, 

Melanie:  Counsel told us not to look at voter turnout or age - none have done that including myself.  

Grow v. ??   1973.   

Lee:  That was prior to constitutional change in how we do redistricting.  

2:19 brief at ease.

2:28pm

John back.  How to take plans around the state.  To discuss with communities.  

Look at v.3 and v4 and then the 3rd plan.  

Bethany propose adopt v3 to replace v1 and v4 to replace v2.

Melanie.  Second that motion, friendly amendment.  Have staff check census block in Matsu and put them in districts they belong.  

John:  If staff does that, send changes to the board members.

Everyone understand?  Discussion?  Objection?  Hearing none.  Passed

Now look at 3rd Party plans. 

Chair looking for a motion to adopt any of the plans.

Melanie, according Constitution, move we adopt plan by Doyon coalition.  Budd seconds.  

Objection?  Adopted

ADP - Alaska Democratic Party.  

Melanie:  Move to adopt ADP plan.  

Second?  John seconds.

Objections?  Adopted.

Nicole:  I’m voting to oppose.  If you seconded the motion, can we have someone else chair.  John:  Motion to adopt.  

Budd.  I think you have to rescind that vote.  Since confusion.  More to rescind.  2nd.  Discussion?  

Nicole:  Appreciate the work the party put in, but in reviewing, the way they have sliced and diced so many Boroughs.  Not a plan we want to take on the road with us. 

Budd:  I concur.  We have a couple other 3rd party plans that better reflect the ‘democratic’ view that are better than this one.

John:  Don’t know there are any other partisan plans that have identified themselves as such

Budd:  AFFR and Minority Caucus.

Melanie  We can take on the road and let the state see them.  Doesn’t mean we adopt as final plan.  

Bethany:  Lots of time.  Lots of testimony on these plans over the weekend.  Might make sense to limit what we take.

Melanie:  Not everyone comes to Anchorage or has internet.  Not everyone can call in and be on phone for hours not knowing when they will be called.  Or to look at the maps.

John:  Has taken a lot of time for all these entities.  The public will have time when we go to communities.  Maybe overall we don’t think it’s that good.  But maybe a particular community likes it and will help when we have to make .

Nicole:  I don’t think it would meet SC.  Nothing to prohibit public and Dem party from weighing in.  I don’t believe on balance this plan is worth the effort.

Melanie:  Parts of each plan flawed, but encourage board members to include all 3rd party plans.  Doesn’t mean we will adopt.  But gives us time.  

Nicole:  Call the question and roll call vote.

Repeat motion.  To rescind our vote to adopt Dem Party plan.  If it passes, back to original motion  If fails, ADP plan will be adopted and goes on the road. 

Bahnke-  Borromeo, yes; no Marcum yes Simpson yes, Binkley yes.

Bahnke - adopt AFFER plan.  Second by Nicole

Bethany:  should have had this discussion on Doyon plan.  We heard for both from Doyon and AFFER that they have new versions of plan different from the ones they presented Friday.  Be clear that the versions we received on Friday.  

John:  My understanding.  Except Senate Minority Caucus which made the changes already.

Nicole:  AFFER presented problematic districts for rural area, but Palmer was useful, so we should take it.

Budd: AFFER has really good deviation numbers which may be helpful to us.  

Adopted.

Melanie:  propose we adopt plan from AFFR.  2nd by Bethany

Budd:  These folks have been to every meeting sent a lot of time deserves to go forward.  Bethany, they also made changes they heard us discuss.

John:  Except since Friday.

Adopted.  

Melanie:  adopt plan submitted by Senate Minority Caucus with amendments suggested Sept 19.  

Nicole:  can we have roll call vote.  

John:  Has value.  Knowledgeable people set it up.  We may not agree with it all.  I’ll support this the more info the better.  Not confused by too much info.  If we need more staff, we should make those changes.  

Nicole:  will also support it and appreciate their participation, from legal prospect and have concerns about parts but appreciate the low deviations.  

Budd, I’m supportive as well. They have participated actively in our hearings, well thought out ideas.  

Bethany:  I’m also going support it because I appreciate the knowledge, different because it has low deviations without sacrificing compactness.  

Nicole:  withdraw request for role call vote.

Adopted.

We have four 3rd party plans and two new versions of the Board’s.

Peter:  We will work really hard to get this done.  We will email as soon as done  If not on email list you can. 

2:53

John:  Public testimony?

Brian Hoek ??:  West Anchorage - Appreciate Borromeo’s work on that part of town.  Others had similar concerns as well.  More in common with airport.  About Fairbanks.  Sat through a few of these.  Direction I see is headed to break the FBNS borough.  I think that’s a problem  Balance between deviations and making sure everyone is represented properly.  One approach.  I see need to break it.  My hometown’s population is declining.  One pan I haven’t seen is a break on the SE side down the highway.  There is an approach.  I’ve worked on that myself.  There may be some historical districts.

Nicole:  Thank you for coming and for not moving to FBKs since Friday.  Please stay engaged.

Bethany:  Put you FBKs map on the website.  

Brian:  My wife and I were out of town when you started.  Working with tool available on the website requires some learning .  Working to satisfy my own curiosity.

John:  People can still make their own maps.    Staff has done an incredible job, worked tirelessly over the weekend to make all the maps available to everybody.  May need additional help moving things from community to community.  Looks like one person online.

Robert Hockema:  Testified at last board meeting.  About partisanship.  Tons and tons of discussion.  Want to testify.  Concern about AFFER map.  I know there will be modification.  Districts are drawn to make Republicans in coalition less competitive.  Out of all 40 districts. Talking about who would win based on who won elections in 2016 election.  AFFER most uncompetitive maps.  Incredibly important factor.  One person one vote if communities have harder time getting representation.  

Anyone else?  Close public testimony.

Peter:  Constitution directs us to hold public hearing tour.  In contact with a number of communities.  If your community would like to schedule a hearing in person or online.  Looking at visiting dozens of communities.  

John:  Most important part as we go out and seek input.

Nicole:  Thanks to staff, Peter, TJ, Juli and Jennifer have gone above and beyond, they are there nights and weekends.  That’s the level of work that Alaskans have gotten from the staff.  

Peter:  Thanks very much.  We have to wrap up tours by Nov. 1 an winter storms coming and we don’t want to get stuck.  We’ll have to come back and collate everything.  It will be messy.

John:  Motion to adjourn.

Moved, seconded, not opposed.  Adjourned.

3:07pm