SENATE BILL NO. 726 September 22, 1999, Introduced by Senators LELAND and MURPHY and referred to the Committee on Local, Urban and State Affairs. A bill to abolish the existing Detroit city council; to establish a new 9-member Detroit city council; to reapportion the city of Detroit into 9 single-member election districts; to impose certain residency requirements on candidates for the Detroit city council; and to impose certain duties on certain officials for the city of Detroit. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 Sec. 1. The at-large city council for the city of Detroit 2 provided by charter is abolished on January 1, 2001 and shall be 3 replaced by a city council of 9 members elected from 4 single-member election districts at regular municipal elections 5 beginning with the 2000 municipal primary election. 6 Sec. 2. Within 30 days after the effective date of this 7 act, the city redistricting commission shall meet as the 8 apportionment commission and adopt an apportionment plan. The 03554'99 FDD 2 1 city redistricting commission shall consist of the mayor of the 2 city of Detroit, city clerk for the city of Detroit, and presi- 3 dent of the Detroit city council. The city redistricting commis- 4 sion shall thereafter meet within 30 days after the publication 5 of the latest official figures of the federal decennial census to 6 reapportion the city of Detroit. To the extent consistent with 7 this act, the procedural aspects of the apportionment process 8 shall be governed by the same statutory procedures as those pro- 9 vided for a county charter commission apportionment pursuant to 10 section 5(4), (5), (6), and (7) of 1966 PA 293, MCL 45.505. The 11 city clerk for the city of Detroit shall convene the city redis- 12 tricting commission, sitting as the apportionment commission. As 13 the apportionment commission, the city redistricting commission 14 shall adopt its own rules of procedure. Two members shall con- 15 stitute a quorum, and all actions shall be by a majority vote. 16 Sec. 3. The city redistricting commission shall provide for 17 equal representation for each single-member election district, 18 and each single-member election district shall be as nearly equal 19 in population as is practicable based on the latest official fig- 20 ures of the federal decennial census. In developing an appor- 21 tionment plan, the city redistricting commission shall follow the 22 lines used for planning sectors and subcommunities as provided by 23 the city of Detroit's master plan and charter. In subsequent 24 reapportionments, the city redistricting commission apportionment 25 plan shall make only incremental changes to the single-member 26 election district boundaries that are necessary to accommodate 03554'99 3 1 population change requirements. Each single-member election 2 district shall be designated by name and number. 3 Sec. 4. Each candidate for the Detroit city council shall 4 be a resident of the single-member election district he or she 5 seeks to represent. A Detroit city council member's office is 6 vacated if the member moves his or her residence outside of the 7 single-member election district that the member represents. 8 Sec. 5. To comply with and implement this act, the clerk 9 for the city of Detroit shall promulgate necessary election rules 10 and procedures consistent with other provisions of the Detroit 11 city charter. The Detroit city council may amend the Detroit 12 city charter to comply with this act as provided by the home rule 13 city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.1 to 117.38, and by charter for 14 the adoption of an ordinance. However, any charter amendment to 15 comply with the intent and findings of this section shall take 16 effect immediately upon adoption by the Detroit city council. 17 The clerk for the city of Detroit shall file a copy of any 18 charter amendment with the secretary of state and the county 19 clerk of Wayne county. 20 Sec. 6. This act does not take effect unless submitted to a 21 vote of the qualified electors of the city of Detroit and rati- 22 fied by a majority of the electors voting on the question. The 23 question of adoption of this act shall be submitted to the voters 24 of the city of Detroit at the next regular election to be held 25 not less than 60 days after the effective date of this act, or at 26 a special election called for that purpose by the city of 03554'99 4 1 Detroit. The question shall be submitted in substantially the 2 following form: 3 "Shall 1999 Local Act _____, entitled "An act to abolish the 4 existing Detroit city council; to establish a new 9-member 5 Detroit city council; to reapportion the city of Detroit into 9 6 single-member election districts; to impose certain residency 7 requirements on candidates for the Detroit city council; and to 8 impose certain duties on certain officials for the city of 9 Detroit", be adopted? 10 Yes ( ) 11 No ( ).". 12 Sec. 7. The result of the vote shall be canvassed by the 13 local board of canvassers under the Michigan election law, 1954 14 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992. 15 Sec. 8. If majority of the electors voting on the question, 16 as determined by the canvass of votes cast, vote in favor of the 17 adoption of this act, this act shall become effective 10 days 18 following the certification of the election results. 03554'99 Final page. FDD