Attachment A

Criteria to Guide Redistricting, April 2001

There is no priority or ranking implied by the order in which the criteria are listed below

· Comply with all applicable laws, including the avoidance of gerrymandering

· Equalize the population count in each District within 10%

· Where boundaries meet charter requirements, maintain continuity of existing Council Districts as much as possible.

· Minimize the dilution of votes, and avoid the fragmentation or the overcompaction of ethnic communities.

· Maintain cohesive neighborhoods within Districts and, where possible, keep neighborhood associations within a single District

· Avoid unseating current City Council members.

· To the extent possible, recognize the importance of parks and public facilities in Districts

· Where possible, do not divide school districts between separate Council Districts

· To the extent possible, provide income diversity within Districts.

· Strive to balance District interests with City-wide interests, but not at the expense or exclusion of individual Districts