Members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council were informed this week by demographers hired to redraw council districts in accordance with 2010 census figures that the redistricting plan adopted by the council last week wouldn't allow for a five-member Lafayette Public Utilities Authority. Members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council were informed this week by demographers hired to redraw council districts in accordance with 2010 census figures that the redistricting plan adopted by the council last week wouldn't allow for a five-member Lafayette Public Utilities Authority - the five-member council-within-the-council comprising councilmen whose districts are at least 60 percent within the city of Lafayette (Lafayette Utilities System is a city-owned, public utility) - because the demographers were off in their estimation of the number of city residents within traditional LPUA member District 7, currently occupied by Councilman Don Bertrand. A four-member LPUA could lead to 2-2 gridlocked votes on matters pertaining to LUS.
Consequently, when the final vote on the redistricting plan is held Tuesday, April 26, the council will vote on what's being referred to as Plan 5A - an amended version of Plan 5 approved in the introductory vote last week by the council. Plan 5A moves some voting precincts within the city of Lafayette from District 9 to District 7 and will push District 7 over the 60 percent level for city of Lafayette representation. District 9 is not an LPUA seat. However, a source tells The Ind that District 9 Councilman William Theriot, who nitpicked over precincts during the redistricting process, is not pleased with the adjusted plan.
Council Chairman held a press conference Thursday afternoon to inform the public of the alterations.