United ANC6B Opposes Losing Hill East and U.S. Capitol Neighborhood – Redistricting Taskforce Chair Fengler Warns Change Is Likely

Ward 6 Redistricting Taskforce: (From Left) Raphael Marshall, Antoinette Russell, Cody Rice, Chair Joe Fengler, Tyler Merkeley, Ken Jarboe

ANC6B Residents Turn Out for Redistricting Meeting

United ANC6B Opposes Losing Hill East and U.S. Capitol Neighborhood

by Larry Janezich

Thirty-three residents of Ward 6 turned out for a meeting Monday night held by the Taskforce on Redistricting of ANC’s in Ward 6.  Chair Joe Fengler stated that this meeting, devoted to a discussion of boundaries of ANC 6B, had the largest turnout of any of the listening meetings designed to receive input from residents and stakeholders concerned with ANC boundaries in the soon-to-be-reconfigured Ward Six.

Two proposals which have been floated – though not endorsed by the Taskforce – drove turnout:  one to carve a new Hill East ANC out of ANC6B, and the other to annex much of the ANC6B area around Garfield Park and lying close to the U.S. Capitol into ANC6D which lies mostly South of the Freeway.

ANC Commissioners lined up to defend the status quo.  Chair Glick and Commissioners Flahaven, Pate, Frishberg, Green and Campbell were present to oppose breaking off Hill East into a separate ANC.  Commissioners Metzger and Garrison spoke against extending ANC6D north of the freeway.  Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg submitted a statement opposing the part of the separate Hill East ANC plan which would include much of her single member district (SMD) in Hill East.  Those in attendance who were not ANC Commissioners generally lined up with the viewpoints articulated by Commissioners.

Taskforce Chair Joe Fengler closed the meeting by noting that maintain the status quo is “not likely.  “The question is how do we manage the change that is likely to come?”  Fengler said that by the end of next Wednesday’s meeting, the Taskforce will have a good idea of what ANC boundaries will be.  Thursday through Sunday, the Taskforce will breakup into working groups to propose single member districts within the ANCs.   ANC 6B residents who could not attend the meeting are encouraged to voice their views on the Taskforce’s website within the next three days:  http://w6tf.blogspot.com/

Next Monday, August 15^th, the Taskforce will meet to vote on the SMD boundaries.  These will be posted on the Taskforce Website on August 18^th.  ANCs will then have an opportunity to weigh in during the first two weeks of September.  After September 14, there will be two more meetings to finalize the plan, which will then go to Councilmember Wells on September 27^th or 28^th.

By October 1, Wells will review the Taskforce work and carry the plan to the City Council for approval.