Sec. 487. Adoption of Final Redistricting Plan. (a) The Commission shall adopt its final redistricting plan establishing new Council district boundaries no later than September 30 of each year ending in the number one. (b) If the Commission does not adopt a final redistricting plan by the deadline in subsection (a), the City Attorney shall immediately petition the Superior Court for an order prescribing new Council district boundaries in accordance with the redistricting criteria described in Section 484, and those boundaries shall apply to City elections until the Commission is able to adopt a final redistricting plan. (c) The Commission shall issue, with the final plan, a report that explains the basis on which the Commission made its decisions in achieving compliance with the redistricting criteria described in Section 484. (d) Upon adoption of a final redistricting plan, the Commission shall submit the plan, final report, and any other accompanying materials to the City Clerk and publish this material on the Commission’s redistricting website. (e) The City Clerk shall post the Commission’s final redistricting plan and report on the City’s website. The City Clerk shall publish the final plan and description of the new Council district boundaries in the same manner as an ordinance of the City. (f) The final redistricting plan establishing new Council districts shall become effective 31 days from its publication as provided for ordinances in the Charter. (g) The final redistricting plan shall be subject to referendum in the same manner as a City ordinance. (h) No change in the boundary or location of any district by redistricting shall operate to abolish or terminate the term of office of any member of the Council prior to the expiration of the term of office for which the member was elected. (i) District boundaries adopted by the Commission shall not be altered until after the next federal decennial census occurs except to settle a legal claim or in response to an order of a court. (j) Any territory annexed to or consolidated with the City shall be added to an adjacent district or districts by the Commission. The addition shall be effective upon the completion of the annexation or consolidation proceedings. SECTION HISTORY Added by Charter Amendment DD, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.