Two plans on ballot for City Council

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A week away from Election Day, and it is clear many people are still on the fence about which kind of City Council they want in Austin.

Right now, all of the City Council members are at-large, representing the entire city. Depending on how you vote, you could have a specific member from where you live.

Proposition 3: The 10-1 Plan

• This plan includes 10 geographic districts, each electing one member to council.
• The mayor is elected at-large.
• An independent, citizen commission draws the districts

"In a way that protects neighborhoods and voters from the wiles and tricks of politicians and their gerrymandering,” said Fred Lewis, a member of the city’s charter revision committee and also a supporter of Proposition 3.

Proposition 4: The 8-2-1 Plan

• This plan includes eight geographic districts, each electing one member to council.
• Two members are elected at-large.
• The mayor is elected at-large.

It has not been determined who will draw the districts in this plan.

"Right now we're just looking at, we need to change the way we elect our representatives and how that structure is cut up,” said James Nortey, a Proposition 4 supporter with Austin Community for Change. “We can make the move for the independent commission later on down the line."

Supporters of the 10-1 plan, say it is the fairest, most equally spread-out method for electing city leaders. They argue the 8-2-1 plan -- keeping two at-large Council members --  is a political insider approach that only makes the strong stronger and the weak weaker.

But 8-2-1 supporters defend their hybrid model, saying voters get the best of both worlds. They argue the solely single member district 10-1 plan could keep minority groups from having their voices heard.

Ultimately, voters will chose in November. They can vote for either or both plans. If both plans garner enough votes, the one with the most will win.

Voters will also have the option to keep representation in City Council as is. Again, that is seven at-large members, with no geographic representation, and the mayor.