Evanston City Council committees will meet tonight to discuss new redistricting maps, disruptive student behavior off campus and a possible smoking ban for city businesses.

The Rules Committee, composed of all nine aldermen, will look at three new maps and possibly decide to recommend a map for City Council approval. Recently aldermen have debated redrawing ward lines either on the basis of total population or electoral population, which considers only residents over the age of 18.

Advocates of maintaining a cohesive black voting bloc in the Second and Fifth wards have supported using total population figures in the redistricting process. Associated Student Government members, a residents’ group and Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd) each submitted maps using total population.

Ald. Joseph Kent (5th) said using total population is the best way to redraw a map to avoid diluting the black vote in the Second and Fifth wards.

“In the sense that it does not reconfigure them drastically, I think (total population) is a big thing to be in favor of,” he said.

But a city memo sent from Herbert Hill, the city’s corporate counsel, suggested the fairest way to preserve majority-minority wards is to redistrict based on electoral population.

The memo said the U.S. Supreme Court has not set a definitive precedent in such redistricting cases. The memo advises the City Council to use electoral population based on a recent decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Illinois.

Both Hill and Kent agree that although the black population of Evanston does classify as a protected voting bloc under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, students do not fall under the category.

Kent said there are students who make a contribution to the Evanston community but added that aldermen have to also consider property-tax-paying residents.

“I do have a problem with there being a total student population ward,” Kent said. “That makes no sense whatsoever.”

ASG leaders proposed two maps in the course of the redistricting process — one based on total population and another based on electoral population.

Jane Lee, ASG external relations chairwoman, said the organization hopes to increase the chances that the council will choose a map that protects student interests.

She said the proposal based on electoral population allows for compact wards but forces some shifting of boundaries. On the other hand, Lee said, the total population map requires only slight boundary changes.

ASG is lobbying for any map that will preserve a cohesive student voting bloc, Lee said, because students have a unique voice on important issues in the community.

“Ultimately we’re pushing for a map that preserves our interests,” said Lee, a Weinberg junior.

Also tonight the Human Services Committee might recommend that the council take action to remedy off-campus student disciplinary problems.

The committee will make its decision based on a report prepared by Evanston Police Department, which labeled six off-campus apartments as “nuisance premises.”

The report compiled by EPD Chief Frank Kaminski is a response to residents’ complaints and addresses EPD’s efforts to cut down on disruptive student behavior.

Students could face lawsuits and fines among other penalties, said Ald. Gene Feldman (9th).

“A nuisance premise is subject to specific legal action if they don’t correct the nuisance issue,” Feldman said. “In some cases they can take property away.”

Feldman said the issue of student discipline has reached the level of declaring “nuisance premises” because of problems during this academic year.

Earlier this fall local residents aggressively lobbied the council to act after two NU students were charged in a forced-entry incident at a house on the 900 block of Hamlin Street.

Residents of the “nuisance premises” could not be reached for comment.

Feldman said he expects university and police officials to participate in addressing the problem.

The Human Services Committee also will address a proposal to ban smoking in all Evanston businesses.

According to the proposal, Skokie and New York passed similar measures and both cities reported an increase in business after the restrictions were imposed.

Feldman said the committee likely will call a public hearing on the issue to get resident and business owner feedback.

The Rules Committee will meet tonight at 5 p.m. and the Human Services Committee will meet tonight at 7 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., and are open to the public.