Redistricting is the process of adjusting electoral district boundaries to meet US Constitutional requirements of “one person, one vote” by ensuring approximately equal representation. Redistricting often occurs in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial US Census. Based on the 2010 US Census, the City has determined that Wards, 1, 4, and 7 are outside the limits for approximately equal representation. Therefore, ward boundaries for all seven wards must be re-drawn. As part of its responsibility to redraw the wards, the Committee is considering changing the number of wards, councilors, and school board members.
The four plans under consideration at this point are:
- 4 Wards, Version 3 (12 Councilors)
- 6 Wards, Version 3 – State Districts (10 Councilors)
- 7 Wards, Version 3 (14 Councilors)
- 7 Wards, Version 4 (13 Councilors)
The public comment period will continue beyond Monday, as the City Council considers this issue in December and January. Also, further public comment opportunities will be encouraged through the Neighborhood Planning Assembly meetings in December. Further, the City Council will hold two formal public hearings to discuss the preferred version. The goal is to have the public vote on new wards on the March 2013 ballot.