REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION CALLS FOR HEARING ON PROPOSAL
Wednesday July 23, 2008, the Reapportionment Commission produced a proposal redrawing the City Council Wards to put before the public for comment. The public hearing to solicit comment on the proposed changes is scheduled for August 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 West Gray Street.
The Reapportionment Commission held their annual meeting on July 14, 2008. At that time, they were presented with a report informing them that the difference in population between the largest and smallest ward is 2,752, which is 19.95% of the average ward population of 13,794. Because this overall range among the City Council Wards is approaching 20 percent, the Commission proposed modifications to the ward boundaries to equalize the number of residents in each ward.
The proposed plan reduces the overall range from the mean ward population to 1048, which is 7.6% of the mean ward population. All wards, with the exception of Wards 5 and 7 were modified by the proposal. In addition to equalizing population, the commission strove to minimize the number of precinct splits in order to reduce the opportunity for voter confusion. Commissioners also focused upon keeping neighborhoods and areas of common interest intact.
In accordance with the City Charter, the Reapportionment Commission will schedule a regular meeting at least 10 days after the public meeting to determine whether they will forward the proposed boundaries to Council for action or make modifications to the proposal based on the public's response. All meetings related to reapportionment are posted and open to the public. Maps of the proposal are posted on the City of Norman's website at
http://www.normanok.gov/default.htm.