Reapportionment

The Reapportionment Commission adopted Resolution RCR-0809-1 during their regular meeting on September 3, 2008. Once the resolution is passed, it is referred to the City Council as required by Article XX, Section 5 of the City Charter. The council must then hold a public hearing on the resolution within 30 days and adopt the resolution as an ordinance. The Charter grants the Council final authority to modify the resolution as necessary. . In order to adhere with the requirement of the City Charter for the Council to hold a public hearing on the plan within 30 days of its referral, the ordinance is being forwarded to council as an emergency ordinance. Both first and second reading will take place on September 23, 2008. All meetings related to reapportionment are posted and open to the public.

The process started when 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. . The commission held a public hearing on the proposal August 19, 2008. The public hearing was very lightly attended and the commission received no comments specifically addressing the proposed boundary changes. There was concern that the wards not be adjusted too frequently. To see more detailed statistic and maps of the proposal click on the links below:

Ward by Ward Statistical Summary

Proposed Map Printable at 8x11

36x48 Map with Detailed
Street Names

Proposed Map Printable at 8x11
Changes Highlighted