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<br />'best move 'for- the City"'she"wouicl be wlliing-to-'go"along-:""She asked what 'would
<br />happen in regard to Mr. Keller's situation, moving away from the ward he was to
<br />irepresent under this realignment. Mayor Anderson called attention to the first
<br />'section of the ordinance which provided that no term of a Council member or of
<br />I
<br />,an EWEB member wouLd be disqualified or shortened because of this realignment.
<br />IHe said every member of this Council would serve out the term for which elected.
<br />
<br />'.
<br />
<br />Councilman Hershner said he was somewhat confused with regard to the ward system
<br />as opposed to the theory that council members represent all the people of the
<br />city. He did feel that council members tended to be more interested and informed
<br />,with regard to issues affecting their particular wards and for that reason he
<br />favored the proposed ,realignment. He mentioned too that he was impressed by the
<br />fact that the Bethel-Danebo-area, a significant segment of the community, had no
<br />representation. Councilman Keller remarked that the savings effected would not
<br />relate to the issue of numbers represented. He thought people from the Bethel-
<br />Danebo area had the same opportunity to seek office as people from other areas
<br />,of the ci ty and it seemed the proposed alignment would have the effect of forcing
<br />'people to run for office. He said he was not sure he would concur in that, nor
<br />was he too unhappy with the present four-ward system. He felt the type of repre-
<br />sentation regardless of the size of a ward depended primarily upon the person
<br />; elected.
<br />
<br />Councilman Wqod said he believed if the geographical area of wards was reduced
<br />those elected could do a better job of representation because personal door-to-
<br />door contact would be easier. He said this would also give the opportunity for
<br />;l?E!ttf:!l..s~~~ctiono~ el€!.f?.t..€f,d_,9f!~C?i.8:~,f!. At Councilwoman Beal's request, it was
<br />,understood a map on which streets were indicated' snowlnij'exact boundaries of
<br />; the proposed wards, and census figures for each precinct would be prepared for
<br />1 distribution to Council members Mrs. Beal felt the redistricting would have
<br />rgrave repercussions, giving large families double or triple votes where older
<br />ipeople did not have that advantage. Councilman williams answered that it would
<br />: not give larger families more votes; it did give representation to each citizen
<br />! in the communi ty.
<br />
<br />~.
<br />
<br />I,
<br />
<br />In answer to Councilman Hershner,
<br />,bearing on the May 1974 primary.
<br />Mr. Penfold had indicated earlier
<br />\until after the primary e~ection.
<br />
<br />Mr. Pe~fC?ld said the realignment would have no ',:i
<br />,NO citY-Offices were involved in that election.'i
<br />that he was not authorized to alter boundaries: .
<br />
<br />\ -~/~
<br />:Mayor Anderson hoped a decision could be reached reasonably soon. He noted tha~
<br />,people interested in seeking city office needed to know ward boundaries in order,;
<br />1
<br />: to start their campaigns fox the fall election. \
<br />J
<br />Icouncilman McDonald favored postponement of decisi~n o~ the realignment for per- ,1
<br />;haps two weeks. He said he would run for re-elect~on ~n the fall. He added' I
<br />ithat no memver of the committee studying the proposed alignment had questioned
<br />i him wi th regard to his candidacy.
<br />I '
<br />,
<br />
<br />"",-,~-,--,~~-
<br />
<br />~.
<br />
<br />Mayor Anderson commented that it could be concluded from the discussion that'the:
<br />realignment proposed included a personal element as well as geographical, legal, :
<br />,and political. However, he thought a broader viewpoint should be taken - the
<br />'iong:"'r:c;.nge'~ff~t ~on the community as a whole; the ser"Vlce'--a'nd"representafIon' ~"",
<br />iwhich could be extracted from various geographical areas of the city, and to
<br />make it as easy as possible for peOple to participate in government. He said
<br />I, the commi ttee had presented the most logical plan possible in view of their
<br />; charge.
<br />
<br />: It was understood the matter would be scheduled for further discussion when the'
<br />[requested information was available.
<br />
<br />Comm
<br />3/27/74
<br />Affirm
<br />
<br />~~-_.. - _.~---. ~-"-* -.-... ._~L~':_'___..____ ., " ......::.~--_.t ."'1'....--,..,.~.-_~~-- . .;,_.~__.~
<br />I. Realignment of Ward Boundaries- MajJs showing 'precinct popul'citic/ris'were furnished \
<br />to Council m~mbers ,prior to the meeting, and discussion continued from the March 27
<br />!C,ommi ttee. General, consensus was that another try at drawing boundary lines would
<br />tbe worthwhile to accommodate ~ome of the problems discussed in the previous com-
<br />f" .. . .
<br />;na ttee meet~ng.
<br />
<br />:It was understood the Council subcommittee would reconvene to consider the previous i
<br />:suggestions as well as to make recommendations with regard to increasing the number
<br />,of wards to 10 or 12 to give more representation, and filing for election from
<br />the community at-large rather than on a ward basis. Councilwoman Beal said boundary
<br />changes should be made so as not to put an encumbent in the position of not being
<br />able to seek re-election. She asked that the subcommi,ttee consider that concern
<br />-as well as the splitting of the university area between two wards. She felt
<br />:university represent~tion would be better served by joining the campus precincts
<br />'irito one ward.
<br />
<br />Comm
<br />, ~4/3/74
<br />Affirm
<br />
<br />.'
<br />
<br />\Ob
<br />
<br />4/8/74 - 10
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