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<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Ward Redistricting <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: September 26, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Central Services/Planning & Development Staff Contact: Keli Osborn <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The Eugene City Council adjusts council ward boundaries every 10 years to accommodate population <br />changes and shifts – thereby helping ensure equal protection under the laws for Eugene’s residents. This <br />work session is intended to result in the selection of a boundary plan that could be adopted by resolution <br />in October. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The council has met in work sessions to discuss public process and feedback, criteria for developing <br />ward boundary options, and draft scenarios. The council has focused on two main scenarios that attempt <br />to balance populations by ward, consider geographic and neighborhood features and strive for relative <br />compactness and contiguity. A public hearing on these scenarios was held September 19. <br /> <br />Feedback from councilors and the public has highlighted positive attributes, concerns and potential <br />revisions for the scenarios. Staff will provide related information at the work session. Some <br />coordination of Eugene boundary changes with new districts for Lane County and the Oregon <br />Legislature may be desirable, with the goal of providing households and voters greater continuity where <br />practical. <br /> <br />Another issue is the treatment of properties that could come into the city limits in coming years. The <br />council resolution provided in October will lay out specific parameters for assigning newly annexed <br />properties to wards. Staff will use major streets and geographic features such as the Willamette River, <br />th <br />Green Hill Road, Chambers Street, Highway 99, 30 Avenue and River Road as a guide. <br /> <br />Based on available 2010 U.S. Census data, Eugene’s population totaled 156,222 – which means that <br />each of the eight wards should have approximately 19,528 residents. To facilitate election-related <br />activities, the final boundary decision should occur well before the 2012 filing deadline for the seats that <br />will be up for election next May for the Eugene City Council and Eugene Water & Electric Board. <br />Candidates must turn in all materials to the City Recorder by February 29, 2012. <br /> <br /> <br />RELATED CITY POLICIES <br />The Eugene Charter provision related to redistricting is general and states: <br /> <br /> <br /> S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110926\S110926B.doc <br />