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Home My WebLink AboutItem B: Ward Redistricting ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Ward Redistricting Meeting Date: February 14, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT Every 10 years, the Eugene City Council adjusts council wards based on the results from the U.S. Census. Data from the 2010 Census will be available in the coming months, and federal, state and local districts will all be addressing boundary adjustments to accommodate population changes and shifts. This work session provides the council an opportunity to begin discussions on the criteria, public involvement process, council role and time schedule that will guide the development of scenarios and eventual decisions which must be made. BACKGROUND The basic purpose of ward redistricting is to bring each ward back to equal population distribution. In 1991 and 2001, the council as a whole processed ward redistricting. In 2001, the public information and involvement process was shaped with guidance from the Citizen Involvement Committee, and ultimately included drop-in forums, public hearings and other opportunities for input on criteria, scenarios and maps. The council in 2001 adopted the following criteria to guide development of boundary options: 1.Wards should contain equal population within a reasonable range (+/- five percent). 2.Plan for expected growth in Eugene in the next 10 years. Faster-growing wards should be drawn to be undersized in population and slower-growing wards drawn to be oversized. This will reduce to some extent the disparity in ward populations during the coming years. 3.Division of recognized neighborhood organization boundaries should be avoided to the greatest extent possible. 4.Where practicable, consider geographic features such as rivers, large open spaces, parks, and major transportation systems to define ward boundaries. 5.While acknowledging that there have been significant population increases in the last 10 years that will require major shifts in ward boundaries, make incremental changes and attempt to respect existing ward boundaries and configurations to the extent possible. This criterion is not meant to be used to specifically protect incumbents. \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110214\S110214B.doc Using 2010 information from the Population Research Center at Portland State University, Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) staff estimates ward populations as follows: Ward 1: 18,548 Ward 2: 18,916 Ward 3: 15,658 Ward 4: 20,610 Ward 5: 21,265 Ward 6: 23,069 Ward 7: 19,342 Ward 8: 20,431 These estimates are based on dwelling units and do not account fully for residents of group housing -- for example, dormitories and off-campus “Greek” housing could add another 3,500 to the Ward 3 total. A summary of residential building data and location map from the last 10 years is provided in Attachment A. Although this doesn’t reflect population shifts among the wards, permitting data does provide a snapshot of new residential development in recent years. As U.S. Census data become available, numbers will become more reliable and yield more information on population demographics. The actual redrawing of boundaries awaits availability and preparation of the census data and transfer of this data to the local mapping system later this year. The redistricting decision in the past has been made by December 31, and guidelines drive completion of the process before key election-related dates in 2012. The Eugene City Council and Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) elections occur in spring 2012, and it could be helpful to potential candidates and others who would be involved in those races to make the final redistricting decision by this fall. A general time schedule in Attachment B outlines key steps in the process. Informing and involving the public can take many forms. A number of options are listed in Attachment C. At a minimum, redistricting information and data would be available to the community via the City’s public web site and handouts at public centers, and a public hearing would happen before the council adopts new boundaries. The framework for public information and involvement depends in part on the decision-making process the council chooses. The council also may want to reach out to specific groups, such as neighborhood associations, the League of Women Voters, Friends of Eugene, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, and others. RELATED CITY POLICIES The Eugene Charter provision related to redistricting is general and states: Section 33. Wards. The council shall divide the city into wards and redefine the boundaries thereof as necessary to accord persons in the city the equal protection of the laws. No person may vote at a city election in a ward other than that in which he or she resides. \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110214\S110214B.doc The Eugene City Code includes the following: 2.692Elections – Wards . The city council shall by resolution divide the city into eight wards, but neither this requirement nor any action pursuant to it disqualifies, or shortens the term of office of, a member of the council or the Eugene Water & Electric Board. The specific method, process, and criteria used for adjusting the ward boundaries are left to the council. The City Attorney has prepared a memo (Attachment D) which outlines the City Charter and City Code provisions related to redistricting. It also provides guidance on equal protection and population apportionment to wards. COUNCIL OPTIONS Options for timing, public information and involvement, and process oversight are described in attachments. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION This is an information item. At this time, the City Manager requests general direction on the time schedule and public information and involvement components of the 2011 ward redistricting process. SUGGESTED MOTION None is provided. ATTACHMENTS A.Summary of Residential Building Data and Location Map, 2000-2010 B.Time Schedule C.Public Information and Involvement D.Memo from City Attorney on Redistricting E.Current Ward Boundary Map FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Keli Osborn Telephone: 541-682-5406 Staff E-Mail: keli.m.osborn@ci.eugene.or.us \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110214\S110214B.doc îí íï y xz ë êï îê îïé É¿®¼æ ë É¿®¼æ ì êê Ë²·¬æ ïôíìí Ë²·¬æ ïôïðð ëî íï îë É¿®¼æ ê êë ïíî Ë²·¬æ ïôìïï îïë çê ïðì ëç ïîí îì îììð ëî ïïë îîî îí êð îé èì ïëì êí îèì îî ëíì éì ìí îïç íî îð íðð îç îê ïìë ëì y y x xz z y x ïðë z ïðë ïðë íëì êë ïïï îê ëì îê íë ìê îïî ìíí y xz ë íê ìë îí îïç ëí É¿®¼æ è ïìè Ë²·¬æ ïôðîî É¿®¼æ í Ë²·¬æ çðï É¿®¼æ ï ìí Ë²·¬æ ïçï É¿®¼æ î Ë²·¬æ íìë Ó·´» ðï Ò»© Î»·¼»²¬·¿´ Þ«·´¼·²¹ Ð»®³·¬ îðððóîðïðÝ·¬§ ½±«²½·´ ©¿®¼ ¿²¼ ²«³¾»® ±º ²»© ®»·¼»²¬·¿´ «²·¬ îðððóîðïð Ð»®³·¬ ·² Ý·¬§ Ý±«²½·´ É¿®¼É¿®¼ ïô Ë²·¬æ ïçï ý ö Ð»®³·¬ ²±¬ ·² Ý·¬§ Ý±«²½·´ É¿®¼æ Ð»®³·¬æ íèô Ë²·¬æ íçÉ¿®¼ îô Ë²·¬æ íìë Ù®±«°·²¹ ±º Ò»© Î»·¼»²¬·¿´ Ë²·¬ ©·¬¸ ±ª»® îð «²·¬É¿®¼ íô Ë²·¬æ çðï É¿®¼ ìô Ë²·¬æ ïôïðð É¿®¼ ëô Ë²·¬æ ïôíìí É¿®¼ êô Ë²·¬æ ïôìïï É¿®¼ éô Ë²·¬æ ïôïìí É¿®¼ èô Ë²·¬æïôðîî ATTACHMENT B 2011 Ward Redistricting - Proposed Time Schedule Time Frame Possible Steps & Decision Points Hold initial Eugene City Council work session to share information, identify February 14, 2011 issues, and discuss general approach. Review and agree on redistricting criteria. Late winter/ Provide information and obtain public early spring input on criteria. Late spring Review 2010 ward population counts. Give direction to staff on ward boundary Late spring/ options. early summer Provide information and obtain public input on options. Summer/early fall Review options for ward boundaries. Fall Give direction on boundary revisions or new ward options. Provide information and obtain public input on suggested boundary revisions. Fall Prepare ordinance and map. Before December 31, Adopt new ward boundaries 2011 ATTACHMENT C 2011 Ward Redistricting – Public Information & Involvement Process Oversight Options  Council provides direction for tasks, schedule and scenarios  Council subcommittee studies issues and provides recommendations  Ad hoc committee formed with invited membership to advise staff and council Public Information Options  City web page – population and voting data, maps and links to relevant sites, up-to-date information on public meetings, legal requirements and legal challenge options, redistricting timeline  Information handouts for public counters and centers  Interested parties list for news releases, meeting notices and information handouts  Articles for neighborhood newsletters  Presentations to civic organizations and neighborhood associations (City Council and/or staff)  Public meetings in each ward early in the process Public Involvement Options  Public forum(s) before key council decisions (such as redistricting criteria)  Public hearing before council adoption of new ward boundaries  Online input forms Ý·¬§ ±º Û«¹»²» Ý·¬§ Ý±«²½·´ É¿®¼ ÛÒ×Ü ÝÔÛßÎ ÔßÕÛ ÎÜ ÞßÎÙÛÎ ê ØÑÎÒ ì ÐßÎÕ ë é É ïÍÌ É êÌØ É éÌØ É ïïÌØ è É ïíÌØ É ïèÌØ ï í É îèÌØ É îçÌØ î Ó¿§±®æ Õ·¬¬§ Ð·»®½§ Ý±«²½·´ É¿®¼ ÉßÎÜ ï Ù»±®¹» Þ®±©² ÉßÎÜ ë Ó·µ» Ý´¿®µ ÉßÎÜ î Þ»¬¬§ Ì¿§´±® ÉßÎÜ ê Ð¿¬ Ú¿®® ÉßÎÜ í ß´¿² Æ»´»²µ¿ ÉßÎÜ é ß²¼®»¿ Ñ®¬·¦ ÉßÎÜ ì Ù»±®¹» Ð±´·²¹ ÉßÎÜ è Ý¸®· Ð®§±® Ó¿¶±® Î±¿¼ Ì¸· ³¿° ©¿ ½®»¿¬»¼ ±² Ü»½ò îðô îðïðò Ý«®®»²¬ Ý·¬§ Ô·³·¬ô ËÙÞô ¿²¼ É¿®¼ Û«¹»²» Ý·¬§ Ô·³·¬ Þ±«²¼¿®·» ¸±«´¼ ¾» ½±²º·®³»¼ ©·¬¸ ¬¸» Û«¹»²» Ý·¬§ Î»½±®¼»® ¿¬ êèîóëðìîò ððòëï Ë®¾¿² Ù®±©¬¸ Þ±«²¼¿®§ Ó·´»