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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Ward Redistricting ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Ward Redistricting Meeting Date: April 27, 2011 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Central Services Staff Contacts: Keli Osborn www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT Every 10 years, the Eugene City Council adjusts council ward boundaries to accommodate population changes and shifts – thereby helping ensure equal protection under the laws (“one person, one vote”). This work session provides an opportunity for the council to determine basic criteria and provide direction on public involvement, the council role and a time schedule. BACKGROUND In a work session on February 14, 2011, the council discussed options for Eugene’s ward redistricting process. 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. Public information and involvement in 2001 included drop-in forums, public hearings and other opportunities for input on criteria, scenarios and maps. Based on available 2010 U.S. Census data, Eugene’s population totaled 156,185 – which means that each of the eight wards should have approximately 19,523 residents. Attachment A describes existing ward demographics by total population, age, and race and ethnicity, as well as the variance from the equal population target. To facilitate election-related activities, the final boundary decision should occur well before the filing deadline for the seats that will be up for election in May 2012 on the Eugene City Council and Eugene Water and Electric Board. Candidates can begin filing on September 8, 2011, and must turn in all materials to the City Recorder by February 29, 2012. Attachment B shows existing ward boundaries, with symbols for the residences of current city councilors and EWEB commissioners. Feedback at the council’s February 14 work session was varied and included: -Consider establishing a committee to advise the council on ward redistricting. -If a committee is established, be clear about its role and the role of the council in the process. -Ensure that community members and key constituent groups have access to information. -Design a process that is fair and earns public confidence. -Design a process that results in a final decision sooner rather than later, in late summer or early fall and well before the end of the calendar year. \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110427\S110427A.doc -Involve neighborhood groups. -Lead staff should meet individually with councilors for input. -Minimize changes to boundaries if possible. -Reexamine existing boundaries and consider changes that would return to wards more like those drawn in 1991 (which included an east Eugene ward that straddled the Willamette River). -Provide demographic data on communities of color. (See Attachment A.) -Pay attention to the effects and future impacts of potential annexations. -Define residency – Are college students who are residents of Eugene and maintain residency in other communities counted as residents of Eugene by the U.S. Census? (Answer: For purposes of the U.S. Census, students are counted as residents at the location where they live and sleep most of the time.) Obtaining feedback from councilors, the public and interested parties on criteria that will guide development of ward map scenarios is an important step in the redistricting process. Attachment E outlines multiple criteria, ranging from consideration of geographic features to incumbent elected officials. Staff recommends putting the potential criteria out for public input, as well as for feedback from individual councilors and EWEB commissioners. Several councilors have expressed a desire to reach a decision on new ward boundaries sooner than December 31 – earlier in the fall, if possible. Staff would like to solicit feedback on criteria through the end of May. The council could then review the feedback in a June work session. 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. 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. Adopted Council Goals and Outcomes include: Effective, Accountable Municipal Government - A government that works openly, collaboratively, and fairly with the community to achieve measurable and positive outcomes and provide effective, efficient services. • Transparent and interactive communication • Public engagement that involves the community broadly • Stronger partnership between government entities \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110427\S110427A.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS The council must determine whether to establish a committee to oversee the ward redistricting process or take that task on itself. Feedback on other process elements and the timeline also are invited. Options include: 1.The council establishes criteria for setting and evaluating boundaries, and directs development of scenarios. 2.The council creates a separate committee to develop criteria and scenarios. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the council oversee the ward redistricting process. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to designate the Eugene City Council as the review and decision-making body for ward redistricting criteria, scenarios, and process, and to approve the timeline outlined in Attachment D. ATTACHMENTS A.Population data by ward, 2010 U.S. Census (preliminary) B.Existing Ward Boundaries C.Process Alternatives D.Timeline E.Criteria for Drawing Eugene Ward Boundaries 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\M110427\S110427A.doc ATTACHMENT A Black or American Percent change from Native Hawaiian Target Hispanic or Not Hispanic African Indian and other race two or more Total Population WardTotal Populationequal population by White AloneAsian aloneand other pacific PopulationLatinoor LatinoAmerican Alaska Native aloneracesAge 18 and over wardislander alone alonealone E1 17,597 19,531-9.9% 1,393 16,204 14,584 255 144 487 23 59 652 14,840 E2 17,705 19,531-9.3% 841 16,864 15,304 164 112 561 22 48 653 14,341 E3 21,003 19,5317.5% 1,027 19,976 16,722 267 89 1,931 48 34 885 19,593 E4 19,215 19,531-1.6% 1,072 18,143 15,839 333 131 1,026 49 39 726 15,661 E5 20,082 19,5312.8% 1,170 18,912 17,099 226 130 787 35 35 600 15,972 E6 21,603 19,53110.6% 2,176 19,427 17,678 210 235 470 66 26 742 16,404 E7 19,437 19,531-0.5% 2,263 17,174 15,417 249 243 367 55 45 798 15,906 E8 19,603 19,5310.4% 2,267 17,336 15,436 252 184 581 43 22 818 15,033 Grand Total 156,245 156,245 12,209 144,036 128,079 1,956 1,268 6,210 341 308 5,874 127,750 ߬¬¿½¸³»²¬ Þ Û«¹»²» É¿®¼­ Ó¿° Æ y xz ë ËÊ ççÒ t u Þ»´¬´·²» é ü ü ÿ t u ÿ ë t u ê ÿ t u ì y xz ë ÿ y yxz xz ïðëïðë ut è ü ÿ t u ï t u y xz í ë ÿ ü ý ö ÿ ÿ t u î Ý·¬§ ݱ«²½·´ ¿²¼ ÛÉÛÞ Ý±³³·­­·±²»®­ ÿ Ý·¬§ ݱ«²½·´ ü ÛÉÛÞ ýö ÛÉÛÞæ Ó»³¾»® ¿¬ ´¿®¹» ݱ«²½·´ É¿®¼­ É¿®¼ ïæ Ù»±®¹» Þ®±©² É¿®¼ îæ Þ»¬¬§ Ì¿§´±® É¿®¼ íæ ß´¿² Æ»´»²µ¿ É¿®¼ ìæ Ù»±®¹» б´·²¹ ÛÉÛÞ Ý±³³·­­·±²»®­ É¿®¼ ëæ Ó·µ» Ý´¿®µ Ó·´»­ Ö±¸² Þ®±©²ô É¿®¼­ ì ú ë ðï Þ±¾ Ý¿­­·¼§ô É¿®¼­ î ú í É¿®¼ êæ п¬ Ú¿®® η½¸ Ý«²²·²¹¸¿³ô É¿®¼­ ê ú é É¿®¼ éæ ß²¼®»¿ Ñ®¬·¦ Ö±¿²² Û®²­¬ô É¿®¼­ ï ú è Ý·¬§ ±º Û«¹»²» ó ß°®·´ ïèô îðïï É¿®¼ èæ ݸ®·­ Ю§±®Ö±¸² Í·³°­±²ô ¿¬ó´¿®¹» д¿²²·²¹ ¿²¼ Ü»ª»´±°³»²¬ Ü»°¿®¬³»²¬ Ý¿«¬·±²æ ̸·­ ³¿° ·­ ¾¿­»¼ ±² ·³°®»½·­» ­±«®½» ¼¿¬¿ô ­«¾¶»½¬ ¬± ½¸¿²¹» ¿²¼ º±® ¹»²»®¿´ ®»º»®»²½» ±²´§ò ATTACHMENT C 2011 Ward Redistricting – Process Alternatives Basic Steps 1. Establish criteria for setting and evaluating ward boundaries 2. Review scenarios – maps, data and alignment with criteria 3. Weigh public input on criteria and/or scenarios 4. Recommend final boundary option(s), if separate advisory committee created Note: Council must adopt boundaries Options A.Council serves as ward redistricting committee Extra step: interview councilors individually for input (this could become part of any of the options) B.Council establishes a separate committee to provide recommendations on ward redistricting Delegates from each ward could be selected or representatives from the following groups could be invited to participate on a committee: - Neighborhood Leaders Council or representative from among neighborhood associations (1) - Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce (1) - Citizens for Public Accountability (1) - League of Women Voters (1) - Human Rights Commission (1) - Members at-large (2) C.Council asks the Neighborhood Leaders Council, League of Women Voters or other group to recommend and lead a committee Public information – foundation  Set up City web page – www.eugene-or.gov/councilwards Compile and present population data, maps, and links to relevant sites, up-to-date information on public meetings, legal requirements and legal challenge options, redistricting timeline  At key input opportunities and decision-making stages, produce and distribute information handouts for public counters and centers  Maintain interested parties list for news releases, meeting notices and information handouts  Prepare articles for neighborhood newsletters  Post input surveys on City website and provide to interested parties  Make presentations to civic organizations and neighborhood associations -- these ideally would be carried out by councilors or committee members, if a committee is created  Schedule public hearing(s) prior to adoption of any resolutions and ordinance ATTACHMENT C Public information – supplemental activities  Schedule public meetings in each ward to solicit input on criteria and/or scenarios  Host information tables and offer intercept surveys at selected community events and other public meetings (examples: Eugene Celebration in August, Envision Eugene forums)  Schedule drop-in public forums at key input and decision stages; these could be hosted by staff or by council  Other actions to be identified ATTACHMENT D 2011 Ward Redistricting – Timeline Time Frame Possible Steps & Decision Points February 14, 2011 Initial Eugene City Council work session April 27, 2011 Council work session: Review data and discuss population target needed to reach equal representation by ward. Confirm process & general timeline. May/June/July Draft criteria to guide redrawing of boundaries, obtain public feedback, and adopt final guidelines at council level. Develop ward boundary scenarios, obtain July/August/September public feedback, and select final scenario(s). Note: Council is on recess August 11-September 6. September/October Public hearing, council deliberations and adoption of new ward boundaries. ATTACHMENT E 2011 Ward Redistricting – Criteria for Drawing Eugene Ward Boundaries Listed below are some of the criteria that have been suggested or used in the past. Please check the ones you think should be considered this time. If you do not find a criterion that is important to you, please use the comment area provided.  Each ward should have about the same number of people +/- 5 percent.  Each ward should have about the same number of people +/- 3 percent.  Each ward should have about the same number of people +/- ___ percent.  Faster-growing wards should be drawn smaller to account for expected increases in the number of people living in them, and slower-growing wards should be drawn larger to ensure they have about the same number of people over time.  The size of the wards should not be changed to account expected changes in the number of people living in them. This could create inequities now without guaranteeing equity will be attained in the future.  New boundaries should be drawn to keep incumbent councilors in their separate wards.  New boundaries should be drawn to keep incumbent EWEB commissioners in their separate districts, with the at-large position not a factor.  The council should redraw ward boundaries without considering where current elected officials live.  As much as possible, recognized neighborhood associations should not be further divided into different wards.  Ward boundaries should change as little as possible.  The council should be willing to “start from scratch” in redrawing ward boundaries.  Ward boundaries should be drawn to include a diversity of interests and backgrounds.  Ward boundaries should be drawn to keep groups with potentially similar interests together (example: college students on both sides of the river).  Wards should be as compact as possible.  Neighborhood features like shopping centers, parks, recreation centers, school attendance areas and others should be used to guide ward boundaries.  Geography and natural features like the river, railroad tracks, and major roads or bridges should be used to guide ward boundaries. These major features may make more sense as dividing lines between wards. o OR These major features may make more sense as transitions, with wards crossing them. o ATTACHMENT E Other ideas, suggestions or criteria to keep in mind when preparing draft scenarios for new ward boundaries?