Section 2-1 of City Charter requires city election districts to be drawn so as to give due regard to an equalization of population. Following the 2010 federal census and receipt of the data, a review took place to determine if the city's election districts satisfied this requirement.
The US Supreme Court has indicated that a 10% overall range in district size satisfies the "equalization of district" threshold which upon our review, was satisfied without a change to our boundaries. However, our range was 9.7%, just slightly below the threshold. Accordingly the Planning Commission, working with staff, identified some minor changes to modify the election boundaries to reduce the range to a lower percentage to ensure a higher-level of conformity with requirements.
As adopted by City Council at the December meeting, the new election districts now have a population range of 5.8%, with the east district being a little more populated, the south being a little less, and the west being just right.
Sounds a bit like Goldilocks and the three bears doesn't it - now for that rest.
