ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Interim Corporation Counsel with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Establishing the Attached Map as the NEW CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
Body
BACKGROUND: An overview of the initial 2020 Census data was presented at the September 28, 2021 Council Meeting and again on October 12, 2021.
At the October 12, 2021 meeting, Attorney Phil Lenzini presented an overview of the consent decree resulting from the 1987 case requires that the City be made up of 5 single-member districts, each represented by a single council member; 5 at-large districts represented by a single council member and a mayor elected at-large. Attorney Lenzini noted that if council were to consider amending the number of current districts, it would be a substantial change from the consent decree and may require the consent of the plaintiffs as well as an adjudication on the fairness of the proposal by the court. Attorney Lenzini cautioned that the length of time needed for a court process to approve any changes to the consent decrees’ 5-district requirement would not be amenable to the current deadlines for redistricting. As such, the consensus of the Council was to keep 5-districts and reapportion as necessary.
Due to changes in population from the 2020 Census, the existing 5 Districts would require changes to their district boundaries to keep the district nearly equal. With a total population of 113,150, the goal of each district was 22,630 people with a maximum deviation of 5% [21,498 to 23,761].
To reach the goal of 22,630 people per Council District:
• the 1st District needed to expand by 3,938 people
• the 2nd District needed to grow by 1,555 people
• the 3rd District needed to grow by 1,113 people
• the 4th District needed to contract by 1,329 people
• the 5th District needed to contract by 5,568 people
The City of Peoria formed a Redistricting Committee comprised of the District & At-Large Council Members and chaired by Mayor Ali (also called a Committee as a Whole). The Committee was charged with facilitating a public process for drafting changes to the Council Districts and making a recommendation to the City Council for boundary changes that met the following criteria:
• Nearly equal population
• Compact
• Contiguous
• Respect for geographical boundaries, political subdivisions, or communities with actual shared interests
• Preservation of incumbent districts
The Committee held two policy meetings to provide opportunities for the public to participate in the process of redistricting and decide on the final district boundary layout. The first meeting was be held remotely on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 and then again on February 1, 2022. A public hearing was held at the City Council meeting on February 8, 2022.
The City created a dedicated webpage where all council meetings and policy sessions could be viewed and proposed redistricting maps could be examined. The City also provided an interactive map where citizens could draw their own maps.
A total of 7 maps were presented to the Council by staff for consideration.
At the council meeting on February 8, 2022 the Council voted to recommend the attached map for adoption.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Opportunities were provided for citizen input.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: A new city council district boundary map would be adopted.
IMPACT IF DENIED: An alternative map would be brought back to the Council.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Not applicable.
2. Choose an item.
3. Choose an item.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Have an efficient government.
2. Choose an item.
3. Choose an item.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office