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Charter commission shares ward voter breakdown, plans town hall and to recommend council review
Summary
Commission staff provided a ward-by-ward breakdown of registered voters and commissioners agreed to present recommendations to city council after a town hall. Commissioners asked staff for plain-language slides, a business-vs-residential ward breakdown from planning, and asked that draft items be sent to council for review.
The Charter Review Commission reviewed basic ward-level voter data and finalized plans for an upcoming town hall intended to solicit public feedback on proposed charter changes.
Ward data presented
A staff member presented registered-voter counts by ward to give the commission context for potential proposals affecting ward structure. The data presented were: Ward 1, 6,345 registered voters; Ward 2, 6,751; Ward 3, 5,463; Ward 4, 6,794. Staff computed those totals as percentages of the city's registered voters: Ward 1 = 25.03%; Ward 2 = 26.63%; Ward 3 = 21.55%; Ward 4 = 26.80%. Staff said population counts by ward were not available in the materials and a deeper dive would be required to compute population differences.
Town hall planning and public outreach
Commissioners agreed to hold a town hall (noted in the meeting as scheduled for April 1) to present draft changes and collect public feedback. Staff will prepare plain-language slides that show (1) what the commission has drafted, (2) what is still under discussion, and (3) which items staff are requesting language for (for example, the proposed incapacity language for finance and law directors). The commission discussed logistics including limiting public comments (three-minute suggestion) and providing the public with the draft text changes in a readable format prior to the meeting.
Wards review and data request
Commission members asked planning staff to provide an analysis that would help the commission evaluate ward boundaries and composition, specifically a business-vs-residential breakdown by ward. Commissioners said residents and business leaders have told them neighboring jurisdictions often have more wards and that a review by council could be warranted; the commission agreed that it would recommend council review the ward structure if the town-hall feedback supported it.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes: Approved by voice vote at the start of the meeting; transcript records commissioners saying "Aye" and no recorded opposition or abstention. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.)
- Motion to adjourn: Approved by voice vote at the end of the meeting. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.)
Ending
The commission asked staff to circulate slide materials before the town hall, to request a planning-department breakdown of business vs. residential properties by ward, and to prepare concise language for any items the commission wants to send to council for review after the town hall.
