The Superior Common Council agreed Oct. 5 to postpone a final decision on new ward and aldermanic boundaries to allow the clerk time to refine competing map proposals ahead of state deadlines.

Clerk Camille explained that the city must redraw ward boundaries so each ward falls within a valid population range (about 600 to 2,100 residents per ward for a city of this size) and try to keep deviation under 10 percent. She said she submitted an initial map with a deviation under 10% and a second map with slightly different trade-offs that would make room for less growth.

"The first proposed map I submitted had a deviation rate of under 10 percent," the clerk said. She told councilors that county lines had been approved earlier and that the city’s maps must be completed promptly to meet the Nov. 2 deadline identified in the meeting.

Councilors raised concerns that several recent large apartment complexes were not included in the census counts and asked how that growth would affect district balance and future elections. Several members praised the clerk’s work and noted competing priorities: minimizing ballot confusion at polling places (fewer ballot variants) versus creating room for expected growth.

Councilor Van Sickle said Proposal 4 (also labeled Proposal 2 in the materials) "seems to have really good asset balance," citing even distribution of assets such as Wisconsin Point and downtown across districts. Several councilors asked about outreach and whether the city would mail notices to residents whose districts changed. The clerk said she would place information on the city Facebook page and share a zoomable map link for residents to check their ward and polling place.

On timing, the clerk and mayor said changes would be reflected for candidate filing and circulation of nominating papers beginning in December, and the council set a self-imposed goal to revisit finalized maps at the next regular meeting once the clerk has adjusted proposals.

Outcome: councilors asked the clerk to continue refining maps and to return with a recommended map at the next meeting to meet external deadlines.