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Council adopts redistricting guidelines and a public process as city gains second-class status
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 26-152 establishing redistricting guidelines and a public submission process after Westfield’s change from a third-class to a second-class city; the guidelines set a Sept. 9 submission deadline for public plans and aim for a 5% population deviation target.
Brian Bosma, chair of the municipal practice group at Kroger Gardas Riggs, presented proposed guidelines and a public-access process for redistricting following Westfield’s reclassification to a second-class city. Bosma explained statutory principles (contiguity, compactness, equal population) and recommended a 5% deviation goal, noting the city’s current district deviation was unusually high: “Your current deviation is 73.55%,” he told the council.
The resolution establishes a public timeline and coordinator (President Tam) for submittals, sets a noon Sept. 9 deadline for public plan submissions, and schedules a public hearing for first reading on Sept. 14 and potential adoption on Sept. 28. Bosma and staff described procedures for public packets, shapefile submissions, and coordination with Hamilton County clerk/GIS. The council adopted the resolution by roll call vote 7-0.
The guidelines include provisions to avoid diluting minority communities of interest and note a modest change in precinct structure is expected (split of Precinct 17 into two pieces). Bosma emphasized transparency and public participation and provided paper and USB public access packets at the clerk’s office.
