City election ward boundaries must be adjusted to conform to city limit amendments resulting from annexation of property into the City. The City Council approved the annexation of property described as a Yellowstone County road easement for Grand Avenue, a portion of County Road Petition Number 37 (Annexation #12-07 ROW) on November 13, 2012. This requires a change in the boundaries of Ward IV. The City Council conducted a public hearing and approved the first reading of the ordinance to adjust the Ward IV election boundary to include this property at its regular meeting on December 10. The second reading is scheduled for this meeting.

City Council may approve or not approve the ordinance to amend the boundary of Ward IV on second reading.
• Approving the ordinance will modify the boundaries of Ward IV to include the property described as Yellowstone County road easement for Grand Avenue, a portion of County Road Petition Number 37.
• Denying the ordinance will not modify the boundaries of Ward IV and create a problem where property inside the City Limits is not within one of the City Ward Boundaries.

There is no budget/financial impact from this action.

Staff recommends that Council approve this ordinance on second reading adding recently annexed property to Ward IV.