The City of Billings is required by its Charter to have ten (10) Councilmembers, with two (2) members representing each Ward.  The State and Federal Constitutions and case law have established that equal representation requires that governing body members have approximately equal population in the areas that they represent.  The 2010 decennial census showed that the City has unequal population in its wards; a total of 33% variance from the ideal, average ward population of 20,800.  After studying several ways to adjust ward boundaries, the City Council conducted a public hearing and adopted an ordinance on first reading that will create new ward boundaries and equalize each ward's population to within 3.78% of the ideal number.  The Council will consider adopting the ordinance on second and final reading.  After 30 days, the City will have new ward boundaries which will be used during the 2013 municipal election cycle. 

The City Council considered several ways to adjust ward boundaries and decided that Plan E best complies with legal requirements.  Each plan that it reviewed meets the primary criteria of equal population, compact and contiguous wards, protects minority voting rights and that race does not subordinate any of the criteria.

There are no direct financial impacts if the Council adopts this ordinance.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve second reading of the ordinance establishing new ward boundaries.