Introduce Ordinance #22-16 Establishing Boundary Lines for the City of Ramsey Ward System

As Council is aware, on February 17, 2022, the maps were released showing the redistricting of the congressional and legislative districts.  The City was required to review those maps and make adjustments to its Ward and Precinct boundaries as needed based on population changes.  Council is also aware that redistricting is a process that occurs every ten years following completion of the US Census.

 

No notification is required at this time.  The notification requirements are as follows:  When a precinct boundary is reestablished or a local government election district boundary is redistricted, a detailed map showing the new precincts or districts must be posted at the locations and in the manner in items A to C.  Item A pertains to municipalities, and reads as follows:  For precincts and wards established by a municipality, the notice prepared by the municipal clerk must be posted in the clerk's office.  The notice may be posted in other conspicuous locations in the municipality, at the discretion of the clerk.  the information posted must also be made available for public inspection at the office of the county auditor.

The notices required must be posted within 72 hours after the adoption of precinct or election district boundaries.  The notices must remain posted until the day following the state general election in a year ending in two.

With regard to notice to affected voters - when precinct boundaries are changed, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall notify each affected registered voter of the change at least one week prior to the state primary held after the change takes place.  Following completion of the ward and precinct boundary amendments, Anoka County Elections will be sending out notification postcards to all voters within the City of Ramsey.

The City is currently divided into four Wards and each Ward has two or three Precincts.  According to State Statute, each Ward shall have a balanced population with other Wards within the City.  Based on the 2020 Census, the current population of each Ward in the City of Ramsey is as follows:  Ward 1 = 6,275 (+3%); Ward 2 = 7,007 (+20%); Ward 3 = 7,902 (+36%); and Ward 4 = 6,462 (+9%). The total City of Ramsey population based on the 2020 census is 27,646. The percentages indicate the percent of growth since the 2012 census. 

As was noted to Council at the February 22, 2022 work session meeting, for Census and redistricting purposes, the City is divided into smaller geographic areas known as Census Blocks  that are used to summarize population and act as boundary lines for Districts and Wards.  Staff prepared an amended Ward Map that balances population with minimal geographic change and follows major transportation corridors.  

Prior to the proposed changes, Wards 1 and 4 were under the average population and Ward 2 and 3 were over the average population of 6,912 people based on the 2020 census data. (See the first attachment for +/- population and percentage from the average). 

V1.01 Keeping Lines Between Ward 3 and 4 the same 
(Not viable for equal representation based on disparity being higher then the V1 disparity in Wards 1 and 2)
Ward 1: 6,275 (-9.2.%)
Ward 2: 7,007 (+1.4%)
Ward 3: 7,902 (+14.3%)
Ward 4: 6,462 (-6.5%)

Proposal V1 Map: 
This moved the W2-P1 line to run with ISD 728 border, eliminating two split school districts. The W1-P1 border was shifted into Ward 2 in the southern area to increase the population closer to the desired average. The W4-P1 west border was slightly changed to take some of W3-P2 to increase the overall population in Ward 4 to be closer to the average.

V1 Population: 
Ward 1: 7,186 (+4.0%)
Ward 2: 6,551 (-5.2%)
Ward 3: 7,018 (+1.5%)
Ward 4: 6,891 (-0.3%)

Proposal V2 Map: 
This version kept the changes from V1 and took a small portion of the west side of W1-P1 and moved it into W2-P2 to better balance those two wards.    

V2 Population: 
Ward 1: 6,836 (-1.1%)
Ward 2: 6,901 (-0.2%)
Ward 3: 7,018 (+1.5%)
Ward 4: 6,891 (-0.3%)

Proposal V3 Map: 
This version kept the changes from V2 and took a small portion of W3-P2 and added it to W4-P1 increasing the overall population in Ward 4 which has less space for future growth and decreasing Ward 3 population which has room for significant development in the next 10 years.  

V3 Population: 
Ward 1: 6,836 (-1.1%)
Ward 2: 6,901 (-0.2%)
Ward 3: 6,791 (-1.5%)
Ward 4: 7,118 (+3.0%)

At the March 1, 2022 work session meeting, Council directed staff to prepare two additional proposed maps for consideration, attached to the case are the proposals labeled V1, V2 and V3.  At the time of the meeting, the data was raw and the percentages were rounded, the figures have been updated to the 10th decimal.  Based on the three options, Council will select a map to attach to the necessary ordinance for introduction and adoption to establish the new boundary lines for the City of Ramsey's Ward system and a resolution to establish precinct lines and polling places.  The ordinance establishing the Ward lines is attached to this case for Council review and consideration of introduction.  The Ordinance will be brought back to the March 22, 2022 Council meeting for formal adoption as will the resolution establishing the precinct lines and polling places.  This schedule will fall within the time line requirements for redistricting.

Staff recommends Council introduce the attached ordinance establishing boundary lines for the City of Ramsey Ward system.

N/A

Motion to introduce Ordinance #22-16 establishing boundary lines for the City of Ramsey Ward System.