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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLK 03-16 Cat! °0 -=T- Report to T; ;` ; ; _ Executive Committee I KERIN Report Number: CLK 03-16 Date: June 20, 2016 From: Paul Bigioni Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor Subject: Ward Boundary Review - File: A-2000 Recommendation: 1. That Report CLK 03-16 regarding a ward boundary review be received; 2. That Council direct the City Clerk to take the necessary action to commence a ward boundary review to be completed before the 2022 Municipal Election; and 3. That staff include funds in the 2017 Budget deliberations for a ward boundary review. Executive Summary: Consideration of a ward boundary review was requested by Council in 2011 and 2014 At this time the City Clerk is seeking direction from Council to proceed with a ward boundary review with budget allocations being approved in the 2017 budget deliberations and the ward boundary review being completed for the 2022 Municipal Election. Financial Implications: Based upon a review of other similar-sized municipalities that have recently undergone ward boundary reviews, it is estimated that a ward boundary review will cost approximately $50,000-$60,000, inclusive of a contingency amount to cover the cost of an OMB appeal should one be received. Discussion: On September 13, 2010, Council passed a motion directing staff to include consideration of a ward boundary review in the 2011 budget discussions and to investigate the election of Regional Councillors at large. At that time, it was determined that a ward boundary review was premature, considering that the Duffin Heights and Seaton communities were not yet established. Consideration of a ward boundary review was also noted after the 2014 Municipal Election and further investigation deemed that the Seaton community would still not be completely populated prior to the 2018 Municipal Election. At this point in time, the City Clerk recommends that the City allocate funds in the 2017 Budget and begin a ward boundary review to be completed for the 2022 Municipal Election. This timeline would give the City greater perspective on the population within CLK 03 -16 Subject: Ward Boundary Review Page 2 Seaton. Please note that the Regional Municipality of Durham has approved changes to the Region of Durham Council composition. By 2022, the City will have a more precise idea of how these changes have worked, and whether there will be additional changes in the composition of Regional Council prior to the 2022 Municipal Election. Work has begun on a ward boundary review and at this time we have the basic terms of reference that would be followed to complete the ward boundary review. This would include comments from Council in regards to discrepancies in size and population, consultation with the public and Council, protection of communities of interest and neighbourhoods, consideration of physical features such as natural boundaries, consideration of present and future population growth, and the overriding principle of "Effective Representation". A full ward boundary review could possibly lead to a total reconfiguration of the existing wards, so it would be unwise to rush the process. The population figures noted below suggest that the present configuration of Pickering's wards are not balanced. A ward boundary review would be done so as to withstand population changes for at least three terms of Council. Pickering's present ward design dates from a time when the municipality's population was less than 40,000. Today, the population is approximately 90,000 and projected growth could take that number to over 150,000 within the next ten years. Figures from the 2014 Municipal Election Ward Eligible Electors Population 1 23,041 25,776 2 17,306 24,670 3 27,493 39,233 * It is anticipated that Duffin Heights and Seaton will result in a significant population increase in Ward 3. As the community changes, so must the electoral system. Even now there are discrepancies in size and population among the wards and candidates, and voters have noted their concerns. For the 2018 Municipal Election, the Clerk's Office will be investigating and introducing new voting systems and methods to alleviate these concerns. There are many new voting systems which will assist the elector in voting more conveniently, such as internet voting and voting by phone. CLK 03 -16 Subject: Ward Boundary Review Page 3 Should Council approve the recommendations in this Report, staff will include funding in the draft 2017 Budget to hire a consultant to complete the review. Once the Budget has been approved, the tender process to hire the consultant will take place and an additional report from the consultant will be presented to Council which will include the establishment of principles or guidelines, the potential for electing Regional councillors at large, and the outline for a detailed public consultation process. Prepared By: Prepared By: Lisa Harker Debbie Shields Deputy Clerk City Clerk p• oved/Endorsed By: Paul Bi•ion' Dire. or, Core orate Services & City Solicitor DS:Ih Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council • 00a4Le 21 d Tony Prevedel, P.Eng. Chief Administrative Officer