Body
Department of Community Development
Reference: Ward Boundary Map Update
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Clint Blackhurst, Interim City Manager
Prepared By: Joshua Ryan, GIS Technician
Through: Marv Falconburg, Assistant City Manager Operations; Holly Prather Community Developer Director
Date Prepared: April 21, 2017
PURPOSE
To amend the ward boundaries to reflect an increase in the population of the City of Brighton between July 2011 (previous ward boundaries update) and June 2017.The last Ward Boundary update based on population was completed in July 2011.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The current estimated population for the city of Brighton is 36,944. Note: This number reflects the data provided by the US Census Bureau and city data on certificates of occupancies issued since the Census date. This resulted in the following population distributions for each of the four wards:
Ward 1: 10,459
Ward 2: 7,935
Ward 3: 9,371
Ward 4: 9,179
The Brighton City Charter requires that the division of the City into wards be consistent with the relevant provisions of the Colorado Constitution. Section 46 of Article V of the Constitution of Colorado requires that each ward have “…a population as nearly equal as may be, as required by the Constitution of the United States, but in no event shall there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each house.”
Case law has interpreted this provision to mean that: “(T)he sum of the percent by which the largest district’s population exceeds that of the ideal district and the percent by which the smallest district population falls short of the population of the ideal district must be less than 5%.”
Currently, the sum of the percent by which the population of the largest ward (Ward 1 at 10,459) exceeds the ideal ward (9,236) and the percent by which the smallest ward (Ward 2 at 7,935) falls short of the population of the ideal ward, is greater than 5%. Therefore, an adjustment to the Ward Boundary Map is required.
At the April 11th City Council Study Session, staff presented three options for consideration. At that time, the Council directed staff to move forward with Option A. The draft ward boundary map and ordinance provided herein is based on Option A. Adoption of the proposed ward boundary will result in the following population distributions for each of the four wards:
Ward 1: 8,985
Ward 2: 9,444
Ward 3: 9,371
Ward 4: 9,144
As previously noted, there shouldn’t be more than a “five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each house.” The deviation based on the population distributions above results in 4.97% therefore, the proposed redistricting is within the deviation parameters as set forth in the Colorado Constitution. Staff expects population growth in Ward 1 and Ward 4 and is the reason why Option A includes lower population in these wards. Ward 1 and Ward 4 can absorb the expected growth without forcing the population deviation above 5%.
CRITERIA BY WHICH COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER THE ITEM:
§ Home Rule Charter, Article III, 3.4 Wards. (A)
The City shall be divided into four (4) wards, the boundaries of which shall be changed only by an ordinance adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Council.
ATTACHMENTS
§ DRAFT Ward Boundary Map
§ DRAFT Ordinance