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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-12-08 OrdinanceORDINANCE NO. 81-3043 ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 10.35 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF IOWA CITY, ESTABLISHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE VOTING PRECINCTS IN IOWA CITY. SECTION I. PURPOSE. The purpose of this amendment is to revise the voting precincts in Iowa City to reflect changes in population exhibited in the 1980 decennial census. SECTION II. AMENDMENT. Section 10.35 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by deleting said section and replacing it with the following: Section 10-35. Boundaries. The area encompassed within the voting precincts shall be that indicated in this section: (1) Precinct One (1): Beginning at the intersection of Riverside Drive and West Benton Street, then north along Riverside Drive to Myrtle Avenue, west along Myrtle Avenue to Brookland Place, north along Brookland Place to Brookland Park Drive, west along Brookland Park Drive to Melrose Court, north along Melrose Court to Melrose Avenue, west along Melrose Avenue to corporate limits of City of Iowa City, follow corporate limits of City of Iowa City southeast, then west, then south, then west, then south, then west, then south to intersection with West Benton Street, east along West Benton Street to point of beginning. (2) Precinct Two (2): Beginning at intersection of Melrose Avenue and Woolf Avenue, then north along Woolf Avenue to intersection with Newton Road, then northwesterly along Newton Road to U.S. Highway 6, northwesterly along Highway 6 to corporate limits of Iowa City, follow corporate limits of Iowa City northwest, Lhen southwest, to intersection with Mormon Trek Boulevard, southwesterly and south along Mormon Trek Boulevard to intersection with West Benton Street, east along West Benton Street to the i MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 140INES 179ol ..1 corporate limits of Iowa City, follow corporate limits north, then east, then north, then east, then north, then east, then southeast to intersection with Melrose Avenue, east along Melrose Avenue to point of beginning. (3) Precinct Three (3): Beginning at the intersection of Burlington Street and Madison Street, north along Madison Street to Iowa Avenue, west on Iowa Avenue onto old Newton Road and continue west on old Newton Road to Woolf Avenue, south along Woolf Avenue to Melrose Avenue, east along Melrose Avenue to Melrose Court, south along Melrose Court to Brookland Park Drive, east along Brookland Park Drive to Brookland Place, south along Brookland Place to Myrtle Avenue, east along Myrtle Avenue to Riverside Drive, south on Riverside Drive to intersection with Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, east along center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to center line of Iowa River channel, north along said Iowa River channel to intersection with Burlington Street, east along Burlington Street to point of beginning. (4) Precinct Four (4): Beginning at the intersection of Riverside Drive and old Newton Road, then northerly to River Street, northwesterly along River Street to Beldon Avenue, north along Beldon Avenue to Grove Street, west along Grove Street to Ferson Avenue, north along Ferson Avenue to Park Road, west along Park Road to Rocky Shore Drive, southwesterly along Rocky Shore Drive to Highway 6, east along Highway 6 to Newton Road, easterly along Newton Road to old Newton Road, east along old Newton Road to point of beginning. (5) Precinct Five (5): Beginning at intersection of North Dubuque Street and Market Street, north along North Dubuque Street to Davenport Street, west along Davenport Street to Madison Street, south along Madison Street to Market Street, east along Market Street to point of beginning. i79a MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES (6) Precinct Six (6): Beginning at intersection of North Dubuque Street and Davenport Street, north along Dubuque Street to Fairchild Street, east along Fairchild Street to Gilbert Street, north along Gilbert Street to Ronalds Street, west along Ronalds Street to North Dubuque Street, north along North Dubuque Street to Park Road, extend west along Park Road to center line of Iowa River channel, southwesterly along center line of Iowa River channel to Iowa Avenue bridge, east along Iowa Avenue to Madison Street, north along Madison Street to Davenport Street, east along Davenport Street to point of beginning. (7) Precinct Seven (7): Beginning at the intersection of Park Road and North Dubuque Street, north along North Dubuque Street to the northern corporate limits of the City of Iowa City, west and south along the northern and western corporate limits of the City of Iowa City to its intersection with Highway 6, east along Highway 6 to Rocky Shore Drive, northeasterly along Rocky Shore Drive to Park Road, east along Park Road to Ferson Avenue, south along Ferson Avenue to Grove Street, east along Grove Street to Beldon Avenue, south along Beldon Avenue to River Street, southeasterly along River Street to North Riverside Drive, southerly along Riverside Drive to its intersection with an eastern extension of old Newton Road, east along the eastern extension of old Newton Road and onto the Iowa Avenue Bridge to the center line of Iowa River channel, northeasterly along center line of Iowa River channel to Park Road bridge, east to point of beginning. (8) Precinct Eight (8): Beginning at the northern intersection of the corporate limits of the City of Iowa City and Mormon Trek Boulevard, then follow the corporate limits of the City of Iowa City northwesterly, then south and then east to its southern intersection with Mormon Trek Boulevard, then north along Mormon Trek Boulevard to the point of beginning. (9) Precinct Nine (9): Beginning at the southern intersection of the corporate / 1002, MICROFILMEDBY `JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 1401NES Vi_ limits of the City of Iowa City and the center line of the Iowa River channel, north along the center line of the Iowa River channel to Highway 6 Bypass, west along Highway 6 Bypass to its intersection with Highway 1 at Riverside Drive, west along Highway 1 to Miller Avenue, north along Miller Avenue to West Benton Street, west along West Benton Street to its intersection with Mormon Trek Boulevard, southerly along Mormon Trek Boulevard, to southern corporate limits of the City of Iowa City, starting east follow corporate limits of City of Iowa City to point of beginning. (10) Precinct Ten (10): Beginning at the intersection of the center line of Highway 6 Bypass and Keokuk Street, northerly along Keokuk Street to Florence Street, east along Florence Street to Marcy Street, north along Marcy Street to Kirkwood Avenue, east along Kirkwood Avenue to Clark Street, north along Clark Street to Walnut Street, west along Walnut Street to Summit Street, north along Summit Street to center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, west along center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to Riverside Drive, south along Riverside Drive to West Benton Street, west along West Benton Street to Miller Avenue, south along Miller Avenue to center line of Highway 1, east along Highway 1 to its intersection with Riverside Drive and Highway 6, easterly along center line of Highway 6 to point of beginning. (11) Precinct Eleven (11): Beginning at the intersection of the center line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way and Lucas Street, north along Lucas Street to Bowery Street, west along Bowery Street to Johnson Street, north along Johnson Street to Burlington Street, west along Burlington Street to Linn Street, north along Linn Street to Washington Street, west along Washington Street to Dubuque Street, north along Dubuque Street to Market Street, west along Market Street to Madison Street, south along Madison Street to Burlington MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS•DES MOINES i 7902 Street, west along Burlington Street to the center line of the Iowa River channel, south along said Iowa River Channel to center line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, easterly along center line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad right of way to point of beginning. (12) Precinct Twelve (12): Beginning at the interesection of the center line of Highway 6 and Fairmeadows Boulevard, southwesterly along Fairmeadows Boulevard to Union Road, south along Union Road to Arizona Avenue, southeasterly along Arizona Avenue to Miami Drive, southwesterly along Miami i Drive to Lakeside Drive, west along s Lakeside Drive to southeastern property line of Iowa City Community School District (Grantwood School), following property line of Iowa City Community } School District (Grantwood School) north, then west, and then south to Lakeside Drive, west along Lakeside Drive to Sycamore Street, south along Sycamore Street to southern corporate limits of c City of Iowa City, follow corporate C limits of the City of Iowa City east and then north to center line of Highway 6, northwesterly along Highway 6 to point of beginning. (13) Precinct Thirteen (13): Beginning at the intersection the southern corporate limits of City of Iowa City and Sycamore Street, north along Sycamore Street to its intersection with Lakeside Drive, east along Lakeside Drive to westerly property line of Iowa City Community School District (Grantwood School), follow property line of Iowa City Community School District (Grantwood School) north, then east and then south to Lakeside Drive, east along Lakeside Drive to Miami Drive, northeasterly along Miami Drive to Arizona Avenue, northwesterly along Arizona Avenue to Union Road, north along Union Road to Fairmeadows Boulevard, northeasterly along Fairmeadows Boulevard to center line of Highway 6, westerly along center line of Highway 6 to the center line of the Iowa River channel, south along /792 i MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES HOMES -.7 center line of Iowa River channel to the intersection with the southern corporate limits of City of Iowa City, east along corporate limits of city of Iowa City to point of beginning. (14) Precinct Fourteen (14): Beginning at the intersection of the center line of Highway 6 and Sycamore Street, north along Sycamore Street to Lower Muscatine Road, northwesterly along Lower Muscatine Road to Spruce Street, north and westerly along Spruce Street to Pine Street, north along Pine Street to the center of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, northwest along Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to Summit Street, south along Summit Street to Walnut Street, east along Walnut Street to Clark Street, south along Clark Street to Kirkwood Avenue, west along Kirkwood Avenue to Marcy Street, south along Marcy Street to Florence Street, west along Florence Street to Keokuk Street, south along Keokuk Street to center line of Highway 6, east along center line of Highway 6 to point of beginning. (15) Precinct Fifteen (15): Beginning at the southeast corporate limits of the City of Iowa City, follow the corporate limits of the City of Iowa City in a northerly direction, west and then east along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right-of-way and north along Scott Boulevard to Muscatine Avenue, west along Muscatine Avenue to First Avenue, south along First Avenue to the center line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, northwesterly along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to Pine Street, south along Pine Street to p Street, east and south along Spruce Street to Lower Muscatine Road, southeasterly along Lower Muscatine Road to Sycamore Street, south along Sycamore Street to center line of Highway 6, southeasterly along center line of Highway 6 to corporate limits of City of Iowa City, and then southeasterly along corporate limits of City of Iowa City to point of beginning. MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES ...7 V%_ (16) Precinct Sixteen (16): Beginning at the intersection of the eastern corporate limits of the City of Iowa City and Scott Boulevard, east then north along eastern corporate limits of City of Iowa City, then east then north to Court Street, west along Court Street to Kenwood Drive, south along Kenwood Drive to Friendship Street, westerly along Friendship Street to First Avenue, south along First Avenue to Muscatine Avenue, east along Muscatine Avenue to Scott Boulevard, south along Scott Boulevard to point of beginning. (17) Precinct Seventeen (17): Beginning at the intersection of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad right of way and First Avenue, north along First Avenue to Court Street, west along Court Street to the intersection of Court Street, Muscatine Avenue and Ralston Creek, southerly along Ralston Creek to Sheridan Avenue, east along Sheridan Avenue to Rundell Street, south along Rundell Street to Jackson Avenue, east along Jackson Avenue to Seventh Avenue, south along Seventh Avenue to center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, southeasterly along Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to point of beginning. (18) Precinct Eighteen (18): Beginning at the intersection of the center line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way and Seventh Avenue, north along Seventh Avenue to Jackson Avenue, West along Jackson Avenue to Rundell Street, north on Rundell Street to Sheridan Avenue, west along Sheridan Avenue to Ralston Creek, northerly along Ralston Creek to its intersection with College Street, west along College Street to Summit Street, south along Summit Street to Burlington Street, west along Burlington Street to Governor Street, south along Governor Street to Bowery Street, west along Bowery Street to Lucas Street, south along Lucas Street to center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way, southeasterly along center line of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way to point of beginning. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES i 79,2-o (19) Precinct Nineteen (19): Beginning at the intersection of Bowery Street and Governor Street, north along Governor to Burlington Street, east on Burlington Street to Summit Street, north along Summit Street to College Street, east along College Street to Muscatine Avenue, northwesterly along Muscatine Avenue to Iowa Avenue, west along Iowa Avenue to Governor Street, south along Governor Street to Washington Street, west along Washington Street to Linn Street, south along Linn Street to Burlington Street, east along Burlington Street to Johnson Street, south along Johnson Street to Bowery Street, east along Bowery Street to point of beginning. (20) Precinct Twenty (20): Beginning at intersection of Washington Street and Governor, north along Governor Street to Iowa Avenue, east along Iowa Avenue to Evans Street, north along Evans Street to Jefferson Street, east along Jefferson Street to Clapp Street, north along Clapp Street to Market Street, west along Market Street to Union Place, north along Union Place to Bloomington Street, west along Bloomington Street to Governor Street, north along Governor Street to Davenport Street, west along Davenport Street to Lucas Street, south along Lucas Street to Bloomington Street, west along Bloomington Street to Dubuque Street, south along Dubuque Street to Washington Street, east along Washington Street to Point of beginning. (21) Precinct Twenty-one (21): Beginning at intersection of Bloomington Street and Lucas Street, north along Lucas Street to Davenport Street, east along Davenport Street to Governor Street, north along Governor Street to Brown Street, west along Brown Street to Gilbert Street, northerly along Gilbert Street to Kimball Road, west along Kimball Road to Dubuque Street, south along Dubuque Street to Ronalds Street, east along Ronalds Street to Giblert Street, south along Gilbert Street to Fairchild Street, west along Fairchild Street to Dubuque Street, south along Dubuque Street to Bloomington Street, east along Bloomington Street to point of beginning. /79,2, j MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 140INES (22) Precinct Twenty-two (22): Beginning at intersection of Brown Street and Governor Street, north along Governor Street to Dodge Street, northeasterly along Dodge Street which becomes Highway 1 and continue northeasterly to northern corporate limits of City of Iowa City, to follow northern corporate limits of City of Iowa City west, south and west to its intersection with Dubuque Street, south on Dubuque Street to Kimball Road, east on Kimball Road to Gilbert Street, southerly on Gilbert Street to Brown Street, east on Brown Street to point of beginning. (23) Precinct Twenty-three (23): Beginning at intersection of Lower West Branch Road and eastern corporate limits of City of Iowa City, then north and west along said corporate limits of City of Iowa City to its intersection with Highway #1, then southwestly along Highway #1 onto Dodge Street and continue southwesterly to Governor Street, south along Governor Street to Bloomington Street, east along Bloomington Street to Union Place, south i along Union Place to Market Street, east along Market Street to Clapp Street, south along Clapp Street to Hotz Avenue, east along Hotz Avenue to Parson Street, north along Parson Street to Rochester Avenue, east along Rochester Avenue to Rochester Court, south and east along Rochester Court to Ashwood Drive, north along Ashwood Drive to Rochester Avenue, northeasterly along Rochester Avenue to First Avenue, south along First Avenue to Washington Street, east along Washington Street to Westminster Street, north and northeasterly along Westminster Street to Hastings Avenue, east along Hastings i Avenue to Amhurst Street, northerly along Amhurst Street to Lower West Branch Road, southeasterly along Lower West Branch Road to point of beginning. (24) Precinct Twenty-four (24): Beginning at intersection of Court Street and First Avenue, north along First Avenue to Rochester Avenue, southwesterly along Rochester Avenue to Ashwood Drive, south along Ashwood Drive to Rochester Court, west and north on Rochester Court to / 7 9,2 MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS•DES 140INES IF Rochester Avenue, west along Rochester Avenue to Parson Street, south along Parson Street to Hotz Avenue, west along Hotz Avenue to Clapp Street, south along Clapp Street to Jefferson Street, west along Jefferson Street to Evans Street, south along Evans Street to Muscatine Avenue, southeasterly along Muscatine Avenue to College Street, east along College Street to its intersection with Ralston Creek, southerly along Ralston Creek to its intersection with Court Street, east along Court Street to point of beginning. (25) Precinct Twenty-five (25): Beginning at Court Street and corporate limits of City of Iowa City, northerly along corporate limits of City of Iowa City to Lower West Branch Road, northwest of along Lower West Branch Road to Amhurst Street, south along Amhurst Street to Hastings Avenue, west along Hastings Avenue to Westminster Street, southwesterly along Westminster Street to Washington Street, west along Washington Street to First Avenue, south along First Avenue to Friendship Street, east and northeasterly along Friendship Street to Kenwood Drive, north along Kenwood Drive to Ccurt Street, east along Court Street to point of beginning. (Code 1966, Section 2.50.3; Ordinance No 2633; Ordinance No. 2645; Ordinance No. 2652.; Ordinance No. 2664; Ordinance No. 75-2769, Section 2, 6-17-75) SECTION III. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts es of ordinancin conflict with the provision of this ordinance are hereby repealed. SECTION IV. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such ajudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconsti- tutional. SECTION V. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval and publication as required by law. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 1401NES / 7 942, 4 Passed and approved this 8th day of December, 1981. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK Raceivad S Approved By The Legal Depertment MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES -MOINES /79'07- J It was moved by Neuhauser , and seconded by Vevera that the Ordinance as read be adopted and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: x BALMER x ERDAHL x LYNCH x NEUHAUSER _y PERRET x ROBERTS x VEVERA First consideration xxxxxxxxxxxxx Vote for passage: Second consideration xxxxxxxxxxxxx Vote for passage: w Moved by Neuhauser, seconded by Vevera, that the rule requiring ordinances to be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, the first and second consideration and vote be waived and the ordinance be voted upon for final passage at this time. Ayes: Balmer, Erdahl, Lynch, Neuhauser, Perret, Roberts, Vevera. Nays: None. cl Date published 12/16/81, 12/23/81, 12/30/81 I � i i /79a- _i MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS•DES MOINES e 61� I ­,, City of Iowa CV -0 MEMORANDUM Date: December 2, 1981 To: City Council From: Doug Boothroy, Senior Planner Re: Iowa City Precinct Boundaries The enclosed precinct map reflects the new precinct and Council district boundaries drawn up by the Johnson County League of Women Voters and the city staff. The proposed changes have been reviewed by Tom Slockett, the Commissioner of Elections, as required by law. Mr. Slockett's comments on the proposal are included in your packet. Enclosed, also, are a list of the proposed polling places, the population totals and changes by precinct and by district, and the ordinance requiring action on Tuesday night. VARIANCE IN POPULATION Mr. Slockett raised the issue of the desirability and legality of variations in population totals for the Council districts. State law requires that "wards" be apportioned by population and that ward boundaries follow the boundaries of election precincts (Ch. 49.5(1)). Municipal ordinances merely set the boundaries. The districts, as proposed, reflect a variance of less than 5%. State guidelines for determining precinct boundaries suggest a variance of no more than 10%, however, the law states that equality of population among precincts should not take precedence over convenience to the voter. The district lines, as drawn, reflect an effort to make as little change as possible so as to provide continuity in district designations, and an effort to equalize population where a change was required. The City Attorney has found no question of legality with the variance as proposed. Given the small percentage of variation, the staff recommends the district boundaries be adopted as proposed. POLLING PLACES It is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Elections to designate polling places. The staff is working with the Commissioner to compile a list of appropriate places. No Council action is required on this item. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Any discrepancies in the description of the precinct lines have been resolved. The amendment to the Code which describes the precinct boundaries is adopted by ordinance and therefore requires three readings. The Council should be aware that the deadline for submission of the revised boundaries to the Secretary of State is December 31, 1981. Failure to meet that deadline allows the State to redraw precinct lines for a municipality and chargeback any costs incurred, to the City. Given the approaching holiday at the time of the Council's next meeting, December 23rd, the staff advises reading the ordinance the required times at the December 8th meeting. tp2/1 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 140INES 179 IOWA CITY POLLING PLACES - PROPOSED 11/19/81 1. Roosevelt School --724 W. Benton *2. University Baptist Church --1850 W. Benton or University Athletic Club --Melrose *3., University Field House --Trophy Concourse 4.' Lincoln School --300 Teeters Court 5. Burge -Hall --300 block of N. Clinton *6. Currier Hall --N. Clinton 7. Hancher Auditorium --Hallway by Clapp 8. West High --2901 Melrose *9: Iowa City Maintenance'Building--Hwy. 6 & 218 or Municipal Airport --Hwy. 218 10. National Guard Armory --925 S. Dubuque 11. Courthouse -417 S. Clinton 12. Grant Wood School --Lakeside 13. Dunlap's Motor Sales--Keokuk.St. 14. Mark Twain School --1355 DeForest 15. Southeast Jr. High School --2501 Bradford 16. Robert Lucas School --830 Southlawn *17. Free Methodist Church --Muscatine & 3rd or Hoover School 18. Longfellow School --1130 Seymour 19. Recreation Center -220 S. Gilbert 20. First United Methodist Church --Jefferson & Dubuque 21. Horace Mann School --521 N. Dubuque 22. Shimek School --1400 Grissel Place 23. Regina High School --Rochester Ave. 24. City High School --1900 Morningside Drive 25. Helen Lemme School --3100 Washington *changes from current polling place 7 fa I MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES i —01 7 MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 140 RIES f PRECINCT POPULATION - 1980 CENSUS REVISED NOV. 19, 1981 Precinct No. Prior to Proposed Changes. With Changes Am6unt of Change 1 2 2,282 2,616 + 334 3 ,070 1201 1, 271 + 4 2,002 2,647 +645 5 1,333 1,566 +233 6 1,989 11989 - - - 2,073 2,073 8 2,200 1,721 -479 2,920 2,920 9 10 3,954 1,462 2,349 -1605 *11 1,368 1,304 1,7 -158 +350 12 2,265 2,2655 _ 13 14 3,084 2,569 _ _ .-515 15 1,330 2,270 1,973 +643 - 16 1,892 1,662 1,818 -608 -74 17 1,786 1,794 +8 *19 1,337 1,883 +546 i 20 1,947 1,947 - - - 21 1,729 1,729 22 1,780 1,780 _ _ _ 23 1,586 2,065 +479 24 3,059 2,575 -484 25.'2,127 1,591 11591 2,611 +484 i 50,436 50,436 *The changes in these precincts are not reflected Two census blocks, comprising 394 in the population figures presented. precincts. people, overlap The two entire blocks were allocated the current boundaries to Precinct 19 in of these two iclosely equalize the populations of Precinct 19 and 11. order to more Council Districts jl A 18,104 17,649 -455 8 16,327 16,199 -128 C 16,005 16,588 +583 P i /79a - MICROFILMED BY 'JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES 140 RIES f S" - City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: December 1, 1981 TO: Darin Franklin, Planner FROM: Robert W. Jansen RE: Variation in council districts You have forwarded to me a copy of the letter from County Auditor Tom Slockeit addressed to the Mayor and City Council dated November 25, 1981. The letter contains certain comments concerning the City's proposed plan for re-precincting pursuant to the provisions of Section 49.5 of the Code of Iowa (1981). Mr. Slockett's letter states, in part, "The variance in population of the proposed council districts may be more than is desireable or allowed by law. Your legal department should be able to answer the question o!: the legality of the variance. You, yourselves, will need to answer the question of the desirability of the variance.". According to information supplied by you, the variance between the largest district and the smallest district is 8% and none of the proposed council districts have more than a 5% population variance from the mean. I have reviewed the provisions of Section 49.5 of the Iowa Code concerning this population variance between districts. Section 49.S provides, in part, "Election precincts within the same city shall be so drawn that their total populations shall be reasonably equal on the basis of the most recent Federal decennial census, but equality of population among precincts shall not take precedence over consideration of the convenience of voters as defined in this Section." (Emphasis supplied). Although the State Code refers to the drawing of precincts, the Iowa City Code of Ordinances provides for the establishment of three council dis- tricts within which are all of the 25 election precincts. In my opinion, the requirement contained in the State Code that election precincts shall be reasonably equal also applies to the establishment of council districts. It is also my opinion that a population variance of 8% between the largest and smallest districts and an overall variance of 5% from the mean is "reasonably equal" and satisfies the requirements of the State Code. In addition, the mandate contained in Code Section 49.5 that equality of population among precincts shall not take precedence over con- sideration of the convenience of the voters also comes into play in that the proposed drawing of council districts does give this factor more weight than the minor variances of 8% and 5% of mean. "Convenience of the voters" refers to, but is not necessarily limited, the use of precinct boundaries which can be readily described to and identified by voters and ease of access by voters to their respective precinct polling places by reasonably MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES /79 c /� in Franklin December 1, 1981 Page 2 direct routes of travel. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. cc: Neal Berlin j MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS -DES MOINES X99 o�L V_ CITY OF IOWA CITY CIVIC CENTER 410 E. WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 (319) 356-5000 December 12, 1981 Mary Jane Odell Secretary of State State House Des Moines, Iowa 50319 i Dear Secretary Odell: On December 8, the City Council for Iowa City adopted an ordinance describing the new precinct and Council district boundaries for the City. Enclosed is a copy of that ordinance and the corresponding map. Public notice of the changes will be published for three consecutive weeks - December 16, 23, and 30, in our local paper, as required by law. Sincerely yours, Neal G. Berlin City Manager tp4/20 cc: Abbie Stolfus, City Clerk Thomas Slockett, County Auditor 17 Mr MICROFILMED BY ' JORM MICROLAB -CEDAR RAPIDS•DES MOINES Y 4- c