City of Oshawa Ward Boundary Review Community Consultation Session on the Preliminary Options April, 2017
Study Overview Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., in association with Dr. Robert J. Williams, was retained to conduct the Review in August 2016 Multi-phase assignment which began in the fall of 2016; anticipated completion in June 2017 Project includes two rounds of public consultation – this being Round 2
Study Overview (Cont’d) What is a Ward Boundary Review? A task designed to develop units of representation that reflect the distribution of the inhabitants of a municipality for electoral purposes The Review is premised on the legitimate democratic expectation that municipal representation in Oshawa will be: Effective Equitable An accurate reflection of the contemporary distribution of communities and people across the City 2
Context Present composition of Oshawa City Council: Mayor Seven Regional and City Councillors Three City Councillors Total = 11 All elected at-large Oshawa has previously had a ward-based system – most recently from 1985 to 2006
Context (Cont’d) Since 2006 – last time City had ward- based system – Oshawa has seen a 15% increase in population; large share of growth in North Oshawa Over the 2017 to 2026 period, Oshawa’s population is expected to increase by 10%; 171,400 in 2017 to 188,900 in 2026. Important that the ward boundary structure reflects the changing nature of the City 4
Context (Cont’d) Municipal Act Section 217 authorizes Council to establish the number of Councillors and to determine whether they “shall be elected by general vote or wards or by any combination of general vote and wards.” Section 222 (1) authorizes a municipality “to divide or redivide the municipality into wards or to dissolve the existing wards.” 5
Why a Ward Boundary Review Now? Two factors: 1. Request by Durham Regional Council ( Municipal Act , s. 218) to permit a reduction in the number of Oshawa Regional Councillors from 7 to 5 2. Direction by Council to City staff to return to the election of all members of Council in wards, following the results of a question placed on the 2014 municipal election ballot ( Municipal Act , s. 222)
Key Study Objectives Review the existing Council composition and develop recommendations for an optimal configuration Identify plausible ward boundary options that take into account the results of the consultation process and Council composition arrangements Prepare reports that will set out alternative ward boundaries to ensure effective and equitable electoral arrangements, based on the principles identified 7
Study Process Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 • Data Collection and Research • Development of Preliminary • Finalize Options Options • Technical Analysis on • Final Recommendations Report • Report on Preliminary Options Population Trends and Growth • Presentation of Options to • Interviews with Mayor and • Public Consultation (Round 2) Council Members of Council • Adoption and Implementation • Public Consultation (Round 1) through By-law • Progress Report We are here 8
Preliminary Options Report and Public Consultation Round 2 The purpose of the Preliminary Options Report and second round of public consultation is to provide the residents of Oshawa with a series of preliminary ward boundary options under a number of concepts and models Options are based on background research, technical analysis and public input/feedback received in Phase 1 of the study 9
Considerations for Council Composition in Oshawa The number of Regional and City Councillors in Oshawa is fixed at five (5) Any ward model adopted will need to have regard for some variant of a five-ward system of representation for the Regional and City Councillors Where the model can vary is with respect to the the number of City Councillors – currently three (3) but perhaps some other number is more optimal? 10
Models of Municipal Representation for Oshawa Option 1 – A five-ward model to elect Regional and City Councillors that can be used to elect five City Councillors, ten City Councillors (two per ward) or no City Councillors Option 2 – A ten-ward model in which ten City Councillors are elected in ten wards that would be used in conjunction with one of the five-ward models to elect five Regional and City Councillors Option 3 – A mixed-ward model in which three City Councillors are elected in three wards that would be used in conjunction with one of the five-ward models to elect five Regional and City Councillors 11
Models of Representation and Preliminary Ward Options Council Composition and Ward Arrangement Options 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 5 City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 10 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward Five (5) Ward Model Option 1 0 City Councillors 5 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 5-A 5-B 5-C 5-D 5-E 10 City Councillors 5 Wards – 2 Councillors per ward Ward Options 15 Total Councillors Regional/City Ward Options 5-A 5-B 5-C 5-D 5-E Options for 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Regional/City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward Municipal Option 2 Ten (10) Ward Model 10 City Councillors 10 City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward Representation 15 Total Councillors in Oshawa 10-A 10-B 10-C 10-D City Ward Options Regional/City Ward Options 5-A 5-B 5-C 5-D 5-E 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Regional/City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward Mixed Ward Model Option 3 3 City Councillors 3 City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 8 Total Councillors 3-A 3-B 3-C City Ward Options 12
Five-ward Model One possible approach to elect five Regional and City Councillors in Oshawa is in a five-ward system and elect: Five (5) City Councillors (one in each ward); or No (0) City Councillors; or Ten (10) City Councillors (two per ward) 13
Five-ward Model (Cont’d) Arrangement Strengths Weaknesses 5 Regional • • No change in Council salary budget Large wards more diversified Councillors and • • No need to modify Council chambers Large wards may decrease pool of potential 5 City Councillors • Strengthens local accountability by having candidates 10 Total Councillors • more City Councillors Large scale of wards may hamper access to • Provides representation to all parts of the City Councillors on both Regional and City Council • Easy to understand 5 Regional • • Reduces Council salary budget by eliminating Weakens representation by having fewer Councillors and three City Councillors (a net reduction of five Councillors overall 0 City Councillors • Councillors) Weakens accountability: decisions can be made 5 Total Councillors • Simplifies representation with a single by a minimum of four officials • representative in each ward Large increase in Councillor workload; full-time Councillors and possibly additional staff support required • Probably decreases the pool of potential candidates significantly 5 Regional • • Strengthens representation by having more Increases Council salary budget by adding seven Councillors and Councillors overall City Councillors (a net increase of five Councillors) 10 City Councillors • • Increases accountability: decisions must be Requires modification to Council chambers 15 Total Councillors made by a minimum of nine officials • Provides representation to all parts of the City on both Regional and City Council 14
Five-Ward Model Options Five (5) Ward Model 5-A 5-B 5-C 5-D 5-E Ward Options 15
Ward Option 5-A • Proposed Ward 1 includes rural Oshawa, Taunton as well as emerging urban growth areas in Kedron and Columbus. • Proposed Ward 2 extends from Winchester Road to Rossland Road west of Ritson Road and includes the communities of Windfields, Samac, Northwood, Northglen and Centennial. • Extending east of Ritson Road from Taunton Road to Bond Street East/King Street East, Proposed Ward 3 includes the communities of Pinecrest and Eastdale. • Proposed Ward 4 covers the area south of Rossland Road to Highway 401 west of Ritson Road and includes Downtown Oshawa and large portions of the Central and O’Neill neighbourhoods, as well as Vanier and McLaughlin. • South Oshawa is represented by Proposed Ward 5 which extends south from Highway 401, Ritson Road and Bond Street East/King Street East and includes the communities of Lakeview, Farewell and Donevan. • Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to a more favourable population balance by ward by 2026. 2017 2026 Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 21,170 0.62 34,550 0.91 Ward 2 33,530 0.98 38,290 1.01 Ward 3 37,420 1.09 37,055 0.98 Ward 4 41,070 1.20 41,715 1.10 Ward 5 38,220 1.11 37,290 0.99 Total 171,410 188,900 Ward Average 34,282 37,780 16
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