Municipality of Central Elgin Ward Boundary Review Public Consultation Session (Open House) NOVEMBER 27, 2019
Introduction • Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., in association with Dr. Robert J. Williams, was retained by the Municipality of Central Elgin to conduct a Ward Boundary Review • The Review will explore the following questions: • Does the present ward structure provide effective representation? • Would an alternative system provide better representation? 1
Study Objectives • Develop a clear understanding of the present ward system • Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the present ward system based on the identified principles • Identify plausible modifications to the present ward structure • Conduct a consultation process to ensure community support for the Review and its outcome 2
Study Process • Multi-phase assignment which includes: • Research and data compilation • Interviews with Councillors and the Mayor • Population and growth forecasting and data modelling • Development of preliminary ward boundary alternatives • Public consultation on preliminary alternatives • Development of final Options and recommendations, and preparation of a report 3
Context • Municipality of Central Elgin created in 1998 through the amalgamation of the Township of Yarmouth with the Villages of Belmont and Port Stanley • Central Elgin’s Council is comprised of seven members, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected at-large and five Councillors elected in five wards 4
Context (Cont’d) 5
Context (Cont’d) Municipality of Central Elgin Population by Existing Ward 2019 Population Variance Ward 1 3,215 1.07 O+ Ward 2 3,120 1.04 O 2019 Ward 3 2,310 0.77 O- Ward 4 3,460 1.15 O+ Ward 5 2,930 0.97 O Ward Average 3,010 1.00 Source: Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. 2030 Population Variance Ward 1 4,270 1.23 O+ Ward 2 3,280 0.94 O- 2030 Ward 3 2,490 0.72 OR- Ward 4 3,675 1.06 O+ Ward 5 3,700 1.06 O+ Ward Average 3,480 1.00 Source: Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. 6
Context (Cont’d) • Municipal Act, 2001 • 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” 7
Guiding Principles a) Representation by Population • To the extent possible, every Ward Councillor will generally represent the same number of constituents, with some variation acceptable to take into account residential density and the patterns of settlement in the Municipality • The acceptable range of population variance will not exceed 25% unless it can be justified as a way to meet one of the other criteria • Non-resident electors will be considered in the determination of population in the wards 8
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) b) Population and Electoral Trends • Wards will be designed to maintain equitable representation by population over a three-election cycle (2022, 2026 and 2030) • Population projections will be based on adopted municipal-wide residential growth forecasts and other planning data compiled in 2019 9
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) c) Representation of Communities of Int erest • Wards will be composed of plausible groupings of communities and established settlements • Wards will, to the extent possible, have regard for the rural nature of the Municipality 10
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) d) Geographical and Topographical Features • Wards will be delineated using recognizable geographic and topographic features such as transportation infrastructure (major roads, railway lines, hydro corridors) or natural features (lakes, rivers, topographical land formations) • Ward boundaries will, to the extent possible, reflect customary patterns of communication among communities and settlements within the Municipality • Wards will be contiguous in shape and as compact as possible 11
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) e) Effective Representation • The previous four principles are all subject to the overarching principle of “effective representation” as enunciated by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter case • To achieve effective representation, each resident will have comparable access to their elected representative and each Ward Councillor should speak in governmental deliberations on behalf of the same number of residents • In determining what constitutes “effective representation” in Central Elgin, it may be necessary to apply some principles less stringently in order to better satisfy what may be viewed as other, more desirable principles 12
The Current Ward System • Using the five guiding principles: a) Representation by Population “optimal” ward 3,010 – population ranges from 2,310 (0.77) to 3,460 (1.15) b) Population and Electoral Trends forecast population 2030 – 17,400, “optimal” ward 3,480 population ranges from 2,490 (0.72) to 4,270 (1.23) c) Representation of Communities of Interest four wards contain both urban and rural areas Port Stanley split by two wards (Wards 1 and 2) 13
The Current Ward System (Cont’d) • Using the five guiding principles: d) Geographical and Topographical Features several boundaries “on paper,” downtown Port Stanley boundary an artificial line? e) Effective Representation access to elected representatives imbalanced (area and population), Ward Councillors speak in governmental deliberations on behalf of dissimilar number of residents 14
Preliminary Options • Consultant Team has developed four preliminary ward boundary alternatives: • Preliminary Option 5-A • Preliminary Option 5-B • Preliminary Option 5-C • Preliminary Option 5-D 15
Preliminary Option 5-A 16
Preliminary Option 5-B 17
Preliminary Option 5-C 18
Preliminary Option 5-D 19
Issues to Consider in this Review • What, in your judgment, are the strengths and weaknesses of the current wards? • Which principle(s) should be given the highest priority in designing an alternative ward system? • Which of the Preliminary Options do you like/dislike? Why? 20
Project Next Steps • Based on feedback from public consultation and further refinement, the Consultant Team will: • finalize ward boundary options; and • prepare a report and make recommendations to Council in early 2020 • If Council approves a recommendation for a change to the present ward boundaries, a by-law to enact the new boundaries would be brought to a later Council meeting for adoption 21
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