Town of Essex Council and Ward Structure Review Public Consultation Open House Ward Boundary Review July 2017
Introduction Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., in association with Dr. Robert J. Williams, have been retained by the Town of Essex to conduct a Council and Ward Structure Review Multi-phase assignment which commenced in late 2016 with anticipated completion in August 2017 The first phase of the Review (completed in May 2017) addressed: How to fill the position of Deputy Mayor The composition of Council How to elect members of Council (i.e. ward-based or at-large) The second phase of the Review (in progress) will identify plausible ward boundary arrangements in which to elect members of Council – Ward Boundary Review 1
Study Process Phase 1 Phase 2 • Data Collection and Research • Interim Report • Develop Preliminary Ward Boundary Options • Technical Analysis on • Seek Council Direction on • Public Consultation (Round 2) Population Trends and Growth Election of Deputy Mayor, Council Composition and • Interviews with Mayor and • Finalize Options Electoral System Members of Council • Final Recommendations Report • Public Consultation (Round 1) • Presentation of Options to Council • Adoption and Implementation through By-law 2
Study Process (Cont’d) The Review incorporates a comprehensive public engagement component Purpose of public engagement: To inform residents of Essex about the context and reasons for the review, key considerations To engage residents to provide input to development and design of wards Based on feedback from Round 2 of public consultation, the Consultant Team will prepare a final report with recommendations. 3
Context Town of Essex: January 1, 1999 through the amalgamation of the Townships of Colchester North and Colchester South, Towns of Harrow and Essex Council presently comprises of a Mayor and six Town Councillors elected in four wards based on the pre-amalgamation municipalities One ward Councillor elected Deputy Mayor by secret ballot of Council 4
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” No Provincially-prescribed process or principles 5
Considerations for Review Four “layers” of decisions to be implemented for 2018 Municipal Election First three addressed through Phase 1: 1. Determine the method of election for the position of Deputy Mayor (to be elected at-large) 2. Agree on the “composition” of Council (five Councillors) 3. Determine whether to retain a ward system (maintain ward system) These three questions were addressed by Council on May 15, 2017 6
Considerations for Review (Cont’d) 4. Since wards are to be used to elect five Councillors (not six) and the ward boundaries have not been reviewed since amalgamation, it is necessary to initiate a review of the boundaries to ensure that the wards constitute an effective and equitable electoral arrangement 7
What is a Ward Boundary Review? What is a W.B.R.? A task designed to develop units of representation that reflect the distribution of the inhabitants of a municipality for electoral purposes Why are periodic W.B.R.s important? Electoral arrangements need to be reviewed regularly to ensure that representation remains consistent with democratic values 8
Present Wards in Town of Essex 2016 2026 # of Population # of Population Councillors Per Councillor Councillors Per Councillor Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 7,445 2 3,725 0.84 O- 8,430 2 4,215 0.90 O- Ward 2 4,425 1 4,425 1.00 O 4,440 1 4,440 0.95 O- O- O- Ward 3 7,525 2 3,765 0.85 7,545 2 3,775 0.80 OR- OR- Ward 4 2,710 1 2,710 0.61 3,070 1 3,070 0.65 Optimal Population 4,420 4,695 per Councillor Total 22,100 23,475 *Includes permanent and seasonal population. 9
Criteria for a Ward Boundary Review Terms of Reference and Guiding Criteria for the W.B.R. in Essex adopted October 2016 (Clerk’s Report 2016-009) “The review will have regard to the following guiding criteria, subject to the overriding principle of "effective representation" set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in Reference re Provincial Electoral Boundaries ” 10
Guiding Principles a) Representation by Population Wards should have relatively equal population totals. However, a degree of variation is acceptable given differences in geography and population densities, as well as the Town's characteristics The Town of Essex has an estimated 2016 population of 22,100 with about one-third located in Essex Urban Centre 11 11
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) b) Population and Electoral Trends Consider anticipated population increases/decreases so that ward sizes will be balanced for up to three terms of Council Town population forecast to increase to 23,475 by 2026, an increase of 6% from 2016 c) Means of Communication and Accessibility Group existing neighbourhoods into wards that reflect current transportation and communication patterns 12 12
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) d) Geographical and Topographical Features Use geographical and topographical features to delineate ward boundaries while keeping wards compact and easy to understand e) Community or Diversity of Interests As far as possible, ward boundaries should be drawn around recognized settlement areas, traditional neighbourhoods and community groupings - not through them 13 13
Guiding Principles (Cont’d) “the overriding principle of ‘effective representation’” (from the Carter decision 1991) 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 it may be necessary to apply some principles less stringently in order to better satisfy what may be viewed as other, more desirable, principles 14 14
Preliminary Options Implications of May 15 Council decision: the present ward format (4 wards: 2 wards electing 2 Councillors each, 2 wards electing 1 Councillor each) is no longer workable Council did not “pre-determine” a revised ward format new ward boundaries will be consistent with the guiding criteria accepted by Council in October 2016 15 15
Potential Directions for the W.B.R. in Essex 1. Number of Wards (District Magnitude) how many wards will be used and how will the Councillors be distributed among them? present four-ward system not symmetrical (two wards elect two Councillors each, two wards elect one Councillor each). Questions to consider: Is a mixed format preferred for Essex? Is such a format equitable? Is a one councilor per ward format a preferred option? Public feedback from first round of consultation identified no clear preference 16
Potential Directions for the W.B.R. in Essex (cont’d) 2. Ward Boundaries Present wards not suitable to elect five Councillors To provide “effective representation” possible alternatives needed to “redivide” the municipality based on an evaluation through the established “guiding criteria” 17
Preliminary Options Preliminary options developed based on four- ward and five-ward model: Four ward model (one ward electing two Councillors, three wards electing one Councilor each) Preliminary Option 4A Preliminary Option 4B Preliminary Option 4C 5 ward model (Five wards electing one Councillor each) Preliminary Option 5A Preliminary Option 5B Preliminary Option 5C 18 18
Preliminary Option 4A 2016 2026 # of Population # of Population Councillors Per Councillor Councillors Per Councillor Ward Population Variance Population Variance 0.84 O- 0.90 O- Ward 1 7,445 2 3,725 8,435 2 4,220 Ward 2 4,715 1 4,715 1.07 O+ 4,730 1 4,730 1.01 O Ward 3 4,555 1 4,555 1.03 O 4,895 1 4,895 1.04 O O+ O+ Ward 4 5,390 1 5,390 1.22 5,420 1 5,420 1.15 Optimal Population 4,420 4,695 per Councillor Total 22,100 23,475 *Includes permanent and seasonal population. 19 19
Preliminary Option 4B 2016 2026 # of Population # of Population Ward Population Councillors Per Councillor Variance Population Councillors Per Councillor Variance 0.94 O- 0.99 O Ward 1 8,350 2 4,175 9,325 2 4,665 0.89 O- 0.84 O- Ward 2 3,945 1 3,945 3,965 1 3,965 Ward 3 4,525 1 4,525 1.02 O 4,865 1 4,865 1.04 O O+ O+ Ward 4 5,280 1 5,280 1.19 5,325 1 5,325 1.13 Optimal Population 4,420 4,695 per Councillor Total 22,100 23,475 *Includes permanent and seasonal population. 20 20
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