Agenda - Council - 10/12/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

To accommodate the City's growth and to be able to efficiently manage the number of registered voters in each precinct, staff is proposing that the precinct boundary lines be redrawn and that three additional precincts be added. A map showing the proposed lines was sent out to Council with their weekly packet on September 17, 1999. Per the City's Charter, the City Council has the authority to approve the changes. In order to complete these boundary changes in the most efficient manner, the map needs to be submitted to the County early in December 1999, in order to submit it to the State by December 31, 1999. tf we do not complete our boundary changes in time, the only option we will be able to consider is to split the precincts down the middle. Drawing the lines ahead of time provides for a logical placement of boundary lines to suit voter totals, rather than just dividing existing precincts in half. With well-planned precinct boundary lines, it is the hope that when the time comes for re-districting, the State will follow our lines and divide districts accordingly. ]ncreasiny,, Precincts If Council agrees, staff will present a resolution at the meeting o£ October 26, 1999, proposing the boundary changes and precinct additions. Following approval and presentations to the County and State, a Citywide mailing' will be done to inform the public of the precinct boundary changes. The mailing will be fairly costly, therefore, when staff met with Anoka County Elections, it made economical sense to add three &precincts as opposed to two. If we did not add the third precinct for election year 2000, due to the population increase, we would probably have to add it for the year 2002, which /qwould cost in staff time and the mass mailing. Staffhas already requested budgeting for three additional AccuVote machines, in anticipation of the need due to the fact that our current precincts are far exceeding the recommended maximums of 1500 to 2000 voters per precinct. Aisc a concern and drive for an additional precinct is the projected population increases. The three additional AccuVote machines would be less expensive ~n 2000, due to the benefits of volume ordering discounts with all of Anoka County Purchasing new tabulators in the year 2000. t ', ' ~qSltaff has contacted several ~cilities to inquire if they would consider serving as polling ~Xplaces and has received very favorable responses. Adding three precincts will undoubtedly make the votin~ exr>erience more t)leasant for our residents as it should significantly reduce the "standing in line" time. ~Council Action: ~.i/Motion to introduce the ordinance deleting Section 3.2 of Chapter 3 of the Ramsey City /Charter repealing the requirement of liaison functions, 3.2.1 - precinct liaison and 3.2.2 - precinct boundaries. . Reviewed by: _'"h . ~ Copies also distributed to: Deputy City Clerk 2~ Anoka County Elections City Administrator City Attorney '~ Administrative Services Manager '~ CC: I0/12/99 BRA ?S]lVOLIlusersLtThtehngl~JOICOUNCIL&lC1TYCOUNl199910ctober~Repea13 2Charter doc J0/08/99