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Administrative Services Director Lasher confirmed this. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff asked if Brookside was currently a polling place. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher replied Brookside is not a polling place. She thought that <br />polling places in schools could be problematic. <br /> <br />Anoka County Elections Manager Linnell replied there is a clause and statue that allows for the <br />use of school buildings as polling places. He added they must make them available. He stated <br />there have been some conversations with the school districts that, as much as possible, try to not <br />use school buildings, especially elementary school buildings due to increasing security concerns <br />and other questions about access. There are a number of school buildings across the county that <br />are used as polling places so it would be something that could be considered if other options are <br />exhausted. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove referenced the staff reported titled “Suggested Form” and noted that <br />Ward 4 is higher than some of the others but she noticed that off Sunfish, that corner by Casey’s, <br />was not Ward 2. Sunwood and over was Ward 3 so she wasn’t sure if Ward 3 could continue to <br />have the former boundary to balance out the number between Ward 3 and Ward 4. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher replied that is a decision that would be made by the <br />Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked if a change doesn’t need to be made would be better for residents. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht agreed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff commented he didn’t think that is where it was but that it was close <br />to that. <br /> <br />Anoka County Elections Manager Linnell stated that the main take away would be about balancing <br />the ward populations and making sure those are as close to even as possible. When looking at <br />where lines are established, that should be that starting point as what is defined as what is equal, <br />practicable, compact and contiguous. If there is a claim that they are not as close to balance, that <br />is where issues can arise, but to balance the wards is the goal so the Councilmembers are <br />representing roughly the same number of residents. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher asked if 5% was the margin. <br /> <br />Anoka County Elections Manager Linnell replied with municipal redistricting the statute language <br />says it is as close as practicable but doesn’t reference a specific percent threshold. Within the <br />language, to get closer it would have to be justified if larger variations were found between the <br />ward populations. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma asked what the next steps are for determining that. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / February 22, 2022 <br />Page 3 of 13 <br /> <br />