Agenda - Council - 03/08/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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