Certain sections of Eugene are growing rapidly, and it’s time once again for the City Council to address those population variations. During a Wednesday work session, the council voted 7-1 to work out that redistricting itself, rather than leave the job to a subcommittee or public task force.
The projected 2000 Census data presented to the City Council during the work session reaffirmed two things about the city and its current wards: Eugene population growth greatly exceeded growth projections in certain wards, and ward boundaries will most likely undergo massive change to ensure equal representation.
Ward 3 Councilor Bonny Bettman, whose ward includes the University and much of the West University neighborhood, said the effect redistricting will have on students hinges on how the new lines are drawn. But she also mentioned that the redrawing of the lines will attempt to ensure equal representation among students.
While official figures from the 2000 Census will not be available until June, early estimated figures show that the population of Eugene has increased by slightly over 25,000 residents in the past decade.
Wards 5 and 6, which are both located in north Eugene, saw the largest population increases with nearly 9,000 and 6,0000 people respectively, according to the figures supplied to the City Council. During that same time, the population in Ward 3 increased only by about 400.
Most of Wednesday’s discussion regarding the redistricting process was centered on facilitating public input.
“There is going to be significant change this redistricting process,” Jim Croteau, the city of Eugene’s principal planner, told the Council. “We are recommending a more extensive citizen involvement process.”
Public information will be available about redistricting from the city of Eugene Web site and the city manager’s office.
“With regard to the process, I want to make sure we get public comment at the right time — before it’s too late,” Ward 8 Councilor Nancy Nathanson commented.
The Citizen Charter Review Committee recommended that the City Council place instant run-off voting, or IRV, on the ballot. However, the exact ballot — either May or November — remains uncertain. The committee also recommended that the City Council consider and discuss the feasibility of increasing the number of wards from eight to 10.
Instant run-off voting, committee Chairman Jon Belcher said, would have many advantages. He described the cost implications of a single election and how IRV could eliminate the possibility of “spoiler candidates,” as Green Party candidate Ralph Nader has been called during the aftermath of Election 2000.
IRV involves voting for candidates using a preferential ranking system.
“I don’t think [the system] is broken,” Belcher said, “but it does need some fixing.”
Mayor Jim Torrey solicited the individual opinion of committee members in attendance after Belcher addressed the council.
“Our community is growing more diverse socially and politically,” committee member Ken Tollenaar said. “I think IRV is a way to accommodate these larger charges within the community.”