Proposed map would change DeKalb ward boundaries

DeKALB – If a redrawn map is approved next week, thousands of DeKalb residents will be in a different ward next year.

The proposal will change ward boundaries for about 6,700 residents. City Manager Mark Biernacki said the goal was to make populations as equal as possible between the wards and to help boost voter participation in each ward. The proposed map is based on a population of a little more than 44,000.

It's been a decade since the last ward map update, and the city has an ordinance in place that requires boundaries to be changed after each census. The latest census occurred in 2010.

Under the proposed map, each ward consists of about 14 percent of the population, with the exception of Ward 6 (15.3 percent) and Ward 7 (12.9 percent).

The map attempts to address wards with low voter turnout by absorbing sections of wards with higher voter turnout. In 2009, Wards 2 and 4 saw the highest voter turnout – about 21 percent. In that same year, Wards 6 and 7 saw the lowest voter turnout – about 4 percent.

Of the three maps that were originally proposed, 1st Ward Alderman David Jacobson said he supports the map being voted on next week the most.

"I think it's the best compromise met at this point," he said. "It helps diversify the student ward a little better."

Jacobson and other council members indicated they planned to go door-to-door in their wards to help inform residents of the changes.

Mayor Kris Povlsen said the proposed map isn't ideal, but it's better than the current map in terms of voter distribution.

"Just because we have an equal population doesn't mean we have equal representation of voters," he said. "It's been very disconcerting to have wards with 100 voters versus 900 voters."

The proposed map puts part of Wards 1 and 7 into Ward 6. Part of Ward 6 will become Wards 5 and 7. Parts of Ward 2 would be split up into Wards 1 and 3, while part of Ward 1 would become Ward 2.

Ward 4 would remain unchanged.

The council last week approved the first reading of redistricting wards. A public hearing was held March 12 after a 30-day public comment period, and the city manager's office has not heard any comments or questions.

Tom Teresinski, 2nd Ward alderman, at the last meeting asked that the council wait until second reading to vote on a final version of the map to give people a chance to see the changes.

He said the council started the ward map changes six to nine months ago, and a map proposed early on in discussions broke the city into four wards with two representatives at large instead of seven wards with one representative each.

"It was an attempt again to improve representation," Teresinski said. "It has not seen a lot of support."

Povlsen said most council members liked the idea of an individual representing a smaller neighborhood, which is why the current proposed map keeps the city divided into seven wards.

"Really the intent is to be a voice for a smaller group of people," he said.

Council members are scheduled to vote on the map changes after second reading next week. If the proposed map is approved, it will go into effect 10 days later.

Breakdown

Boundary change from Ward 1 to 6: 707 people

The addition to Ward 6 includes the boundaries of Crane Drive to the north, Russell Road to the east, Lucinda Avenue to the south and Annie Glidden Road to the west.

Boundary change from Ward 1 to 2: 1,189 people

The addition to Ward 2 includes the boundaries of Russell Road to the east, Crane Drive to the south, Annie Glidden Road to the west and just south of Greenbrier Road to the north.

Boundary change from Ward 2 to 1: 1,342 people

The addition to Ward 1 includes the boundaries of First Street to the east, Laurel Lane and Hillcrest Drive to the south, the northerly extension of Fox Hollow Court just north of Hillcrest Drive to the west, and West Dresser Road, including DeKalb High School, to the north.

Boundary change from Ward 2 to 3: 309 people

The addition to Ward 3 includes most of Oak Crest Retirement Center on Greenwood Acres Drive and primarily the area north of Oakland Drive.

Boundary change from Ward 6 to 5: 925 people

The addition to Ward 5 includes the boundaries of Lucinda Avenue to the north, the Kishwaukee River to the east, Lincoln Highway to the south and Carroll Avenue and University Circle to the west.

Boundary change from Ward 6 to 7: 1,104 people

The addition to Ward 7 includes primarily the Devonaire Farms subdivision, along with the land north of that area up to Lincoln Highway.

Boundary change from Ward 7 to 6: 1,147 people

The addition to Ward 6 includes the 900 Crane Drive complex, with boundaries of Russell Road, Lucinda Avenue and Annie Glidden Road. It also includes Grant and Douglas drives, and Northern Illinois University's north and south Grant Towers.

– Source: Doug Eaton, the census liaison for DeKalb