City Departments
Ward Boundary Changes for 2010
COUNCIL AGENDA UPDATE
On March 30, 2009, City Council adopted By-law 44-09
establishing a new 8 ward system for the City in 2010. The new wards come into effect the day the new council is inaugurated following the 2010 municipal elections, however; the elections will be held as if the new wards are already in effect.
Also, on March 30, 2009, City Council adopted By-law 43-09 which composed a council of 9 members, comprised of 8 Councillors elected by ward, and the Mayor elected by general vote.
There have been no appeals received by the City Clerk - the last day to file an appeal was May 14, 2009.
RECENT UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY
Proposed Ward Boundary Changes for Cambridge
Creates New Opportunity for Community Representation
News Release: Cambridge, Ontario July 21, 2008...Recommendations from the Cambridge Council Ward Boundary Task Force (WBTF) point to a system that will increase the number of Council representatives to better reflect the needs of a growing community.
Cambridge Council created the Task Force to review the current ward structure and to provide recommendations on the best way to enhance the local municipal ward pattern to reflect growth and changes in the community. Considerations around how best to deliver balanced access to local government, changing city needs and the workload balance for each councillor were evaluated.
"The ward boundary review began in spring 2005 to respond to the municipalities' growth and to review allocation of Council workloads to enhance representation for the community," says Ben Tucci, Chair of the WBTF. The current ward boundaries were established in 1999. Cambridge population growth between 2001 and 2006 was over 9 per cent.
In addition to regular meetings, the Task Force held two public information meetings to gain further input into the evaluation process. The scope of the Task Force was to provide guidance to city council on a number of criteria: effective representation; protection of communities of interest and neighbourhoods; consideration of representation by population; consideration of present and future population trends; consideration of physical features as natural boundaries; one person, one vote; compact and contiguous wards; geographic shape of the ward to protect against gerrymandering; and to seek a fair approach and not to change wards to gain an unfair advantage.
The Task Force looked at three options ranging from remaining status quo to having the representation of two councillors per ward. A report from the group will suggest that the system move to 8 wards with one councillor per ward.
"The result would increase the number of councillors and provide for a greater opportunity for representation within the community to better serve the growing needs of Cambridge," Tucci adds. The task force is now set to present its recommendation to council in the fall. It is hoped to have the new ward system in pace for the next election.
BACKGROUND REPORT
In 2005, The City of Cambridge commenced a ward boundary review in response to the City's growth and to allocate Council workloads to allow for enhanced effective representation.
The current ward boundaries were established in 1999. Recently, Cambridge Council decided that a Ward Boundary Task Force (WBTF) was required to review the current ward structure and, if necessary, create new ward boundaries to reflect the City's growth and to allocate Council workloads to allow for enhanced effective representation.
The following criteria were referred to for guidance:
1) Effective Representation.
2) Protection of communities of interest and neighbourhoods.
3) Consideration of representation by population.
4) Consideration of present and future population trends.
5) Consideration of physical features as natural boundaries.
6) One person, one vote.
7) Compact and Contiguous Wards.
8) Geographic shape of the Ward to protect against gerrymandering.
9) Not to change Wards to gain an unfair advantage.
As a result of the WBTF discussions, it was decided that principle #2 and #5 must be compromised for the purpose of the review. It was the consensus of the Task Force that blending former communities, blending areas across boundaries (401 and Grand River) were required to remove the parochialism that has developed since amalgamation (1973) and to enhance the attitude of Cambridge being one City.
The task force has made recommendations to enhance the representation of the Cambridge City Council to bring increased services to the community. These recommendations propose a change to the structure for 2010 in keeping with the next municipal election.
A report will be brought forward to council in January 2009. We welcome your thoughts and comments on the proposed enhancements. Please email: clerks@cambridge.ca
The map below is a proposed approach that suggests we increase council representation by two councillors to better serve the Cambridge community.
