Boundary change proposed for CL voting wards

by Marianne Gasaway

The boundaries of Clear Lake’s Second and Third Wards will be adjusted slightly as the result of U.S. Census results.

The U.S. Constitution requires that a census be taken by the federal government every 10 years.  The 2020 census experienced delays due to COVID and the State of Iowa didn’t receive the census numbers until September of this year.  Usually, the census numbers are released in the Spring.  After the State of Iowa and the cities and counties in Iowa receive their census numbers, the Code of Iowa requires that the new census data be used by the Legislature to redistrict the state.  The state redistricting is done to draw new lines defining U.S. Congressional districts and the Iowa

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House and Iowa Senate legislative districts.  After the Legislature has finalized its work, counties and cities in Iowa must draw new lines for wards and precincts, using the U.S. Census data.

Monday night the Clear Lake City Council began the process of considering new wards and precincts within the city based on the new census numbers.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Congressional and Legislative Districts should be drawn to assure as much as possible that the districts for each type of office are equal in population under the principle of “one person, one vote.”  The same principle holds true for the wards that Council members represent.

Proposed changes to Clear Lake Wards would impact only those voters in Ward 2 and Ward 3.  Currently, Ward 3 begins at the corner of 10th Avenue North and North 10th Street.  The proposed new boundary of Ward 3 would move the western boundary from 10th Street two blocks to the west so the new boundary would be along 8th Street.  The new boundary begins at the corner of 10th Avenue North and North 8th Street and travels south along 8th Street until it reaches 4th Avenue South, where it then travels east. 

The changes essentially square up the boundary between Ward 2 and Ward 3, dividing the two at 8th Street.

According to Cerro Gordo County Auditor and Commission of Elections Adam Wedmore, the proposed new Wards would be within the maximum allowable variation of the ideal population and meet all statutory requirements.  The proposed changes would satisfy the requirements for voter convenience and electoral efficiency, he said.

Under Iowa law, after the Legislature and Governor have approved the state redistricting, cities then have 60 days to create new wards and precincts. For the City of Clear Lake, this will take the form of an ordinance defining the new districts.

The Iowa Code states that the new wards and precincts become effective for the City on Jan. 15 two years after the decennial census, which would  be Jan. 15, 2022.

The Council must hold a public hearing before final action is taken to adopt new ward/precinct boundaries.  That hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at City Hall.

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