HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Council Action Form dated March 7, 2017 k f
ITEM #: 32
DATE: 03-07-17
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
REQUEST: ASSIGNING WARDS AND PRECINCTS
FOLLOWING VARIOUS ANNEXATIONS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Following an annexation, the City needs to assign the newly annexed territory to the
appropriate ward and precinct for local election purposes as required by Code of Iowa,
Section 49.8. In most instances, the territory is assigned to the immediately adjacent
ward and precinct. However, state law also allows newly annexed territory to be
designated its own precinct provided that there are no fewer than fifty registered voters.
None of the annexed territory yet contains that number of voters.
The current ward and precinct boundaries are found in Chapter 6 of the Ames Municipal
Code and were adopted in 2011 following the 2010 decennial census. Since that
adoption, seven territories have been added that need assigning to the appropriate
wards and precincts. The attached ordinance assigns the following recent annexations
to adjacent wards and precincts as described below.
1. Territory annexed by Resolution #13-585 on 12/30/13 (Quarry Estates, Hayden's
Crossing on Hyde Avenue) is attached to Ward 2, Precinct 5;
2. Territory annexed by Resolution #13-589 on 12/30/13 (Scenic Valley on George
Washington Carver Avenue) is attached to Ward 2, Precinct 5;
3. Territory annexed by Resolution #14-369 on 6/24/14 (ISU Research Park and S
Riverside Drive) is attached to Ward 1, Precinct 1;
4. Territory annexed by Resolution #15-442 on 7/14/15 (Scenic Point on George
Washington Carver Avenue) is attached to Ward 2, Precinct 5;
5. Territory annexed by Resolution #15-444, 7/14/15 (Village Park on 530t" Avenue)
is attached to Ward 3, Precinct 1;
6. Territory annexed by Resolution #15-752 on 12/22/15 (Crane Farm on.500tn
Avenue) is attached to Ward 3, Precinct 4;
7. Territory annexed by Resolution #16-219 on 4/26/16 (Birch Meadows on Ontario
Street) is attached to Ward 3, Precinct 5.
A map is included in Attachment 1.
Please note that the assignments of three other territories still in the pipeline will be
brought forward when the annexation is final (that is, when it is recorded with the Story
County Recorder). These are the East Industrial on East Lincoln Highway (approval
expected by the City Development Board on March 8 and filed in the County Recorder's
office in April), Auburn Trail on Hyde Avenue (approval expected by the City
Development Board on April 12 and filed in the County Recorder's office in May), and
Trinitas on West Lincoln Highway (approval expected by the City Council in March and
filed in the County Recorder's office later this month).
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve the assignments of recently annexed territories to their
appropriate ward and precinct.
2. The City Council can defer action on this request and refer it back to City staff with
specific direction.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Territories annexed by the City need, by ordinance, to be assigned to the appropriate
ward and precinct. There is little to no discretion in the assignments since the wards and
precincts have to be contiguous. While some recently annexed areas are experiencing
quick population growth with residential construction underway, the City will only be able
to rebalance the populations of precincts following the 2020 decennial census.
The City Council will note that denial is not a listed alternative. The Code of Iowa
requires annexed territories to be assigned to a precinct or they may become their own
precinct. In these instances, the populations of the newly annexed territories are not
enough for a new precinct. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager
that the City Council act in accordance with Alternative #1, which is to approve
the assignments of recently annexed territories to their appropriate ward and
precinct. If approved, the ordinance will be recorded and the County Commissioner of
Elections will notify the residents of their new voting locations.
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ATTACHMENT 1: CURRENT WARDS AND PRECINCTS WITH NEW TERRITORIES
Quarry Estates
Hayden's Crossing
Scenic
Valley ��n
Scenic
Point
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Birch "
Meadow
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Crane Farm
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Village Park
ISU Research'Park,
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0 0-5 , , Ames.
Miles
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