(a) The Council shall, not later than July 1, 1991, divide the Municipality into the number of wards which equals the number of members of the legislative authority to be elected from wards, as required by this Charter. Wards so formed shall be as nearly equal in population as is practically possible, and shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory, and bounded by natural boundaries or street lines.
(b) In order to maintain substantially equal population in each of the wards on a continuing basis, the Council may redivide the Municipality into the required number of wards at any time for such purpose. It shall review ward division and redivision, within ninety (90) days after the first day of July of the year following the decennial census year, to determine if a redivision is necessary to comply with the provisions of this section.
(c) The Council may authorize and provide for conducting a census of the population of the Municipality at any time in order to carry out the powers granted by this section.
(d) Any action of Council to divide or redivide the Municipality into wards as required herein shall be by ordinance, which shall be effective on July 1 of the next calendar year following the calendar year during which such ordinance was passed.
(Enacted 11-6-62; Amended 5-2-89; 11-3-98)