A. Establishment Of City Council Seat Districts; District Requirements:
1. Establishment Of Districts: The City shall establish the territory of each City Council seat district at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the election following the date that election precincts are established pursuant to Idaho Code section 34-301. The most current copy of the City Council Seat Districts Map shall be maintained by the City Clerk's Office and available for review by the public at City Hall during office hours.
2. District Requirements: Each City Council seat district shall consist of one (1) or more contiguous election precincts, as established pursuant to Idaho Code title 34, chapter 3, and to the nearest extent possible, shall contain the same population based on the most recent federal decennial census, with a maximum ten percent (10%) variance between the least populated and most populated districts. Districts must be compact. No shoestring districts or districts drawn to protect incumbents are permitted.
B. Boise Districting Commission; District Boundary Updates:
1. Boise Districting Commission: All Decennial District Boundary Updates and Intermediate District Boundary Updates made necessary by changes resulting in a population variance greater than ten percent (10%) in one or more districts, shall be drawn and updated by the Boise Districting Commission as established in Boise City Code Title 2, Chapter 16. The Commission's work shall be done in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter and Boise City Code Title 2, Chapter 16.
2. Decennial District Boundary Update: Districts boundaries must be redrawn every ten (10) years based on the most recent decennial census data. District boundary updates based on decennial census data are established by the Commission and approved by City Council, as set forth in Boise City Code, Title 2, Chapter 16.
3. Intermediate District Boundary Updates: Established district boundaries shall be updated consistently with changes in City limit boundaries, annexations, and election precinct changes. If the City's boundaries change in the interim, the new territory must be joined to a contiguous district. If two (2) districts are contiguous to the new territory, the territory must be added to the district with the lower population, unless to do so would result in a population variance greater than ten percent (10%). In such a case, or if the districts are of equal population, the new territory may be split evenly by population between the two (2) contiguous districts.
4. Updated Boundaries: Intermediate City Council seat district boundary updates, based on changes to the City limit boundaries, annexations, and election precinct changes resulting in a population variance greater than ten percent (10%) in one or more districts, shall be proposed by the Commission and adopted by the City Council as set forth in Boise City Code Title 2, Chapter 16. Intermediate City Council seat district boundary updates, based on changes to the City limit boundaries, annexations, and election precinct changes resulting in a population variance of ten percent (10%) or less in one or more districts, shall be established and adopted by City Council.
C. Candidacy For City Council Seat District: Upon the establishment of City Council seat districts, a candidate for City Council may only stand for election in the district in which that candidate resides. City Council members shall be elected by the qualified electors residing within their respective districts' geographic boundaries.
D. Transition To Election By Districts:
1. Transitioning: The City shall implement the following transition plan from at-large City Council elections to elections by districts:
a. The odd-numbered City Council seats, as renumbered by the established and adopted City Council Seat Districts Boundary Map, shall be up for election in 2021. These odd-numbered City Council seats shall be elected in the 2021 general election for a two (2) year term.
b. City Council shall establish new City Council seat district boundaries using the 2020 federal census data at least one hundred twenty days (120) prior to the election of City Council seats at the 2023 general election.
c. For the 2023 election, all City Council seats shall be open for election using the new district boundary map established under subsection D1b. To implement alternating City Council seat terms, as required by Idaho Code section 50-701, at the 2023 election only, odd-numbered City Council seat districts shall be elected for a four (4) year term, and even-number districts shall be elected for two (2) year terms. Thereafter, all City Council seats shall be elected for four (4) year terms, as provided in Idaho Code section 50-702.
d. Following any subsequent redistricting of City Council seat district boundaries, any sitting City Council member shall be permitted to serve the remainder of their term to preserve the staggering terms. A City Council Member shall not be permitted to run for reelection for a district seat in which the member is not a resident.
E. Computation Of Time: Calendar days shall be used in all computations of time made under the provisions of this chapter. In computing time for any act to be done before any election, the first day shall be included, and the last, or election day, shall be excluded. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be included, but if the time for any act to be done shall fall on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, such act shall be done upon the day following each Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (Ord. 35-21, 6-29-2021; amd. Ord. 21-22, 5-3-2022)