For the term commencing January 1, 1962, the division of the City into wards existing at the time of the adoption of this charter shall continue as they existed on that date and thereafter shall be as amended up to and including the first Monday in December, 2007. No later than January 1, 2007 based on the federal census of 2000 and all other relevant City data regarding population and thereafter commencing January 1, 2010 and every ten years thereafter, within sixty days after the proclamation by the Secretary of State announcing the population of cities of Ohio as determined by the Federal census decennially taken, the Council shall redivide the City into wards, which shall be as nearly equal in population as is possible each composed of contiguous and compact territory bounded by natural boundaries or street lines. Upon failure of the Council to redivide the City within the period provided, the Director of Law shall redivide it as herein provided and he shall file such plan with the Clerk of Council. This plan shall thereupon become the new division by wards of the City, provided that the redistricting of wards in 2007 shall be effective for ballot purposes upon its adoption but shall not be otherwise effective until the first Monday in December 2007.
(Approved Nov. 5, 2002; Nov. 7, 2006)