Commencing with the Federal census decennially taken in the closest proximity to January 1, 2010, and following each subsequent Federal decennial census, the Council no later than April 1 prior to the next regular municipal election shall reapportion the wards of the City, provided however that if the proclamation by the Secretary of State stating the population of cities in Ohio as determined by any such Federal census occurs in any year when the City conducts a regular Municipal election and the proclamation of the Secretary of State occurs less than 120 days before the date for filing nominating petitions for the election under Charter Section 8, the reapportionment of wards under this section shall be effective by no later than April 1 prior to the next regular Municipal election four years thereafter and for all subsequent elections for City offices until the next decennial Federal census. The number of wards shall be an odd number between a maximum of 25 wards and a minimum of 11 wards using the following table that reflects a ratio of one ward for every 25,000 people based on the estimated population figure contained in the proclamation of the Secretary of State:
If the City’s population is:
| The City shall be divided into the following number of wards:
|
If the City’s population is:
| The City shall be divided into the following number of wards:
|
More than 575,000 | 25 |
575,000 or less but more than 525,000 | 23 |
525,000 or less but more than 475,000 | 21 |
475,000 or less but more than 425,000 | 19 |
425,000 or less but more than 375,000 | 17 |
375,000 or less but more than 325,000 | 15 |
325,000 or less but more than 275,000 | 13 |
275,000 or less | 11 |
The wards so formed shall be as nearly equal in population as may be, composed of contiguous and compact territory, and bound by natural boundaries and street lines.
If the Council fails to reapportion the wards by the dates herein provided, the Mayor shall within fifteen business days thereafter submit to Council a plan for the reapportionment of the wards. The Council shall within ten business days after receiving the Mayor’s plan, reapportion the wards as herein provided. If the Council does not reapportion the wards within this latter ten business day period, the reapportionment plan of the Mayor shall become effective until the next decennial Federal census when the wards shall be reapportioned as herein provided.
(Effective May 4, 2010)