(a) The Council of the City shall, after each recurring Federal census, and within 180 days after the issuance of the proclamation of the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio as to the population of the City, adopt an ordinance subdividing the City into seven wards as nearly equal in population as practicable. All wards shall be bounded as far as practicable by county lines, streets, alleys, avenues, public grounds, watercourses, municipal corporation lines and centerlines of platted streets or railroads, and shall be composed of adjacent and compact territory.
(b) In the interim between Federal census dates, the Council may review the population of the wards of the City and if it is deemed necessary to change the boundaries of the wards to insure representation equal to population, it may adopt an ordinance changing ward boundaries during any even-numbered year.
(c) Prior to taking any action to change the ward boundaries of the City, the Council shall appoint a Commission composed of not less than one adult resident of each ward of the City to study and review the ward boundaries and to make its recommendations to the Council.
(d) In the event that Council does not pass by ordinance updated ward boundaries within 180 days after the issuance of the proclamation of the Secretary of the State of Ohio as to the population of the City, then the Mayor shall determine the ward boundaries which shall be enacted at the time set forth below.
(e) Upon the adoption of an ordinance, or submittal by the Mayor changing ward boundaries as authorized in this Section 1A
, the ward boundaries described in Section 1
of Article IV shall not be in effect after the expiration of the current terms of incumbent Councilperson.
(Approved by voters 11-7-1967; 11-8-2005)