105.01 DIVISION OF CITY INTO WARDS.

   (a)   Council shall subdivide the City into wards, equal in number to the members of the legislative authority who are elected from wards, within ninety days after:

      (1)    The first day of October of the year following the decennial census year; or

      (2)    The annexation of territory containing, according to the last federal census or a census authorized by the legislative authority, such population as will entitle the City to an additional member of the legislative authority in accordance with the applicable provision of the municipal Charter.

      (b)    If the legislative authority fails to make such subdivision within the time required, it shall be made by the Director of Administration.

   (c)   In order to provide substantially equal population in each of the wards, the legislative authority may redivide the City into wards at any time.

   (d)   All wards shall be bounded, as far as practicable, by county lines, streets, alleys, lot lines, avenues, public grounds, canals, watercourses, Municipal Corporation lines, center lines of platted streets, or railroads, and shall be composed of adjacent and compact territory, and shall be substantially equal in population.

   (e)   The legislative authority may authorize and provide for conducting a census of the population of the City at any time in order to carry out the powers granted by this section.

   (f)   Action of the legislative authority to divide the City into wards shall be taken by Ordinance and shall be effective for the first municipal primary election occurring at least 150 days after the passage of the Ordinance.

(Ord. 2023-01. Passed 1-17-23.)