Oklahoma City Council Approves New Ward Map

Oklahoma City OK

01 April, 2022

6:48 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City: March 29, 2022 Oklahoma City Council approved a new ward map today, which takes effect April 1, 2022. The change is the result of a once-in-a-decade requirement to rebalance the population in OKC's eight wards due to population growth. The ward boundary changes, called redistricting, are a requirement of both federal law and City Charter following the release of the U.S. Decennial Census. According to the 2020 Census, the population in Oklahoma City climbed from 579,999 in 2010 to 681,054 in 2020. Higher rates of growth on the north and west sides (wards 1, 3 and 8) spurred the need to rebalance the population. The target population set for each ward based on the Census data was 85,132. Oklahoma City was last redistricted in 2011. Criteria used to redistrict City Council members passed a resolution on Sept. 28, 2021, approving the following redistricting criteria. Boundaries must: Be balanced to +/- 2 percent of the average ward populationBe contiguous and as compact as possibleNot unseat current councilmembersOther recommended criteria include not breaking up established neighborhoods and business districts as well as using highways, major roads and natural borders as ward boundaries. Public input considered Residents were invited to learn more about the redistricting process, ask questions and provide input by submitting comments through an online form, attending a virtual town hall meeting on Jan. 24, meeting one-on-one with staff on Jan. 27 and by emailing questions or comments to [email protected]. The public hearing was held during the March 15 City Council meeting. What is redistricting? In Oklahoma City, City Council wards must be redrawn every ten years following the U.S. Census, so each district is balanced in population. Redistricting determines which neighborhoods are grouped into wards. Each ward is represented by an elected Councilperson that serves a four-year term. Redistricting is important because it ensures each city council member represents about the same number of constituents. Oklahoma City is nonpartisan and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. City Councilmembers are: Ward 1 Bradley Carter, Ward 2 James Cooper, Ward 3 Barbara Young, Ward 4 Todd Stone, Ward 5 David Greenwell, Ward 6 JoBeth Hamon, Ward 7 Nikki Nice and Ward 8 Mark Stonecipher. This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author's own.