Neighborhood boundaries and major roads would provide boundaries for newly proposed districts that will determine who is elected to the Naperville City Council beginning in 2015, city officials said.
A proposed map released this week divides the city into five districts after voters backed a November 2010 referendum calling for both district and at-large representation.
City Attorney Margo Ely said city employees used a computer program to help draw boundaries based on census blocks.
“By law, districts had to be compact, contiguous and of … substantially equal population,” Ely said.
Beginning with the 2015 election, the city will be represented by five council members from districts, three at-large council members and an at-large mayor. The effect of the proposed boundaries on incumbent council members remains to be seen. There will be another election in 2013 in which candidates vie for two-year terms. In 2015, all seats will be up for grabs.
On the proposed map, District 1 encompasses the northwest portion of the city and extends south to 75th Street and east to Rickert Drive, Plainfield-Naperville Road and the DuPage River.
District 2 on the northeast side of the city extends east from the river and Plainfield-Naperville Road and also uses 75th Street as a southern border for much of the district.
District 3 is on the far east side of the city. On the north, it is bounded by parts of Chicago and Prairie avenues and Hillside Road. Much of the western boundary is formed by Washington Street.
District 4 is the largest with 29,860 people. It generally encompasses the area between Route 59 on the west, Washington Street on the east, 75th Street on the north and 95th Street on the south.
District 5 is the smallest with 24,813 people. Ely said that area is where the most growth is expected. The district encompasses the area south of 95th Street between the DuPage River and the city’s western limits.
Bill Eagan, who led the charge to put the redistricting referendum on the ballot, said Thursday that he is concerned about the small size of District 5. He also was expecting to see several versions of the map and wants the city to form a subcommittee of residents to study the districts further.
“We should have the homeowners confederation find one or two people from each district and let people be involved in this,” he said. “They’re paying the bills.”
City employees are working with DuPage and Will county officials to revise voting precinct boundaries so they more closely mirror the proposed districts.
Councilman Kenn Miller initially wanted to see a committee of residents put together the map along with staff, but said his initial impression of the boundaries is positive.
“In general I think the staff has done a good job of keeping it unbiased and using parameters to come up with it that I think are correct, and so I’m encouraged,” he said. “What I do want is to have a lot of public time to review so we get as much input as we can.”
Councilman Bob Fieseler likes the use of “natural demarcations” like the river and major roadways. The proposed map also keeps together people of relatively similar demographics. For instance, he sees Districts 1 and 2 as more established neighborhoods while District 5 has newer developments with young families.
“The districts seem to make sense to me both geographically and in terms of demographics and follow how the city has expanded over time,” Fieseler said.
The City Council will review the map Tuesday. Staff recommends putting the map on display and letting residents give input through email as well as three public hearings.
Jane Barnes, president of the League of Women Voters of Naperville, said she would like the city to discuss the implications of District 5’s small size. She also will be anxious to see what is set in stone and what residents will be able to tweak.
“We need to be sure we are creating a process that allows people not just to see the maps,” she said, “but understand the community dialogue that has to take place in order to make these districts work to the benefit of the community.”
