Here is a plan for redistricting Minneapolis ward boundaries. The ideal ward population is 29,432 (382,618 / 13). The permitted deviation is 1471 (29,432 * 5%). The only wards in need of redistricting are 1, 2, 6, 11, and 12, so my plan leaves the others the way they are, with the exception of Ward 9.
Ward 1 is 2483 people shy of the ideal and Ward 2 has 4005 too many. Simply move 2704 people in that part of the Como neighborhood not already in Ward 1 into the ward (that part of Ward 2 N of BNSF and the five square blocks north of 8th St. SE between 10th & 15th Aves.) This brings both wards within the permissible range. Moving population from Ward 6 to Wards 11 and 12 is a bit trickier since these wards are not contiguous. However, Ward 9 bounds all of them, and it can work as a conduit. Ward 6 is 3286 above the ideal. Simply move 1878 people from the area south of 24th Street and east of 18th Avenue into the Ward 9, and Ward 6 falls within range. Ward 12 is 2079 short of the ideal. Moving 659 people from that part of Ward 9 east of 41st Avenue into Ward 12 brings Ward 12 within range. (Also, this makes Wards 2 and 12 contiguous, expanding possibilities for the next round.) Ward 11 is 2964 short of the ideal. Moving 1699 people from the area bounded by 40th and 43rd streets and Cedar and 22nd avenues from Ward 9 to Ward 11 will bring both wards into line. Here is the final result of these changes: 1 29653 2 30734 3 29806 4 30744 5 28749 6 30841 7 29624 8 29771 9 29608 10 28578 11 28167 12 28012 13 28331 While these shifts can be refined greatly to reduce the disparaties between wards even further, this plan illustrates that a minimal-change redistricting is possible. Adoption of this plan should save the expense of convening the reapportionment commission. How about donating the savings to keep the City Hall bells ringing? ;) Tony Hill Logan Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
