MONROE - The proposal to change the city's election of ward aldermen to at-large aldermen will move to the Common Council June 21.
The charter ordinance is expected to have its first public reading at that time, and the council will set a public hearing date of July 5, according to City Clerk Carol Stamm.
The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a draft of the proposed charter ordinance and recommended the council approve it.
The ordinance includes wording that will allow the city to opt out of a state statute requirement to maintain aldermanic districts, according to City Attorney Rex Ewald.
A charter ordinance must pass by a two-thirds majority of the council, and becomes effective 60 days after passing and publication, during which time voters may petition for the ordinance to go to referendum.
Following along with the charter ordinance to Common Council next week will be two ordinary ordinances, both of which will also be scheduled for public hearings.
One ordinance recreates a section of the city code regarding the election of the mayor and council members, to accommodate the at-large election structure.
The other ordinance creates nine new wards that follow the county supervisory district boundaries.
Population changes, identified by the 2010 census, forced the county to redraw district lines this spring. In order to create an additional district in its northeast corner, the county reduced the number of its own districts within Monroe city limits from 10 districts to nine.
To prevent added costs and voter confusion at elections, the council will vote to match city wards to county district boundaries.
These two ordinary ordinances become effect immediately if the council approves them.
Although moving through the council separately, all three ordinances work in tandem toward the same changes.
"Everything comes apart and comes back together to work together," Ewald said.
Committee members re-addressed some of the problems and benefits of switching to at-large representation.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, who is not a member of the committee, asked why the city was not reducing the council to nine members, a move that he said would reduce city government, and give more individual aldermen a voice in committees.
"The fewer (council positions) you have, the more people you have running, and more turnover," he said. "It think the city would be better served with fewer aldermen.
"In my opinion, we have an overkill of representation. This is a perfect opportunity to get rid of one."
"I think the more representation, the better," replied Chuck Koch, committee chairman.
Hanson also said he is concerned about candidates possibly clustering from one area of the city. In an extreme case, Ewald indicated, all candidates in an election could come from one household.
Committee member Chris Beer said the possibility of those clustering scenarios happening was doubtful.
Michael Boyce, and alternate member on committee, said he could think of no problems moving to at-large elections.
"I suppose, in proportional representation, now voters can have five votes (to chose five candidates) and can hold one or two, or even four of their votes," he said.
"But the pros outweigh the cons," he added. "There will be easier entrance into aldermanic races, and it would alter the behavior of aldermen acting in the best interest of the entire city."
Boyce also said challenges would become easier to mount against an alderman at re-election time, allowing voters to speak as one voice on any one issue.
"You can no longer be a bomb-thrower," he said.
The charter ordinance is expected to have its first public reading at that time, and the council will set a public hearing date of July 5, according to City Clerk Carol Stamm.
The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a draft of the proposed charter ordinance and recommended the council approve it.
The ordinance includes wording that will allow the city to opt out of a state statute requirement to maintain aldermanic districts, according to City Attorney Rex Ewald.
A charter ordinance must pass by a two-thirds majority of the council, and becomes effective 60 days after passing and publication, during which time voters may petition for the ordinance to go to referendum.
Following along with the charter ordinance to Common Council next week will be two ordinary ordinances, both of which will also be scheduled for public hearings.
One ordinance recreates a section of the city code regarding the election of the mayor and council members, to accommodate the at-large election structure.
The other ordinance creates nine new wards that follow the county supervisory district boundaries.
Population changes, identified by the 2010 census, forced the county to redraw district lines this spring. In order to create an additional district in its northeast corner, the county reduced the number of its own districts within Monroe city limits from 10 districts to nine.
To prevent added costs and voter confusion at elections, the council will vote to match city wards to county district boundaries.
These two ordinary ordinances become effect immediately if the council approves them.
Although moving through the council separately, all three ordinances work in tandem toward the same changes.
"Everything comes apart and comes back together to work together," Ewald said.
Committee members re-addressed some of the problems and benefits of switching to at-large representation.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, who is not a member of the committee, asked why the city was not reducing the council to nine members, a move that he said would reduce city government, and give more individual aldermen a voice in committees.
"The fewer (council positions) you have, the more people you have running, and more turnover," he said. "It think the city would be better served with fewer aldermen.
"In my opinion, we have an overkill of representation. This is a perfect opportunity to get rid of one."
"I think the more representation, the better," replied Chuck Koch, committee chairman.
Hanson also said he is concerned about candidates possibly clustering from one area of the city. In an extreme case, Ewald indicated, all candidates in an election could come from one household.
Committee member Chris Beer said the possibility of those clustering scenarios happening was doubtful.
Michael Boyce, and alternate member on committee, said he could think of no problems moving to at-large elections.
"I suppose, in proportional representation, now voters can have five votes (to chose five candidates) and can hold one or two, or even four of their votes," he said.
"But the pros outweigh the cons," he added. "There will be easier entrance into aldermanic races, and it would alter the behavior of aldermen acting in the best interest of the entire city."
Boyce also said challenges would become easier to mount against an alderman at re-election time, allowing voters to speak as one voice on any one issue.
"You can no longer be a bomb-thrower," he said.