Few changes in proposed Iowa City precinct map

IOWA CITY- Iowa City would drop a voting precinct but City Council districts would remain largely unchanged under a new precinct and district map recommended for the city.

New boundaries are necessary because of population changes in the 2010 census.

Because of how legislative district boundary lines are drawn and in trying to keep populations in each precinct equal, city staff is recommended a map with 24 precincts instead of 25, according to a memo from City Clerk Marian Karr and Bob Miklo, city planner, given to the City Council Thursday.

The council on July 12 is to hold a public hearing and have the first of three votes needed to approve a map.

The Johnson County Auditor's Office drew up an initial map, and after city staff provided input on areas that might see population growth, a second map was created and is the one staff is recommending for approval. (The maps can be viewed in the link two paragraphs back.)

The seven-member council has three districts, A, B, and C. Four other council members are elected at large.

Districts come most into play in elections. District candidates are nominated by eligible voters in their districts and only voters within a district can vote in a district's primary, if one is needed. But voters citywide can cast ballots for district and at-large seats in the general election.

The districts are rarely mentioned at meetings and seem to have little effect on decision making.

District A covers western and parts of southern Iowa City, District C is in the center of the city and heads to the north and northeast and District B covers the east side.

The biggest changes in the recommended map are District B would take over the extreme northeast corner of the city, District A would assume the southern tip of District C and stretch a bit farther into District B, and District C would take a sliver of District A northeast of University Heights.

The number of residents in each district would be 22,443 for A, 22,540 for B and 22,879 for C.

In the map not being recommended, District A would stretch into far southeast Iowa City.

The new boundaries would take effect in January and would not factor into this November's election.

Ross Wilburn, representing District A, and Regenia Bailey, District C, are not running for re-election this fall. District B council member Connie Champion is in the second year of her current term.