City examining precincts instead of ward system
By Lethbridge Herald on December 13, 2022.
Council on Tuesday morning voted on a pair of 7-2 motions to rescind its June 7 decision to proceed with an analysis of a ward system and instead examine an alternative that would divide the city into four precincts. Herald file photoAl Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
Lethbridge city council on Tuesday morning voted on a pair of 7-2 motions to rescind its June 7 decision to proceed with an analysis of a ward system and instead examine an alternative that would divide the city into four precincts with two councillors representing each for specific periods of time.
The original motion to rescind the June 7 vote was co-sponsored by Mayor Blaine Hyggen, deputy mayor Ryan Parker and council John Middleton-Hope.
With a heavy agenda for the last meeting of the year, council started its meeting in chambers at 9:30 a.m. with deliberations on other matters scheduled to continue into the afternoon before a pair of public hearings.
The motion made by the three to rescind the decision to look into a ward system said “alternatives proposed to replace the existing model may not produce enhanced representation, greater voter turnout or a more effective and efficient process. The current process will cost a substantial sum of money to develop and implement and is unlikely to have sufficient support of council thereby creating greater confusion and expending valuable resources in an attempt to implement a largely unwanted model.”
The motion added that the sponsors of Tuesday’s motion have developed a made-in-Lethbridge motion “that responds favourably to establishing geographic areas for representation while retaining some of the at-large components of the election process.”
Acting major Jenn Schmidt-Rempel and councillor Belinda Crowson voted against both motions, saying that a majority of voters stated on the 2021 election ballot they supported a ward system being introduced for council – excluding the mayor – starting with the 2025 election.
The motion passed by council calling for an examination into the made-in-Lethbridge model calls for the Governance Standing Policy Committee to report back to council in the second quarter of 2023 after a thorough examination of a precinct model.
This model calls for the city to be divided into four precincts or quadrants with two councillors being assigned by council as a whole to represent each for terms of up to one year.
Parker said this would give councillors a better opportunity to learn about the concerns of each area to which they are assigned. Residents could still ask questions of the other councillors on issues regarding their precincts.
Council heard this approach could achieve greater accountability with councillors assigned to smaller geographic areas, improve understanding by councillors of the four precincts and communities of interest would be more likely to be represented at the precinct level than across the city.
It says the system could reduce potential duplication of work by councillors allowing for more focused responses into issues.
Council heard that it would eliminate some concerns with ward systems where voters have to vote for councillors running in their ward whereas councillors could run in a ward of their choice.
The proposed precincts are, according to the proposal:
* West side of the Oldman River, city limit in the north and west and the Oldman River to the south.
* Highway 3 south boundary, city limits west, north and east.
* North to Highway 3, east to 43 Street city limit.
* Oldman River to the west, north along Highway 3, east along Mayor Magrath Drive and south to Scenic Drive.
“Each quadrant of the city has unique challenges and opportunities and each precinct deserves adequate and effective representation that may be enhanced through a representative model as proposed,” said the motion, adding that modifications could be included after council has had a chance to review and give feedback on the model.
The submission states “this model is a made-in-Lethbridge solution. Those in favour of the existing system retain nominations at large. Those in favour of a ward system also win as councillors become representatives of geographic areas of the city. The public also gains by having the potential of learning about each councillor and what they are able to accomplish during their term as precinct representative. They are able to have greater accountability to their neighbourhood and understand at a more responsive level the challenges and opportunities of each area of the city.”
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22-21
How much is this going to cost? The ward system was going to cost over $300,000 per year.
When you councillors that are not representing the people’s interests and instead their own agendas, then what!
We have a couple of councillors who have been like this for a few years so I want to know then what are we supposed to do.
At least the way it is set up right now we can find someone who stands up for us.
Shannon Phillips is my MLA, but her own bias on certain issues that concern me and impact me are never addressed, so I have had to use MLA East.
How much will it cost? What will we do if they are not representing our interests?
Right now many are not representing our interests, but I want to know. Last election when you asked voters about the ward system you failed to mention that it would cost over $300,000 a year.
Better yet, maybe we should have another election now!
Where in the Municipal Govt act does it state”made in Lethbridge” the proper procedures are there and in the Elections act. It is ludicrous but typical of the Council let the citizens decide how they want to be represented.