Several options for restructuring Chatham-Kent’s ward boundaries and council structure will soon be considered, including cutting five council seats and increasing the number of wards from six to 14.
After receiving direction from council earlier this month, consulting firm StrategyCorp has generated seven draft options for adjusting council composition and ward boundaries.
According to a report coming to council on Monday, each option is designed with effective representation in mind by examining the current population in each ward and the projected population growth over the next five years. Changes to the ward boundaries were also designed to follow major transportation arteries or natural features such as rivers, and avoid dividing established settlement areas or communities.
The first draft outline maintains the structure of the current council — 17 councillors and one mayor — but includes some changes to achieve better parity among wards. This includes better aligning new growth areas and increasing the representation of Chatham (Ward 6) by one council seat. The five other wards in this option would each have two council representatives.
The other six options present different ways of dividing the existing Ward 6 of Chatham into three, five or six separate wards. Three of those options reduce the number of council seats by three while the others cut out five seats.
Maps depicting the ward boundary options can be viewed below.
Chatham-Kent Council approved a third-party review of council composition and ward boundaries on May 27 in an effort to ensure an effective and equitable system of representation for all residents. A preliminary evaluation and report was presented to council by StrategyCorp on October 7. At that time, council instructed the consultant firm to develop options and recommendations that for reducing council by 13 or 15 members, or maintaining the status quo.
On Monday, Chatham-Kent administration will recommend that council direct StrategyCorp to conduct public consultation meetings on the seven draft options. If approved, public meetings will be held on November 14 and November 25.
StrategyCorp will then return to council on December 16 with a final report that will include public comments and a recommendation for council consideration.
To date, StrategyCorp has already conducted one-on-one meetings with councillors, the chief administrative officer and other senior staff. As well, public engagement was conducted through community meetings and an online survey.
Chatham-Kent has conducted previous reviews of the municipality’s ward boundaries in 2015, 2011, and 2008, however, no changes were adopted, leaving the ward boundaries unchanged since amalgamation in 1998.
