Eugene city councilors unanimously approved a resolution realigning the city's eight wards, Monday. The adjustment is aimed at ensuring residents are evenly distributed and represented.
Ward boundaries are assessed using census data every 10 years to account for shifts in population. 2020’s report was delayed, meaning the city had a shorter period of time to discuss realignment. Councilors met four times prior to Monday's meeting.
With more than 176,000 residents, the goal was to allocate each ward approximately 22,000 people. Councilor Mike Clark congratulated staff for reaching the goal at a Dec. 13 council meeting.
“I thought it was sound, logical and reasonable in keeping with the way the law specifies we are supposed to do this work as opposed to other governmental entities who fumbled it, and you know gerrymandered it, and had controversial outcomes, " he said. "I think we did a fantastic job with it.”
While the resolution passed 8-0, Councilor Randy Groves, asked that officials take more time to evaluate boundaries in future assessments.
The new ward boundaries take effect immediately. A map of the changes can be found here.
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