City of Oshawa Ward Boundary Review Community Consultation Session - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

City of Oshawa Ward Boundary Review

Community Consultation Session

• n the Preliminary Options

April, 2017

Study Overview

 Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., in

association with Dr. Robert J. Williams, was retained to conduct the Review in August 2016

 Multi-phase assignment which began in the fall of

2016; anticipated completion in June 2017

 Project includes two rounds of public consultation –

this being Round 2

Study Overview (Cont’d)

 What is a Ward Boundary Review?

 A task designed to develop units of representation that

reflect the distribution of the inhabitants of a municipality for electoral purposes

 The Review is premised on the legitimate democratic

expectation that municipal representation in Oshawa will be:

 Effective  Equitable  An accurate reflection of the contemporary distribution

• f communities and people across the City

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Context

 Present composition of Oshawa City Council:  Mayor  Seven Regional and City Councillors  Three City Councillors  Total = 11  All elected at-large  Oshawa has previously had a ward-based

system – most recently from 1985 to 2006

Context (Cont’d)

 Since 2006 – last time City had ward-

based system – Oshawa has seen a 15% increase in population; large share of growth in North Oshawa

 Over the 2017 to 2026 period, Oshawa’s

population is expected to increase by 10%; 171,400 in 2017 to 188,900 in 2026.

 Important that the ward boundary structure

reflects the changing nature of the City

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Context (Cont’d)

 Municipal Act  Section 217 authorizes Council to establish

the number of Councillors and to determine whether they “shall be elected by general vote

• r wards or by any combination of general

vote and wards.”

 Section 222 (1) authorizes a municipality “to

divide or redivide the municipality into wards

• r to dissolve the existing wards.”

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Why a Ward Boundary Review Now?

 Two factors:

• 1. Request by Durham Regional Council

(Municipal Act, s. 218) to permit a reduction in the number of Oshawa Regional Councillors from 7 to 5

• 2. Direction by Council to City staff to return to

the election of all members of Council in wards, following the results of a question placed on the 2014 municipal election ballot (Municipal Act, s. 222)

Key Study Objectives

 Review the existing Council composition and

develop recommendations for an optimal configuration

 Identify plausible ward boundary options that

take into account the results of the consultation process and Council composition arrangements

 Prepare reports that will set out alternative ward

boundaries to ensure effective and equitable electoral arrangements, based on the principles identified

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Study Process

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We are here

• Data Collection and Research
• Technical Analysis on

Population Trends and Growth

• Interviews with Mayor and

Members of Council

• Public Consultation (Round 1)
• Progress Report
• Development of Preliminary

Options

• Report on Preliminary Options
• Public Consultation (Round 2)
• Finalize Options
• Final Recommendations Report
• Presentation of Options to

Council

• Adoption and Implementation

through By-law

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Preliminary Options Report and Public Consultation Round 2

 The purpose of the Preliminary Options Report

and second round of public consultation is to provide the residents of Oshawa with a series of preliminary ward boundary options under a number of concepts and models

 Options are based on background research,

technical analysis and public input/feedback received in Phase 1 of the study

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Considerations for Council Composition in Oshawa

 The number of Regional and City Councillors in

Oshawa is fixed at five (5)

 Any ward model adopted will need to have

regard for some variant of a five-ward system of representation for the Regional and City Councillors

 Where the model can vary is with respect to the

the number of City Councillors – currently three (3) but perhaps some other number is more

• ptimal?

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Models of Municipal Representation for Oshawa

 Option 1 – A five-ward model to elect Regional and

City Councillors that can be used to elect five City Councillors, ten City Councillors (two per ward) or no City Councillors

 Option 2 – A ten-ward model in which ten City

Councillors are elected in ten wards that would be used in conjunction with one of the five-ward models to elect five Regional and City Councillors

 Option 3 – A mixed-ward model in which three City

Councillors are elected in three wards that would be used in conjunction with one of the five-ward models to elect five Regional and City Councillors

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Models of Representation and Preliminary Ward Options

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5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward

Ten (10) Ward Model Mixed Ward Model Five (5) Ward Model Options for Municipal Representation in Oshawa

5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Ward Options 10-B 10-A 10-C 10-D City Ward Options City Ward Options Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

5 City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 10 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 0 City Councillors 5 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 10 City Councillors 5 Wards – 2 Councillors per ward 15 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Regional/City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 10 City Councillors 10 City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 15 Total Councillors 5 Regional/City Councillors 5 Regional/City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 3 City Councillors 3 City Wards – 1 Councillor per ward 8 Total Councillors

Council Composition and Ward Arrangement Options 3-B 3-A 3-C 5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Regional/City Ward Options 5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Regional/City Ward Options

Five-ward Model

 One possible approach to elect five Regional

and City Councillors in Oshawa is in a five-ward system and elect:

 Five (5) City Councillors (one in each ward); or  No (0) City Councillors; or  Ten (10) City Councillors (two per ward)

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Five-ward Model (Cont’d)

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Arrangement Strengths Weaknesses

5 Regional Councillors and 5 City Councillors 10 Total Councillors

• No change in Council salary budget
• No need to modify Council chambers
• Strengthens local accountability by having

more City Councillors

• Provides representation to all parts of the City
• n both Regional and City Council
• Easy to understand
• Large wards more diversified
• Large wards may decrease pool of potential

candidates

• Large scale of wards may hamper access to

Councillors

5 Regional Councillors and 0 City Councillors 5 Total Councillors

• Reduces Council salary budget by eliminating

three City Councillors (a net reduction of five Councillors)

• Simplifies representation with a single

representative in each ward

• Weakens representation by having fewer

Councillors overall

• Weakens accountability: decisions can be made

by a minimum of four officials

• Large increase in Councillor workload; full-time

Councillors and possibly additional staff support required

• Probably decreases the pool of potential

candidates significantly

5 Regional Councillors and 10 City Councillors 15 Total Councillors

• Strengthens representation by having more

Councillors overall

• Increases accountability: decisions must be

made by a minimum of nine officials

• Provides representation to all parts of the City
• n both Regional and City Council
• Increases Council salary budget by adding seven

City Councillors (a net increase of five Councillors)

• Requires modification to Council chambers

Five-Ward Model Options

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Five (5) Ward Model

5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Ward Options

Ward Option 5-A

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• Proposed Ward 1 includes rural Oshawa, Taunton as well as emerging

urban growth areas in Kedron and Columbus.

• Proposed Ward 2 extends from Winchester Road to Rossland Road west of

Ritson Road and includes the communities of Windfields, Samac, Northwood, Northglen and Centennial.

• Extending east of Ritson Road from Taunton Road to Bond Street

East/King Street East, Proposed Ward 3 includes the communities of Pinecrest and Eastdale.

• Proposed Ward 4 covers the area south of Rossland Road to Highway 401

west of Ritson Road and includes Downtown Oshawa and large portions of the Central and O’Neill neighbourhoods, as well as Vanier and McLaughlin.

• South Oshawa is represented by Proposed Ward 5 which extends south

from Highway 401, Ritson Road and Bond Street East/King Street East and includes the communities of Lakeview, Farewell and Donevan.

• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to a

more favourable population balance by ward by 2026.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 21,170 0.62 34,550 0.91 Ward 2 33,530 0.98 38,290 1.01 Ward 3 37,420 1.09 37,055 0.98 Ward 4 41,070 1.20 41,715 1.10 Ward 5 38,220 1.11 37,290 0.99

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

34,282 37,780 2017 2026

Ward Option 5-B

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• Rural Oshawa, the community of Taunton and emerging urban growth

areas in Kedron and Columbus are represented under Proposed Ward 1 which is bound by Highway 407, Ritson Road and Taunton Road to the south.

• Proposed Ward 2 extends from Highway 407 to Rossland Road west of

Ritson Road and Wilson Road and includes the communities of Windfields, Northwood, Samac, Northglen and Centennial.

• Proposed Ward 3 extends south of Rossland Road, west of Wilson

Road, and north of King Street, Park Road and Highway 401 and includes the McLaughlin, O’Neill and Vanier communities.

• Extending south of Taunton Road to Highway 401/Bloor Street East,

east of Wilson Road, Proposed Ward 4 includes the communities of Pinecrest, Eastdale and Donevan.

• Proposed Ward 5 is bound to the north by Highway 401, Park Road,

King Street, Wilson Road and Bloor Street East. It includes the Central community and the communities south of Highway 401.

• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to

a more favourable population balance by ward by 2026. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 21,170 0.62 34,550 0.91 Ward 2 39,160 1.14 43,825 1.16 Ward 3 36,730 1.07 36,180 0.96 Ward 4 38,960 1.14 37,955 1.00 Ward 5 35,390 1.03 36,390 0.96

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

34,282 37,780 2017 2026

Ward Option 5-C

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• Design reflects five east-west oriented wards.
• Proposed Ward 1 includes rural Oshawa and the communities of

Windfields, Northwood and Samac as well as emerging growth areas in Kedron and Columbus.

• Proposed Ward 2 is bound by Taunton Road, Harmony Road and Conlin

Road to the north and Rossland Road to the south and includes the communities of Northglen, Centennial and Pinecrest.

• The communities of McLaughlin, O’Neill and Eastdale are captured in

Ward 3 which is bound by Rossland Road to the north and King Street and Bond Street to the south.

• Proposed Ward 4 extends from King Street and Bond Street to the north

to Highway 401 and Bloor Street East in the south and includes the communities of Vanier, Central and Donevan.

• Bound by Highway 401 and Bloor Street East to the north and Lake

Ontario to the south, Proposed Ward 5 covers the communities of Stevenson, Lakeview, Farewell and Beaton.

• While the design achieves reasonable population parity in Proposed

Wards 1 through 4, the population in Ward 5 is below the optimal range. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1

30,490 0.89 47,010

1.24 Ward 2

44,300 1.29 45,195

1.20 Ward 3

39,740 1.16 39,710

1.05 Ward 4

35,695 1.04 36,090

0.96 Ward 5 21,185 0.62 20,895 0.55

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

34,282 37,780 2017 2026

Ward Option 5-D

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• Represents a north-south “strip-ward” design where all proposed wards

include a cross-section of urban and rural areas of the City.

• The design utilizes major north-south markers as ward boundaries

including Park Road, Oshawa Creek, Simcoe Street, Ritson Road and Harmony Road.

• While this design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017, the

population balance is less favourable by 2026. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 27,690 0.81 26,385 0.70 Ward 2 32,625 0.95 35,430 0.94 Ward 3 32,165 0.94 35,425 0.94 Ward 4 46,350 1.35 52,510 1.39 Ward 5 32,580 0.95 39,150 1.04

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

34,282 37,780 2017 2026

Ward Option 5-E

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• Rural Oshawa, the community of Taunton and emerging urban growth

areas in Kedron and Columbus are represented under Proposed Ward 1 which is bound by Highway 407, Ritson Road and Taunton Road to the south.

• Proposed Ward 2 extends from Highway 407 to Rossland Road west of

Ritson Road and includes the communities of Windfields, Northwood, Samac, Northglen and a majority of Centennial.

• Proposed Ward 3 extends from Taunton Road to Olive Avenue east of

Ritson Road and Wilson Road and includes the communities of Pinecrest, Eastdale and the northern portion of Donevan.

• The communities of McLaughlin and O’Neill, northern areas of Vanier

and Central as well as Downtown Oshawa are included in Proposed Ward 4 which extends north-south from Rossland Road to Gibb Street/Olive Avenue west of Wilson Road.

• Proposed Ward 5 extends south from Gibb Street and Olive Avenue.
• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to

a more favourable population balance by ward by 2026. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 21,170 0.62 34,550 0.91 Ward 2 33,530 0.98 38,290 1.01 Ward 3 39,785 1.16 39,095 1.03 Ward 4 39,655 1.16 40,485 1.07 Ward 5 37,270 1.09 36,480 0.97

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

34,282 37,780 2017 2026

Ten-ward Model

 The ten-ward model assumes that the number of

City Councillors is increased from three to ten and that each one is elected in a separate ward

 Recognizing that there is a need to also elect

five Regional and City Councillors under this arrangement, a separate five-ward “Regional” model must be combined with a ten-ward Option – ideally Regional wards would be comprised of two City wards

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Ten-ward Model (Cont’d)

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Arrangement Strengths Weaknesses 5 Regional Councillors and 10 City Councillors 15 Total Councillors

• Strengthens local

accountability by having more City Councillors

• Provides representation

to all parts of the City on both Regional and City Council

• Wards can be more

closely identified with existing neighbourhoods

• Easy to understand
• Increase in Council

salary and support budget

Ten-ward Model Options

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Ten (10) Ward Model

10-B 10-A 10-C 10-D City Ward Options 5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Regional/City Ward Options

Ward Option 10-A

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• Based on splitting each ward in Option 5-A into two parts along significant

internal boundaries.

• Proposed Ward 1 includes rural Oshawa as well as emerging urban growth

areas in Kedron and Columbus; Proposed Ward 2 includes Taunton.

• Proposed Ward 3 includes communities of Northwood, Northglen and
• Centennial. Proposed Ward 4 includes the communities of Windfields and

Samac as well as the UOIT/Durham College cluster.

• Proposed Wards 7 and 8 separate communities of Pinecrest and Eastdale into

separate wards.

• Proposed Wards 5 and 6 separate communities of Vanier and McLaughlin into

different wards and adds portions of Central and O’Neill. Downtown Oshawa is divided at Bond Street.

• Proposed Wards 9 and 10 are based on Donevan and South Oshawa

respectively.

• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to a more

favourable population balance by ward by 2026; Proposed Ward 1 is a significant exception.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 1,605 0.09 11,240 0.59 Ward 2 19,570 1.14 23,315 1.23 Ward 3 16,675 0.97 16,395 0.87 Ward 4 16,850 0.98 21,890 1.16 Ward 5 20,090 1.17 19,365 1.03 Ward 6 17,330 1.01 17,690 0.94 Ward 7 22,615 1.32 22,300 1.18 Ward 8 18,455 1.08 19,415 1.03 Ward 9 19,330 1.13 18,500 0.98 Ward 10 18,890 1.10 18,790 0.99

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

17,141 18,890 2026 2017

Ward Option 10-B

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• Based on splitting each ward in Option 5-B into two parts along significant

internal boundaries.

• Proposed Ward 1 includes rural Oshawa as well as emerging urban growth

areas in Kedron and Columbus; Proposed Ward 2 includes Taunton.

• Proposed Ward 3 includes the communities of Northwood, Windfields and

Samac as well as the UOIT/Durham College cluster. Proposed Ward 4 encompasses the Northglen and Centennial communities.

• The Pinecrest community forms most of Proposed Ward 7 as does Donevan in

Proposed Ward 8. The Eastdale community is split along Adelaide.

• Proposed Wards 9 and 10 are based on Central and South Oshawa,

respectively, with Downtown Oshawa in Proposed Ward 9.

• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to a more

favourable population balance by ward by 2026; Proposed Ward 1 is a significant exception. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 1,605 0.09 11,240 0.59 Ward 2 19,570 1.14 23,315 1.23 Ward 3 17,150 1.00 22,165 1.17 Ward 4 22,005 1.28 21,650 1.15 Ward 5 21,670 1.26 20,560 1.09 Ward 6 15,060 0.88 15,620 0.83 Ward 7 23,525 1.37 22,665 1.20 Ward 8 15,435 0.90 15,290 0.81 Ward 9 14,205 0.83 15,500 0.82 Ward 10 21,185 1.24 20,895 1.11

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

17,141 18,890 2017 2026

Ward Option 10-C

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• The configuration includes five wards north of Rossland Road and five wards

south of Rossland Road.

• The northern ward includes rural Oshawa and the City’s newer urban areas west
• f Ritson Road and north of Conlin Road. Proposed Ward 3 includes the

emerging urban growth area in Kedron and the area of the Taunton community east of Harmony Road.

• Proposed Ward 2 includes the Northwood, Northglen and Samac communities.

Proposed Wards 4 and 5 include the communities of Centennial and Pinecrest, respectively.

• Proposed Wards 6, 7, 8 and 9 converge at Ritson Road and Bond Street/King

Street.

• Proposed Ward 10 is based in South Oshawa except for the area northeast of

Wentworth Street and Ritson Road.

• While population parity is less than favourable in 2017, the design achieves a

more optimal population balance by ward by 2026.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 9,660 0.56 14,650 0.78 Ward 2 25,460 1.49 26,870 1.42 Ward 3 7,940 0.46 19,540 1.03 Ward 4 17,270 1.01 17,315 0.92 Ward 5 14,465 0.84 13,835 0.73 Ward 6 22,410 1.31 22,020 1.17 Ward 7 17,925 1.05 18,260 0.97 Ward 8 18,660 1.09 19,695 1.04 Ward 9 20,490 1.20 19,660 1.04 Ward 10 17,130 1.00 17,055 0.90

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

17,141 18,890 2017 2026

Ward Option 10-D

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• The configuration includes four wards north of Rossland Road and six wards

south of Rossland Road.

• The proposed northern ward includes rural Oshawa, a portion of Taunton, as

well as emerging urban growth areas in Kedron and Columbus. The remainder

• f Taunton and Pinecrest is located in Proposed Ward 4.
• Proposed Ward 2 includes Windfields, Northwood and the Samac community

west of Ritson Road including the UOIT/Durham College cluster. Proposed Ward 3 primarily includes Northglen, as well as the portion of Centennial west of Ritson Road.

• Proposed Wards 5, 6, 8 and 9 converge at Simcoe Street and King Street while

Proposed Ward 7 includes the Eastdale and Donevan communities.

• Proposed Ward 10 includes South Oshawa, south of Highway 401.
• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2017 which improves to a more

favourable population balance by ward by 2026.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1 12,620 0.74 26,690 1.41 Ward 2 17,150 1.00 22,165 1.17 Ward 3 16,380 0.96 16,125 0.85 Ward 4 28,640 1.67 27,225 1.44 Ward 5 15,815 0.92 14,895 0.79 Ward 6 16,940 0.99 17,175 0.91 Ward 7 17,155 1.00 17,315 0.92 Ward 8 13,815 0.81 13,480 0.71 Ward 9 14,005 0.82 15,040 0.80 Ward 10 18,890 1.10 18,790 0.99

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

17,141 18,890 2017 2026

Mixed-Ward Model

 If there is no wish to change the composition of

the other part from the present three City Councillors, Oshawa City Council would be reduced from ten to eight Councillors

 That determination would require two separate

• r somehow inter-connected ward

configurations, one to elect the five Regional and City Councillors and the other to elect the three City Councillors

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Mixed-Ward Model (Cont’d)

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Council Arrangement Strengths Weaknesses 5 Regional Councillors and 3 City Councillors 8 Total Councillors

• Reduces Council salary

and support budget

• Makes distinction

between two types of Councillors

• Two sets of wards needed
• r a blend of wards into

two configurations

• Potential confusion for

electors by having two sets

• f ward alignments
• Weakens local

accountability by having fewer City Councillors and larger City wards

Mixed-Ward Model Options

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Mixed Ward Model

City Ward Options 3-B 3-A 3-C 5-C 5-B 5-A 5-D 5-E Regional/City Ward Options

Ward Option 3-A

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• Divides Oshawa into three wards (north, central and south) using east-

west boundaries along Taunton Road and King Street/Bond Street, respectively.

• The northern ward includes rural Oshawa and the City’s newer urban

areas.

• The urban core, including Downtown Oshawa, is split between the

central and south wards.

• Achieves balanced population parity by ward by 2026 but is less

favourable in 2017. Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1

38,320

0.67

56,715

0.90 Ward 2

76,210

1.33

75,200

1.19 Ward 3 56,880 1.00 56,980 0.90

Total 171,410 188,895

Ward Average

57,135 62,965 2017 2026

Ward Option 3-B

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• South Oshawa represented by a ward which uses Adelaide Avenue as

its northern boundary with Downtown Oshawa entirely within the ward.

• The area north of Adelaide Avenue split into two wards utilizing Wilson

Road North, Taunton Road, Ritson Road North and Highway 407 as a boundary.

• Design achieves reasonable population parity in 2016 and more

favourable population parity by 2026.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1

44,695

0.78

57,215

0.91 Ward 2

55,005

0.96

59,220

0.94 Ward 3 71,710 1.26 72,465 1.15

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

57,135 62,965 2017 2026

Ward Option 3-C

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• The northern ward includes rural Oshawa and the City’s newer urban

areas north of Taunton Road.

• The area south of Taunton Road divided into two wards using Ritson

Road and Highway 401 as a boundary.

• The southwest ward extends from Taunton Road to Highway 401 west of

Ritson Road and includes Downtown Oshawa.

• The southeast ward includes all neighbourhoods south of Highway 401,

as well as neighbourhoods east of Ritson Road and south of Taunton Road, including Pinecrest, Eastdale and Donevan.

• While population parity is less than favourable in 2017, the design

achieves optimal population balance by ward by 2026.

Ward Population Variance Population Variance Ward 1

38,320

0.67

56,715

0.90 Ward 2

57,450

1.01

57,840

0.92 Ward 3 75,640 1.32 74,345 1.18

Total 171,410 188,900

Ward Average

57,135 62,965 2017 2026

Guiding Principles

 Effective representation – Evaluate the capacity of each ward to

give residents an effective voice in decision-making

 Protection of communities of interest and neighbourhoods –

Draw ward boundary lines around recognized settlement areas, traditional neighbourhoods, and community groupings

 Representation by population – Ensure that every Councillor

generally represents an equal number of constituents while allowing for some variation

 Representation of current and future population trends – Look

at future changes in population to keep wards as balanced as possible

 Physical features as natural boundaries – Use logical physical

and natural features as ward boundaries while keeping wards as compact as possible

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Public Input and Participation

 We are asking for your input on the following:  Should the number of City Councillors be

changed for the 2018 municipal election?

 If No, why not?  If Yes, why?

 What are your preferences on the various

ward arrangements and preliminary options presented? What do you like and why?

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Next Steps

 Round 2 Public Consultation (April 19 through

May 12, 2017)

 Conduct further analysis and evaluation of

preliminary options based on feedback  finalize options

 Hold Council workshop  Final Recommendations Report (June, 2017)

which will be presented to Council for implementation

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Conclusions

 Look for project updates on the City’s website as

study progresses

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Participatory Workshop

Public Input and Participation

 Public input/feedback is critical to the success of

this study

 In small group settings, discuss the questions/

topics that have been raised here:

 options for the composition of Council  ward boundary models (5-Ward, 10-Ward, Mixed-

Ward)

 specific ward boundary options

 5-A to 5-E  10-A to 10-D  3-A to 3-C

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Public Input and Participation (Cont’d)

 We ask you to provide your input via the

Feedback Form

 Review the poster boards and other materials,

discuss with your neighbours – take your time and ask questions

 Drop completed Feedback Form in the

Comments Box

 Thank you for your participation

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