Politics & Government
Council OKs New District Map, but Open to Changing Council Structure
Concerned Citizens of Joliet is pushing for the council's at-large seats to be dumped in favor of eight districts, each with its own elected representative.
The Joliet City Council approved a new council district map to reflect population shifts from the 2010 U.S. Census, but left the door open to seeking voter approval on a new system that would eliminate the at-large council seats.
The redistricting has been a long time in coming, mandated by federal and state law to ensure that residents are grouped into segments that have equal population and ensure minority representation. Prior to the map change, the districts were cumulatively out of balance by nearly 50 percent.
However, critics of Joliet's council structure -- in which the city has five districts with one representative each and three at-large members -- argue the public would be better served by eliminating the at-large posts and having more district representatives.
Richard Rodriguez, representing Concerned Citizens for Joliet, proposed that eight districts -- each consisting of about 18,000 people -- would mean better representation.
Under the revised map, each of the five districts has about 30,000 residents. That's one representative for areas that are larger than some neighboring towns, Rodriguez said.
(Click here to see the new redistricting map and how each district breaks down by race.)
"A smaller district would mean it's more likely to have a council person living in your area," Rodriguez said. "I currently live west of (Route) 59, there's been a lot of growth in west Joliet, yet there are no council members living west of 59.
"One representative per district would equal a more fair distribution of resources among all districts. ... How large do the districts need to grow before we make a change?"
But others spoke in favor of keeping things as they are, in part because it allows residents to reach out for help when their own council member is unavailable due to illness, family obligations or other reasons.
Regardless of how they might feel personally on the issue, council members had no option but to vote on a redistricting map since any change to the system would require voter approval and could not be implemented for at least two years.
"I would just point out that there are two issues here," District 1 Councilman Larry Hug said.
"If I was looking to remodel my house but I also needed a new roof, and I realize it might take me two years to remodel my house, I still have to replace that roof. It's housekeeping, it's maintenance. The five districts have to be updated. We've put it off long enough."
The current council structure was approved by referendum in the 1950s, and a referendum would have to be held again in order to change it. Residents can have the issue placed on the ballot by gathering petitions, or the council can elect to let the voters decide.
The soonest the issue could be put to a vote would be March 2014, City Manager Tom Thanas said.
Council members Jim McFarland and Bob O'Dekirk said they would both be open to putting the issue on the election ballot.
"Let the people of Joliet speak," O'Dekirk said.
However, critics of Joliet's council structure -- in which the city has five districts with one representative each and three at-large members -- argue the public would be better served by eliminating the at-large posts and having more district representatives.
Richard Rodriguez, representing Concerned Citizens for Joliet, proposed that eight districts -- each consisting of about 18,000 people -- would mean better representation.
Under the revised map, each of the five districts has about 30,000 residents. That's one representative for areas that are larger than some neighboring towns, Rodriguez said.
(Click here to see the new redistricting map and how each district breaks down by race.)
"A smaller district would mean it's more likely to have a council person living in your area," Rodriguez said. "I currently live west of (Route) 59, there's been a lot of growth in west Joliet, yet there are no council members living west of 59.
"One representative per district would equal a more fair distribution of resources among all districts. ... How large do the districts need to grow before we make a change?"
But others spoke in favor of keeping things as they are, in part because it allows residents to reach out for help when their own council member is unavailable due to illness, family obligations or other reasons.
Regardless of how they might feel personally on the issue, council members had no option but to vote on a redistricting map since any change to the system would require voter approval and could not be implemented for at least two years.
"I would just point out that there are two issues here," District 1 Councilman Larry Hug said.
"If I was looking to remodel my house but I also needed a new roof, and I realize it might take me two years to remodel my house, I still have to replace that roof. It's housekeeping, it's maintenance. The five districts have to be updated. We've put it off long enough."
The current council structure was approved by referendum in the 1950s, and a referendum would have to be held again in order to change it. Residents can have the issue placed on the ballot by gathering petitions, or the council can elect to let the voters decide.
The soonest the issue could be put to a vote would be March 2014, City Manager Tom Thanas said.
Council members Jim McFarland and Bob O'Dekirk said they would both be open to putting the issue on the election ballot.
"Let the people of Joliet speak," O'Dekirk said.
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