Public meetings seek input on city’s electoral ward boundaries

The city is holding a series of public meetings, starting next week, to gather public opinion about the possibility of adjusting Peterborough’s electoral ward boundaries.

A series of three town hall meetings have been scheduled:

Monday – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the main lobby of City Hall.

Aug. 24 – 2 to 4 p.m. at council chambers, City Hall.

Sept. 7 – 6 to 8 p.m., at council chambers, City Hall.

A city press release states election staff will also be available in the main lobby of City Hall every Wednesday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., from July 19 to Sept. 6, to answer questions and collect feedback.

If you cannot attend but would like more information or to offer an opinion, visit www.peterborough.ca/vote or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1883.

The city has had five electoral wards: Otonabee, Monaghan, Town, Ashburnham and Northcrest.

It’s been that way since 1904; there have always been two councillors elected in each ward and a mayor elected at large.

There’s no suggestion that ought to change. But the city has the authority to adjust the boundaries of each ward and it wants to hear from the public on whether that should happen.

The last time a review was done was prior to the 2010 municipal election; no changes were made.

But a new city staff report points out that Town Ward has the lowest population of the five wards (12,617 people, compared to 21,316 in Monaghan Ward, which has the most people).

Town Ward has decreased in population by two per cent since 2006. By comparison, Monaghan Ward’s population has increased by 13 per cent in that time.