The Plain Dealer -
The charter amendment would allow for one ward-based representative for every 25,000 city residents. Based on recent population estimates, that would leave 17 seats. Council President Martin J. Sweeney proposed the move, which he calls "rightsizing."
The ballot measure passed 17-4, but Sweeney faced some vocal opposition from colleagues today. Brian Cummins, Mamie J. Mitchell, Michael Polensek and Zack Reed all voted against the ballot measure.
"Black people, Hispanics, the homeless are all going to be under-represented," said Reed, who exceeded the time limit for remarks and was cut off by Sweeney.
Mitchell, who at a previous meeting had scoffed at Sweeney's use of the term rightsizing, said she had not received one call from constituents in support of the plan.
Polensek said he opposed eliminating seats for the 2009 municipal election, when redrawing ward boundaries would be done based on a population estimate. The boundaries would again have to be redrawn after the official U.S. Census count for 2010 is available.
"Do you realize that over a three- to four-year period you could have someone who has lived in three different wards?" Polensek said. "I'm not about to disenfranchise anyone."
The council also agreed to give voters the chance to:
• Give the mayor power to award contracts up to $50,000 without council approval. The existing limit is $10,000, and proponents say a higher allowance will streamline city business.
• Move the city's nonpartisan primaries for regular municipal elections from October to the second Tuesday in September. Cuyahoga County Elections Director Jane Platten requested the change so all 13 of the county's charter cities would hold fall primaries on the same day.
• Allow all city ordinances and resolutions, except for emergency measures, to take effect 30 days after passage. Ordinances now take effect 40 days after passage.
• Increase the number of members of the Police Review Board from five to seven.
• Approve several changes to civil service regulations. One of the more controversial aspects would allow about 900 city employees who were hired without having to take the civil service exam to remain on the job without taking the test.
"Think about the people who worked hard and took the test but didn't get the job," said Polensek, one of five members to vote against the civil service amendment. "Their opportunity went out the door because they didn't know someone here."