The firm that assisted Columbus officials with the city’s recently approved annexation will discuss redistricting with councilmen Tuesday.
Chris Watson of Watson and Bridge will discuss the process of redrawing ward lines to include the city’s new areas, and the council could decide whether to retain the firm to oversee that process, according to Columbus Chief Operations Officer David Armstrong.
A judge recently approved the annexation after a years-long legal process. Councilmen originally approved the plan in 2010. It brings in most of the east side of Lehmberg Road and a short distance north on Highway 12, the Riverwalk to the west of downtown, a piece of Woodland Heights Drive to the north and the area around Columbus Middle School. That’s about three square miles, five miles of road and 1,462 residents that previously lived just outside city boundaries, according to 2010 U.S. Census data.
Armstrong said he expects a redistricting plan to be ready for councilmen to review in three to four months. A plan no longer requires preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice.
“It should be a fairly straightforward process,” Armstrong said.
The majority of the added population will come from the eastern side of Lehmberg Road, which primarily abuts Ward 3 and some of Ward 2. Ward populations must be equally proportioned within 10 percent of the ideal number for each ward. That is calculated by dividing the total population by six.
With the new population, the ideal population for each ward would be 4,184 compared to 3,940 right now, according to Tim Youngblood of Bridge and Watson. Because the population that would be added is dense in one area, Wards 2 and 3 would have to shift east to pick up residents there and drop some in the western portions of their current boundaries to maintain population equality. As a result, neighboring wards would pick up residents forfeited by eastern wards.
Property tax increases associated with the areas being brought in will be in effect starting in the 2015-16 fiscal year. That begins Oct. 1 of next year.
Trotter rental fees could go up
Trotter Convention Center director Frank Goodman is scheduled to go before the council Tuesday to request rental fee increases for the facility of approximately 10 to 20 percent.
The building is currently not being used for events because it’s undergoing an extensive, $2.2 million overhaul which is expected to be done in December. Goodman said in August that the building, which frequently hosts weddings, conventions and banquets among other events, is booked for every weekend in 2015.
Part of the renovation includes a new lighting and sound system, which Goodman said will require hiring someone to run during events.
“It’s going to be sophisticated,” Goodman said. “In the past we let anybody use the sound system equipment.”
Some equipment rental costs currently separate from room rentals will be included with them under Goodman’s proposal.
“When you really look at it, you’re not going up hardly anything,” Goodman said. “You’re going to get everything plus that operator to be there to operate that equipment.”
Exactly how much of an increase will be requested is not yet known. Prices for concerts or sports events were $1,000 for the first day and half that each succeeding day. Weddings and seminars were $825 for the first day and half of that for succeeding days. On the lower level, one meeting room cost $250 a day to rent, two rooms $400 for the first day and half that each succeeding day and the whole lower level was $600 for the first day and half that for each extra day.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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