Mayor Pat Moeller responded to Harris’ question by saying that any change would require a change in the city’s charter.
That comment prompted Councilman Archie Johnson, who has advocated changing to a ward system, to ask City Manager Joshua Smith if a survey on the question was ever done on the topic.
Johnson asked, “what are we doing with that information or are we wasting taxpayers dollars?”
Smith said that was a question on a survey of residents done about eight months ago. Of about 1,000 responses received, Smith said the “vast majority - about 80 percent were in favor of a ward system.”
He said the information was reported and that the questions on the survey established a benchmark.
Law Director Colleen Taylor said council can place an amendment to change the city charter or residents can sign a petition for a citizen’s initiative. The petition will require the signatures of at least 10 percent of the number of residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election.
Johnson said less than 13,000 people in Hamilton voted in the last gubernatorial election.
Johnson said the city has heard from the citizens to do something, adding that if a traffic light was needed, the city would have a study done and install the traffic light.
“Why aren’t we doing this,” he asked.
Councilman Rob Wile said it would take a lot of work as the wards have changed in the past 100 years.
“This is step one of many,” he said.
Councilman Tim Naab said he’d “be glad to look at the process to define a ward system.”
Naab said this is “nothing that’s been ignored” but when the information was presented to council, it was very vague.
He said he’d like to revisit the topic and also added that there were three council seats and the mayor’s seat that will be up for election in November. Naab encouraged residents to go vote and be a part of the process.
Vice Mayor Carla Fiehrer said switching to a ward system is not as simple as it seems.
Harris said some areas of the city feel they do not get equal representation from council with the current at-large system.
“If 80 percent say a ward system is needed, then we need to take some steps to get it done and not sweep it under a rug,” Harris said.
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