22-1972 City Code Terms of Office and Residency CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 22-1972
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BERNT, BORTON, CAVENER,
HOAGLUN, PERREAULT, STRADER
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING MERIDIAN CITY CODE SECTION
1-7-1, REGARDING ELECTION; DISTRICTS; TERMS OF OFFICE; RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENT; AMENDING MERIDIAN CITY CODE SECTION 1-7-29 REGARDING
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS; REPEALING AND REPLACING
MERIDIAN CITY CODE SECTION 1-7-4, REGARDING CITY COUNCIL SEAT
VACANCIES; ADDING A NEW SECTION TO MERIDIAN CITY CODE, SECTION 1-7-
11, REGARDING MERIDIAN DISTRICTING COMMITTEE; CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICTS; ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Idaho Code section 50-707A requires cities with more than one hundred
thousand(100,000) inhabitants to establish City Council districts and elect City Council
members by such districts; and
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Meridian finds that the following ordinance
will serve the purposes of Idaho Code section 50-707A, related provisions of Meridian City
Code, and the people of the City of Meridian;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO:
Section 1. Meridian City Code section 1-7-1 shall be repealed, and replaced with
language to read as follows.
1-7-1. ELECTION; DISTRICTS; TERMS OF OFFICE; RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.
A. Elections. General city elections shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first
Monday in November, in odd numbered years.
B. City Council districts established. There shall be six (6) City Council districts in the Cites
Meridian. Pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code section 50-707A and Meridian City Code
section 1-7-11, following the release of federal decennial census data and the County Clerk's
establishment of election precincts, the Meridian Districting Committee shall establish and
number six (6) City Council districts.
C. City Council seats established. There shall be six (6) City Council seats on the Meridian
City Council. The Meridian Districting Committee shall number each City Council seat pursuant
to this section and Idaho Code section 50-707. The number of each City Council seat shall
correspond to the numbered City Council districts.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 145
D. Terms. Each elected City Council member shall serve a term of four(4) years, or until his or
her successor is elected and qualified.
E. Staggered terms. At each election, three City Council seats shall be open for election,
alternating odd-numbered seats and even-numbered seats.
1. Election in 2023. In the 2023 general city election, the first election after the
establishment of City Council districts in the City of Meridian, no candidate, including an
incumbent candidate, may run for election or re-election to a City Council seat in a City
Council district in which the candidate is not a resident. Incumbent City Council members
who are servingin n City Council seats 1, 3, and 5, as such seats were designated prior to the
assignment of City Council seats to City Council districts, and who are runningfor or re-
election in 2023, must be residents of the respective City Council districts in which they are
running. In order to preserve staggered terms, City Council members servingin n City Council
seats 2, 4, and 6, as such seats were designated prior to the assignment of City Council seats
to City Council districts, shall serve the remainder of their terms in those seats, during which
time they shall represent the City Council districts corresponding to their City Council seat
numbers, regardless of whether they are residents of the City Council district to which their
seat corresponds.
2. Elections in 2025 and thereafter. In the 2025 general city election and in each election
thereafter, no candidate, including an incumbent candidate, may run for election or re-
election to a City Council seat in a City Council district in which the candidate is not a
resident.
F. Candidate to be resident of City Council district. Any candidate seeking election to the
City Council shall file his or her candidacy for one, and only one, City Council seat. Except as
otherwise set forth in Meridian City Code section 1-7-1(E)(1), the candidate must be a resident
of the City Council district that corresponds to the City Council seat for which the candidate is
running. City Council members shall be elected by the electors of the said City Council district.
To be eligible to run for City Council, the candidate shall meet this and all other qualifications
for the office of City Council member, as required by law.
Section 2. Meridian City Code section 1-7-2 shall be amended as follows.
1-7-2. QUALIFICATIONS; DEFINITIONS.
A. Any person shall be eligible to hold the office of City eCouncil member: 1)whose demieile
residence is, at the time of declaration of candidacy or intent to seek election, and if elected,
remains, in the City Council district to which the City
Council member is elected to serve; and 2) is a qualified elector as set forth in this section and
within the City of Mer-i under the constitution and laws of the State of Idaho.
B. "tee-Residence," for the purposes of this section, shall have the definition as set forth
in Idaho Code section 50-402(d)mea-n thatindividual's trtle, fixed permanent home arld
plaee of habitation. it is the plaee where tha4 individtial intends to f-emain, and to whieh that.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 146
individual expeets to retufn when that individual leaves without intending to establish a new
domieile elsewhere.
C. "Qualified elector," for the purposes of this section, shall mean a person who is at least
eighteen(18) years of age, is a United States citizen, has resided in Meridian City Limits and the
City Council district for which the City Council member is elected to serve for at least the thirty
(30) days preceding the election at which he desires to be elected, and who is registered to vote
in such jurisdiction as required by law.
Section 3. Meridian City Code section 1-7-4 shall be shall be repealed, and replaced with
language to read as follows.
1-7-4. VACANCIES.
A. In the event a City Council seat becomes vacant through the death, resignation, or relocation
of a City Council member, or any other cause, the Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of the
City Council, an appointee to fill the City Council seat until the next general city election, at
which time the vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the original term, if any,by a vote of the
electors of the City Council district that corresponds to the City Council seat.
1. If an appointment is made prior to the establishment of City Council districts, the
appointee shall satisfy the qualifications set forth in Idaho Code section 50-702,but need
not reside in any pecific geographic district within the City of Meridian.
2. If an appointment is made after the establishment of City Council districts, the appointee
shall satisfy the qualifications set forth in Meridian City Code section 1-7-2 and reside in
the City Council district that corresponds to the vacant City Council seat.
Section 4. A new section shall be added, Meridian City Code section 1-7-11, to read as
follows.
1-7-11. MERIDIAN DISTRICTING COMMITTEE; CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
A. Establishment. There is hereby established the Meridian Districting Committee, the purpose
of which shall be to establish six (6) City Council districts and assign one 1 City Council
seat to represent each City Council district, in accordance with applicable laws, available
federal decennial census data, and principles of districting as are or may be established bX
law,policy, and custom governing the same.
B. Duties and powers. The Meridian Districting Committee shall be charged with, and
authorized to:
1. Evaluate and apply federal decennial census data regarding the City of Meridian in order
to establish six (6) City Council districts pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code section
50-707A; Title 1, Chapter 7, Meridian City Code; and all other applicable provisions of
local, state, and federal law.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE Page 147
2. Assign City Council seats, numbering 1 through 6, to the corresponding numbered City
Council districts, pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code section 50-707 and Title 1,
Chapter 7, Meridian City Code.
3. Act independently to make decisions regarding City Council districts and City Council
seat numbers, without regard for the residency of elected officials or candidates running
for municipal office of the City of Meridian.
4. Consult resources and experts in demographics and population distribution, including,
without limitation, the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, the United
States Census Bureau, and their delegees and staff, as needed or desired.
5. Consult resources and experts in districtingand nd apportionment, including, without
limitation, the Idaho Secretary of State, the Idaho Commission for Reapportionment, the
Ada County Clerk, and the delegees and staff thereof, as needed or desired.
6. Consult City of Meridian Geographic Information System and Planning staff for
information and assistance with establishment of City Council districts and the
preparation of maps.
7. Consult the Cif Attorney or designee regarding compliance with applicable Idaho Code
and Meridian Citesprovisions.
C. Meridian Districting Committee membership and qualifications.
1. The Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of the City Council, members to the Meridian
Districting Committee. Should a vacancy subsequently occur on the Meridian Districting
Committee, the Mayor shall fill the vacancy in a like manner within fourteen(14) days,
or as soon thereafter as practicable. In addition to the names of the members so
appointed, the resolution shall include the following directives to the City Clerk:
a. Directingthe e City Clerk to convene the Meridian Districting Committee.
b. Directing the City Clerk to post on the City of Meridian website the agenda and
minutes of the Meridian Districting Committee meetings, as well as the census
data used by the Meridian Districting Committee in the course of its charge under
this section.
In the event that the Mayor fails to timely act pursuant to this provision, the City Council
President shall so act.
2. Voting members of the Meridian Districting Committee shall include six (6) Meridian
residents from diverse geographic areas of Meridian, to include at least one (1) individual
who resides south of Interstate 84, one (1) individual who resides north of Ustick Road,
one 1) individual who resides west of Meridian Road, and one (1) individual who resides
east of Meridian Road. The six (6) Committee members shall be voting members, and
shall serve without salary or compensation for their service.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 148
3. The Meridian Districting Committee shall include the following ex-officio, non-voting
members:
a. The City of Meridian Geographic Information System Manager or designee;
b. The City of Meridian Planning Manager or designee; and
c. The Ada County Clerk or designee.
4. The Meridian Districting Committee may include the following ex-officio, non-voting
members, as may be hired by the City of Meridian: a statistician, a cartographer, and/or
any other experts whose services may be helpful in the discharge of the Meridian
Districting Committee's responsibilities.
5. A person who has served on the Meridian Districting Committee shall be ineligible to run
for a Meridian City Council seat for five (5) years following such service.
A Organization and meetings.
1. At the initial meeting of the Meridian Districting Committee, the Committee members
shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair.
a. The Chair shall be a voting member of the Meridian Districting Committee and shall
hold the same rights and privileges as any other Committee member. The decisions,
statements, and/or actions of the Chair shall obligate, commit, and/or represent the
Meridian Districting Committee only insofar as the Committee has specifically
authorized. The Chair's duties shall include:
1) Preparing Meridian Districting Committee meeting agendas in cooperation with
the City Clerk or designee;
2) Presiding over all Meridian Districting Committee meetings, and
3) Signing Iing all documents requiring an official signature on behalf of the Meridian
Districting Committee, including the Meridian Districting Plan.
b. The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, and
such other duties as may be delegated by the Chair.
c. A special election may be held at any time to fill a vacancy of the office of Chair or
Vice Chair.
2. The Chair shall propose, and the Committee members shall adopt, a timeline of meetings
and actions to timely coinplete the Meridian Districting Committee's work in accordance
with this section and with Idaho Code section 50-707A.
3. The Meridian Districting Committee shall comply in all respects with the Idaho Open
Meetings Law. The agenda for all meetings shall be prepared by the Chair in
consultation with the City Clerk or designee. The City Clerk or designee shall assist the
Chair with scheduling meetings,posting meeting and agenda notices, preparing meeting
minutes, and distributing agendas, minutes, and other materials to Committee members
prior to each meeting.
4. A majority of currently-gppointed Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of any business of the Meridian Districting Committee.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 149
5. Each voting member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on any matter before the Meridian
Districting Committee. Except as otherwise designated herein, the vote of the majority of
the voting members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall effectuate
any decision of the Meridian Districting Committee. Voting shall be verbal and on the
record; proxyy g, secret voting, and written voting shall not be permitted.
6. Scheduling of public hearings,public comment, or presentations before the Meridian
Districting Committee shall be at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair may set rules to
maximize efficiency and productivity of meetings, includingsetting etting a time limit for
comments or presentations to the Meridian Districting Committee.
7. Upon the City Clerk's filing of the Meridian Districting Plan with the County Clerk as set
forth in Meridian City Code section 1-7-11(H), the Meridian Districting Committee shall
automatically dissolve and may be reconvened only upon appointment by the Mayor
pursuant to Meridian City Code section 1-7-11(C)(1).
E. Procedure.
1. The Meridian Districting Committee shall evaluate and apply the federal decennial
census data for the City of Meridian in order to establish six (6) City Council districts
pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code section 50-707A; Title 1, Chapter 7, Meridian
City Code; and all other applicable provisions of local, state, and federal law. To assist
the Committee, one or more of the ex officio members set forth in Meridian City Code
section 1-7-11(C)(3) shall prepare three (3)potential districting maps for the
Committee's initial consideration. The Committee may utilize one of these potential
districting maps, or the Committee may develop and utilize a different districting map_
2. Upon completion of a draft districting map, the Meridian Districting Committee shall
designate each City Council district with a number from 1 to 6 pursuant to the provisions
of Meridian City Code section 1-7-1(C) and this chapter. The draft map and numbered
City Council districts shall constitute the draft districting plan. The Meridian Districting
Committee shall hold a minimum of two (2)public hearings to receive public testimony
on the draft districting map_
3. The Meridian Districting Committee shall act to establish,by resolution, the Meridian
Districting Plan, to include the following documents,which shall be appended to the
resolution, and incorporated into the same by reference:
a. A map of the City of Meridian showing the exact locations of the designated CitX
Council districts, labeled with the district numbers and corresponding City Council
seat numbers.
b. A description of the boundaries of the City Council districts, described by the names
of streets or other established features or landmarks.
c. A declaration that the City Council seats shall be designated with numbers
corresponding to the like-numbered City Council districts, in accordance with
Meridian City Code section 1-7-1(Q.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 150
Item#6.
The resolution must be approved by at least four(4) voting members to be effective, and
shall certify that the established City Council districts meet the criteria set forth in Idaho
Code section 50-707A and other applicable statutes and laws.
4. The Meridian Districting Committee shall transmit its resolution to the City Clerk, and
the City Clerk shall:
a. Schedule a public hearing before the City Council on the resolution;
b. Make the resolution available on the City of Meridian's website; and
c. Publish a notice of hearing on the matter before the City Council.
F. The City Clerk shall publish notice of the public hearing on the Meridian Districting
Committee's Meridian Districting Plan before City Council at least once prior to the date
set for the public hearing, which notice shall solicit written and verbal testimony on the
City Council districts as established by the Meridian Districting Committee, and shall
include a link to the City of Meridian's webpage with access to the resolution and
documents described in Meridian City Code section 1-7-11(E)(3).
G. The City Council shall conduct a public hearing on the Meridian Districting Plan as
established by the Meridian Districting Committee, in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Meridian City Code section 1-7-7. Followingsuch uch public hearing, the City
Council shall review the Meridian Districting Plan as established by the Meridian
Districting Committee, and upon a finding that it meets the criteria set forth in Idaho Code
section 50-707A, shall adopt it by ordinance as the final Meridian Districting Plan. Such act
shall be a ministerial function of the City Council; modification of the Meridian Districting
Plan established by the Meridian Districting Committee shall occur only upon remand to the
Meridian Districting Committee. The City Council may remand the matter to the Meridian
Districting Committee only upon a finding, supported by substantial evidence, that the
Meridian Districting Plan established by the Meridian Districting Committee does not
meet the criteria set forth in Idaho Code section 50-707A. Should the City Council fail to
adopt the Meridian Districting Plan via ordinance at least one hundred thirty-five (135) days
prior to the date of the next general city election, the Meridian Districting Committee's last
resolution shall comprise the final Meridian Districting Plan.
H. The City Clerk shall file the Meridian Districting Plan with the County Clerk at least one
hundred thirty-four(134) dilys prior to the next general city election, with a request that the
County Clerk prepare ballots and establish polling places for all subsequent Meridian City
Council elections in accordance with the Meridian Districting
Section 5. That all ordinances, resolutions, orders, or parts thereof or in conflict with this
ordinance are hereby voided.
Section 6. That this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this day of , 2022.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 151
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 15th day of March 2022.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Robert E. Simison, Mayor Chris Johnson, City Clerk 3-15-2022
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTING COMMITTEE PAGE page 152
ADVERTISING PROOF
PRES� �p
MERIDIAN PRH55 c/o ISj Payment Processing Center
Local News Worth Holding mom. �'; Emmett PO Box 1570,
BO1SEWEEKLY® Messenger Pocatello,ID 83204
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BILLING DATE: ACCOUNT NO: LEGAL NOTICE
03/16/22 21410 CITY OF MERIDIAN
ORDINANCE NO.22-1972
An ordinance repealing
and replacing Meridian City
1 MERIDIAN, CITY OF Code section 1-7-1, regarding
33 E. BROADWAYAVENUE election; districts;terms of of-
MERIDIAN, ID 83642 fice; residency requirement;
amending Meridian City Code
section 1-7-2, regarding City
Council member qualifica-
tions; repealing and replacing
Meridian City Code section
1-7-4, regarding City Council
AD# DESCRIPTION START STOP TIMES AMOUNT seat vacancies;adding a new
section to Meridian City Code,
215225 ord 22-1972 03/20/22 03/20/22 1 $28.50 section 1-7-11, regarding Me-
ridian Districting Committee;
City Council districts;adopting
a savings clause; and provid-
ing an effective date.
March 20,2022 215225
Payments:
Date Method Card Type Last 4 Digits Check Amount
Discount: $0.00 Gross:$28.50
Surcharge: $0.00 Paid Amount:$0.00
Credits: $0.00
Amount Due:$28.50
We Appreciate Your Business!
AD#215225
MEMO INVOICE
PRESS MBRIt?IAN Pas�SS � � J�+i�''
1.-acal Naww W r[I. I loldiox ..y_, _, '�
A.� Emmerr
BOISE WEEKLY® �dex n9¢r
1 MERIDIAN, CITY OF
33 E. BROADWAY AVENUE
MERIDIAN, ID 83642
c/o ISj Payment Processing Center
PO Box 1570,
Pocatello,ID 83204
Ph, (208) 465-8129 Fax: (907) 452-5054
BILLING DATE ACCOUNT - NO� LEGAL NOTICE
03/22/22 21410 1 CITY OF MERIDIAN
ORDINANCE NO.22-1972
AD # DESCRIPTION START STOP TIMES AMOUNT
215225 ord 22-1972 03/20/22 03/20/22 1 $28.50
Payments:
mate Method Card Type Last 4 Digits Check Amount
Discount: $0.00 Gross:$28.50
Surcharge- $0.00 Paid Amount:$0.00
Credits: $0.00
Amount Due:$28.50
We Appreciate Your Business!
An ord nance repealing
and replacing Meridian City
Code section 1-7-1, regardingg
election; districts; terms of of-
fice; residency requirement;
amending Merid an City Code
section 1-7-2, regarding City
Council member qualifica-
tions; repealing and replacing
Meridian City Code section
1-7-4, regarding City Council
seat vacancies, adding a new
section to Merid an City Code,
section 1-7-11, regard ng Me-
ridian Districting Committee;
City Council districts; adopting
a savings clause; and provid-
ing an effective date.
March 20, 2022 215225
AD# 215225
AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION
STATE OF IDAHO
County of Canyon and Ada
21410 215225
1 MERIDIAN, CITY OF
SHARON JESSEN
of the State of Idaho, being of first duly sworn, deposes
33 E. BROADWAY AVENUE
and says:
MERIDIAN, ID 83642
I.That I am a citizen of the United States, and at all
times hereinafter mentioned was over the age of
eighteen years, and not a party to the above entitled
LEGAL NOTICE
action.
CITY OF MERIDIAN
2.That I am the Principle Clerk of the Idaho Press -
ORDINANCE NO.22-1972
Tribune, a daily newspaper published in the Counties
An ordinance repealing
and replacing Meridian City
of Canyon and Ada, State of Idaho; that the said
y
Code section 1-7-1, regarding
election; districts; terms of of
newspaper is in general circulation in the said
lice; residency requirement;
on an
counties of Can d Ada, and in the vicinity
section 1-7-2, regarding City
of Nampa, Caldwell, and Boise, and has been
Council member qualifica-
tions; repealing and replacing
uninterruptedly published in said Counties during a
Meridian City Code section
1-7-4, regarding City Council
period of seventy -eight consecutive weeks prior to
seat vacancies; adding a new
section to Meridian City Code,
the first publication of this notice, a copy of which is
section 1-7-11, regarding Me-
ridian D stricting Committee;
hereto attached.
City Council districts; adopting
a savings clause; and proved-
3.That the notice, of which the annexed is a printed
effective
ve
ing an ve effectidate.
copy, was published in said newspaper 1 times(s)
March 215225
in the regular and entire issue of said paper, and
was printed in the newspaper proper, and not in a
supplement
That said notice was published the following: 03/20/2022
9�L�_ L��
HARON JESSEN
STATE OF IDAHO
County of Canyon and Ada
On this 21st day of March, in the year of 2022 before me
a Notary Public, personally appeared. SHARON JESSEN,
known or identified to me to be the person whose name is
subscribed to the within instrument, and being by me first
duly sworn, declared that the statements therein are true,
and acknowledge to me that he/she executed the same.
Notary Public of Idaho %Nm
My commission expires�/Z'
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