If approved, the proposed map for redistricting La Vista City Council seats would allow for all the same faces if the councilmembers all win re-election.
Two would just be in different places.
The council discussed a proposal for new wards at its Nov. 1 meeting, and the scenario the council will likely vote to adopt at its next meeting would flip councilmembers Ron Sheehan (Ward 1) and Mike Crawford (Ward 2) into the other's current territory.
Both would serve out their term in their current seats if the map considering the new census figures were approved, but should Sheehan — currently representing the southeastern La Vista — and Crawford — representing the city's northeastern corner — run for re-election, they would do so from their new wards.
Although the city had contracted with Metropolitan Area Planning Agency to come up with potential ward maps, the council was unhappy with their proposals, saying that their ward boundaries were far too spread out. The city's planning department was asked to craft a plan, and its map won approval from the council.
One of the benefits of the planning department's proposal was that it considered future annexations of neighborhoods such as Mayfair or Portal Ridge.
"That's what we tried doing — predicting the next annexations so we wouldn't have to come back and do this again in two years," Councilmember Brenda Carlisle said.
City Planner Chris Solberg said the planning department's map tried grouping similar areas together, such as older areas of La Vista or new growth to the west.
The inevitable shift of more representation to the western edges of town balances the current population inequity in Ward 4, which stretches from roughly 87th Street west.
"[Councilmember] Tony [Gowan] and I have been representing almost two-for-one," said Ward 4 Councilmember Kelly Sell. "It's time to balance that out."
A rough summary of the proposed boundaries:
- Ward 1 would stretch to La Vista's northern, southern and eastern boundaries — Harrison Street, 66th Street and Giles Road, respectively.
It would reach as far west as Edgewood Boulevard and 75th Avenue at points, although a chunk of central La Vista between Joseph Avenue and Park View Boulevard would sit in Ward 2.
- Ward 2 would be bounded to south by Thompson Creek — stretching as far east as 72nd Street — and Valley View Drive. Plum Dale Road would serve as the western boundary.
- Ward 3 would contain most of La Vista not previously mentioned west to 96th Street except for a small slice — bounded by Park View Boulevard to the north, Bayberry Road to the east and Brentwood Road and 94th Street on the south — that would reside in Ward 4.
- Ward 4 would include a small portion east of 96th Street and all areas to the west within La Vista's city limits.
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