Attached is proposed Local Law 04-2022, Amending City Charter to redraw the 5 Ward Boundary Division of the City of Glens Falls, and the current and proposed Election Ward maps. There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 7:25 p.m., City Hall, 3rd Floor, 42 Ridge Street, Glens Falls, before the Common Council meeting for public comment.
LOCAL LAW NUMBER 4 OF 2022
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF GLENS FALLS TO RE-DRAW
THE FIVE WARD BOUNDARY DIVISIONS OF THE CITY OF GLENS FALLS
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GLENS FALLS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Purpose.
The Common Council of the City of Glens Falls finds that it is in the best interest of the City to enact amendments to the City’s Five Ward divisions so as to comply with the One Person/One Vote Principal whereby every citizen of Glens Falls is guaranteed equal legislative representation.
The Common Council, per recommendation of a City of Glens Falls Independent Redistricting Task Force, accepts amendments to the City’s Ward boundaries so as to minimize Ward population differentials so that all five City Wards will have population differentials of less than 10 % between and among all Wards.
SECTION 2. Section 1.8 of the Charter of the City of Glens Falls, Ward Divisions, as originally adopted by the Common Council of the City of Glens Falls on November 5, 1963 as Local Law No. 1 of 1963, and Section 1.8.4, Fourth Ward, amended on October 23, 2003 as Local Law No. 6-2003, is amended to read as follows (note that amended Ward Divisions replace previous Section 1.8 of the Charter in its entirety):
Chapter C. Charter
ARTICLE 1. Incorporation, Boundaries, Civil Divisions, Definitions
1.8 Ward divisions.
The city is hereby divided into five wards as follows:
1.8.1 First ward. The first ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning on the east line of the city, where the same strikes the southerly line of Warren County; thence westerly up and along the southerly line of Warren County to the center of Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Ridge Street; thence north along the center of Ridge Street to Hunter Street; thence easterly along the center of Hunter Street to Uncas Street; thence southerly along the center of Uncas Street to Dix Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Dix Avenue to the easterly line of the city; thence southerly along the east line to the river, the place of beginning.
1.8.2 Second Ward. The second ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Ridge and Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Glen and Bay Streets; thence northerly along the center line of Bay Street to the northerly line of the city; thence easterly following along the northerly line to the most easterly line thereof; thence southerly along the east line to Dix Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Dix Avenue to the center of Uncas Street; thence westerly along the center of Hunter Street to the center of Ridge Street; thence southerly along the center of Ridge Street to its intersection with Glen Street, the place of beginning.
1.8.3 Third Ward. The third ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Glen Street; thence along the center of Sherman Avenue; thence along the center of Liberty Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Shippey Street; thence northerly along the center of Garfield Street; thence easterly along the center of Harrison Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Crandall Street; thence easterly along the center of Horicon Avenue to Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the northern boundary of the city; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the city to Bay Street; thence southerly along the center of Bay Street to Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Sherman Avenue, the place of the beginning.
1.8.4 Fourth Ward. The fourth ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Hudson Avenue and Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to Sherman Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Sherman Avenue to Liberty Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Shippey Street; thence northerly along the center of Garfield Street; thence easterly along the center of Harrison Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Crandall Street; thence easterly along the center of Horicon Avenue to Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the northern boundary of the city; thence westerly to the northwesterly corner of the city; southernly along the west line of the city to Broad Street; thence easterly along the center of Broad Street to Hudson Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Hudson Avenue to the intersection of Glen Street, the place of beginning. The fourth ward shall also include the territory set forth within Section 1.6.1 of this Charter, as amended 10-23-2003 by L.L. No. 6-2003.
1.8.5 Fifth Ward. The fifth ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the center of Glen Street where said street intersects the southerly line of Warren County; running thence northerly to Hudson Avenue; thence southwesterly along the center of Hudson Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Broad Street to the west line of the city; thence southerly along the west line to the southerly line of Warren County; thence easterly along the said southerly line of Warren County to Glen Street, the place of beginning.
SECTION 3. Invalidity.
If any section of this Local Law, including any given amendment or portion of any amendment to the Charter of the City of Glens Falls hereby, shall be adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of this Local Law as a whole or any part or provision thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. Repealer.
All prior ordinances or resolutions or parts of ordinances or resolutions of the City of Glens Falls inconsistent with the provisions of this Local Law are hereby repealed, provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency, and in all respects this Local Law shall be in addition to other legislation regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this Local Law.
SECTION 5. Mandatory Referendum.
In accordance with Section 23-1 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, this Local Law shall be submitted for the approval of the electors of the City of Glens Falls at the next general election of state government officers to be held no less than sixty days after the adoption of this Local Law, such general election being the general election to be held on November 8, 2022. At such election the following ballot proposal shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the City of Glens Falls:
Resolved, that Local Law Number 4 of 2022 of the City of Glens Falls amending the
Charter of the City of Glens Falls to re-draw the Five Ward Boundary Divisions is
hereby approved.
SECTION 6. Election Districts Review (to be inserted into Charter of City of Glens Falls as Section 1.9 Election Districts Review).
Within 12 months of the United States census final report for years ending in zero (0), the Common Council shall review the population for each of the Five City of Glens Falls Wards. If any Ward has a population differential of 10% more or less than the average of the Five City Wards, the Common Council shall convene a City Independent Redistricting Task Force to review, recommend and submit a plan to Amend Section 1.8, Ward Divisions, of the Charter of the City of Glens Falls. The Common Council shall submit a Redistricting plan at the next November general election, in accordance with Section 23-1 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
SECTION 7. Effective Date.
If approved at the General Election referenced in Section 5, hereof, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors of the City of Glens Falls voting upon the proposition, this Local Law shall take effect at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2023.