North Royalton City Council unanimously adopted legislation at the July 7 meeting that accepts the findings of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission’s analysis of population to determine if changes were required in the city’s six wards.
Every four years, the city of North Royalton views the city’s population overall and how each ward has been affected. With the growth or decline in certain areas of the wards, the city then redistricts them in order to accommodate the shift in population, making each ward even, contiguous and compact. This has taken place since 1978. The redistricting is done in accordance with the city’s charter.
According to the Charter of the City of North Royalton, “each ward shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory within the Municipality bounded by street lines and natural boundaries. Such equality of population shall be maintained by the Council by an adjustment of such boundaries as follows: Each four (4) years, commencing in the year of 1978, the Council shall make, or cause to be made, a survey of the population changes in the respective wards and enter a written report thereof upon its journal. In the event such survey discloses a decrease or an increase of population amounting to fifteen percent (15%) or more in any ward, an equalizing adjustment of boundaries shall be made by an ordinance of Council. Equalizing adjustments of boundaries may be made at more frequent intervals, if desired by Council, but no adjustment shall be effective with respect to any Municipal election unless the ordinance providing for such adjustment has been passed and publication or posting thereof has been completed at least ninety (90) days prior to the last date for filing nominating petitions for candidates in such election.”
Earlier this year, the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission was commissioned to do the study with the approval of City Council. According to the study, “to establish accurate ward population estimates for 2026, County Planning started with population estimates prepared for North Royalton in its 2022 Council Redistricting Study. Those estimates were based on 2020 Decennial Census figures at the census block level plus estimates based on residential occupancy and demolition permits from April, 2020 through May 2022. Population estimates for 2026 used additional permits issued from May 13, 2022 through April 30, 2026. The study was completed and the final report was recently sent to Council, who then introduced legislation.
The study stated that the city’s population, overall, was found to be relatively stable, compared to the last study. It showed that it increased from an estimate 31,553 in 2022, to about 31,750 in 2026. That increase of 297 people equated to only 0.9%, according to the report’s findings. The following is the estimated population, per ward, in 2022, versus 2026: Ward 1, 4,489 to 4,550 (1.4%); Ward 2, 4,339 to 4,337 (-0.1%); Ward 3, 5,662 to 5,664(0.1%); Ward 4, 5,276 to 5,395 (2.2%); Ward 5 6,060 to 6,072 (0.2%); Ward 6, 5,627 to 5,732 (1.8%)
The study concluded that “the distribution of population among North Royalton’s six wards is not unreasonable in comparison with other communities in Cuyahoga County, however, there is room for improvement.” This has been the case in the past five studies. They offered several options, if Council decided to make a change. Council unanimously voted to have the wards remain, as is, as it falls within the parameters set by the Charter.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
