As an assiduous citizen of West Lafayette, the place where we call home, I write this with a curious mind.
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The biggest question to go before the Council in decades, forever changing the political makeup of West Lafayette, should not be made haste and must be given its due consideration.
On June 2nd, the West Lafayette City Council publicly asked itself if it should move from a Third Class to a Second Class City with Ordinance 17-14.
It passed its first reading by a vote of 6 -1. Councilor Vicki Burch (District 3) voted against the ordinance.
When it goes before the Council again, possibly as soon as July or August, it will be for its second and final reading.
How do we qualify?
Indiana Code 36-4-1 covers the classification of cities in the State.
STATUS AND POPULATION CLASS
Cities of 600,000 or more First class cities
Cities of 35,000 to 599,999 Second class cities
Cities of less than 35,000 Third class cities
Prior to annexation, the population of West Lafayette was around 29,596 according to the 2010 US Census information. With the recent Annexation of land around West Lafayette, including the Purdue University campus the population grew to include the residence halls located within the new boundaries. The majority of the population growth attributed to the City is now made up of non-residents who attend Purdue. I have been trying to locate a new population estimate from the City, but have been unable to do so. You can, however, use the information provided by City-Data.com and compare it to the Annexation map to get an idea based on their density maps.
Ch…Ch…Changes!
The governance changes to the City have been well documented in this memorandum (quick 5-page read) provided by City Attorney, Eric Burns. A quick overview of the memorandum:
- Mayor no longer presides over the City Council.
- A president, elected by the Council (currently Councilor Ann Hunt). The Council must also elect a vice-president.
- The City Council would also be responsible for producing the agenda, which is currently handled by the Mayor’s office.
- City Council will grow to six districts and three at-large members.
- It is currently five and two, respectively.
- The Clerk-Treasurer position is split, with the Clerk becoming elected by the citizens and the City Controller (formerly Treasurer) is appointed by the Mayor.
- The appointment of deputies and employees becomes governed by City ordinance.
- When there is a vacancy in a City office, the position is filled by the city controller until the caucus appoints a replacement.
- The West Lafayette Community School Corporation loses its Playground Found (~$68,000) yearly.
- The City receives two more seats on the Tippecanoe Area Planning Commission.
- One is an elected official, the other is a citizen.
In going through all of this data, it appears we are moving incredibly quickly towards radically changing the governance model of our City. We recently redistricted (December 2012, original map). We recently passed a large Annexation with a public university. Now we want to change classification of our City. All within the span of less than 2 years. When I have asked the City Council and Mayor about the rush towards reclassification, I hear that we want to put up the new districts prior to the next election. My initial concern with this redistricting is that it may have to be heavily skewed towards creating another student district.
Precincts, Districts, and the Student Voting Bloc
I have asked this and similar questions, voicing my concerns, when the City was first discussing Annexation of Purdue and the surrounding neighborhoods to the South and West. Journal and Courier article (portion online, behind paywall): West Lafayette annexation concern: the student voting bloc WLFI (thanks for being online and accessible): Currently, District 1 (represented by Councilor Eddie VanBogaert), was won by 41 votes (page 30). 
19 votes went towards Republican Josh Teasdale. There were 1990 registered votes. 62 turned out. Two did not vote for either VanBogaert or Teasdale. 
A total of 5,941 people live in District 1 according to the 2012 redistricting map, which is close to the 2011 map, except for the addition of what appears to be blocks 68, 204, and 6. Of those, 1990 are registered to vote. Of those 1990, only 62 voted on Election Day. That’s 3.1% of the population that was registered to vote in District 1. The 62 is 1.04% of the population that lives in District 1. Due to its location, I would assume the majority are college students above the age of 17. Indiana Code IC 3-5-5-7 does define temporary residency, so I am not sure how this will play out with the Purdue population that now resides in West Lafayette City Limits:
Temporary residency Sec. 7. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, a person does not gain residency in a precinct into which the person moves for: (1) temporary employment; (2) educational purposes; (3) preparing to purchase or occupy a residence; or (4) other purposes; without the intent of making a permanent home in the precinct.
How many students will claim they are making their Purdue residency their permanent home? Councilor Peter Bunder (District 2) is happy about the proposition of a new student district:
Professionally, I would hope the new “District Six” would be a (mostly) student district. My job includes pushing Purdue students beyond self-interest and corporate utility into an appreciation of community and a participation in the political process. Governing is difficult, but government is good. The West Lafayette political community should model young adult inclusion in government.
I agree with Council Bunder. Inspiring students beyond self-interest and corporate utility is a good thing. Sadly, however, students are idiots (in the classic Athenian sense, selfish) as represented by their involvement in the City proper, their turnout for District 1, and the countless other ways they egocentrically view the Commons that is our great City.
I worry, with the Annexation and subsequent redistricting, along with the Second Class City demand for another City Council district, we may create another abysmally low turnout Councilor position, possibly providing two seats at the table for a mere 120 votes.
An unaccountable elected leader is not what this City needs, especially with the upcoming State Street Master Plan, updates to the Purdue Master Plan, and countless developments (Fuse, 225 Northwestern, #plywoodcity) that continue to go before the Council for final approval.
What I Have and Continue Ask
I have asked for the City Council members and mayor, at their meetings, in phone calls and e-mails, to answer a few questions regarding the transition.
- Why do you want to reclassify the City of West Lafayette now?
- What new monies would we be eligible for if we reclassify ourselves?
- In some cases, I have been told that the awarding amount changes with classification. A follow up to this has been:
- How have we fared with the Third Class City amounts? Have we required more? Do we require more now?
- What does the Second Class City redistricting map look like?
- In various instances, other cities that have moved on this reclassification, have their district maps prior to final approval of the transition. The most recent case that I could find is from Fishers, Indiana.
- What is the filing date for the new district maps?
- Is there an Indiana Code that mandates this time?
- Can we have the redistricting proposal prior to the Second Class City transition vote?
- How many students would be eligible to vote in local elections per Indiana Code 3-5-5-7?
- Is there a reason why Ordinance 17-14 was not asked as a public referendum question?
- I cannot find Indiana Code that forbids certain questions being asked as a referendum. I have found specific mentions as to when a referendum must be used. I will continue to investigate.
A lot of questions still need to be answered and new ones form as information arises. I am cautious about Ordinance 17-14. We can’t go backwards. The Mayor presiding over the Council, Clerk-Treasurer split, and the possibility of another 60-vote district are concerning to me. The latter being frightening in a representative democracy.
Be Engaged! Democracy Only Works with You.
Republics need you even more. Please contact our City Council. Call the Mayor (765-775-5103). Talk to your neighbors. Let the City know how you feel about this question. It will forever impact West Lafayette, Indiana and it would behoove us to make sure future generations know that we answered this question with care, compassion, and thought. Some of the local media’s coverage of the Second Class City question:
- WBAA:
- Journal and Courier:
- Purdue Exponent:
- WLFI
