DeKalb’s City Council is one step closer to ward redistricting.

At the meeting Monday, city manager Mark Biernacki showed four possible redistricting options to the council, with the wards being split alternately between population and voter turnout. The fourth option, to change the number of wards and council persons at large, was also presented.

Opinion over which redistricting option should be implemented was not unanimous among the council. Monica O’Leary, 7th Ward Alderwoman, said she preferred the first option, while 5th Ward Alderman Ron Naylor and 1st Ward Alderman David Jacobson said they preferred the third option. Mayor Kris Povlsen and the other aldermen and women present did not comment on which option they preferred.

“I think if we went with option three, I would want to hear how some of the residents feel, going from resident to student-dominated,” O’Leary said.

Naylor also called for feedback from citizens so the council could hear public opinion on option four. Implementing option four would require changing the number of wards and aldermen and women in the city.

“I would like to hear from the public, particularly for option four,” Naylor said. “Personally, I don’t believe it’s any better than what we have now.”

Povlsen and the council members asked that the matter be brought to a public hearing so they could hear feedback from the residents on the redistricting options.

Biernacki said an issue with the second option may make it ineligible, because in order to equalize voter turnout in the districts, the wards had to “pinwheel” around NIU. Biernacki said that according to DeKalb’s redistricting rules, the wards must be as “compact and contiguous” as possible. With the second option, Biernacki said he did not know if the wards were as compact and contiguous as they could be.

“The issue with the second option is that I’m not sure if anyone would know what ward they’re in,” said 2nd Ward Alderman Tom Teresinski.

Biernacki said the council will need to act on the issue before October 2012.