SYCAMORE – Due to a growing population recorded by the 2020 Census, the City of Sycamore could undergo a ward change, which would impact future municipal elections.

While DeKalb County as a whole saw a dip in population size over the past decade – mostly concentrated within DeKalb city limits, which lost nearly 4,000 residents according to the data – Sycamore’s population rose by about 1,000, to more than 18,500 people.

[ DeKalb County drops 4K in overall population, per new U.S. Census data ]

Under Illinois law, that means a ward change is required to ensure ward distribution – the geographical area which defines neighborhoods and distributes representation of city council members – is as evenly spread among population as possible.

That’s according to the city documents released ahead of Monday’s Sycamore City Council meeting, set for 7 p.m. at the Sycamore City Center, 308 W. State St.

According to the Illinois Municipal League, wards must be amended after a census reveals a certain population change, under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The last time Sycamore’s ward boundaries were changed was on June 20, 2011, after the 2010 census, according to city documents.

On Monday, the Sycamore city council will review three options for ward boundary changes to vote on in the new year.

“The redistricted map is not supposed to show how Sycamore might grow, but how Sycamore has grown,” city agenda documents state.

Options could allow ward lines to be drawn so residents on both sides of a street are in the same ward, for instance.

The council is expected to give the city manager direction on preferred ward changes Monday, and take up the topic again Jan. 3.

Below are the options the Sycamore City Council will consider: