I'd prefer a hybrid system consisting of 7 aldermen representing wards and 7 elected at large.
The current system allows community associations to have greater influence than warranted, as aldermen are afraid of the power the associations have in getting their preferred candidates elected. This has lead to a superfluous amount of community consultation on specific city projects and development applications, which is a waste of time and dollars for both taxpayers and developers.
Adding several councilors at large would allow council to focus on what's best for the city as a whole rather than on competing community interests.
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