City councillors have reluctantly agreed to review Hamilton's ward boundaries — a move several years overdue — out of fear that the public will force it on them.

Councillors voted Monday to hire a consultant to bring back terms of reference and other details for a review of Hamilton's wards lines. The move came after a narrowly defeated vote to scrap the idea altogether.

Not many liked the idea of a review very much. When Hamilton amalgamated in 2001, the transition board ordered that council review the city’s ward boundaries within 10 years. But after several false starts, the general issues committee voted Monday to do it or risk citizens forcing its hand.

Coun. Terry Whitehead said he doesn’t want a boundary review, but council voted in 2012 to review it in early 2015, and now it has to do it.

It's inevitable. We’re avoiding the inevitable. - Coun. Sam Merulla

“I feel obligated to support the review,” the Ward 8 councillor said. “We can’t put something to bed one term of council and then turn it down the next term.”

Others said that if the city doesn't review its ward boundaries now, the public will force it on them. The public can spark an Ontario Municipal Board ruling to force a review if it presents a petition with at least 500 electors. A community group presented a petition in 2012, but of the 700 names on it, only 369 were on the voting list. But it sparked council to vote in June 2012 to examine ward boundaries in early 2015.

The issue also touches on the highly sensitive topic of the voting balance on council between the old city and the former suburbs. That equal voting power was a key part of the deal to amalgamate.

Coun. Sam Merulla said he doesn't get a "warm and fuzzy feeling" when council discusses the subject, but the review is "only a matter of time. It's inevitable. We’re avoiding the inevitable."

"We either take this and run with it and mould it, or we simply wait and have to chase somebody else who will be taking the lead."

Coun. Lloyd Ferguson of Ancaster tried to kill the notion. He moved to take no further action on the issue. That failed 6-9, with suburban councillors voting to scrap a boundary review.

Instead, councillors simply received a report with a plan to hire a consultant by June to examine the process. By fall, the consultant will hold public meetings, with an aim to present a final report by June 2016. If changes are necessary, council would adopt a bylaw by July/August 2016.

The city has a budget of $270,000 for the review.

Figures from the 2011 census show that Ward 7 on the Mountain, for example, has a population of 62,179 people, while Ward 14 in Flamborough has 17,634.

Council will ratify the vote on April 8.

Who voted in favour of scrapping the review:

Doug Conley (Ward 9), Maria Pearson (10), Lloyd Ferguson (12), Arlene VanderBeek (13), Robert Pasuta (14), Judi Partridge (15)

Who was opposed:

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Jason Farr (2), Terry Whitehead (8), Scott Duvall (7), Tom Jackson (6), Chad Collins (5), Sam Merulla (4), Matthew Green (3), Aidan Johnson (1)

ABSENT: Brenda Johnson (11)