Redistricting Task Force Moving to Next Phase

The city’s Redistricting Task Force will move into the public hearing stage of the process next month when it conducts a meeting to review the adjusted state redistricting date at 9 a.m. Oct. 2.

According to that data, White residents still make up a majority of the city’s population at 36.7%. Latino residents make up 33% of the city’s population, followed by African-American residents at 8.5%.

Latino residents make up a majority of the population in City Council districts 1, 3 and 5, with 49.7%, 48.1% and 51.4%, respectively.

“With the final data in hand, the Redistricting Task Force will begin the next phase of the redistricting process, which is to consider changes to City Council District boundaries,” according to a city staff report.

“This will include direction to the technical redistricting consultants on the preparation of various redistricting plans, reviewing plans submitted by members of the public, and narrowing redistricting plans based on public testimony and consensus of the task force,” the report states.

At that meeting, the group will receive public testimony and provide direction to the technical consultants on the preparation of various redistricting plans for task force consideration.

At 9 a.m. Oct. 9. The task force will open the public hearing to review the prepared redistricting plans by the consultant, as well as those submitted by members of the public, receive public testimony, and provide direction to the consultant on adjustments to the presented plans and/or to request additional plans.

That meeting will continue at 9 a.m. Oct. 16 and Oct. 23. At 9 a.m. Oct. 30, the public hearing will conclude and the group will decide on a plan to recommend to the City Council for consideration.