Residents Invited To Learn About Redistricting Process and Share Ideas

The first of seven redistricting workshops is scheduled for later this month.

The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. June 26 at the H&H Jivalagian Youth Center, 2242 E. Foothill Blvd.

“The redistricting process takes place every 10 years in Pasadena. As part of this current cycle, there are new rules in place set forth by the state of California, and we want to ensure the public is properly informed and engaged,” said Vince Farhat, chair of the city’s Redistricting Task Force. 

“A primary emphasis of the task force is on public input, transparency and education. District elections affect how we elect our representatives on the City Council, so the process is foundational to representative democracy. It is an important effort and a unique civic engagement experience,” Farhat said.

Each meeting will last two hours. The content shared will include a history of redistricting in Pasadena, a review of the current laws that govern the process, an overview of the timeline to complete redistricting, an explanation of communities of interest, and a demonstration of mapping tools the public can utilize to define communities of interest and eventually submit redistricting plans for the task force to consider.

The diverse task force selected by the City Council is composed of 12 members. They are: Farhat (chair), Rita Moreno (vice chair), Adriana Lim, Patrice Marshall McKenzie, former NAACP President Delano Yarbrough, David Coher, former City Councilmember Margaret McAustin, former Mayor Terry Tornek, Donald C. Nanney Jordan Vannini, former PCC Board of Trustees member Geoffrey L. Baum, and Francis Chenwere.

The process  ensures the proper balance of populations between all districts. With completion of the 2020 Census, the council formed the task force to review changes in populations and demographics in the city, and recommend a redistricting plan.

One meeting will be held in each of the city’s seven City Council districts to ensure the process comes to every corner of the community, with residents highly encouraged to participate.

The first meeting will take place in District 2.

• At 6 p.m. June 30, a meeting will be held in District 1 in the  Rose Bowl Locker Room, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive.
• The District 3 meeting will take place at 6 p.m. July at the Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
• At 6 p.m. July 15 the meeting in District 4 will be held at the PCC Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd.
• The next community workshop will be held in District 7 at 10 a.m. July 17 on the Caltech campus in a room to be determined.
• At 6 p.m. July 20, the redistricting workshop comes to District 6 in the Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.
• The final meeting will be held in District 5 at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 in the Villa Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St.

Additionally, each workshop will be available via Zoom, so residents will have a choice to attend in-person or participate online. Each workshop is open to all residents, providing options to choose a date and location that is most convenient.

Details about the schedule of upcoming workshops can be found on the City’s website at cityofpasadena.net/redistricting.