Jan. 18, 2012

The following also is provided in Spanish.  Lo siguiente también es provisto en español.

Phoenix residents are encouraged to get involved in establishing new City Council districts as the city begins its effort to redraw lines to reflect the 2010 Census results.  The city’s population has grown during the last 10 years and based on the new census data, the council districts will grow from 165,000 to approximately 180,000 residents.

Phoenix is required by the federal and state constitutions, as well as the city code, to redraw district lines every 10 years following each U.S. census.  The city’s last redistricting process was completed in 2001, following the 2000 census.  

A series of  public meetings has been scheduled throughout the city to educate the community about the process, gather input to identify communities of interest, and receive feedback regarding changes to the boundaries.  The kick-off to the series of meetings will be a technical workshop to provide an overview of the 2010 Census data and how it applies to the redistricting process, and to explain how the new online mapping tool works.  The meetings are expected to last one hour and will include a formal presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.  

The scheduled meetings will be held:

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave. (Technical Workshop)
• 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sunnyslope Community Center, 802 E. Vogel Ave.
• 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, South Mountain Community Center, 212 E. Alta Vista Road
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, Maryvale Community Center, 4420 N. 51st Ave.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, (Spanish-language only) - Maryvale Community Center Auditorium, 4420 N. 51st Ave.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, Cesar Chavez Branch Library, 3635 W. Baseline Road
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Deer Valley Community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane
• 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St.
• 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Devonshire Senior Center, 2802 E. Devonshire Ave.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave.,
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, Paradise Valley Community Center, 17402 N. 40th St.
• 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, Burton Barr Central Library Auditorium, 1221 N. Central Ave.

Simultaneous Spanish translation will be provided at the meetings and other alternative format/reasonable accommodations will be provided.  All questions and comments made during the meetings will be transcribed by a court reporter and become part of the public record.  Residents who are not able to attend a public meeting may view the presentation online at phoenix.gov/redistricting.  In addition, residents may send feedback or questions by calling the Redistricting Hotline at 602-256-4357 or via email at redistricting@phoenix.gov.

The City Manager’s Office and City Clerk Department are overseeing the redistricting process and working closely with Research Advisory Services (RAS).  RAS has been retained to develop the potential alternatives and the final proposed new districts.  

For the first time, residents can use a web-based mapping tool to draw proposed boundary lines, see statistical data on the proposed boundaries, and submit plans for review and analysis by the consultant.  An instructional video on how the tool works will be available for viewing at phoenix.gov/redistricting.  A redistricting kit will be available to download for residents who prefer to hand draw a proposed map.  

For those without Internet access, paper redistricting kits can be requested by calling 602-256-4357.  Residents can begin submitting proposals on Feb. 1.

Once the first series of public meetings is completed, RAS will evaulate each proposed map and seek council approval to select the maps that best meet the federal, state and city charter requirements.  The selected maps will then be shared with the public during a second series of meetings in April to gather community input.  

Based on the input, RAS will make its final recommended plan to the City Council for approval by June.  Once a final district map is adopted by the council, it will then be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for Voting Rights Acts preclearance, and if approved, would become effective in January 2013.

For more information or questions about the redistricting process, visit phoenix.gov/redistricting, call the Redistricting Hotline at 602-256-4357 or email redistricting@phoenix.gov.
 

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