PALMDALE – The city of Palmdale is in the final stages of its city council redistricting process which, upon completion, will determine the boundaries of City Council voting districts for the next 10 years. Using public input on communities of interest and submitted maps from the public, the City Council will adopt a new map in accordance with the FAIRMAPS Act, which states districts must be:
- Geographically contiguous (each district should share a common border with the next),
- Respectful of the geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities in a manner that minimizes its division,
- Drawn with easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.), and,
- Drawn to encourage geographic compactness with boundaries not drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party.
Upcoming Public Meetings
Residents are encouraged to share their preferences, draw their own maps and provide feedback on draft maps for the City Council to consider when making a final decision. There are four upcoming public meetings:
- Dec. 14, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. – The Advisory Redistricting Commission will review draft maps and public input that was received by 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2021.
- Jan. 11, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. – The Advisory Redistricting Commission will review draft maps and public input that was received by 5 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2022, which is the final deadline to submit maps and feedback on draft maps for consideration. During this meeting, the commission will determine its map recommendations for the City Council’s final adoption.
- Jan. 12, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. – City Council will hold its third public hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting. The City’s demographer will present the draft maps along with direction given by the Advisory Redistricting Commission. Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on draft maps and share their input on preferred district boundaries.
- Feb. 2, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. – City Council will hold its fourth and final public hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting. The City’s demographer will present the final draft maps being considered and the City Council will select a map for adoption.
How to Draw A Map
Paper and online mapping tools and tutorials are available on the Draw A Map page of the City’s redistricting website. Community members can submit as many maps as they would like throughout the redistricting process. Draft maps can be submitted to Redistrict2021@CityOfPalmdale.org.
Public meeting materials, draft maps, virtual meeting links, past meeting recordings and additional redistricting resources can also be accessed through the City of Palmdale’s redistricting website at www.DrawPalmdale.org.
Based on a statutory deadline, a new City of Palmdale district map must be adopted no later than April 17, 2021. The new map and election sequencing would then go into effect for the city’s next election cycle.
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
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Voter says
When is Lancaster going to have normal elections in November like the rest of the country? How do they keep getting away with this charade?
Lancaster Districts NOW says
How can we get districts in Lancaster?
Ignored No More says
Voting districts in Lancaster would allow for fair representation of all the city. The eastside is neglected and not represented. All the council lives on the westside and all of them were either chosen by Parris or endorsed by him. That is a terrible imbalance. The hard working people in East Lancaster deserve to be fairly represented. If I was a Latinx I would sue the pants off Lancaster just like what happened to Palmdale. Just because I am not represented in East Lancaster isn’t enough to start a lawsuit according to the law.
If there is a Latinx person who lives on the east side, please consider filing a lawsuit to help us get districts and fair representation.
Voter says
What about districts in Lancaster?
East Lancaster says
When do we get to draw districts for Lancaster? East Lancaster has no representation.