PALMDALE – The first meeting of the Advisory Redistricting Commission for the City of Palmdale will take place on Monday, Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chamber, 38300 Sierra Highway, Suite B. It will be open to in-person attendance. Attendees will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing.
The Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC) is comprised of Palmdale residents who reflect the diversity of Palmdale and will act as an advisory body. The City Charter requires the adoption of a map establishing council district boundaries after the federal government releases the 2020 Census block population data. Applications to serve on the ARC were accepted from April 10, 2021 to May 27, 2021, and the City Council appointed 11 members of the public. The selected commissioners are Bennie Thornton, Avrum Harris, Suzann Reina, Phyliss K. Reilly, Antonio Ortega, Patrick R. Cousin, Lorraine Hanna Sadler, Rochelle Butler, Engel Thedford, Vivian Davenport, and Shameka Andre.
The ARC will follow strict guidelines outlined in Resolution No. CC 2021-031, and must draw the final map so that council districts are nearly as equal as practicable in total population. The map must also comply with the U.S. Constitution, California Constitution, Federal Voting Rights Act, Fair Maps Act, and any other requirement of federal or state law applicable to charter cities.
You can participate and share your specific thoughts, draw a map, or attend the upcoming workshop to get involved. You can also submit written testimony about the process or a specific map to redistrict2021@cityofpalmdale.org. To view the agenda and for details on how to participate virtually, visit: www.cityofpalmdale.org/Redistrict2021 .
At the hearings and workshops, the City wants you to:
- Share your story
- Define your neighborhood or community of interest
- Explain why redistricting is relevant to your community
- Get the tools you need to draw a map of one district or all five districts
- Share your opinions of the draft maps
- Talk to your neighbors and local organizations
For more information, please visit DrawPalmdale.org.
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