Students, Why Not Submit a Map to Redraw Fresno City Council Districts?

Attention, politics professors and government teachers.

This is the link to the tool for redrawing Fresno’s city council districts. Wouldn’t that make a great class assignment?

Not only would students get a lesson in democracy, but their maps can be entered into the hopper for adoption right along with those of the political consultants and other residents.

Without question, the map that is ultimately approved will shape Fresno’s future and possibly individual political futures, as well.

Next Redistricting Hearing Is Thursday

The city’s next public hearing on redistricting is scheduled for Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. You can register in advance to watch via Zoom at this link.

If you decide to attend in person, take note that masks are required because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can check out the maps already submitted at this link.

Why Redraw the Boundaries?

Every 10 years, the city council — like most governmental jurisdictions — changes its political boundaries based on the Census.

Fresno’s population is 544,574 (a 10% jump from 2010) based on 2020 Census information. Balancing the seven council districts, each district needs 77,796 residents.

Federal and state laws allow some leeway —a 10% difference from the citywide district average. While none of Fresno’s council districts misses that mark, the city’s overall deviation is 11.32%. Thus, district lines will be redrawn. During 2011 redistricting, 12 Fresno neighborhoods switched districts.

Several laws govern how lines are drawn for governmental jurisdictions. Protecting the rights of communities — especially racially minority communities — is one of the requirements.

Redistricting Hearing Schedule

Another public review hearing will take place on Thursday, Dec. 2 (the deadline to submit maps for that meeting is Friday, Nov. 19).

A final vote by the city council is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 9. The absolute deadline to redraw the boundaries is Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Members of the public can submit public comments before, during, or after meetings via email at RedistrictFresno@fresno.gov.

(GV Wire File/City of Fresno)

(GV Wire’s David Taub contributed to this story.)