The city of Clovis is moving to district elections for the first time 2026, requiring a new map. Now the public can draw and share proposed maps with the city.

The city council reluctantly moved toward district elections — meaning the city will be divided and only voters in a given area can vote for that councilmember. For a century, all city voters chose the five councilmembers.

A threat of a voting rights lawsuit prompted the move.

At a presentation at Monday’s city council meeting, the city’s election consultant, National Demographics Corporation, targeted a March 11 date to adopt a final map.

The council still must decide whether they want four districts and an at-large mayor voted by all; or five districts, with the mayor decided among the city council as it is done now.

Vong Mouanoutoua and Lynne Ashbeck, re-elected this past November, will serve their four-year terms. The other councilmembers up for election in 2026 could be drawn out of the council.

Some city councilmembers even floated an idea of three districts, a citywide mayor, and a citywide vote for a mayor pro tem.

Members of the public urged the council to fight against district elections. But that could be costly. No other jurisdiction in California has succeeded, and legal costs are in the millions.

How to Submit a Map

Map makers will need some patience. While the actual software is user-friendly — just like using Microsoft Paint, click and fill a color — accessing the page takes a few steps.

Instructions, plus a link to create a map can be found here. Maps feature both a four-district and five-district model.

One tip is to add street names as markers when designing a map. In the lower left corner, there is a box that says “overlays.” Click that, then next to “map” is an arrow. Click on that to select “streets.”

The city will hold a mapmaking workshop at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Clovis Transit Center (785 Third St.). A third public hearing is set for  Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The deadline to submit maps is Feb.21.

Tensions Continue in Selma

Tensions continued Thursday evening at a special meeting of the Selma City Council. Despite allegations of holding illegal meetings and newly elected members not legally sworn-in, the council carried on with business.

The listing of councilmembers on the agenda and attendance roll call caused arguments among Mayor Scott Robertson, City Manager Fernando Santillan, and the recognized city attorney by the new council, Neal Costanzo.

“The current agenda as drafted is correct,” Santillan said, about two new councilmembers elected in November not appearing.

“That matter is in dispute,” Robertson retorted.

Interactions between Santillan and the new council did not improve.

DA Says Meetings May Be Illegal

In a letter this week, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office said the new members — re-elected Robertson, and newly elected councilmembers Jim Avalos and Santiago Oceguera — cannot be seated until the prior council declares the results of the election. Any actions taken may be invalid, the DA’s office said.

Robertson called a special meeting on Dec. 12 — the regularly Dec. 16 meeting was cancelled long ago — to have the new members take the oath of office. The city attorney and city manager objected, but Robertson moved forward. The new council proceeded to fire Megan Crouch as attorney and hired Costanzo.

Thursday, Robertson called another special meeting to officially declare the election results. Santillan said a quorum was not present — prior councilmembers John Trujillo, Blanca Mendoza-Navarro, and Beverly Cho didn’t attend.

Costanzo, speaking from the public comment lectern, offered legal rebuttals.

“Mr. Mayor, I don’t think it is appropriate for a member of the public to be commenting at this time,” Santillan said, referring to Costanzo.

“That gentleman is not a lawyer. I am,” Costanzo said.

Costanzo advised that what Robertson was doing was legally sound, and the meeting continued.

City Clerk Reyna Rivera started roll call, with the old names. Robertson then conducted roll call with the new names.

The council then voted to declare the election result, and listed items for future meeting agendas.

In closed session, the council discussed Santillan’s future, but no action was taken.

The next regular meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 21. Trujillo, who is is in the middle of his term, and ousted councilmember Mendoza-Navarro— who lost to Avalos in November — told Politics 101 they plan to attend.