Title
Redistricting Process Report and Recommended Plan
Description
This report transmits to the City Council the recommended redistricting plan (Attachment A) for City Council districts for City Council consideration and action.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
Redistricting Requirements
City Council district boundaries must be redrawn every 10 years to reflect population changes based on the most recent federal census. The 2020 federal census data revealed that the City grew from 1,445,632 to 1,608,139 residents since the 2010 census. Although the population increased in each council district over the past decade, the growth was not equal in each district. The population in the districts must be equal so that each person’s vote has equal weight.
To balance the districts, the City’s goal during this redistricting process was to achieve population in each district within 1 percent of the average (within 1 percent of 201,017 persons in each district), and to have an overall population deviation (between the district with highest population and district with the lowest population) under 5 percent. Therefore, based on the 2020 census data the goal for this redistricting process was for each council district to have a population of 201,017 and to bring the current overall population deviation of the current districts down from 14.45 percent to under 5 percent.
In redrawing district boundaries, the federal Voting Rights Act requires protection of minority voting rights. Other City guidelines applicable to redistricting include recognition of public preferences regarding communities of interest; geographic contiguity and compactness; preservation of the core of current districts; keeping incumbent council members within the district; and preservation of political subdivisions. To align the City Council districts with other political subdivisions to the extent possible, the Maricopa County voting precincts are used as building blocks for City Council districts. These county precincts are also used to draw Legislative and other electoral districts.
Redistricting Process
In February 2023, the City Council adopted a schedule and plan for redistricting that is like the redistricting processes used after the census in 1990, 2000, and 2010. To ensure a professional and impartial process, a consultant experienced in redistricting was used to provide analysis and draw boundaries based on the census data, applicable law and guidelines, and community input. After a procurement process was conducted to select a redistricting consultant, on May 3, 2023, the City Council authorized a contract with ArcBridge Consulting and Training from the Washington, D.C. area to provide redistricting services.
Another key component of the City’s redistricting process is community input. Extensive materials were prepared and made available to educate the community about the process, requirements, and how to provide input. A dedicated redistricting website, phoenixredistricting.com, was established for this process and all redistricting information was posted to the website, including the census data, process information, maps, FAQs, comments from the community, community meeting schedules, videos and presentations.
Community Meetings
Two rounds of community meetings were held to educate residents about the redistricting process and obtain community input. During May and June, nine community meetings were held throughout the City to educate the residents about redistricting and obtain public input for the consultants to use in developing redistricting plans. Residents were encouraged to provide input on their communities of interest that should be considered in drawing district boundaries.
During the first round, residents were also informed about the redistricting website and encouraged to use the online mapping tool to draw and submit their own redistricting maps for analysis and consideration. A total of 36 redistricting plan maps were submitted by members of the community.
In August, the consultant reviewed the community input and analyzed all 36 maps submitted by the public for compliance with redistricting requirements and guidelines.
In early September, seven community meetings were held to present two alternative plans to the public, the same number as presented to the community in the 2010 redistricting process. Residents were asked to provide comments on what they liked about each plan, as well as any concerns with each plan, rather than just express a preference between the two alternatives.
Following the second round of community meetings, the consultant reviewed the public comments to develop a final recommended plan. Attached is a copy of the Consultant’s report (Attachment B) that includes the recommended redistricting plan and analysis.
Public Outreach and Comment
Significant outreach efforts were conducted during the City Council Redistricting process including a robust social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor and traditional (print and broadcast, English and Spanish) media outreach. Information was made available on Phoenix.gov and the PHX Newsroom. All materials were made available in both English and Spanish including FAQs, meeting schedules, presentations, and more. Outreach efforts focused on promoting community input, attendance at the community meetings, and encouraging residents to learn about the process. Each phase of community engagement offered one hybrid (in-person and virtual) meeting and one in-person meeting for each City Council district. All community meetings had a Spanish interpreter available. Additionally, all community meetings were recorded and posted online to make the process as transparent and accessible as possible for all residents. A video tutorial was created in both English and Spanish to instruct users on how to use the mapping tool to draw and submit a redistricting map.
Residents could submit comments at the public meetings, on the website, by email or by phone. Most comments were submitted using the redistricting website. A summary of the public comments received during the redistricting process is included in the Consultant's report (Attachment B). While not all comments expressed support for a particular plan, of those that did, the majority expressed support for Alternative A.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the recommended redistricting plan, to become effective in January 2024, in time for the nomination and election processes for the next Mayor and Council Election in November 2024.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the City Clerk Department.