Submitted by: Nate Groenendyk
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
title
Schedule Public Hearing Regarding the Redistricting Map
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, October 17, 2022 to provide the public an opportunity to give feedback on the proposed Redistricting Map.
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Summary Background:
Every ten years, after the Census, the City must use the new census data to review its ward boundaries, and if needed, redraw the boundaries between wards in order to reflect how the local populations have changed. The authority for the modification of ward boundaries is found in the City Charter, § C4-17.
The redistricting process is done with the primary goal of creating wards which have substantially equal populations. The widely accepted standard for population variation between the largest ward and the smallest ward is that there should not be a greater than 10% difference. Additional criteria for consideration throughout the redistricting process is listed below.
• Wards must be comprised of contiguous territory and as geographically compact as possible.
• Wards shall, as much as possible, be bounded by natural boundaries, street lines, and/or City boundary lines.
• Wards must be drawn to provide fair and effective representation for all residents of the City, including racial, ethnic, and language minorities. Additionally, to the extent possible, wards should preserve identifiable communities of interest. The redrawing of the City’s ward boundaries should be designed to ensure that our elected body is representative of the City’s diverse population.
• Wards most likely to be impacted by future development may be smaller by design in order to minimize impact of population growth on future redistricting.
The Redistricting Commission began its work in June and has met a total of six times to analyze maps and data. Additionally, the Commission has reached out to residents at community events to get their input. Through these efforts, the Redistricting Commission has provided the City Council with their recommendations for ward boundary changes within the City. The City Council will take these recommendations, as well as the input from residents at a public hearing, under advisement as they make the final determination for the ward boundaries in the City of Hyattsville.
Next Steps:
Timeline for Adoption
• September 19: Schedule Public Hearing for October 17, 2022
• October 17: Public Hearing
• Fall/Winter 2022: Council Adoption of New Ward Boundaries
• TBD: Effective Date of the Boundary Changes
Fiscal Impact:
TBD - There will be costs for public communications on proposed ward boundaries and changes when implemented.
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend support.
Community Engagement:
The public hearing is a part of the community engagement strategy for the redistricting process.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 1 - Ensure Transparent and Accessible Governance
Legal Review Required?
Complete