More than 40 community organizations, groups and individuals have been selected to support community outreach efforts for the City’s Independent Redistricting Commission.
The selected community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, PBIDs and social media influencers will be receiving stipends to reach, inform and engage every resident in the city of Sacramento about what redistricting is, why it’s important and how to be involved, explained the City’s Community Engagement Manager Lynette Hall.
“A key aim is to reach traditionally underserved communities by partnering with grassroots organizations who have established rapport and trust,” Hall said. “We’re doing everything possible to ensure that folks know about the redistricting process and how they can be involved to help shape the future of the city. These individuals and organizations will help lift up our community’s voice so that when it comes time to redraw, every resident has a say in what happens.”
Participants in the redistricting community outreach program were chosen by a competitive application process and panel. The panel considered criteria including proposed reach, cultural representation and geographic coverage to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion. A full list of participants can be found on the City’s website.
Every 10 years, following the U.S. Census, the City of Sacramento must re-establish the boundaries for City Council districts. The resulting Council district boundaries must be balanced in population in accordance with local, state and federal rules governing the redistricting process.
The Sacramento Independent Redistricting Commission (SIRC), which includes 13 commission members, was formed in 2020 to set Council district boundaries.
Here are five ways for the community to participate in the redistricting process:
- Attend community meetings. Each City Council district is hosting a virtual meeting for the public to attend and provide feedback on the redistricting process. Meetings will be held virtually from 5:30 – 7 p.m. starting May 12 through Sept. 8. Find your district’s meeting here.
- Call in to public meetings to make live comments by phone. All meetings of the SIRC will have a call-in option for the public to make comments to the commissioners. The phone number and process for calling in will be posted on each meeting agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 11.
- Submit eComments on an SIRC posted agenda on the City website.
- Submit comments anytime on the City’s redistricting website. Comments will be available for the public and the commissioners to review.
- Submit a redistricting map by using the new interactive mapping application on the City’s website. This tool allows groups and individual members of the public to draw maps and submit those maps to the commission. Step-by-step video tutorials are available here.
Although funds for stipends have been allocated for the SIRC outreach program, Community Toolkits are available online for anyone to help promote the redistricting efforts.
Individuals can also request to pick up flyers and door hangers from City staff to help spread the word by contacting staff via email at: redistricting@cityofsacramento.org, or by phone at (916) 808-7200.
Participate in the redistricting process and learn more at redistricting.cityofsacramento.org.