The City of Phoenix is encouraging residents to weigh in with input as the city is required by law to review and rework city council district boundaries based on the latest Census data.
Every ten years, according to the city, boundaries must be assessed and adjusted accordingly to “equalize the population.” The Phoenix City Council is made up of a mayor and eight council members across a total of eight districts.
The 2020 Census data shows that the population of Phoenix has grown from 2010’s census number of 1,445,632 residents to 1,608,139 residents. Based on this data, according to the city, the new ideal equal population target for each Council District is 201,017 residents.
To meet this ideal population, the city notes, Council Districts 1, 3, 4, and 6 need to increase in population, while Council Districts 2, 5, 7, and 8 need to decrease in population.
As of now, the following is how many residents are grouped in each of the eight Council Districts:
- District 1: 198,369 (must increase by 2,648 residents to meet target population)
- District 2: 208,244 (must decrease by 7,227 residents to meet target population)
- District 3: 189,008 (must increase by 12,009 residents to meet target population)
- District 4: 190,429 (must increase by 10,588 residents to meet target population)
- District 5: 208,584 (must decrease by 7,567 residents to meet target population)
- District 6: 190,397 (must increase by 10,620 residents to meet target population)
- District 7: 218,062 (must decrease by 17,045 residents to meet target population)
- District 8: 205,046 (must decrease by 4,029 residents to meet target population)
“To achieve the ideal equal population target, the City will use the redistricting process to redraw the Council District boundaries in accordance with the redistricting requirements and guidelines,” the city explains.
The city is encouraging residents to weigh in on the Council boundary adjustments by:
- Attending an informational community meeting;
- Following the first round of community meetings, providing boundary suggestions through the online mapping tool (after June 29); and
- Submitting comments at PhoenixRedistricting.com, via email ([email protected]) or by calling 602-261-8683.
The public can submit comments and proposed plans until August 1, according to the city.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network.
Photo “Phoenix” by Melikamp. CC BY-SA 3.0.
