Do You Want to Draw Berkeley's New City Council Districts?

The 2010 census counted around 10,000 more people living in Berkeley than in 2000. That’s enough new people to warrant redrawing the city’s electoral boundaries, and the city is inviting the public to put forward their best ideas.

This week, the city released everything the DIY redistricter needs to carve Berkeley into eight equally populated council districts, including maps showing populations by census tract, guidelines and laws governing redistricting and the legal definitions of the current boundaries.

One interesting rule in the city charter to note: “...no change in the boundary or location of any district by redistricting may result in the residences of two sitting Council members being located in the same district.”

The public and council members have until March 15 to submit a proposal to the city clerk. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the new districts in September. 

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