City of Chico Redistricting Process
Why does redistricting matter?
Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a Council Member. The City of Chico will seek input in selecting the next district map for the City Council, and during this process, residents will have an opportunity to share with Council and City staff how they think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent the community.
What criteria will be used when redrawing district lines?
To the extent practicable, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria:
- Geographically contiguous districts (each city council district should share a common border with the next); and
- The geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division; and
- Geographic integrity of a city shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division; and
- Easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.); and
- Lines shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness. In addition, boundaries shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party.
Didn’t the City recently draw lines for district elections?
Yes. In 2020, the City of Chico went to a district-based election model in line with the California Voting Rights Act, with four Council Members elected within Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7 in that election. Districts 2, 4, and 6 will select their representatives in the 2022 election. The lines for all seven districts were drawn using Census data from 2010, including areas of the City that were previously unincorporated.
Under the FAIR MAPS Act, completion and posting of the 2020 U.S. Census data triggered this new redistricting process. Once this redistricting process is complete in 2022, the next redistricting process in the City of Chico will occur following the 2030 U.S. Census.
What do the existing council districts look like?
This current City Council election districts look like this (click for full page view):
How will the City notify the public about redistricting?
The City will make a concerted effort to obtain public feedback for the redistricting process by publishing information online and with local media partners, and through outreach with community groups of various kinds. Public hearings and workshops will be provided in applicable languages if residents submit a request in advance, and the City will notify the public about redistricting meetings and post maps online before adoption. Residents are encouraged to check back to this page for regular updates about the redistricting process.
How can I get involved?
Attend one of the public meetings listed at the top of this page. The public can also submit public comments, including suggested draft maps. The public may submit a suggested draft map created by using either one, or both, of the mapping tools below offered by the City:
-
Paper Map Tool Kit – (click for information)
- Paper Map Tool Excel Sheet Component – (click for information)
- Online Map Tool Link:
https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::f696568a-f584-48da-a071-c8d53cc592d5
- Dave’s Redistricting Tutorial – (click for information)
Public comments, draft maps, and questions regarding the redistricting process may be emailed to RedistrictingEmails@chicoca.gov. The deadline to submit suggested draft maps for consideration is Monday, February 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Additional Resources