Richmond City
Council /
News Release
For
sharing, forwarding, and posting
17 March 2022
REDISTRICTING:
Reminder, Updates, and Ongoing Richmond
Decennial Voter District Redistricting public engagement process
Comments encouraged on draft Redistricting Demonstration Map 2C
Link:
Richmond,
Virginia – In
Richmond City Council’s continued
efforts to provide public awareness, engagement, and transparency for the Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process
over the last number of months, Council
added additional meetings and has provided even
more time for public input and participation.
The
schedule includes public transparency links to all past meetings, (which
include details, videos, attachments, minutes, etc. for those who may have
missed a meeting, are keen for additional information, or would like to review a
meeting again) and upcoming meetings for public involvement, engagement, awareness,
and input.
As part of the
process, Richmond City Council presented and adopted Draft Demonstration
Map 2C (https://richmond-redistricting-cor.hub.arcgis.com/) for public review, comments, and engagement.
Richmond
residents are invited and encouraged to provide comments and input regarding
draft Redistricting Demonstration
Map 2C, per below. (Note: This is not a final map/plan and is for continued
public comments and engagement.)
Comments
and Contact
Richmonders interested in the process are encouraged, invited, and requested to please take the
opportunity to contact the
Richmond City Council member that represents them (https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council/council-contacts) for more information and/or to share
their thoughts and ideas regarding redistricting.
Find Your Richmond Voter District
Richmond residents not sure who their individual Councilmember is, can use
the following helpful portal, if needed, to assist in identifying their
individual Richmond Voter District:
·
Richmond Real Estate Property Search
Database https://apps.richmondgov.com/applications/propertysearch/Search.aspx (note:
Once you’ve entered your address, use the Govt. tab to identify your Voter
Districts.)
Visit the Redistricting webpage portal
Want learn more about redistricting, see and engage with
demonstration maps, or missed a Council Redistricting Information and Engagement Meeting or Map Drawing Demonstration session and/or just want to see again,
please visit the Richmond
City Council Redistricting information webpage portal (https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council/redistricting).
Public input is actively solicited,
requested, encouraged, and invited
Richmond City
Council also solicits, encourages, invites, and requests interested Richmond
residents, in accordance with Virginia law, to offer, submit, suggest, and
share public comments, including (but not limited to) data, questions,
alternate plans, suggestions, etc., via the following helpful ways:
a.
Mail: Richmond City Council/Richmond Decennial Voter District
Redistricting
Richmond City Hall; 900 E.
Broad Street, Suite 305; Richmond, Virginia 23219
b.
Fax: 804.646.5468
c.
Email at: Contact Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting information portal via email, at redistricting@rva.gov.
Redistricting Schedule
The
schedule includes public transparency links to all past meetings, (which
include details, videos, attachments, minutes, etc for those who may have
missed a meeting, are keen for additional information, or would like to review a
meeting again) and upcoming meetings for public involvement, engagement, awareness,
and input.
·
Wednesday, February 9, 2022;
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public
drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
·
Thursday, February 10, 2022;
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
·
Friday, February 11, 2022; Noon-2:00
p.m.
Public drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
·
Monday, February 14, 2022; 6:00-8:00
p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
·
Wednesday, February 23, 2022;
3:30-5:00 p.m. (additional meeting added 2.17.2022)
Richmond
City Council Special Meeting - Redistricting
https://richmondva.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=932294&GUID=4217F585-191C-4788-B5D1-C178C07F3D02&Options=info|&Search=
At the conclusion of the
Redistricting Special meeting held on 2.23.2022, a map referred to as 2A was
discussed and requested by Councilmembers. After the meeting, it was determined
the proposed map did not meet the deviance percentage to balance the voter
district. As a result adjustments were made to the proposed map to balance it,
however it was slightly different than that discussed at the public
meeting. President
Newbille requested that Map 2A be placed on the
agenda for discussion and decision in a public
meeting by all members of Council.
·
Monday, February 28, 2022; 6:00-8:00
p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Council
redistricting information and engagement
·
Tuesday, March 1, 2022;
6:00-8:00 p.m. (not
a meeting/moved to 3.8.2022 on 3.7.2022)
30 Day Public Comment Period on
draft Redistricting plan/plans begins
·
Monday, March 7, 2022; 5:00-6:30
p.m. (additional meeting added 3.2.2022/Updated
3.4.2022)
Richmond City Council Special Meeting
Introduction
of a draft redistricting plan/s for public comment/Update
redistricting schedule. The meeting was
held to introduce two resolutions related to redistricting under expedited
consideration. The meeting also
included a review of proposed Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Demonstration Map 2C (https://richmond-redistricting-cor.hub.arcgis.com/).
Draft
Demonstration Map 2C was presented and selected for public comment.
(Note: This is not
a final map/plan and is for continued public comments and engagement - Council Introduction
of final redistricting plan is anticipated to occur on Monday, April 25, 2022;
6:00-8:00 p.m.)
· Tuesday,
March 8, 2022 (not a meeting)
30 Day (actually 49 day) Public Comment Period on draft
Redistricting Plan begins (Note: This is not a
final map/plan and is for continued public comments and engagement.)
·
Monday, April 11, 2022; 6:00-8:00
p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Council
Redistricting information and engagement (public comment/engagement continues).
·
Monday, April 25, 2022; 6:00-8:00
p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Final
day for public comment on draft plan
(49 days of public comment [Note: 19 additional
days/more than 30]).
Introduction
of final redistricting plan.
·
Monday, May 23, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m. (updated
3.7.2022)
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Final public
hearing and adoption of final redistricting plan. Council (City)
Clerk publishes notice of final redistricting plan.
·
Wednesday, June 22, 2022 (not a meeting)
Redistricting
plan/New Voter District map takes effect
(NOTE:
Prior date for plan taking effect was 5.26.2022 and was extended further on
3.7.2022 to provide even more public input.)
Working schedule subject to additions
and updates.
Public Engagement, Information, and Participation
Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to participate
and be involved in the 2021/2022 Richmond
Decennial Voter District Redistricting process and to share their comments, thoughts, and/or ideas regarding proposed plan or plans to be considered. The Richmond
Voter Districts are to be redistricted in 2022.
About
Redistricting
Every 10 years (Decennially), following
the release of the decennial census by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, voter
districts across the nation are updated (reapportioned and redistricted) to
reflect population shifts and changes during that time in order to provide equality
of representation on behalf of voting residents when participating in general,
primary, and/or special governmental elections.
How Richmond Voter Districts are used
To operate our
local government services, our city is divided into nine geographic/demographic
Richmond Voter Districts. We, as Richmond residents, use these to elect
individual local members of Richmond City Council, Richmond Public Schools
Board of Trustees, and a Mayor (who must earn the most votes in five of the
nine Richmond Voter Districts).
Richmond Redistricting
State law
requires Richmond City Council to reapportion/redistrict the local Richmond
Voter Districts boundaries every 10 years based on U.S. Census data. This is
known as the Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process. The
updated Richmond Voter Districts are to be established in 2022.
Richmond
City Council continues to be committed to ensuring the 2021/2022 Richmond
Decennial Voter District Redistricting process and plan are clearly defined,
transparent, inclusive, and are driven by and responsive to providing
opportunity for public engagement, involvement, inclusion, discussion,
awareness, feedback, deliberation, comment, and input on behalf of Richmond
residents.
- e n d –
Stay up-to-date with Richmond City Council-related news at:
Richmond City
Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond,
Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - 804.646.2778
(tel) - 804.646.5468 (fax) - www.richmondgov.com/citycouncil
