PEORIA, Ariz. (June
8, 2011) – The city will hold three more public hearings on redistricting
now that the City Council has narrowed the options to three concept maps.
The final three maps
are Options 1, 2 and 8 – and are available for viewing online at
www.peoriaaz.gov/redistricting.
The 2010 Census pegged
Peoria’s population at about 145,000, up from about 108,000 in 2000. Most of the
population growth was in the north. After crunching the numbers, experts
concluded that each district should have 25,678 people. Yet after a decade of
growth, the Mesquite District comprising most of northern Peoria has double that
amount, while the remaining districts range from almost 18,000 people to about
22,000 people.
This will mean
substantial changes in Peoria’s six City Council districts, which need to be
roughly equal in population and demographics so that residents are represented
equally at City Hall.
Members of the public
will be able to view and comment on the final three concept maps at the
following times and locations:
-
Tuesday, June 14, 3
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Lakeview Room at Rio Vista Recreation Center, 8866 W.
Thunderbird Road in Rio Vista Community Park.
-
Tuesday, June 14, 7
p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Main Conference Room at the Peoria Community Center,
8335 W. Jefferson St. in Oldtown.
-
Wednesday, June 15,
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Community Room at Sunrise Mountain Library, 21109
N. 98th Ave. off Lake Pleasant Parkway.
The City Council is
expected to choose its preferred concept map at a Special Meeting and Study
Session on Tuesday, June 21, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. That map
will be finalized and brought up for a vote at the first City Council meeting in
July. Pending approval by the federal Justice Department, that plan will set the
district boundaries for the 2012 elections.
City Council sessions
are open to the public and, as always, will be telecast on Cox channel 11 and at
www.peoriaaz.gov/PeoriaTV.
