Peters to Host Redistricting Workshop Tuesday

Sacramento County Supervisor Susan Peters will be hosting two open house community workshops with the first set for Tuesday in Carmichael.

The 2010 Census figures have been released showing a 16 percent increase in population for the county which will require district boundary adjustments for all five members of the board of supervisors. To seek input from residents about how the new district lines should be drawn, Peters will be hosting two open house community workshops during May in Carmichael and Arden Arcade.

The first will be on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the , 5325 Engle Road in Carmichael.

Census data shows Sacramento County’s population to be 1,418,788 which is 195,289 more residents than 10 years ago. The Department of Voter Registration and Elections has prepared several plans for consideration to balance out the population in order to make each district as equal as possible while taking into account communities of interest.

To get the new districts ready for the upcoming 2012 election, the proposals are available for viewing at a number of community workshops currently being held throughout the county. Residents can provide input on draft redistricting plans at those forums as well as learn more about the redistricting process.

The second will be on May 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Swanston Park, 2350
Northrop Avenue in Arden-Arcade. Information about other dates and locations are available online at elections.saccounty.net or call 875-5827.

“There has been a great deal of residential growth in the outer regions of the county while some older more established communities have experienced population decline," Peters said in a released statement. "All this translates in big population swings affecting each district."

"For instance almost 40,000 people must be added to District 3 which poses a challenge when considering factors like communities of interest and natural borders,” she said.

Residents can view the different proposals online at elections.saccounty.net as well email ideas and input to Voters-Redistrict2011@saccounty.net.