Yes, for the past 10 years Mesa has been "fast-growing" - in the sprawling city at-large, 'leap-frogging' into areas and sub-divisions on the near and far outer fringes and The Inner Loops and the Outer Loops by increasing land-acreage using annexation to foment a suburban housing new construction population-boom expansion.
If you live here you probably know already that 3 new districts were added to Mesa City Council in 2012 to equalize the populations in each district. Obviously the balances of populations in each (now six) designated district boundary shrank and grew dis-proportionally and way out-of-proportion to each other!
And that was across and over time in three different election cycles: 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Southeast Mesa (as well as Northeast Mesa) got the biggest hog-share of new master-planned communities and massive new subdivisions creating more inequality without even making any minor adjustments in representation on the City Council.
WHAT ARE THESE 'COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST' SURVEYS WITH THREE QUESTIONS THE CITY OF MESA WANTS FROM RESIDENTS??
RE-DISTRICTING
RE-DISTRICTING: Redistricting Best practices
Equal population - Every Vote is Equal so districts must be nearly equal in population
Adherence to the Federal Voting Rights Act Compactness and Contiguity Councilmembers Remain in Their Districts - A requirement of the Mesa City CharterRespect Communities of Interest - Communities that have a shared interest at the local level or common social bonds are called communities of interest (COI). Some examples could be urban or rural communities, communities with a stake in a local asset such as a park or school, or race and ethnicity. COI should be recognized and kept whole to the greatest extent possible. Natural and Man-Made BoundariesExisting Districts - Mesa’s redistricting process is an adjustment to existing council boundaries, not a wholesale redrawing of the map. Council districts will remain in their relative locations to one another.
Resident Input - Mesa’s City Council Districts belong to its residents! Residents will be provided public hearings, and other means to provide input on boundary adjustments. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
RE-DISTRICTING: The Official City Information Provided
"What is Redistricting? Over time, people move and neighborhoods change.
That’s why every ten years Mesa is required to redraw its City Council districts based on the latest U.S. Census data in a process called redistricting. The redistricting process helps ensure Mesa residents receive fair and equitable representation in our local government by equalizing the number of residents in each district.
Because local residents know their communities best, the redistricting process offers numerous opportunities for public participation."
Mesa’s redistricting process follows national best practices. There won't be a new Congressional District.
You can get involved one of four ways:
> Currently we are accepting maps identifying Communities of Interest.
To learn more about Communities of Interest, please follow the DistrictR link or see the Redistricting Best Practices section below.
Community of Interest Form (Coming Soon!)Email feedback and comments to redistricting@mesaaz.gov
Mesa City Council elections are non-partisan (not affiliated with any political party).
Mesa’s redistricting process follows national best practices.
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RE-DISTRICTING: The Redistricting Commission
Every ten years, following the U.S. Census, the City of Mesa is required by law to review their voting districts to ensure continued compliance with the Constitution and the Federal Voting Rights Act. Learn more about this redistricting process and public input.
Per the Mesa City Charter, The Mesa City Council appoints a five-member commission composed of Mesa residents to draw the new council district boundaries.
The Commission has received training from national experts in redistricting and they consider both qualitative and quantitative data, including 2020 U.S. Census data, to redraw city council boundaries.
Commission members were appointed by the Mesa City Council on April 29, 2021 and will serve until a map is adopted by the Mesa City Council in late 2021.
The commission is non-partisan and is composed of volunteers who are Mesa residents. All Redistricting Commission meetings are open to the public.
Board
[[ BLOGGER NOTES: The five members may all be volunteers, but they all have day jobs that keep them employed.
For example, Elaine Miner is involved in real estate . . ]]
The terms will expire when Council adopts a new City Council District map.
Board Member
| Role | Date Appointed |
|---|
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo - District 4
| Chair
| 4/29/21
|
Elaine Miner - District 2
| Vice Chair
| 4/29/21
|
Catherine Jiang - District 1
| Commissioner
| 4/29/21
|
Greg Marek - District 5
| Commissioner
| 4/29/21
|
Jo Martin - District 6
| Commissioner
| 4/29/21 |
Staff Contact:
Jeffrey Robbins
jeffrey.robbins@mesaaz.gov
480-644-5249
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE UP-TO-DATE AGENDAS & MINUTES
Redistricting Commission |
| Search Minutes & Agendas |
| Redistricting Commission Home |
|
| Meeting Date | Document Title | Meeting Type | Document Type | |
|---|
| 6/23/2021 | June 23, 2021 Agenda | Regular | Agendas |  | | 6/23/2021 | Draft Process Timeline | Regular | Attachment | | | 6/23/2021 | Presentation | Regular | Attachment | | | 6/23/2021 | Draft Process Timeline | Regular | Attachment | | | 6/16/2021 | June 16, 2021 DST Action | AdHoc | Results | | | 6/16/2021 | June 16, 2021 Agenda | Regular | Agendas | | | 6/16/2021 | Agenda Item 3: Redistricting Principles | Regular | Attachment | | | 6/16/2021 | Alternatives for Logo | Regular | Attachment | | | 5/20/2021 | Agenda Item 3: City Charter Redistricting | AdHoc | Attachment | | | 5/20/2021 | Agenda Item 3: Legal Overview | AdHoc | Attachment | | | 5/20/2021 | Agenda Item 5: Communities of Interest | AdHoc | Attachment | | | 5/20/2021 | May 20, 2021 DST Action | AdHoc | Results | | | 5/20/2021 | May 20, 2021 Agenda | Regular | Agendas | | | 5/19/2021 | May 19, 2021 Redistricting Commission | AdHoc | Results | | | 5/19/2021 | May 19, 2021 Agenda | Regular | Agendas | | | 5/19/2021 | Agenda Item 4: Redistricting Presentation | Regular | Attachment | | | 5/19/2021 | Agenda Item 3: Open Meeting Law | Regular | Attachment | | | 5/19/2021 | Agenda Item 5: Role of Commissioner | Regular | Attachment | |
|
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RE-DISTRICTING: The City of Mesa says it needs to hear from you
Mesa strives to get input from all our residents, ensuring different voices are heard and represented. Strengthening the voices of a group maximizes their impact in the community.
Please take this brief three-question survey about what brings your group(s) together.
Why are we asking?
We all belong to communities that are defined by where we live, work and play.
Knowing these boundaries will help us keep communities together as we redraw City Council district lines based on new census data.
Schedule
> April
Mesa City Council appointed the Mesa Redistricting Commission on April 29, 2021
> June - July
Commission meetings for training and planning
> August
Public meetings
> September
Public feedback and map drawing meetings.
> October
Map drawing meetings and public comment on maps.
> November 15, 2021
Anticipated City Council action on the proposed map
> December
Follow up action by the City Council (as needed)
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RE-DISTRICTING: Public Meetings
Mesa’s Redistricting Commission will hold public hearings throughout Mesa in addition to a virtual meeting in August 2021.
Below is a list of meeting locations, dates and times.
Residents attending public meetings can expect a presentation explaining the redistricting process, materials to provide feedback and a forum to answer questions and discuss.
Date
| Time
| Location
|
|---|
| August 12 | 6 pm | Webster Recreation Center
202 N. Sycamore |
August 14
| 10 am
| Fire Station 218 Community Room 845 N. Alma School Rd. |
August 17
| 6 pm
| Eagles Community Center
828 E. Broadway Rd. |
August 18
| 12 pm
| Red Mountain Library
635 N. Power Rd. |
August 25
| 6 pm
| Virtual Zoom meeting (link coming soon) |
August 26
| 6 pm
| Cadence Community Room
9760 E. Cadence Pkwy. |
August 28
| 10 am
| Madison Elementary
849 S. Sunnyvale |
QUESTION: English and Spanish-Speaking Representatives will be available in these district public meetings or not? As well as any hand-out materials and/or communications
If you cannot attend a meeting, you can submit written comments to:
Jeff Robbins, City Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466 or via e-mail at redistricting@mesaaz.gov
If you require a special accommodation due to disability, please email redistricting@mesaaz.gov at least 72 hours in advance. Spanish translators will be present at all meetings.
What District am I in?
Find your Council District on our interactive map.
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RE-DISTRICTING: 2020 Census Data
Due to Covid-19 and other impacts, the decennial census data has been delayed several months. The U.S. Census Bureau announced that local census data will be delivered by August 16, 2021.
The August release of data is called the “Legacy Format” and it will not be in a format for public use. We anticipate converting the raw data into a usable format for public use in early September 2021.
This is yet another reason your input on how you define your community, your Community of Interest, is so important! Having your input now will only help the process once data is released and in a usable format.
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Resident Input - Mesa’s City Council Districts belong to its residents! Residents will be provided public hearings, and other means to provide input on boundary adjustments. 
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