City Council districts will be redrawn in 2011

In 2011, Richmond City Council will redraw the existing nine Richmond Voter District boundaries that we use to elect our local Richmond Elected Government Officials in response to results of the 2010 U.S. Census. Adjustments to voting precincts and locations may also be made at this time. Here is how that process is scheduled to […]

January 3, 2011; 5:15 AM • by West of the Boulevard News

The 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting will be a year-long open public process that will include a comprehensive array of public information communications and numerous opportunities for Richmond Citizens to learn more, provide input and participate, which will include many Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings, and Public Hearings. All Richmond citizens are invited and encouraged to learn more about the process and to participate during each step of the way. Some of the many ways to engage in this process include:

1. Contacting the Richmond City Council Councilmember that represents you via phone, email, meeting or letter (contact information below)

2. Sending a letter to Richmond City Council
2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting
Richmond City Hall; 900 E. Broad St., Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219

3. Attending Public Information Meetings, Council Public Meetings and Public Hearings to learn more, ask questions and make suggestions (dates, times and locations listed below)

4. Visiting the 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting website to learn more (to be established soon)

5. Asking questions, learning more, and sending suggestions or information by email to steven.skinner@richmondgov.com

6. Sending suggestions or asking questions by sending a fax to 804.646.5468

7. Learning more, asking questions and providing suggestions by calling 804.646.6052

8. Signing up for information and Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meeting and Public Hearings email updates/alerts, at: steven.skinner@richmondgov.com

Six Stage Process

The 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process will be organized into six stages. In the First Stage, Richmond City Council will choose what redistricting criteria are to be used, which will include Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings. In the Second Stage they will vote to adopt their selected criteria, which will include Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings. In the Third Stage, Richmond will receive 2010 U.S. Census Data for Richmond. In the Fourth Stage, Council will use the criteria and Census Data to draft a 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plan (This will probably include three proposals to choose from.), which will include Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings. In the Fifth Stage they will vote to adopt a Plan, which will include Public Hearings. New Richmond Voter Districts are to be adopted by December 31, 2011. In the Sixth Stage, they will seek approval (clearance) required from the United States of America Department of Justice per the U. S. National Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6).

Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings
Throughout this six-stage process, Richmond City Council will hold a number of Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings to help provide information, discuss, receive input, and answer questions regarding the 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting. These meetings are free and open to the public and all Richmond Citizens are invited and encouraged to attend. All meeting locations are located on a GRTC bus line and are accessible by people with disabilities. The meetings will include the following topics, dates, times and locations (which are subject to change):

STAGE 1 – Choosing Richmond Redistricting Criteria
Richmond City Council will choose from among a number of criteria to decide which ones they want to use to base their redistricting changes to Richmond Voter Districts. In the first stage of the process they will choose the criteria. There will be a number of Public Information Meetings and Public Council meetings held with regard to this important part of the process. Criteria choices may include the following:

Redistricting Criteria Richmond City Council may choose from include
· Equal Population distribution throughout the 9 Richmond Voter Districts
· Compactness of Richmond Voter Districts
· Contiguity of Richmond Voter Districts
· Avoidance of splits of political subdivisions and precincts
· Preservation of communities of interest
· Preservation of the basic shape of existing voter districts
· Protection of current incumbents and avoiding paring (the possibility that existing
incumbents may run against each other in a future election)
· African-American representation per the U. S. National Voting Rights Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6)
· Political fairness or competitiveness
· Voter convenience and effective administration of elections

The following Stage 1 Richmond City Council Public Information Meetings will be held to present and discuss the different redistricting criteria that Richmond City Council may choose to use to base their redistricting changes to Richmond Voter Districts:

Public Information Meetings to Present and Discuss Redistricting Criteria
The following Stage 1 Richmond City Council Public Information Meetings will be held to present and discuss legal redistricting requirements and the different criteria that Council may choose from to base redistricting changes to Richmond Voter Districts:

Friday, January 14, 2011 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Richmond Southside Social Services Center
4100 Hull Street; Richmond Virginia 23224

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Richmond Police Department – Police Academy
1202 W. Graham Road; Richmond, Virginia 23220

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools – Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
1000 Mosby Street; Richmond, Virginia 23223

Wed., January 19, 2011 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools – Lucille Murray Brown Middle School
6300 Jahnke Road; Richmond, Virginia 23225

Thursday, January 20, 2011 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Richmond Public Schools – Thomas Jefferson High School
4100 West Grace Street; Richmond, Virginia 23230

Results of Richmond City Council Public Information Meetings presented to Council
Results of the Richmond City Council Public Information Meetings will be presented to Council during the following Public Council Informal Meeting:

Monday, January 24, 2011, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Informal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Richmond City Council discussion of redistricting criteria
Richmond City Council will discuss the criteria they want to choose from during the following Public Council Informal Meeting:

Monday, February 14, 2011, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Informal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

STAGE 2 – Public Hearing and Adoption of Richmond Redistricting Criteria
Richmond City Council will hold the following Public Hearing and vote to officially adopt Richmond Redistricting Criteria during the following Richmond City Council Formal Meeting:

Monday, February 28, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

STAGE 3 – 2010 U.S. Census Data for Richmond received
Richmond City Council will receive the 2010 U.S. Census Data for Richmond and make them available to the public.

February or early April 2011
Data estimated to be received/available from U.S. Census Office in late February or early April 2011

STAGE 4 – Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings regarding Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan
Richmond City Council will use their officially adopted redistricting criteria and the 2010 U.S. Census Data to draft a 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plan. This will probably include three proposals to choose from. As part of this process, Richmond City Council will hold Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings and Public Hearings. These will include information regarding legal requirements for redistricting, criteria selected by Council, Richmond population shifts over the past 10 years and the approval (clearance) required from the United States of America Department of Justice per the U. S. National Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6).

Initial 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plans Submitted to Council
The Richmond City Council 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Work Group will submit alternative 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plans (possibly three) to Richmond City Council based on Council’s adopted criteria for Council’s review and guidance, at the following Public Council Meeting:

Monday, April 25, 2011; 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Informal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan Submitted to Council
The Richmond City Council 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Work Group will present a single draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plan to Richmond City Council for their review and approval for it to be submitted to the public for comment, at the following Public Council Meeting:

Monday, May 23, 2011; 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Public Information Meetings to Discuss Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan
The following Public Information Meetings will be held to present the Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plan to the public and to provide education, information and gather feedback.

Monday, June 6, 2011 Richmond Police Department – Police Academy
6:00-7:30 p.m. 1202 W. Graham Road, Richmond, Virginia 23220
(Richmond’s Northside)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Richmond Public Schools – Lucille Murray Brown
6:00-7:30 p.m. Middle School
6300 Jahnke Road; Richmond, Virginia 23225
(Southwest Richmond)

Wed., June 8, 2011 Richmond Public Schools – Martin Luther King Jr.
6:00-7:30 p.m. Middle School
1000 Mosby Street; Richmond, Virginia 23223
(Richmond’s East End/Gateway)

Thursday, June 9, 2011 Richmond Public Schools – Thomas Jefferson
6:00-7:30 p.m. High School
4100 West Grace Street; Richmond, Virginia 23230
(Richmond’s West End)

Friday, June 10, 2011 Richmond Southside Social Services Center
6:00-7:30 p.m. 4100 Hull Street; Richmond Virginia 23224
(Richmond’s Southside)

Richmond City Council Discussion of
Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan
Results of the Richmond City Council Public Information Meetings will be presented to Richmond City Council during the following Public Council Informal Meeting. During this time Council will discuss any modifications, if needed.

Monday, June 13, 2011, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Informal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Richmond City Council Review of
Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan
Richmond City Council will review and discuss proposed Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Plan during the following Public Council Informal Meeting:

Monday, June 27, 2011, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Informal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall. 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

STAGE 5 – Public Hearing and Adoption of 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan
Richmond City Council will hold a the following Public Hearing on the Draft 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan and vote to officially adopt it during the following Public Richmond City Council Formal Meeting:

Monday, November 14, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor, 900 E. Broad Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219

STAGE 6 – Approval of the U. S. Department of Justice
Richmond City Council will send a copy of the adopted 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter Redistricting Plan (which will be provided to the public) to be approved (cleared) by the United States of America Department of Justice per the U. S. National Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6).
CONTACT For more information, please contact Steve Skinner, Council Public Information Manager, at 804.646.6052 (o); 937.1386 (m); or, steven.skinner@richmondgov.com