Community-generated redistricting maps released for public review

Placer County released map alternatives submitted by residents to be considered for the new supervisorial district boundaries. The redistricting process occurs every 10 years following the U.S. Census in order to realign districts to reflect shifts in population growth. All districts will need to be roughly the same population, however, a 5-percent deviation between the largest and smallest districts is allowed for anticipated future growth. The county released its drafted maps, Alternatives A, B and C, before the Advisory Redistricting Commission's Oct. 14 meeting. The three maps depict North Auburn joining District 5 and kept the town of Loomis and the cities of Auburn, Lincoln and Roseville largely within their existing districts. Members of the public also provided draft maps, Alternatives B.2, D and P, during the meeting. The commission noted public-drafted maps would be accepted until Oct. 18, requested county staff evaluate the alternatives to ensure they meet redistricting requirements and advised the proposed maps would be reviewed at the Nov. 4 meeting. Since the commission's meeting, two more maps, Alternatives Deana and P1, have been submitted. There are now five additional maps for Placer residents to review: Alternative B.2 is noted to have been drafted as a hybrid to better align communities of interest leveraging the county's Alternative B as a starting point. In this alternative, all of Rocklin would fall in District 3 and Penryn and Loomis would join District 4. This map has a deviation of 5 percent. Alternative D has a deviation of 4.05 percent, aligns communities of interest and balances rural and suburban areas in District 3. This alternative includes Loomis being added to District 4 and Hidden Falls Regional Park being included in District 5. The Alternative Deana map is in support of keeping Rocklin within District 3 by expanding the District 2 boundary west of Fiddyment Road and north of Pleasant Grove Boulevard to make up for the difference in population. There is no deviation noted for this map. Alternative P utilizes Interstate 80 as a natural divider between districts and preserves west Roseville as a community of interest, Historic Roseville neighborhoods and the city of Rocklin. This map also depicts Auburn being included within District 4. According to the population totals provided with the map, this alternative would have a 6.5-percent deviation. The final map, Alternative P1, is noted as "an improved version of the original Map P" and has a deviation of 2.63 percent. This map is also noted to have better use of major roads and highways for boundaries, keeping the city of Auburn with North Auburn and improved boundaries for Loomis, Penryn and Newcastle. According to the map website, these alternatives will be analyzed by county staff for the Nov. 4 meeting. Placer residents can review the county-produced and public-generated maps at placer.ca.gov/7273/Get-Map-Files. The Oct. 14 redistricting meeting can be viewed at placer.ca.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-53. Feedback on the draft maps can be provided at placer.ca.gov/FormCenter/Community-Development-Resource-Agency-11/Redistricting-Comments-199.