Residents invited to help shape future Sonoma County Board of Supervisors districts

Sonoma County residents are encouraged to take advantage of an array of tools and feedback mechanisms available to them to help shape the County’s supervisorial districts for the next decade or so. 

Supervisorial districts are redrawn every 10 years after the completion of each census. The process for redrawing Sonoma County’s districts is underway now based on data to be provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

The way supervisorial districts are drawn determines how effectively a community is represented in the halls of government because the new election lines determine which communities are placed in each supervisorial district. Voters within each district will elect one of their own as county supervisor. Therefore, Sonoma County is seeking input on creating and selecting the next district map for each of its five supervisorial districts. 

Understanding that individuals process information differently and have various comfort levels with technical applications, the county is offering residents different mapping tools to both gain insights about the county and draw new maps for consideration. These include:

• Paper maps with population counts that can be printed, drawn on and submitted to the county via email at: redistricting2021@sonoma-county.org or via mail to Redistricting 2021 C/O PG&SP, 575 Administration Drive, Suite 104-A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
• A simple online map drawing tool called DistrictR that will enable residents to digitally draw neighborhoods or communities of interest on top of a Sonoma County map.
• Caliper’s Maptitude Online Redistricting mapping tool where maps can be drawn census block by census block and submitted electronically.
• An interactive review map, similar to Google maps, where residents can explore population numbers and other statistics, as well as view and analyze draft maps once they are available. 
• Story Map, which utilizes an interactive “storytelling” format so that residents can learn more about their community through geographic, demographic and other data.

These mapping tools have been added to the county’s redistricting website at sonomacounty.ca.gov/redistricting so residents can access and provide detailed feedback at their convenience. While residents are encouraged to start drawing preliminary maps or to provide comments about their neighborhoods now, the mapping tools will be updated with the new Census data once the complete information becomes available in the fall. Residents can submit as many maps and comments as they would like through October 15, 2021.

In addition to submitting maps, community members may also participate and provide feedback during upcoming public meetings and public hearings hosted by the Sonoma County Advisory Redistricting Commission and Board of Supervisors. The ARC invites the Sonoma County community to participate in its next meeting where it will host a virtual redistricting public hearing on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at 6:15 p.m.

At the public hearing, residents will have an opportunity to provide input on communities of interest and share how they think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent their community. In addition, they will receive a redistricting overview and learn more about the mapping tools.

Meeting information, such as meeting links and agendas, will be available on the county’s dedicated redistricting website at sonomacounty.ca.gov/redistricting. The website includes a variety of resources including meeting recordings, background information on redistricting, a tentative schedule of participation opportunities, frequently asked questions and resources for drafting maps and sharing feedback on previously drawn maps. 

To sign up to receive updates about the redistricting process, future public meetings, ask questions or recommend a community group for the county to reach out to, please email Redistricting2021@sonoma-county.org.