El Dorado County’s redistricting map alternatives are now available for public review and comment.

The California Election Code requires boards of supervisors to approve supervisorial district boundaries following each federal decennial census so that districts are nearly equal in population. The U.S. Census Bureau now estimates El Dorado County’s population at 181,058, an increase of approximately 25,000 residents since the 2000 Census.

Working with the recently released 2010 Census data, the county Surveyor’s Office has produced five different options for future supervisorial district boundaries. Each version contains supervisorial districts with approximately 36,212 residents. The map alternatives will be formally presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 26 at 10 AM at the county government center. The Board is not expected to adopt a final map until July.

“It’s not difficult to generate a map with the right number of residents per district,” said county Surveyor Rich Briner. “It can be difficult to achieve that balance while ensuring that similar communities are contained within the same district.”

All of the redistricting map alternatives are available on a new redistricting website: www.edcgov.us/Redistricting. The website also includes reference maps, a feedback form, contact information, relevant agenda items, and will serve as a platform for future redistricting related announcements.

The county Redistricting Team including the Surveyor’s Office, Recorder-Clerk/Registrar of Voters, County Counsel and the Chief Administrative Office will be hosting a series of public workshops on the redistricting process and map alternatives. The Redistricting Team will join Supervisor Ray Nutting for a community meeting on April 28 at the Pollock Pines Community Center, 2675 Sanders Drive from 7-9 PM. A workshop has also been scheduled for May 5 at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Pavilion, 1021 Harvard Way from 6-8 PM. Details of additional workshops are pending.

Large scale versions of all of the redistricting maps will also be available for public review in the Board of Supervisors hearing room at 330 Fair Lane in Placerville during regular business hours beginning April 26.

“Redistricting is a once a decade opportunity for the public to help literally shape the future of El Dorado County,” said Briner. “I look forward to helping ensure an open and engaging process.”

Please visit http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Government/Redistricting/Redistricting_Maps.aspx for more info.