2021 Redistricting Process

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In 2017, following receipt of a letter threatening to sue the City of Poway for alleged violations of the California Voting Rights Act, the City Council made the decision to transition to by-district elections for the four City Council seats. The Mayor remains an at-large position (directly elected by the entire city). The City Council adopted the current district map on October 3, 2017 using 2010 U.S. Census data combined with 2018 demographic estimates. The City began the transition to by-district elections with the 2018 election and completed the full transition to by-district elections in 2020. To view the first City of Poway District Election Map adopted in 2017 click here. To view the current City of Poway District Election Map adopted on February 15, 2022, click here. 

Every ten years, local governments use new census data to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. Assembly Bill 849 (2019), also known as the FAIR MAPS Act, requires cities and counties to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and/or workshops and doing public outreach, including to non-English speaking communities. The redistricting process was most recently completed following the 2020 U.S. Census. The next redistricting process will follow the 2030 U.S. Census.  

What is Redistricting?

Every ten years, City Council districts must be re-evaluated following the federal decennial census to ensure that each district is substantially equal in population. This process, called redistricting, is important to ensuring that each city councilmember represents about the same number of constituents. In Poway, the City Council is responsible for drawing City Council districts. For the City of Poway, the redistricting process must be completed by April 17, 2022. The adopted City Council districts will be applicable to the November 2022 General Election.

Why Does Redistricting Matter to Me?

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a councilmember. When the current City Council District Map was adopted in 2017, some of the key elements the City Council agreed upon were two districts representing north and south Poway, the importance of three districts representing the Poway Road corridor, and consideration of the proposed SDG&E gas pipeline along Pomerado Road in forming multiple districts which would have an impact on representation.

In late fall 2021 and early 2022, the City Council sought public input in selecting the next district map for our City Council. Residents had the opportunity to share with the City Council their views on how district boundaries should be drawn to best represent their  community.

Contact City Clerk Carrie Gallagher at (858) 668-4530 or cgallagher@poway.org to learn more about how the redistricting process works.

What Do the Existing City Council Districts Look Like?

You can find a copy of the first City Council District Map, adopted in 2017, here: link

What Criteria Will our City Council Use When Drawing District Lines?

To the extent practicable, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria as established in California Elections Code: (1) geographically contiguous districts (each city council district should share a common border with the next), (2) the geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, (3) geographic integrity of a city shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, (4) easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.), and (5) lines shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness. In addition, boundaries shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party. 

Is there Anything Unique to the City of Poway’s Redistricting Process?

When the City of Poway made the decision to transition to by-district elections for the four City Council seats in 2017, to ensure the map complied with all requirements in California Elections Code, the City hired a demographer, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), as well as special legal counsel, Rutan & Tucker.

For the 2021 Redistricting Process, the City again hired NDC to analyze changes in Poway from the 2010 U.S. Census to the 2020 U.S. Census. NDC found that the City’s population deviation in the current City Council districts– the difference between the most populous and least populous districts – is well within the threshold where a map is considered “presumptively constitutional,” and therefore, the City is not required to redraw the map to comply with the federal equal population requirement.  This finding is due in large part to the City experiencing minimal population changes from 2010 to 2020. The City’s 2010 population was 47,811 and the 2020 California Adjusted Census population for Poway is 48,984. The map also complies with state law, including the newly enacted FAIR MAPS Act (Gov. Code § 21500 et seq.) During the public hearing process, the City Council, with public input, had the option to consider maintaining the existing City Council district boundaries until the 2030 U.S. Census is completed at which time the district boundaries will be evaluated again. More information about NDC’s analysis is available in the Nov. 16, 2021 public hearing staff report. The link is in the How Can I get Involved? section located below. 

How Will the Poway City Council Notify the Public about Redistricting?

The City of Poway posted information about the redistricting process on the City's website. The information was available in both English and Spanish. Public hearing notices were published in the Poway News Chieftain, as well as El Latino Newspaper San Diego. The City sent information about the redistricting process through the City’s enewsletter, as well as the City’s utility customer email distribution list. Information about the process and public hearings was also be posted to the City’s social media accounts.

How Can I get Involved?

The City Council held four public hearings to receive public input on where district lines should be drawn. 

1st Public Hearing:
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:15 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

2nd Public Hearing:
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 7:15 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

3rd Public Hearing:
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:15 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

4th Public Hearing:
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 7:15 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

Following the four public hearings, Ordinance 852, adopting a new City Council District Map, was introduced on February 1, 2022. The second reading of the Ordinance was held on February 15, 2022. Links to both meetings are provided below. The new City Council district map is effective March 17, 2022. 

Introduction of Ordinance 852 (District Map Adoption):
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

Second Reading of Ordinance 852 (District Map Adoption):
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7 p.m.
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Dr., Poway, CA 92064
Option to Participate In-Person or Virtually
Agenda Report | View meeting

Where Can I Find Out More?

For more information about how the first City Council District Map was developed, below are links to City Council meetings in 2017 when the City decided to transition to by-district elections and the district map development and adoption.

July 18, 2017 City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 3.1

August 1, 2017 City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 3.1

August 8, 2017 Special City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 1

August 18, 2017 Special City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 2.1

August 31, 2017 Special City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 2.1

September 19, 2017 City Council - Poway, CA (swagit.com) – Item 3.1