Once every ten years, local governments are required to redraw their district lines to reflect how their populations have changed based on data from the US Census. This process is called Redistricting. 

The City of West Covina will be conducting four Public Hearings throughout the redistricting process. Regular updates will be provided here throughout the coming months.

Know your City Council Members

The City's current council districts map may be found here: 2022 - City Council District Map

Schedule

 Below is the schedule for the required meetings relating to redistricting. Please note that additional dates will be added as they are determined. All meeting agendas may be found through the following link: Current Meetings and Agendas. The City must adopt and submit a map to the Registrar by April 17, 2022.

Draft Maps

The City of West Covina is required to hold two Public Hearings to discuss and revise draft district maps. All Draft District Maps may be submitted to the City Clerk's office via email at city_clerk@westcovina.org or during normal office hours. 

Please use the following link to access the current Draft District Maps: https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=91ebd2bbf6074beea03b5b3a0266aee2&extent=-118.1147,33.9566,-117.7103,34.1375

Redistricting Facts

1. Why do Cities go through the Redistricting Process?
   • To review the 2020 US Census Bureau data and to comply with Federal and California voting laws.
2. How many redistricting meetings will take place?
   • There will be 4 redistricting meetings throughout the Redistricting process. Two initial meetings are to be held prior to release of draft maps. Their purpose is to educate the public on the redistricting process and solicit input on the communities in the Districts. The remaining two meetings will be discuss and revise draft maps and to discuss the election sequence.
3. When must the new district maps be adopted by?
   •  The deadline to adopt the final maps for the City of West Covina is April 17, 2022. The Final Map must be posted at least 7 days prior to adoption. The map must also be adopted via ordinance. 
4. What criteria will our City Council use when drawing district lines?
   • To the extent practicable, in accordance with the FAIRMAPS Act (AB 849) and AB 1276, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria: (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.
5. Why does redistricting matter to me?
   • Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a Council member.
6. How will the public be notified about redistricting?
   •  The City will use social media to publicize the process and keep this website up to date with relevant information about the redistricting process. Staff will make a good faith effort to notify the community about the redistricting process and when the public hearing will take place.  
   • Continue checking this website for more information.
7. What is a Community of Interest?
   • A community of interest is a neighborhood, community, or group of people who have common policy concerns and would benefit from being maintained in a single district. Another way of understanding a community of interest is that it is simply a way for a community to tell its own story about what neighbors share in common, and what makes it unique when compared to surrounding communities. Communities of Interest are defined by the local community members.
8. Why is a Community of Interest Important?
   •  Keeping communities of interest together is an important principle in redistricting. It can be especially helpful to communities that have been traditionally left out of the political process. Community members can define their communities by telling their own stories and describe their concerns to policy makers. Without this, those who may not have their best interest in mind will define the communities for them.
9. How can I submit a public comment?
   • Residents may submit a yellow speaker card to the Assistant City Clerk during any Public Hearing in order to speak. Residents will be called up to speak in the order that the speaker card was received.
10. What if I do not wish to speak during the Public Hearing?
    • Members of the public can submit public comments to the City Clerk via email at City_Clerk@westcovina.org. The subject line should specify "Oral Communications - date". All emails received by 5.00 P.M. on the day of the Council meeting will be posted to the City's website under "Current Meetings and Agendas" and provided to the City Council prior to the meeting. No comments will be read out loud during the meeting. All comments received by the start of the meeting will be made part of the official public record of the meeting. 
11. What if I would like material translated to another language?
    • If you require translation services, please call (626) 939-8433 from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Thursday. You may also email the City Clerk's office any request at City_Clerk@westcovina.org.  Please call at least 4 working days prior to any scheduled meeting date. 

Resources

Redistricting Resources:

• From MALDEF, the NAACP and the Asian Justice Center
• From the Brennan Center
• From the League of Women Voters
• Fair Maps Act

There are also resources to the State of California and LA County redistricting processes.