The commission will next consider revisions to the two options before presenting them for public comment May 7, attorney Brent Rosenthal, who represents southern Lakewood as part of District 9 on the commission, said via email.
"In my opinion, both of the proposed maps provide suitable templates for devising the final map to be submitted by the redistricting commission to Mayor [Eric] Johnson for City Council approval," Rosenthal said via email. "Both maps retain White Rock Lake as the core of District 9. Map 17 adds part of current District 14—the M Streets and the eastern Swiss Avenue area—while shifting the southern and eastern perimeter of the district to District 2. Map 41 also cedes some of the southeastern part of District 9 to District 2, but adds an area north of Mockingbird Lane and east of Central Expressway—including Vickery Meadows and The Village—which now resides in Districts 13 and 14."
The redistricting commission plans to hold a map amendment workshop at 3:30 p.m. May 2 at Dallas City Hall. A public hearing will be held at 3 p.m. May 7 to receive feedback on both selections before a planned map development workshop at 3:30 p.m. May 9. The commission is expected to select a final map during the May 9 meeting that will be presented to Dallas City Council.
As mandated by the Dallas Charter, the redistricting plan will redraw Dallas’ district lines from which council members are elected. According to the commission’s website, redistricting usually takes place every 10 years after each U.S. Census and affects all jurisdictions that use districts.
Council appointed the 15-member commission in 2021 to develop the district plan based on the results of the 2020 census and in compliance with the charter and federal law.
The new district boundaries are slated to go into effect for the May 2023 council election.
According to the Dallas Charter, council has 45 days after the district plan is submitted to the mayor to adopt, or modify and adopt, a new redistricting plan. If final action is not taken by council within 45 days, the redistricting commission's plan becomes final.
