McKinney City Council holds public hearing for proposed redrawn districts

McKinney City Council held a public hearing May 17 on its top choices for the city’s redistricting plan.

McKinney has four single-member districts, which must be divided into approximately equal populations, according to the presentation to council. The local redistricting process must take place shortly after the decennial census, city staff had said in previous interviews with Community Impact Newspaper. The city has authorized legal firm Bickerstaff to assist with this process.

The district boundaries were last drawn in 2011 to include roughly 35,000 people in each district. The new district boundaries that were presented would include roughly 49,000 people in each district, according to meeting documents.

A public hearing was held to receive feedback on the proposed district maps. Julie Luton was the only speaker on the item.

“You represent a beautifully diverse community,” she said to council. “We all deserve the opportunity for our perspectives to be heard by council, to be considered and included in zoning, economic development and in our cultural celebrations. If you keep that in mind ... we will end up with a map that will make our communities stronger.”

The proposed new district maps will be sent to the June 7 City Council meeting for council to consider approving.

Editor’s note: The original post has been edited to correct an error. There are two maps under consideration by McKinney City Council.