More than 40 residents from neighborhoods throughout North Austin gathered Jan. 21 to discuss forming an alliance to represent their issues when City Council is split into 10 districts.

Voters approved creating 10 districts for City Council elections and representation Nov. 6. The city auditor's office has released the application for residents to apply for the Citizens Redistricting Commission that will draw the 10 districts before the next council election in November 2014. Under the 10-1 plan, the mayor is still elected at-large.

"We have a really good opportunity, if we want to, to create some kind of new alliance," said Mary Rudig, president of the North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods, which represents neighborhoods in the 78758 and 78753 ZIP codes.

Based on population statistics, Rudig said there are an estimated 220,000 residents in the North Austin area—which does not have specific boundaries but generally is defined as north of RM 2222—and that the area could be split into three City Council districts, giving residents the possibility of having three council members represent North Austin issues.

"These people will have to live within our districts," she said. "We're going to have to find these people, we're going to have to develop these people, and we're going to have to support these people."

The Jan. 21 meeting was a starting point in an effort to represent issues important to North Austin residents. Some residents pointed out that it is important that North Austin residents apply for the redistricting commission.

"Your participation is absolutely important to submit candidates to sit on the committee so that interests are represented when the lines are drawn," said Ed English, who is the North Austin coordinator and volunteer manager for Austinites for Geographic Representation, an independent, grass-roots organization that pushed to have the 10-1 plan put on the Nov. 6 ballot.

During the meeting, residents split into small groups to discuss what kind of alliance they would create, how it would be structured, who could be members and what role it would have in supporting candidates to run for council from the new districts. Most residents agreed the key issues in North Austin are transportation, crime, schools, infrastructure such as sidewalks, cost of living, having more affordable housing and business growth. Residents even proposed names for the new alliance, ranging from Your Enthusiastic Austin to North Austin Districts Alliance.

Rudig said she will send out a survey in March asking residents questions about the proposed alliance, and NACN will reconvene in April to discuss the answers.

During the discussion of the redistricting commission, some residents expressed concern over one clause that would prohibit residents who have lived in the city limits fewer than five years from applying for the commission. This is because it could prohibit residents from the Anderson Mill area, which was annexed in 2008, from applying and having a voice on the commission.

Applications for the commission are available here and are due Feb. 22. Once the applications are in, a panel of three professional certified public auditors will review applications and choose a pool of 60 residents from which eight will be randomly selected for the commission. Those eight will choose the final six to ensure that Austin's geography and demographics are represented. The U.S. Department of Justice will have to approve the final maps.

"Everything the committee does will be available to the public. They'll do nothing in secret," English said.

Additional information on the commission and the 10-1 plan is available at www.austintexas.gov/department/10-one.