The San Antonio City Council’s Redistricting Advisory Committee is creating a proposed plan for new council district boundaries via a series of public meetings set to take place through May 31.
According to a city news release, local population growth reflected in the 2020 U.S. census is driving the newest round of council redistricting ahead of the city’s next council elections, which are scheduled for May 2023.
Data from the 2020 census shows San Antonio’s population increased to 1.43 million in 2020, but redistricting is needed to ensure each of the 10 City Council districts has an “ideal population size” of 143,378 people per district, city officials said.
By comparison, the 2010 census indicated the ideal size for each San Antonio council district was 132,672, the press release said. According to local officials, the 2020 census shows a population variation of 34.6% between the most and least populous current council districts, adding that the 34.6 percentage exceeds the legally permitted range of 10%.
“Clearly, San Antonio’s population has grown over the past decade. The growth has led to population shifts among the districts,” City Attorney Andy Segovia said in a statement. “Through redistricting the district boundaries will be adjusted so that we will have substantially equal population across each district. The goal is to have equal representation across our community.”
City officials said all 10 planned meetings are open to the public, including working sessions, and that the council will consider redrawn district boundaries this summer.
The first meeting was held Jan. 29 in District 5. A second meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Pre-K4SA North campus, 3635 Medical Drive.
The rest of the redistricting community meeting schedule is as follows, according to the city:
- Feb. 14: 2 p.m., Municipal Plaza, “B” Room, 114 W. Commerce St.
- Feb. 28: 6 p.m., Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, 10843 Gulfdale St.
- March 19: 10 a.m., Roosevelt Park Clubhouse, 331 Roosevelt Ave.
- March 29: 2 p.m. Municipal Plaza, “B” Room, 114 W. Commerce
- April 4: 6 p.m., Igo Library, 13330 Kyle Seale Parkway
- April 23: 10 a.m., Northeast Service Center, 10303 Tool Yard Drive
- May 2: 6 p.m., Northeast Senior Center, 4135 Thousand Oaks Drive
- May 10: 6 p.m., Ron Darner Parks and Recreation Headquarters Barrera Room, 5800 Enrique Barrera Parkway
- May 31: 2 p.m., Municipal Plaza, “B” Room, 114 W. Commerce St.
According to the city, the council-appointed community members serving with the redistricting advisory committee are Bonnie Prosser Elder, Rogelio Saenz, Shelley Potter, Theresa Vargas Wyatt, Jordan Ghawi, Dwayne Robinson, Devorah Frost, Rebecca Viagran, Frank Garza, Eloy LaQue, and Miguel Sepulveda.
Other committee members are: Velma Pena, Amy Kastely, John Ybanez, Luis Gomez, Lisa Marie Gomez, Frances Gonzalez, Laura Garza, John Kelly, Larry Lamborn, Hollis Grizzard, Jr., John Clamp and Carlton Soules.
Elder and Saenz, both appointed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg, are co-chairing the committee. Viagran, Clamp and Soules are former City Council members.
City officials said residents may submit their questions and comments for the redistricting committee by calling 311 or emailing [email protected]. More information can be found at https://www.sabexarcountmein.org and https://www.saspeakup.com/U4334.
