ENCINITAS — After reviewing proposed maps for the first time in the city’s redistricting process, the Encinitas City Council appears content making only minor changes to its district maps.
The city received a total of 39 maps for review — including three from the city’s redistricting consultant National Demographics Corporation —the majority of which kept the current map’s general structure in place.
At the start of the process, both the city and its consultant group struggled to solicit significant public input, but according to Shannon Kelly from National Demographics Corporation, the number of resident-submitted maps was noticeably high.
“I would say it’s a lot,” Kelly said. “I know of clients who have more but you top of the list of mine so that is quite a few maps.”
The council generally favored one map submitted anonymously by a resident which makes minor changes to the current district map. The map would split part of the northernmost part of District 3 between districts 1 and 2, ceding the easternmost part of District 3 to District 4.
When the 2020 Census data was released and analyzed, National Demographics Corporation found the current district setup has a standard deviation from the ideal district population under the limits set by state and federal law. This means the city could, in theory, do nothing with the current map and adopt it again.
However, a number of residents have agreed some changes would be beneficial.
Bruce Ehlers, chair of the city’s Planning Commission, gave a number of recommendations to the City Council, including trying to keep at least one community together in one district.
“Morning Sun is an old community in Olivenhain and it is mysteriously split,” Ehlers said. “I’ve seen a lot of the maps correct this and it actually improves the balance where you need to improve it.”
The map chosen as a favorite by the City Council did not correct the neighborhood split but supported the demographer returning with more options including that adjustment.
The change would split an established census tract to include eight homes into District 4.
“What we have said all along is we try to avoid it because the data is not precise once you split but if we get a map that’s pretty good and we want to make one small split like that, that would be something we could draw,” Kelly said.
Ehlers and others also suggest reducing the northernmost part of District 3, which encompasses the community of Cardiff.
Councilmember Joy Lyndes, who represents District 3, said she has heard from residents in the northern section who feel disconnected from the rest of the district.
“People who live north of Encinitas Boulevard in the current Cardiff district feel pretty remote as far as Cardiff is concerned,” Lyndes said. “I would support bringing the boundary down to Encinitas Boulevard.”
There will be just one final public hearing before the council votes to adopt a new district map. The fourth and final public hearing takes place during the city’s regular council meeting on March 9 with the city planning on adopting a new map prior to the April 25 deadline.
