Public Participation Kit The City Council is developing districts for possible use during future City Council elections. The Council needs your help with this project. The City aims to develop six election districts that follow these criteria: equal in population; comply with state and federal legal requirements; respect communities of interest; follow visible natural and man-made boundaries; are compact and contiguous; and that do not overturn continuity in office. One key to these criteria is public input. The Council wants to hear what you consider your “community” within the City. Is it the neighborhood around a local park? Around a local school? In a development or historic area? Please share your thoughts – the districts are up to you! The first public forum was held at City Hall on July 16th, 2009. Additional public forums are scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd (10:00 am) at the Pan Am Center and Tuesday, September 22nd (6:30 pm) at Sierra Vista School. These forums are your chance to influence the future before the first pen is put to a plan. Come and share with the City what you consider your “Community of Interest.” Learn how to develop and submit your own district map using the Public Participation Kits provided. And share your thoughts regarding this important decision
One goal of City Council districts is to reflect and unite the City’s vibrant and varied communities. The City is offering residents the chance to do more than simply sharing yes / no opinions on this project. Using "Public Participation Kits" the City is offering every interested person or group the chance to draw and submit the plan(s) that you think would be best for Madera.
Use your kit to: A. Draw your neighborhood and ask the Council to keep it united when districts are drawn; B. Draw a district around your neighborhood (or two, or three); or C. Draw a full plan with six districts covering the whole city. The choice is up to you. All thoughts you wish to share on this topic are encouraged. Here is the process: 2. Follow the instructions in that kit to come up with your proposed plan. You can draw just your community, or the entire district you want to see around your community, or a plan for the entire city. 3. Submit your plan either directly to the City's consultant or through the City Clerk’s office. You can mail, fax, or email your plans (contact information is below). 4. The consultant will put your proposed plan(s) into the computers and confirm back to you that your plan has been received and input. All submitted messages and plans will be relayed to all of the City Council Members and included in the "Report on the Public Input" that will be compiled at the end of the public forums.
If you have Microsoft Excel, also save to your computer the "Excel Supplement" file linked from this page. If you enter the district assignments into that file (instructions are included in the file), it will automatically calculate the population totals as you work. When you have your plan drawn, simply email in the Excel file and you are all done. The City looks forward to hearing from you! Maps: Draft District Boundary PlansThe following plans, prepared by NDC, are provided as a basis to initiate discussion. Please email any comments/feedback to NDC at the address below or to the City Clerk. Let us know if you have a preference on the draft plans or whether you would like to submit your own by using the Public Participation Kit.
The City requests that public participation kit plans be submitted no later than mid-October 2009. Early submission is encouraged!
If you have any questions about using the kit or the Excel file, please contact the City’s consultant. To submit your plan(s), please send it to the consultant, or, if you prefer, you can submit it to the City Clerk’s office and they will forward it for you. Thank you!
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