El Paso County, Colorado, May 2, 2023 – On Monday, May 8, 2023, the El Paso County Commissioner Redistricting Commission will meet at 5:30 pm to discuss important administrative items ahead of district meetings. The agenda is available online as well as attached to this press release.
“This public meeting is an important one to hold ahead of our traveling feedback sessions,” said Redistricting Commission Chair Cami Bremer. “We invite members of the public to attend or watch this meeting and submit comments on any items the Redistricting Commission will weigh. We value the voices of our constituents and encourage all residents to participate in the redistricting process.”
What: County Commissioner Redistricting Meeting
Date: May 8, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Viewing: In person and also be streamed on El Paso County social media channels
Agenda: https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso/meeting/details/1623
After some procedural motions, the first item that will be discussed is a more in-depth rundown of the criteria the Redistricting Commission must weigh when drawing plans. The next item will be a baseline analysis of existing county commissioner districts’ population and current deviation, demographic information, and resources available to the public to craft their own plans. The subsequent item will contemplate how future proposals will measure political competitiveness, followed by solidifying the dates future district meetings will occur.
While the district meetings will be held throughout the county’s geographical area and will solicit feedback from residents of each commissioner district, members of the public can attend and comment during the May 8, 2023, meeting. The Redistricting Commission may also choose to direct Redistricting staff.
The county recognizes the importance of public engagement in the redistricting process and aims to create a transparent and inclusive process. Therefore, the county will hold several public meetings, including one in each Commissioner district, throughout the coming months to gather input from residents before making any final decisions.
The County Commissioner Redistricting Meeting has set the following deadlines for themselves:
- May 12, 2023 – Create website for residents to submit testimony and proposed maps.
- July 14, 2023 – Last day for members of the public to submit proposals via the website.
- August 4, 2023 – Hold one public hearing in each Commissioner District.
- August 8, 2023 – Last day for the Redistricting Commission to direct staff to create additional redistricting plans for consideration.
- August 11, 2023 – Last day for members of the public to submit comments through the website on proposed plans.
- August 15, 2023 – Anticipated date that the Redistricting Commission will vote to adopt a final plan.
El Paso County’s redistricting process follows the new legal requirements outlined in House Bill 21-1047. As such, neither County Commission Redistricting Commission members nor members of the public can communicate with appointed Redistricting staff about map development in a setting outside of a public redistricting meeting or through the public-facing website – www.elpasoco.com/redistricting
