Brookhaven To Hold Virtual Town Hall On Redistricting Maps

BROOKHAVEN, GA — Brookhaven residents can see the city's proposed redistricting map options — and see if they could be living in a new city council district — at the city's virtual town hall next week on redistricting.

The five proposed map options are available on the city's website, and were presented during Brookhaven City Council's work session Tuesday evening. The virtual town hall is scheduled for April 20 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

To join the Zoom meeting, visit this link or call 312-626-6799, 929-436-2866, 301-715-8592, 346-248-7799, 669-900-6833, or 253-215-8782. The Meeting ID is 863 5958 6669.

Complications from the COVID-19 pandemic caused the U.S. Census Bureau to be delayed in receiving census data, which is expected to be released in late September. But qualifying dates for November elections in Districts 2 and 4 on Brookhaven City Council are Aug. 18-20, and census data is key when it comes to redistricting.

"This presents a conundrum for cities that do not control the census or the elections," City Manager Christian Sigman said. "In order for residents to know what district they live in, whether to run for an office or whom to support for office, they need to know where the district lines are. After seven annexations east of I-85 since 2014, the City has an obligation to make its best estimation to ensure that every vote counts and that every district represents, as nearly as possible, the same number of people."

Brookhaven City Council members approved a contract with FLO Analytics at the Feb. 23 council meeting to address this issue. The contract "will allow the city to make informed decisions and citizens to understand how the process will work to have final maps in place" prior to the qualifying dates for elections.

Work is expected to be complete by May 4, and council members will vote on new district maps by the end of June. Public input meetings will be held virtually and announced in advance.

RELATED:

• Brookhaven To Release Draft Redistricting Maps Tuesday
• Brookhaven Begins Redistricting Process Ahead Of Fall Elections

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