A first draft of new council districts gets public review

Published 3:36 pm Monday, September 20, 2021

EVERETT — Residents get a chance Wednesday to weigh in on three possible approaches to redrawing the boundaries of Snohomish County Council districts.

The Snohomish County Districting Committee will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. about draft maps developed by a consultant to serve as a springboard for conversation.

One path would move Tulalip from the 2nd District into the 1st District and shift Mountlake Terrace from the 4th District to the 3rd District.

Another would move Brier and Mountlake Terrace into the 3rd District and keep Tulalip in the 2nd District. And the third preliminary map is focused mostly on moving neighborhoods from the 1st District into the 5th District.

“These are starting points for discussion, so public input is welcomed and encouraged and needed as we go through this process,” said Bill Phillips, a committee member.

Every 10 years the lines of council districts and other political boundaries get redrawn using data from the U.S Census. The goal is to redraw lines to reflect changes in population.

Under state law, the updated boundaries must create districts nearly equal in population, be as compact as possible, consist of geographically contiguous areas and not use the census data to favor or disfavor any racial group or political party.

The new districts should also coincide with existing natural boundaries and preserve communities of related and mutual interest.

After Wednesday’s hearing, the county districting committee will work to develop a single proposal for the public to review in early November.