Working to ensure fairly represented, non-partisan voices help shape Salt Lake City’s Districts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2022

SALT LAKE CITY – The City Council is organizing an independent commission of residents to serve in an advisory role during the City’s redistricting process.

The Council received an informational briefing from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute about the 2020 Census results for Salt Lake City and individual results for the seven Council Districts. This information will be used as part of the City’s Council redistricting process over the coming months.

Council Chair, Dan Dugan invites the community to apply and welcomes those interested, “I encourage community members to apply for their district, it takes a whole community to make this work fair and equitable, we need everyone to care and get involved.”

To learn more about the commission and how to apply, please visit https://slc-redistricting-slcgov.hub.arcgis.com/. Applications are due January 27 by close of business day 5 p.m.

Selected members will be expected to:
1) meet at least twice a month from February until the Council adopts new boundaries,
2) attend meetings to gather concerns, ideas, and input, and
3) present a list of guiding values for District maps
4) present suggested maps for Council District boundaries for the City Council’s consideration.

“Salt Lake City aims to be as transparent and apolitical as possible.” said Council Vice Chair Darin Mano, “We’ve decided this year to accept applications for any invested Salt Lakers regardless of eligibility to vote. We encourage all residents, including young people and those from traditionally marginalized communities, to apply.”

Redistricting is a process that occurs every ten years, where states use the most recent census data to designate electoral boundaries within the state. The process is necessary because it may create political inequities that, over time, undermine democratic representation.

Local redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities in the City are grouped together into districts that elect City Council members. By ensuring each district has approximately the same number of people, redistricting provides fairer representation on the City Council.

The specific composition of the Commission will depend on the number and quality of the applicants. The City Council will select at least one representative from each district and may select at-large representatives as well.

It’s Your City, Your Business! We encourage all Salt Lake City residents to apply!

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Contact:

Beatrix Sieger
beatrix.sieger@slcgov.com
801-535-7623