The third and final community workshop for input on creating Manteca’s first City Council districts is this Saturday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m.
It will take place virtually via Zoom. You can join via Zoom by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81920417621 The passcode is 812083.
Moderators will discuss how to use the newly available district mapping tools to allow citizens to create their own suggested district boundaries for consideration.
There are two more public hearings. They will take place at Tuesday City Council meetings at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 and Dec. 7.
The goal is to have the city divided into four council districts before filing opens for the 2022 council election. The remaining two seats will be elected by voters within specific districts in 2024. Candidates must reside within the district they wish to represent.
The mayor would still be elected citywide.
The switch to district-based elections is a process that many cities in California are undergoing to meet the standards of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) of 2001. The CVRA gave more robust legal backing to minority groups in California who have expressed that “at-large” elections have diluted their voting rights.