Mapping Tools

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR MAP IS DUE MARCH 30, 2018 BY 5:00 P.M.  Thank you to all the residents that submitted maps.  You can continue to use these tools to propose revisions to the various initial draft maps. However, by State Law, maps to be considered by the Council at Public Hearings must be posted online and available at City Hall one week before the hearing adopting the final map.  

NDC has reviewed all posted draft maps for population balancing, ensuring that they are contiguous, and not in violation of the Federal or California Voting Rights Act.  All maps submitted are NOW posted online and may be viewed on the Interactive Review Map or in PDF format.

On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, the City Council held its third public hearing providing the public an opportunity to respond to draft maps and make recommendations regarding the proposed district boundaries and the potential sequence of elections.  At that meeting, the City Council narrowed its selection from twenty-eight (28) draft maps to six (6). You may submit your comments in reference to the draft maps and/or provide an alternative draft map to [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 30, 2018.

Criteria used...

Many factors may be considered, but population equality is important.  In a seven-district map, the ideal district population is 24,973, so the largest and smallest districts must be within 2,497 of each other in total population (roughly between 23,724 to 26,222).

Other factors may include – communities of interest, must be compact, contiguous, have visible (natural and man-made) boundaries, plan for future growth, etc.

To better visualize where Population Unit boundaries are located, refer to:

Census Block ID Number of Population Units

Census Block of Total Population by Population Units

OPTION 1:  Paper-Only Maps

You can use the simple one-page map to draw your proposed districts and calculate the total population.

OPTION 2:  Microsoft Excel Supplement 

Are you familiar with Microsoft Excel? If so, you can let Excel do the total population and demographic math for you. You can save the Excel file to your computer. Then use the Excel file and the “ID Number of Population Units” map to assign the Population Units to your desired districts, and Excel will provide the resulting demographics for each district. 

OPTION 3:  Online District-Drawing Tool

The most powerful map drawing tool, but also the most difficult to use, is the online district-drawing tool (Draw Maps Online). This tool enables you to draw districts census block by census block, just like the professional demographers. You can fine-tune your district lines and see, in detail, the resulting demographics as you draw your map.

Additional online resources are available:

How to submit a draft map...

Maps have to be emailed, submitted at the City Clerk's Office, or faxed to 818-254-1221 no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 30, 2018. Even a picture snapped from your phone and emailed is accepted.