The public has one final opportunity to share their input before the preliminary map of the new city council district boundaries is drawn by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC). The ICRC will host additional community engagement opportunities for the public to provide comments on the draft map starting in September.
 
While the ICRC has met its City of Austin charter requirements of holding ten public forums, the commissioners added two virtual public meetings due to rising COVID-19 concerns. The final virtual meeting is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
 
"When the ICRC began planning for the public forum portion of the redistricting process back in June, the COVID-19 pandemic was a pressing issue to consider. Some residents prefer an in-person option for their public testimony, others are still adhering to social distancing guidelines," said ICRC Vice-Chair Luis Gonzalez. "Additional virtual forum options were the obvious choice to ensure the ICRC was maintaining a balance between fair access to the process and our concern for public health. The two additional options gave the commissioners more opportunities to receive direct input from Austin residents as we begin our redrawing. Given the current severity of the pandemic and the benefit of hearing more voices, we feel we took the correct approach."
 
 
How to Participate  

The public is invited to attend the last public input virtual meeting before the preliminary map is drawn.
 

• When: Friday's, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• How: Videoconferencing via Zoom*: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FvRbBtg0QWirQxYWmBuTzA.
  *You will receive a confirmation email after registering with information to join the meeting.

 
Interpretation and/or translation services will be available free of charge by advance request in Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese. Call 311 or email matthew.dugan@austintexas.gov to request these services 48 hours in advance of a forum.

 
Other Ways to Provide Input

Online
The community is encouraged to submit feedback directly to the commission on SpeakUp Austin: https://www.speakupaustin.org/city-of-austin-redistricting. After registering on the site, the public can take the survey and even upload a map or instructions for redistricting. This information will be gathered through October 2021 and used to help draw the new city district boundaries.

Physical or Electronic Mail
Another way to participate is to contact ICRC commissioners or leave feedback please email: icrc.commissioners@austintexas.gov or write to: Housing and Planning Department, Attn: ICRC, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767.
 
For the latest information, including meeting modifications due to COVID-19, visit the ICRC on SpeakUp Austin or on Facebook.
 
 
About the ICRC
Commissioners are: Joshua Blank (District 8), Sara Inés Calderón (D2), Erin Dempsey (D10), Camellia Falcon (D7), Luis Gonzalez (D10, Vice-Chair), Errol Hardin (D1), Shaina Kambo (D9), Prabhu Kannan (D5), Dr. Sterling Lands (D4), Hoang Le (D3), Brigham Morris (D3), Christina Puentes (D7, Chair), Eugene Schneider (D6) and Selina Yee (D1).
 
Public input forums are recorded and made available after the meetings here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live.
 
Past meetings and agendas can be viewed on the commission's website at www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/116_1.htm
 
 

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