Santa Cruz Development News

City Council Reviews Draft Maps for District Elections, Discusses Mayoral Term Timeline

The City Council discussed and considered draft maps for the transition to district elections, hearing public comment and deliberating on various mapping options and the mayoral term timeline. The council aims to narrow down the map choices to two or three 'focus maps' for further consideration before final adoption by August 28th. Key discussion points included adhering to legal criteria (equal population, non-discrimination), respecting neighborhood boundaries and communities of interest, and establishing a transition plan for district elections and a citywide elected mayor, with options for the mayoral term to begin in 2028 or 2030. The interactive mapping tool and printed map copies were discussed as resources for public engagement, with a deadline of July 13th for new map submissions.