Residents are being invited to play an active role in creating Manteca’s first council districts.

Once tools are available on the city’s website they can draw up potential boundaries.

That is in addition to four public hearings and three community workshops seeking input and vetting the process.

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 City of Manteca, like hundreds of other cities across the state, is forming districts to elect council Members. The city is launching the district formation process with a Public Hearing scheduled via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7:10 p.m. The first Public Hearing will provide background information on the districting process and inform community members on how they can get involved. 

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.

Manteca invites residents to participate in the district formation process to ensure district lines respect neighborhoods, history, and geographical elements. Community members are encouraged to participate in upcoming public hearings and workshops: 

*Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7:10 p.m. — First Public Hearing

*Saturday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. — First Community Workshop

Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7:10 p.m. — Second Public Hearing

*Saturday, Oct.  23,  at 2 p.m. —Second Community Workshop

*Saturday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. — Third Community Workshop (Virtual Only)

Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7:10 p.m. —  Third Public Hearing

*Tuesday, Dec.7, at 7:10 p.m. — Fourth Public Hearing

All meetings, except the Nov. 6 Virtual-Only Community Workshop, will
take place in the Manteca City Council Chambers (1001 W Center St, Manteca,
CA 95337) and via Zoom. Zoom Info for Public Hearings is as follows: Meeting ID: 826 7726 8640, Phone number: +1 669 900 6833. Zoom Info for Community Workshops is as follows: Webinar ID: 819 2041 7621, Passcode: 812083, Phone Number: +1 669 900 6833.

Instead of residents being limited to saying they support or oppose a cty-prepared ordinance or resolution, they can draw a map themselves. Once mapping tools become available, residents can draw the borders of their neighborhood, a proposed Council district or sketch an entire citywide map of five council districts.

The first deadline for community members to submit their drawn district maps is Friday, Nov. 12, by 6 p.m. PST. Maps submitted will be considered in the first draft maps publication presented at the Third Public Hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The second deadline for community members to submit their proposed district maps is Tuesday, Nov.  23, by 6 p.m. Maps submitted will be considered in the second draft maps publication presented at the Fourth Public Hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

To help share information about the districting process and collect public feedback, the City of Manteca has launched a new dedicated district formation website: DistrictingManteca.org. The new website includes background information on the move to district elections, the schedule of upcoming meetings, and frequently asked questions.