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 Fresno
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 2. CITY GOVERNMENT
 Article 2. COUNCIL DISTRICTS

  § 2-207. CRITERIA.  

Latest version.

  • Council districts are created for the purpose of ensuring more representative government in this city by disbursing the residences of elected representatives throughout the entire community in order to effect the representation of all diverse groups, elements and areas thereof on the legislative body. In order to implement this guiding principle, the following criteria shall be utilized in fixing Council district boundaries:

    (a)

    Conform to State and Federal Law. All districts shall be drawn in conformance with the requirements of the law of the State of California and of the United States including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, Section 1973 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended.

    (b)

    Communities of Interest. Any identifiable geographic concentration of persons sharing common social, political, and economic interests shall be, insofar as reasonably possible, located within the same Council district.

    (c)

    Population. Population within the districts shall be as nearly equal in population as may be according to the most current of the following:

    (1)

    Population census of the United States Bureau of the Census.

    (2)

    State of California Department of Finance City and County Population Estimates.

    (3)

    Statistics compiled by the Planning and Development Department based on (1) or (2) above.

    Any other census, estimate, survey, and population projection may be considered.

    (d)

    Boundary Lines. Unless good cause requires otherwise, Council district boundaries shall be:

    (1)

    Census tract lines of the United States Bureau of the Census;

    (2)

    Streets (excluding alleys), highways, or freeways;

    (3)

    Railroad rights-of-way;

    (4)

    Waterways; or

    (5)

    Natural or artificial barriers.

    (e)

    Contiguous and Compact.

    (1)

    Territory shall be so located in Council districts as to promote contiguity and compactness of such districts.

    (2)

    Territory of a Council district shall be contiguous except as to any territory which is wholly noncontiguous to any Council district upon annexation.

    (3)

    Council districts shall be compact except for any irregularity of the City of Fresno boundaries.

(Added Ord. 78-95, § 1, eff. 6-30-78; Am. Ord. 87-139, § 1, eff. 11-13-87; Am. Ord. 2001-47, § 1, eff. 7-13-01; Am. Ord. 2007-55, § 4, eff. 9-4-07).