Chula Vista City council unanimously approved the "Recommended Redistricting Plan" map proposed by the city’s Redistricting Commission on Dec.7, slated to becoming the "Final Redistrcting Plan" for future election years
With council approval in the absence of Councilmember John McCann, the map will be used in the 2022, 2024, 2026 and 2030 city council elections upon submission on Dec.15 to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. In 2012, Chula Vista voters elected to create four geographic electoral districts. The boundaries currently used by council were approved in 2015.
The 2020 Census data was “significantly delayed” at the federal level according to Redistricting Commission Chair Gloria Hurtado. The City of Chula Vista received the census data on Sept.27 when it would typically be received in April.
“Even though there was a compressed time frame there was a lot of due diligence and consideration in part of the commission,” Hurtado said.
The new adjusted data in the 2020 Census displays 207,060 individuals under all districts. According to Hurtado, that is a growth of 32,175 residents, which occurred mostly in District 3 over 10 years with a population increase of 22,000 residents. The data reflects growth in all districts.
The Final Redistricting Plan projects expansion in Districts 2 and 4, but reduction in District 3 to account for its growth. The voter population has a smaller deviation, or total distance between largest and smallest districts, and does not negatively impact the communities of interest.
“We tried to keep the bulk of the communities together, and tried to reduce the big shifting of populations,” Hurtado said. “We needed to help District 2 and 4 grow, because those were the ones that had the least amount of growth, and because they were kind of confined.”
Northeastern Chula Vista still includes District 1. It is reduced by a portion of the Rancho Del Rey community between Paseo Ranchero and Paseo del Rey, south of East H Street, which is added to District 2. District 1 gains some area from District 3 around Southwestern Community College (SWC). District 3, additionally reduced a portion of the Eastlake Village area, and the Oleander corridor between Telegraph Canyon Road and Main Street.
District 2 expands east to gain the portion of the Rancho Del Rey community. Hurtado noted “some along the Rancho Del Rey area that didn't feel like they were aligned with District 2, but it needed to move.”
“We tried to be very conscientious about those lines. District 3 was reduced around the Southwestern College area, because we heard from neighbors that wanted to keep some of Rancho Del Rey and Southwestern College together,” Huertado said.
Additionally, District 2 is reduced by a portion of the Chula Vista Bayfront that is south of F street and west of I-5.
“I'm very happy and relieved that Chula Vista High School stayed in District 2. That was a concern that I heard from a number of residents. I'm really fond of having both Hilltop and Chula Vista in District 2,” Councilwoman Jill Galvez said. “I’m sorry to see the Bayfront leave District 2, but happy to retain the two high school community groups.”
Expansion is seen in District 4, adding to the Oleander corridor east of I-805, reuniting the areas east and west of the freeway. The northern boundary of District 4 remains as L Street, with the exception of future development of the Chula Vista Bayfront, south of F street and west of I-5. According to Huertado, the commission received comments from residents currently residing in District 4, most being “very positive” wanting to “embrace how the Bayfront is shared”.
According to the commission, these changes will benefit District 4 due to a direct interest in development that will impact residents in the future.
“It’s always been my belief that each district as best as possible could have a mix of economic demographics as well. I’m really happy to see that shift and that shift more for Rancho Del Rey in District 2,” Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said.
A total of 19 public meetings and workshops were held by the commission. Initial meetings held via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which later resumed in-person during the Summer of 2021. The commission approved a redistricting plan on Nov.18 to present to council.
The proposed maps were prepared by the city’s demographer Justin Levitt, Ph.D from National Demographics, and drawn with consideration of public input and under the guidelines provided at the federal, state and municipal level. Further guidance was provided by City Attorney Glen Googins, the city’s Principal Civil Engineer Frank Rivera, and city staff.
Outreach services were performed by Pedro Anaya with Southwest Strategies who coordinated logistics in each council district to request feedback from communities of interest, present to 17 city boards and commissions, and coordinated with partner organizations to promote the redistricting efforts on multi-media platforms in multiple languages.
Online mapping tools, such as DistrictR, were made available to the public in providing input on communities of interest, on how the district boundaries could be revised, and information about what is important to them about their district.
