Tracy holds second public hearing on districting; council asks for maps showing school boundaries and community layers

The Tracy City Council on Nov. 18 held the second of four public hearings on transitioning from at‑large to district‑based council elections, hearing a staff report from City Clerk April Quintanilla and a presentation from demographic consultant Michael Wagaman. Quintanilla outlined the process, and Wagaman urged council to provide early direction so the consultant can prepare multiple draft maps for review.

Wagaman said public plans submitted by residents will be treated equally to consultant‑drawn plans and noted community plans are due to the city clerk by 6 p.m. on Nov. 25 if residents want their submissions published with the consultant’s materials. Wagaman said the city could publish submitted plans and that the next hearing on Dec. 11 will include draft maps; a final adoption could follow the ordinance process in February.

Public speakers urged moving to district elections to reduce litigation risk and increase neighborhood representation. Resident Junia Simpski said district elections were "the fiscally responsible choice" because they reduce the risk of expensive Voting Rights Act litigation and lower barriers to run for office. Robin Cole urged respecting neighborhood communities and noted the city’s population growth.

Councilmembers asked staff and the consultant to provide maps that overlay proposed districts with elementary, middle and high school attendance geographies and to consider keeping historic neighborhoods intact. Several councilmembers raised concerns that the Nov. 25 deadline falls close to Thanksgiving; Wagaman said it was not a hard cutoff, the tools would remain available, and staff suggested a possible extension to Dec. 1 to ease public participation logistics. Council then voted to receive the consultant’s report and provide initial direction to prepare draft maps.