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Planning commission outlines redistricting options, schedules public hearings ahead of 2027 municipal election
Summary
Yasir Gonzalez of the Planning Commission presented four draft alternatives to rebalance city council districts, citing a current population range of 8.36% and a legal goal of 5%. The commission will hold open houses and two charter-required public hearings in February–March before forwarding a recommendation to the Supervisor of Elections and council.
Yasir Gonzalez, manager of economics, demographics and research for the Planning Commission, told the City Council the commission launched redistricting outreach Oct. 15 and will present four alternatives ahead of the 2027 municipal election. He said the commission’s public process will include open houses and at least two evening public hearings, "then March will be our second and final public hearing," followed by planning commission approval, proclamation by the Supervisor of Elections and a summer report back to council.
Gonzalez said the commission is using total population (not voting-age or race) as required by constitutional and Supreme Court precedent and is working to reduce the current population imbalance across single-member districts from 8.36% toward a 5% target. He described practical constraints that shape proposed maps: precincts cannot be split, recently moved precincts may be left unchanged (a temporal limitation), and the aim is compact, contiguous districts with the fewest moves to minimize disruption.
The presentation listed precinct-level changes under four alternatives (examples included precincts 151, 169 and 342 in Alternative 1 and precinct 345 in Alternatives 2 and 4). Gonzalez said most residents would not be affected — "over 99% of the people are not gonna be affected" — but urged council members to help publicize outreach materials and QR links so stakeholders can review maps and attend hearings.
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer, who attended the meeting, said his office coordinates precinct integrity and that the process is routine every four years: "My main job is to make sure they don't mess up our precincts," he said, adding the changes affect only a small number of precincts.
Next steps: the Planning Commission will host the scheduled open houses and two required evening public hearings in February–March, present four options to the public and a staff recommendation to the commission, then the Supervisor of Elections will proclaim adopted boundaries before council is updated in summer.
