Amador County – Amador County Supervisor District 2, represented by Richard Forster, was the only district to show growth over the last time a redistricting occurred in 2001, according to a draft redistricting offered Tuesday at the Supervisors’ meeting.

Deputy Registrar of Voters George Allen said redistricting is required every 10 years, and the next is due to be completed by Nov. 1. Supervisors held a public hearing Tuesday on the issue, and will resume discussion only at a regular meeting in the future. It also has an Oct. 11 pubic hearing to finalize the redistricting.

Allen said District 2 was the only one that was growing and has the largest population of any district. It had a 3.42 percent increase over 2001, and 7,933 residents. He said it might be something for Supervisors to look at in 2021 “if District 2 continues to grow.”

He said the numbers came from looking at occupied houses, vacant houses and Census Bureau numbers. He said “houses Upcountry have a large vacation component to them.” District 3, represented by Supervisor Ted Novelli, still had the smallest population of any district, down 1.68 percent, to 6,205.

Allen said District 1 has 6,690 residents, a drop of a quarter percent. District 4’s population fell 87 hundredths of a percent to 6,479; and District 5 also fell, by 62 hundredths of a percent, to 6,566.

Allen said a few homes might be affected by a suggested change on Stony Creek Road, changing from District 2 to 1. He also recommended a change in Sutter Creek. The draft map extended Sutter Creek’s city limits to the Highway 49 bypass to reflect annexation plans for Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort.

Supervisor Brian Oneto mentioned a few homes in Pine Grove that seem out of place in his district, where a creek divides some homes from others.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked if the Stony Creek changes met the “integrity test” and variation allowances. Allen said he did not see a problem with that. He said it may be debated whether it is better for people in a particular district to have one representative or multiple representatives.

Supervisors have an Oct. 11 second public hearing on the redistricting, but will discuss the boundaries and districts at its next meeting without a public hearing.

Novelli asked about the cost to make the changes in districts. Allen said he was not worried about the cost. The biggest concern was finishing redistricting by Nov. 1, as election deadlines approach. He said when they move people among districts they also have to change their precincts for candidate and voter registry, all of which have strict timelines required by law.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.