Phoenix could add more council districts

Several City Council members suggested Phoenix add more elected officials to the nine-member body at their meeting on Wednesday.

The conversation came as the council discussed and approved a schedule to begin the city’s redistricting process, which happens every 10 years following the census. Redistricting is scheduled to finish in August.

The city’s maps were last drawn in 2013 when Phoenix’s population was about 1.4 million. Now, Phoenix’s population is about 1.6 million, according to census data.

Each council member is supposed to represent a similar number of voters, to the extent possible.

Mayor Kate Gallego serves at large, representing all of Phoenix, and the eight council members serve approximately 200,000 residents. Each one represents a district with a population the size of Salt Lake City, which has seven City Council members. Some people are now wondering whether Phoenix has outgrown its eight districts and if the local government body has become too distant and inaccessible to voters.

Councilmember Deb Stark, who represents District 3 in northern Phoenix, said she hoped the city would consider adding more districts at some point throughout the redistricting process.

Councilmembers Jim Waring, Carlos Garcia and Sal DiCiccio agreed. Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari said she was interested in learning more and added that Los Angeles City Council members have larger staffs and bigger offices.

The move to add more districts, however, would require a change to the city’s charter. Changing the charter requires voter approval via a ballot measure.

It is unclear whether voter approval could be sought on the redistricting timeline the council approved Wednesday. A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions from The Arizona Republic about the process.

Phoenix’s redistricting schedule

Here is the redistricting schedule approved by the council on Wednesday:

● April: The council will hire a redistricting consultant.

● April to May: The hired consultant will gather and analyze data.

● May to August: Two rounds of public hearings will be held. District boundary maps will be proposed.

● August: The council will vote on the proposed district boundaries.

● January 2024: The new council district boundaries will take effect.

● November 2024: The city will hold its first council election using the new districts.