Special commission meeting set for Oct. 19 for presentation of map submissions
Through Oct. 11, Sarasota County staff will accept maps for consideration of new County Commission districts, the county has announced.
A portal for the public has been opened on the county website, at this link.
“Only submissions from Sarasota County residents will be considered,” a news release points out. “Residents will be required to provide their contact information and address. Map submission will be accepted in the following formats: PNG, JPEG, or PDF,” the release adds.
Commissioner Nancy Detert has stressed that anyone providing a map for consideration must identify himself or herself accurately.
Submissions will be collected and presented to the county commissioners during a special meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the downtown Sarasota Administration Center, which stands at 1660 Ringling Blvd.
After hearing an update from staff on Sept. 28, in regard to the county population data shown in the 2020 Census results, the commissioners agreed that they should redraw the district lines before the end of this year. The 2020 Census indicated a 14.2% deviation in district populations. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling years ago indicated the need for redistricting whenever the population deviation is greater than 10%, the Office of the County Attorney has explained.
During the Sept. 28 discussion, the BCC board members also agreed to create an online portal for community submissions, “to be compliant with the state and federal constitutions,” the release says.