AK Redistricting Board September Schedule AND Links To Public Map Making Software

 I got two emails from Juli Lucky, a staff member of the Board today.  One announcing the September meetings and the other with links to the Map Making software that's available for public use.  

The Board adopted some deadlines in the meetings Monday and Tuesday:

• Constitutional 30 days after receiving official Census data they most have preimimaoy map
• This date was ambiguous this year because Census Bureau sent data August 12 but saw it was unofficial.  Then later said it was official.  So Board is a little behind, and 30 days is September 10.  So they've scheduled map making days leading up to the 10th.
• They also decided that independent map makers (members of the public and some organized groups working on alternative plans ought to have a little more time, so they've given them another week - to September 17 to get their maps in for consideration
• And so the board will look at those maps and decide which ones to adopt as part of the draft plans to share with the public
• They have 60 more days (from September 10) to adopt an official plan which will be November 10.  In the meantime, they will go on the road around Alaska to present the plans to the public and get their input - particularly on local situations that might violate some of the Alaska Constitutional requirements - particularly social-economic integration of districts.  Or that just might make more or less sensible districts. 

So here's the email with that schedule.  I'd note they met Monday and Tuesday at the Legislative Information Office  (LIO) in Anchorage which allowed for statewide video conferencing plus phone in lines.  They've scheduled the LIO again but caution that the legislature has priority for that location and they may end up in the Board's Offices in the University Mall which doesn't have - at this point - video conferencing.  

"The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted the following meeting schedule and announced that public testimony will be taken at the beginning and end of each board meeting. The intent is to have full day meetings at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office, but that is subject to change based on availability.  Meetings times and more detailed agendas will be forthcoming as they are finalized. 

 

September 7 – 9, 2021: Map Drawing Work Sessions

September 10, 2021: Discussion and Adoption of Draft Plan(s)

September 17, 2021: Presentations of Submitted (3rd Party) Plan(s)

September 21, 2021: Discussion and Adoption of Additional Draft Plan(s)"

 

I'd note the first day - September 7 - is also Rosh Hashanah which along with Yom Kippur ten days later are the two holiest days on the Jewish calendar.  

I've posted the link to the mapping software before, but here it is again.  I did play with it at home and again at the Board meeting yesterday.  For what it has to do, it's pretty simple.  But that's like saying Photoshop is simple.  It's easy to use, but takes a while to figure out.  I haven't found the instruction manual yet.  I'm following my granddaughter's way of learning how to use her mother's phone - just press every option and see what it does until I figure it out.  I'm not sure that will make me proficient enough in the time available to do anything useful.  But I'll keep trying and share if i get any great insights or breakthroughs.

We are pleased to announce that our public mapping tool has updated with new 2020 Census geography and population information. 

 

Public Mapping Tool: www.akredistrict.org/create

 

The public mapping tool is a user-friendly way to start drawing your own maps using the same geographic and population information as the Board. The tool uses a “paint brush” approach to color in census blocks with real time updates of the population of each proposed district showing how it compares to the “ideal” district population of 18,335. You can also add “data layers” to see existing boundaries such as current legislative districts, school districts and municipalities.

 

The Save Plan function produces a unique URL that can be shared with others and also has a button to start the process to submit your map to the Board.

 

The tool has been verified by our staff and compared to the population counts provided by the Department of Labor on their website (two screenshots are attached illustrating this test).  

 

Executive Director Peter Torkelson demonstrated this tool at the meeting this morning. If you missed the meeting, the video archive will be available soon through the Alaska Legislature’s page at www.akleg.gov under the “meetings tab” or via this link.

 

 

Juli Lucky

Staff, Alaska Redistricting Board

(907) 251-9295