The next redistricting townhall meeting is this week - let your voice be heard.

The City of Dallas invites the public to attend the next Redistricting Commission town hall meeting, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22 at Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center located at 8701 Greenmound.

"Community involvement and participation is critical to the success of the redistricting process, and we've made it very easy for everyone to submit their own map any time or offer input at one of our public town halls," said Jesse Oliver, 2021 Redistricting Commission Chair. "Ultimately, we want to make a redistricting map that represents our residents and their communities."

The complete schedule is at DallasRedistricting.com and the final meeting Thursday, Feb. 10 will allow virtual participation. Individuals who wish to speak during these public town halls must register at bit.ly/2021RDCTH, by 10 a.m. the day of the meeting. All speakers will have three minutes to speak about the redistricting process. Virtual speakers are required to show their videos when addressing the commission.

"We are committed to making this process as fair and equitable as possible, so we're accepting both virtual and in-person town hall feedback," said Oliver. "Residents will have the opportunity to join us from the comfort of their own homes or in person at city-wide meetings; the Feb. 10 town hall at City Hall will also provide American Sign Language interpreters to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Oral interpretation for other languages is available upon request."

Early on in 2021, the City Council appointed a 15-member Redistricting Commission to develop the districting plan based on the latest decennial counts in compliance with the Dallas City Charter and federal law.

The Redistricting Commission plans to file its recommended districting plan for City Council consideration in May 2022. The Council has 45 days after the plan is submitted to adopt or modify and adapt, a new district map. Any modification requires approval by three-fourths of the City Council. If final action is not taken by the City Council within 45 days, the Redistricting Commission's recommended plan becomes final.

The new districts will be implemented for the next general election of Dallas City Council members conducted at least 90 days following the date the final districting plan becomes effective for the City, currently projected for May 6, 2023.