District-Based Elections Community Workshop (Virtual), May 12, 2026

This virtual community workshop held by the City of El Cerrito on May 12, 2026, focused on the transition to district-based elections scheduled for 2028. The meeting primarily served to educate the public on the redistricting process under the California Voting Rights Act, emphasizing the importance of public input in drawing district boundaries that reflect communities of interest. The city is conducting an accelerated 90-day process with multiple public hearings, and the workshop demonstrated the use of an online mapping tool that allows residents to propose district maps and communities of interest. While no direct procurement or contracting decisions were discussed, the meeting highlighted the city's engagement with a demographer and the use of a redistricting software platform, which may involve vendor services. The process includes multiple hearings culminating in a City Council vote on the final district maps by July 2026.