Commissioner District Boundary Redraw Proposals: Opportunities for Public Review & Comment

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Commissioner District Boundary Redraw Proposals

After considering the five boundary proposals developed by the Population Research Center at PSU, as well as early citizen comments, the Board of Commissioners has asked that a new proposal (C.1) also be released for public review and comment. As compared to Proposal C, C.1 reduces the westward expansion of District 2, utilizes the Sunset Highway as a boundary in the Helvetia area, increases the expansion of District 1 on Cooper Mountain, and eliminates proposed changes in the Progress area.

Proposal C.1 and the other boundary proposals are available for viewing and comment on the project website. County staff will also be available to answer questions and receive comments at three remaining community open houses for the "Redraw Project:"

May 21st
THPRD Garden Home Recreation Center Room 10
7475 SW Oleson Road, Portland
6:30-8:30 p.m.

May 27th
Groner Elementary School Library
23405 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Hillsboro
6:30-8:30 p.m.

May 28th
TVF&R Station 50 Community Rm.
12617 SW Walnut Street, Tigard
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Last November, voters approved a change to the Washington County Charter that will soon prompt changes to the boundaries of the four commissioner districts. Now County residents get to weigh-in on how those changes should occur.

The County reviews the population balance between commissioner districts every ten years following the U. S. Census. Historically, if any district was found to have 115% or more of the population of another district, boundaries were redrawn to achieve a more equitable distribution. The last time this occurred was in 2000 when much of the Helvetia area shifted from District 2 to District 4, and a large area west of Hwy 210 and Clark Hill Road moved into District 4 from District 3 (map).  

The new Charter language reduces the "trigger" for reapportionment from 115% to 105%. Additionally, once boundaries are redrawn, no district may have a population that is more than 103% of the others. The old standard was 110%.

The Charter change also gives the County a one-time chance to complete a mid-census cycle update that adheres to the new requirements. At the request of the County, the Population Research Center at Portland State University prepared a report identifying five boundary options for review by the public and Board of Commissioners.

"Over the next month, we hope interested county residents will either attend one of the four planned workshops, or go online to learn about the proposals and comment," says Walt Peck, Coordinator for the Redraw Project. Public feedback will be taken through June 2nd and will then be conveyed to the Board of Commissioners to help inform their decision on new boundaries.

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