Powered by the latest Census data, the City of Seattle is redrawing its boundaries for its seven City Council districts. The volunteer board convened to lead this process meets Thursday for a special meeting to move forward on the process and introduce the fifth and final member selected to the body.

According to meeting materials for the Wednesday morning session (PDF), affordable housing advocate Patience Malaba is set to join the commission. Rules for the redistricting require two members appointed by the mayor, and two by the City Council. The fifth is selected by the board.

Malaba currently serves as the Director of Government Relations and Policy for the Housing Development Consortium.

Malaba joins Eliseo Juárez and Rory O’Sullivan on the board, joining mayoral appointees Neelima Shah and former mayor Greg Nickels.

CHS reported here on the city council redistricting process and the challenges the commission will face including shifting population growth. The districts are to be compact and roughly equal in population and the new lines are supposed to follow waterways, geographic boundaries, neighborhood boundaries, and try to maintain the old structure as much as possible.

Redistricting efforts are also underway at broader levels. CHS reported here on the redistricting process that will reshape Capitol Hill’s representation on the King County Council.

You can learn more about the city process at seattle.gov/redistricting/.

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