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There are four proposals for reshaping the borders of Seattle’s seven city council districts — including District 3 covering Capitol Hill, the Central District, and neighboring communities.

The changes based on demographic shifts and population growth may also have important political implications in determining what kinds of candidates can make it through the primary, and who ultimately gets elected.

The next step in the process includes a series of community forums across the city including one planned for June focused on District 3:

Attend a Public Forum

Register in advance at https://seattle.surveymonkey.com/r/VXM2PGW.

• District 1 Public Forum: May 15, 2022 from 1:00pm-3:00pm

Physical Location: High Point Branch Public Library, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., Seattle, WA 98126

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81346766847

• District 2 Public Forum: May 19, 2022 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Physical Location: El Centro de la Raza, Centilia Cultural Center, 1660 S Roberto Maestas Festival St, Seattle, WA 98144

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81813406544

• District 3 Public Forum: June 2, 2022 from 5:30-7:30pm

Physical Location: TBD

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82983603669

• District 4 Public Forum: June 9, 2022 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Physical Location: TBD

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82217028349

• District 5 Public Forum: June 16, 2022 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Physical Location: TBD

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85403374640

• District 6 Public Forum: July 14, 2022 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Physical Location: TBD

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82177793287

• District 7 Public Forum: July 21, 2022 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Physical Location: TBD

Virtual Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86215361885

The city’s Department of Neighborhoods will run the sessions and says the Seattle Redistricting Commissioners “will educate community members about the redistricting process and present interactive maps that detail examples of boundary changes and how they may impact specific districts.”

The meetings will be available both in-person and online and attendees will “have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback directly to the Commission.”

The Seattle Redistricting Commission includes five appointees “responsible for redrawing the new Council District boundaries to reflect the city’s population growth.” Two members were appointed by the City Council, EJ Juarez and Rory O’Sullivan. Two more members were appointed by then-Mayor Jenny Durkan — Neelima Shah and former Mayor Greg Nickles. Those four chose a fifth member, Patience Malaba.

CHS reported here on the options under consideration and the possible changes for D3. When initially adopted, each district was drawn to include roughly 88,000 people. Capitol Hill was placed in the 3rd district, which stretches from the Montlake Cut south to I-90, and then a bit further south to include a piece of Mount Baker, and from Lake Washington to roughly I-5, though it extends over to include the northern part of the Denny Triangle. Seattle has grown quite a bit over the last few years, and that growth has not been distributed proportionately, each district this time around is likely to end up with a bit more than 100,000 people. District 3, including Capitol Hill, the Central District, and First Hill, has gotten proportionately larger than that and will need its borders to shrink.

• Map 1 makes the least drastic changes to District 3. The area on the west side of Portage Bay would be moved from District 3 into District 4, along with parts around the Denny Triangle. A strip along the southern end of the district, roughly south of Yesler Terrace and moving southeast to Mount Baker would move to District 2.
• Map 2 offers the most radical reshaping of District 3. Broadmoor, Madison Park and Montlake would all be moved into District 4. The western part of Portage Bay would move into District 6. District 3 would shift westward, gobbling up Eastlake and most all of South Lake Union. Madrona and Leschi would move into District 2, with the dividing line running more-or-less but not perfectly along MLK. That same southern strip from the previous map would also shift into District 2.
• Map 3 would also move Broadmoor, Madison Park and Montlake into District 4. District 3 would extend out to absorb South Lake Union, though Eastlake would remain in District 4 where it is now. Once again, the southern strip would move into District 2.
• Map 4 again moves Broadmoor, Madison Park and Montlake into District 4, along with pretty much everything north of Interlaken and the northern half of Eastlake. District 3 would add the Denny Triangle and expand to include downtown but not South Lake Union. Most of the southern portion of the district would move to District 2. Yesler Terrace would be included in District 3, and then there would be a stair step progression northeast. It would leave Madrona in District 3, but move Leschi into District 2.

Later this year, the commission will release a single draft map. It’s important to note that that map does not necessarily have to look exactly like any of the four released, as the commission may elect to shift boundaries. After that, there will be opportunity for at least one more public hearing, and more map revisions. Then, by Nov. 14, 2022, the commission is to approve a final map and submit it to county auditors by Nov. 15.

The new map will go into effect with the 2023 City Council election, when, after defeating last year’s recall attempt, D3 representative Kshama Sawant next faces reelection. The southern D3 resident will be watching closely where the redistricting lines fall. City Charter mandates that a person be a resident of a district for 120 days prior to filing for candidacy.

PLEASE HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE!
Subscribe to CHS to help us pay writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for as little as $5 a month.