Districting Committee

Final 2016 Map and Districting Plan
Filed with Whatcom County Auditor Debbie Adelstein on April 21, 2016
Final 2016 Districting Map
Final 2016 Districting Map - Zoomed
Final 2016 Districting Plan
2016 Districting Committee Meetings
See proposed maps and other supplemental documents below the table
Meeting Date   Meeting Time and Location Notice and Agenda   Minutes Audio      
April 20, 2016  6 p.m. Council Chambers  Meeting Notice and Agenda  Minutes  Audio 
April 13, 2016  6 p.m. Council Chambers  Meeting Notice and Agenda
Notice of Public Hearing		 Minutes Audio 
April 6, 2016  6 p.m. Council Chambers Meeting Notice and Agenda Minutes  Audio
March 14, 2016 12 p.m. Council Chambers
 Meeting Notice and Agenda 
 Minutes Audio
March 7, 2016 12 p.m. Council Office Conference Room Meeting Notice and Agenda
 Minutes Audio 
March 2, 2016 5:30 p.m. Council Office Conference Room  MEETING CANCELLED N/A N/A 
February 29, 2016 5:30 p.m. Council Office Conference Room Meeting Notice and Agenda Minutes  Audio 
February 24, 2016  3 p.m. Council Office Conference Room Meeting Notice and Agenda Minutes Audio
February 22, 2016 5:30 p.m. Council Office Conference Room Meeting Notice and Agenda Minutes Audio Part 1
Audio Part 2
Audio Part 3
February 8, 2016 12 p.m. Council Office Conference Room Meeting Notice and Agenda Minutes Audio

Supplemental Documents​
In November 2015 the voters of Whatcom County approved an amendment to the Whatcom County Charter to require that the county be divided into five districts (Ordinance 2015-029), with each district being comprised of (as nearly as possible) one-fifth of the county’s population.  The passage of this amendment makes it necessary for the County Council to appoint a Districting Committee by the end of January 2016.  The appointment of committee members and a Districting Master, as well as the duties of the committee, are set forth in the following Whatcom County Charter sections:

Section 4.40 District Boundaries.
The boundaries of each district shall correspond as nearly as practical with the boundaries of election precincts and shall be drawn to produce districts with compact and contiguous territory, composed of geographic units which are approximately equal in population.

Section 4.41 Districting Committee.
During the month of January, 1981, and by January 31 of each tenth year thereafter, a five-member Districting Committee shall be appointed. The County Council shall appoint four persons to the committee, two from each major political party, the four to appoint the fifth who shall be the Chairman. The Districting Committee shall within thirty (30) days of its appointment meet and appoint a Districting Master who shall be qualified by education, training and experience to draw a districting plan. If the Districting Committee is unable to agree upon the appointment of a Districting Master within thirty (30) days, the County Council shall appoint a Districting Master by March 31 of that year.

Section 4.42 Districting Plan.
The Districting Master shall draw a districting plan for the county which shall be submitted by May 1 of the same year to the Districting Committee for adoption with or without amendment. The Districting Committee shall adopt the districting plan within fifteen (15) days. Upon adoption, the districting plan shall be filed with the County Auditor by the Districting Committee. The plan shall become effective upon filing.