Ada County residents can submit feedback on a proposal for new boundaries for the Ada County Highway District Commission, according to an ACHD press release.
The commission is considering four options to more evenly distribute representation between the five commissioner subdistricts, the press release said. The commission hopes to receive feedback from the public by April 20.
Much like the state’s redistricting process for congressional and legislative seats that takes place every 10 years, Idaho law requires ACHD to ensure that its subdistricts served by each commissioner be “as nearly equal in population as practicable” (Idaho Code, Title 40, Chapter 1404A). The law also requires that any change in subdistrict boundaries preserve existing voting precincts.
The 2020 census population shows that growth in western portions of Ada County has created a discrepancy of 20% between the largest of the commission subdistricts, Subdistrict 4, and the smallest, Subdistrict 2, the press release said.
The commission is considering four proposed plans and will take input from the public on them at its 6 p.m. April 27 meeting. The changes will be in place for the Nov. 8 general election.
The proposed options are:
- Option 1: Expands the boundary of District No. 1 to the west (Maple Grove) and District No. 2 to the west (Ten Mile) and south (Franklin/Rose Hill).
- Option 2: Expands the boundary of District No. 1 to the west (Maple Grove) and District No. 2 to the north (Maple Grove to the Boise River) and south (Franklin/Rose Hill).
- Option 3: Expands the boundary of District No. 1 to the west (Five Mile) and divides District No. 2 and No. 5 at Eagle Road and Chinden and expands District No. 2 the south in the West Bench area.
- Option 4: Expands the boundary of District No. 1 to the west (Maple Grove) and divides District No. 2 and No. 5 at Eagle Road to the river.
The maps can be found at achdidaho.org/redistricting, where residents can also take a survey on their preference of the four options.
