Riverbank awaits public input on voting district maps

All nine options for splitting the city into voting districts remain on the table after Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where no strong preference emerged.

The nine maps will go on public display as Mayor Richard O’Brien presents his 2015 State of the City address, starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at Galaxy Theatres, 2525 Patterson Road. People also can say which versions they prefer during one of two town hall meetings to be scheduled in March.

Meanwhile, the options can be viewed electronically at http://bit.ly/1zlnrrV.

Voting by districts, as opposed to at-large elections, is supposed to help minority candidates’ chances. Latino advocates attended this week’s council meeting, some objecting to options that would split east Riverbank’s predominantly Latino neighborhoods of state-named streets.

Eventually, the council will be asked to choose one map to put before voters throughout Riverbank, either this fall or November 2016.

This story was originally published January 28, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Riverbank awaits public input on voting district maps."