Yavapai County officials believe two districts will be added once census numbers return in March, but that doesn’t mean the Verde Valley will have two seats on the Board of Supervisors.
Yavapai County Administrator Julie Ayers said she anticipates the county’s population reached 212,000 to 223,000.
“We believe we’ve triggered the 200,000 [population mark],” Ayers said, which means the county will have to be divided into five districts.
Currently, there are three districts in Yavapai County. Yavapai County District 3, represented by Chip Davis, includes the Yavapai County portion of Sedona and the rest of the Verde Valley. Districts 1 and 2 are located on the south and west sides of Mingus Mountain.
Sedona Mayor Rob Adams said ideally he’d like to see two districts in the Verde Valley and three on the other side of the mountain.
District lines will be drawn according to population concentration, Ayers said. The Department of Justice requires the five districts be equal in population with less than 10 percent variation between them.
Ayers said the Verde Valley won’t be split in half to create two districts. There are probably not enough people living in Sedona and the Verde Valley to warrant two districts, but there are likely too many for one, which means a portion of the area could be grouped with communities from districts 1 or 2.
Davis said he believes the populations of the five new districts will be between 40,000 and 45,000, and he thinks there are 70,000 people living in the Verde Valley.
If Davis’ estimates are correct, he said there will likely be one district made up entirely of Verde Valley communities and a second with the majority of its population also living in the Verde Valley. The second district would be joined by a small portion of districts 1 or 2.
County staff and the board will have to look at the county as one and ignore the mountain, Ayers said.
The board will listen to a presentation by staff before January to start the division process, which will include public involvement.
Adams said he would like to see Sedona, which resides in both Yavapai and Coconino counties, grouped with other communities that share a common interest in natural resources and conservation. Political commonalities is also important, including sharing similar ideas on economic development and growth issues.
The county will strive to keep communities with similar issues and ideologies together, Davis said.
Ayers estimates district lines should be redrawn by the end of 2011 giving the county one year to research and collect comments.
County staff and supervisors will take their time redistricting, Ayers said, because it needs to be a decision that is thoroughly thought through.
“It’s very important to the future of the county,” Ayers said.
After the lines are drawn, candidates interested in running for a supervisor seat will pull packets in 2012 for the fall election. Supervisors will take office in January 2013.
Adams said it’s critical for someone from Sedona to be part of the decision-making process and he calls residents to action.
