2023 Commissioner Redistricting
SEE RESOLUTION 2023-09 FOR FINAL DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH OF THE THREE COMMISSIONER DISTRICT
Public Hearing: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Notice is hereby given to the members of the general public that the San Juan County Colorado Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing at the San Juan County Courthouse, 1557 Greene St., Silverton, CO, at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 in person and via Zoom to receive public comments concerning the County Commissioner Districts. By law, all counties must review their commissioner district boundaries after each federal census to ensure the districts are as equal in population as possible. In no event shall there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each county, at the time such district boundaries are adopted.
NOTICE is further given that all persons may present oral/written testimony regarding the redistricting options prior to/during the Public Hearing. Comments may be sent by email to admin@sanjuancolorado.us, by mail to San Juan County, PO Box 466, Silverton CO 81433, or hand-delivered to the County Courthouse. Interested persons may contact the County Administrator at 970-387-5766 with any questions or comments concerning the options.
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or by Phone: 1 669 900 6833 Meeting ID: 921 3647 3203
About
Redistricting is the process of redrawing county commissioner district boundaries so they accurately reflect population changes in Colorado counties. In San Juan County, all three commissioners are elected by the voters of the entire county, but each commissioner must reside in a separate district.
By law, all counties must review their commissioner district boundaries after each federal census to ensure the districts are as equal in population as possible. Traditionally, this review occurred in the year following the federal census and had to be completed by September 30. However, significant delays in the availability of population data from the 2020 Census due to the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for counties to conduct the mandated review by the statutory deadline in 2021. House Bill 21-1047 enacted in the legislative session attempted to correct this issue by making a number of important changes to the county redistricting statute - including the timing of the mandated review. The new deadline to review and complete redistricting is September 30, 2023.
The 2020 Census Bureau data reflects San Juan County's population at 705, only slightly up from 699 in 2010. However, the three districts must be re-drawn due to shifts in the population of individual Census Blocks within the County. Revised Statutory Requirements for County Redistricting CRS 30-10-306(1): "In no event shall there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each county, at the time such district boundaries are adopted." Previously, the statute merely stated that the commissioner districts had to be "as nearly equal in population as possible," but no specific requirements were given.
Public hearings proposing changes to the district boundaries will be held at the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioner meetings on September 13th and September 27th, 2023.
Changes by Census Block
Census Blocks are the smallest level of geography for which basic demographic data is available from the US Census Bureau. Two particular Census Blocks were the starting point for the proposed district boundary changes.
The most populous Census Block within San Juan County (Block #1081) has 80 people. It is irregular in shape and includes portions of current Districts 2 and 3 on either side of 10th Street on the West side of Silverton. The redistricting process must put this block into a single district, which then requires further boundary changes to keep the districts in balance.
The Census Block that includes Cascade Village in the most southern portion of the county (Block #1157) has a population of 39. In order to keep districts contiguous and in balance, Cascade Village likely needs to be in a different district than the most populous block described above. [Map to be available soon]
Proposed Option A
Interactive Map Link | Map with Census Block Population (pdf) | Map with Aerial Imagery (pdf)
Retains the 10th Street and Greene Street boundary lines as much as possible; Moves Cascade Village from District 3 to District 1.
District 1: Population 234
- Within Silverton: remains generally North of 10th Street and East of Greene Street
- North of Silverton: includes all Blocks East of County Road 2 (unchanged)
- South of Silverton: includes all Blocks East of Highway 550 (the Animas River was the previous dividing line)
- South County: Adds the Census Block that includes Cascade Village West of Highway 550
District 2: Population 231
- Within Silverton: remains generally North of 10th Street and West of Greene Street, EXCEPT for Block #1081
- Northwest of Silverton: bounded by County Road 2 and Highway 550, which includes Anvil Mountain Subdivision
District 3: Population 240
- Within Silverton: remains generally South of 10th Street, but also includes Block #1081 that extends northward on the West side of Town
- Outside of Silverton: Includes all Census Blocks South and West of Highway 550, EXCEPT for Block #1157 which includes Cascade Village
Proposed Option B
Interactive Map Link | Map with Census Block Population (pdf) | Map with Aerial Imagery (pdf)
On the interactive map, after clicking on map link, uncheck Option A and check Option B
Retains Cascade Village in District 3; Largely does away with the existing 10th Street boundary line
District 1: Population 234
- Within Silverton: remains generally North of 10th Street and East of Greene Street, with several exceptions listed from North to South:
- EXCEPT: the 2 blocks bounded by Greene St, 11th St, and Mineral Street
- INCLUDES: South of 10th Street and East of Cement Street
- INCLUDES: South of 9th Street and East of Mineral Street
- INCLUDES: South of 8th Street and East of Empire Street
- INCLUDES: South of 7th Street and East of Greene Street
- Outside of Silverton: includes all Census Blocks East of Highway 550 (the Animas River was the previous dividing line)
District 2: Population 236
- Within Silverton: all blocks West of Greene Street and North of County Road 2 and North of Highway 550 with the following exceptions:
- EXCEPT: the six blocks South of 13th Street and East of Snowden Street and North of 10th Street
- EXCEPT: the block South of 11th Street, East of Bluff Street and North of 10th Street
- EXCEPT: the four blocks South of 10th Street, East of Reese Street and North of 6th Street
- Outside of Silverton: bounded by County Road 2 and Highway 550, which includes Anvil Mountain Subdivision
District 3: Population 235
- Within Silverton: adds nine blocks North of the current 10th Street dividing line, and subtracts several blocks on the south end of Town as described above in Option B, District 1.
- Outside of Silverton: Includes all Census Blocks South and West of Highway 550
Existing Current Commissioner Districts
Current Commissioner District Map
District 1 - Generally East of Greene Street and North of 10th Street
District 2 - Generally West of Greene Street and North of 10th Street
District 3 - Generally South of 10th Street