THE “YELLOW” district map received final approval Wednesday night by the Westminster City Council for use in the 2020 municipal elections (NDC/City of Westminster).

The district maps for the Westminster’s first by-district elections have been officially adopted.

On Tuesday night the council voted 4-0 – with Councilmember Sergio Contreras absent – in favor of the second and final reading of an ordinance creating the four council districts based on the “yellow” map. The mayor’s post is not affected as it is filled by at-large voting across the city.

At the first reading on Dec. 11, the vote was 4-1 with Sergio Contreras dissenting because he supported the “purple map.” The colors were assigned to help citizens distinguish between and among the various maps proposed both by a city-hired demographer and Westminster citizens.

The council also adopted the sequence of conversion to the new system. Districts 2 and 3 will be on the ballot in 2020 and Districts 1 and 4 in 2022. The specifics of the “yellow” map will likely change after the 2020 census, which will calculate population numbers and trends. By law, districts must be roughly equal in numbers and not disadvantage any ethnic group.

The shift from an at-large system was prompted by the threat of legal action alleging the current practice violates the California Voting Rights Act.

The next meeting of the council is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2020.