2021 Metro Council redistricting process

Go to the main menu
Go to the search form

Updated data from the 2020 United States Census required that Metro Council adjust the boundaries of its six council districts. Learn how the process was determined and the outcome of the adjusted district boundaries.

Approved Metro Council districts after December 14, 2021
Last published: Dec. 14, 2021
Download pdf: 3.07 MB

back

Every 10 years, the Metro Council receives data from the US Census and must evaluate whether each of the six Metro Council districts remain relatively equal in population. If they are not relatively equal, Metro Council must adjust the district boundaries to guarantee equitable representation. The redrawn maps shift the boundaries of the six Metro Council districts to account for any uneven growth in the metropolitan region. In October 2021, Metro began the process of evaluating the updated Census data and adjusting the district boundaries accordingly.

Metro Council voted to approve new boundaries on Dec. 14.

Values and criteria

Metro Council said it would rely on three main values to guide the redistricting process.

Leading with racial equity: Metro actively engages communities of color in redistricting and considers impacts of redistricting on communities of color, both within districts and regionwide.
Transparency and accessibility: Residents feel welcome and find ample opportunities to share their thoughts about redistricting with Metro Council and staff.
Accountability: Metro Council districts are of equal population and reflect the region’s changing demographics. Every effort is made to ensure communities of common interest are kept intact.

The Metro Council adopted an ordinance that specified criteria for the redistricting process. That criteria sought to ensure communities of common interest were kept intact. The definition of "communities of common interest" included smaller cities, school districts, geographically-concentrated communities of color, and areas surrounding major hubs or corridors where people live, work and shop.

In November 2021, residents were asked to weigh in on proposed maps that adjust Metro Council districts to ensure equitable representation. Opportunities to share comments in written format and at virtual public hearings were offered at several times.

Nov. 1. Deadline for public comment form submissions regarding redistricting criteria
Nov. 3. Proposed maps and boundaries released
Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. Virtual public hearings with Metro Council about proposed maps and boundaries
Nov. 14. Deadline for public comment form submissions regarding map scenario preferences.
Nov. 30. Metro Council first considered an ordinance describing new boundaries
Dec. 7. Metro Council adopted Revised Apportionment Plan
Dec. 14. Metro Council adopted new boundaries.

Metro Council voted to approve new Council District boundaries on Dec. 14, 2021.

Prior to adoption, the Metro Council Subcommittee on Redistricting put forth five scenarios for full Metro Council consideration and public feedback. Of those scenarios, the subcommittee initially recommended that Metro Council adopt a slightly modified version of Scenario A2, called Scenario A2 Alternate.

Metro Council considered Scenario A2 Alternate on Nov. 30. Following the first reading and public hearing, Council received additional feedback from stakeholders requesting that the City of Beaverton remain in two districts, not three. Council directed staff to adjust the map to accommodate that request and adopted an amendment to Ordinance 21-1472 to replace the map.

The reapportionment plan responded to public preferences to move the District 1 boundary to the west, creating a more cohesive East Portland. The new boundary runs along 102nd Avenue/Cherry Blossom Drive/112th Avenue north of Division Street.

This plan also moved the boundary in Happy Valley west, to avoid splitting in half an area that is expected to become a new downtown area. This change was made in response to comments received from Happy Valley during the engagement period.

In Washington County, the reapportionment plan keeps together the unincorporated areas of northern Washington County, specifically the areas of Bethany, Rock Creek, Cedar Hills, and Cedar Mill. These neighborhoods all remain in District 4. It also keeps the city of Tualatin in a single district.

Metro asked for feedback on five redistricting scenarios, or new district boundary maps. These scenarios were chosen by the Metro Council Subcommittee on Redistricting, based on feedback about redistricting criteria and priorities for the region from community members and groups.

Public comments on proposed redistricting scenarios

115.81 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Nov 24, 2021

Scenarios A1 and A2

These scenarios represented minimal changes to the existing Metro district boundaries.

Scenario A1

Scenario A1 removed the West Slope area east of OR-217 from District 4 and added it to District 3. The area of Tualatin east and north of I-5 and I-205 was moved from District 3 to District 2, and a greater portion of the eastern side of Happy Valley was moved into District 1.

Scenario A2

Scenario A2 removed the West Slope area east of OR-217 from District 4 and added it to District 6. The western boundary of District 1 moved west from 122nd Avenue to 102nd Avenue/Cherry Blossom Drive/112th Avenue. The formerly jagged edge in Happy Valley was consolidated along 172nd Avenue.

Scenarios B1 and B2

In Scenarios B1 and B2, the changes to districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 were identical. Only districts 5 and 6 were different between B1 and B2.

Scenario B1

District 1 became entirely within Multnomah County and the western boundary moved to I-205. District 2 became entirely within Clackamas County, pulling in all of Happy Valley and Damascus. District 3 brought in the area east of OR-217 and south of the Sunset Highway (US-26). District 4 consolidated Aloha north of Farmington Road into the district, as well as part of the area north of the Sunset Highway. District 5 included a larger section of Washington County (Cedar Mill and part of Bethany). The section of District 2 in Multnomah County moved to District 6. Downtown Portland was split along Burnside.

Scenario B2

District 1 became entirely within Multnomah County and the western boundary moved to I-205. District 2 became entirely within Clackamas County, pulling in all of Happy Valley and Damascus. District 3 brought in the area east of OR-217 and south of the Sunset Highway (US-26). District 4 consolidated Aloha north of Farmington Road into the district, as well as part of the area north of the Sunset Highway. District 5 and 6 were oriented north-south. District 5 included most of east Portland from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on the west, to I-205 on the east. District 6 included north, south, and west Portland and part of Washington County north of US-26.

Scenario C

For Districts 1 and 2, Scenario C was identical to Scenario A1. Scenario C also consolidated Aloha into District 4. To offset this inclusion, the Cedar Hills and West Slope areas were moved into District 3.

Public hearings

Feedback about the proposed scenarios was accepted through online comment forms, or by providing testimony at two public hearings. Recordings of the public hearings are available below.

Values and criteria