Commission Finalizes New City Council Boundaries

San Diego's Redistricting Commission on Thursday approved a final map for City Council districts, including a new ninth district, after months of public hearings and controversies.

Rancho Bernardo will remain part of District 5, though Mira Mesa has been shifted into District 6.

A ninth district was added as a result of a change to the city's form of governance several years ago, and comes as part of the regular redrawing of district boundaries every 10 years according to the latest census data.

District 9 will run from the College Area toward the southwest down to Southcrest. In another major change, District 3 will now include downtown, which is currently represented by Kevin Faulconer in District 2.

The final map is slightly different from the preliminary map approved July 21, with Linda Vista now split only amongst two districts instead of three.

Commissioners previously rejected the pleas of hundreds of residents from the Park Village section of Rancho Peñasquitos, who wanted to stay in the same district as the rest of the community instead of being put into the district to the south with Mira Mesa. Rancho Peñasquitos will now be part of District 5 instead of District 1.

"It just makes sense," Commissioner Carlos Marquez said of the new map. "I think most San Diegans, when they look at our final product, they will agree."

Commissioners have held 44 public meetings since October and been at the center of a number of controversies and interest group demands.

"It's been a long journey," Chairwoman Anisha Dalal said.

The Republican Party of San Diego County contended that the selection process for the seven commissioners was flawed because the picks were made by two retired judges instead of the required three, but their legal challenge failed. GOP leaders also were unable to remove Marquez from the commission despite questions about his residency.

There had been complaints from the Asian-American community that they would not have a majority district. District 6 will be 34 percent Asian, over 18 years old.

In a statement, The Asian Pacific American Coalition called it "an Asian-influenced district."

"After more than 40 years of waiting, APAC is eager to see the return of Asian-American representatives to San Diego City Hall," APAC's co-founder, Dr. Allen Chan, said.

It's not yet clear how the map will be implemented.

City Council President Tony Young has proposed having council members begin representing their new areas late next month, but City Attorney Jan Goldsmith has said that the new boundaries will not take effect until Dec. 2012 when the District 9 seat is filled.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of City Attorney Jan Goldsmith.