In 2016, Fort Worth voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to increase the number of City Councilmembers from nine to 11 following the completion of the 2020 Census. The Task Force on Race and Culture in December 2018 recommended the goal of ensuring that the City Council reflects the diverse communities that it represents.
In August 2020, the City Council appointed a Redistricting Task Force and charged them with “Evaluating the criteria and procedures by which the City Council has redrawn Council district boundaries in the past and, accordingly, advising the City Council about redistricting criteria and procedures that the City Council should use in the future.”
In March 2021, the Redistricting Task Force presented 10 criteria for redistricting. The task force also suggested that software training be provided to residents who are interested in the redistricting process, and that proposed redistricting plans submitted by residents be analyzed and presented to the City Council.
The group urged transparency in the redistricting process by requiring all map drawing to occur at public meetings, with computer screens visible to all parties.
From June – November 2021, training sessions were help throughout the city. Training was provide in-person and through an online video. All maps submitted by the November 12 deadline are posted online. Staff also provided an evaluation for each map to identify criteria that was met.