Deschutes County advisory committee begins work to draft proposed commissioner districts

The Deschutes County District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC) will begin work in September to develop proposed commissioner district boundaries.

In Fall of 2024, voters approved a ballot measure to expand the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) from three members to five. In response, the Board appointed seven community members to the DMAC and tasked the committee with creating a map that ensures equitable representation across all five commissioner districts.

The DMAC will hold an orientation meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. in the DeArmond Room (first floor) of the Deschutes Service Building, which is located at 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend.

The committee is expected to meet weekly through the fall as it considers the district mapping process. Meetings will be held at 1 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:   

• Sept. 10: Deschutes Service Building, 1300 NW Wall St., DeArmond Room (first floor), Bend.
• Sept. 17:  Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters
• Sept. 24: Redmond City Hall, 411 SW 9^th St., Redmond
• Oct. 1: La Pine Activity Center, 16450 Victory Way, La Pine
• Remaining Sessions (Oct. 8 – Nov. 19): Deschutes Service Building, 1300 NW Wall St., DeArmond Room (first floor), Bend

Once the DMAC has drafted a district map, it will be considered by the BOCC for approval before being shared with county voters as a ballot measure in 2026. If approved, district-specific representation will begin in 2028.

The meetings will be open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and participate during public comment periods. For additional meeting details, including agendas, locations, and virtual participation links, please visit deschutes.org/meetings.

For more information and updates on the District Mapping Advisory Committee’s work, please visit: deschutes.org/dmac.

You can also learn more about how the committee was formed and the criteria guiding the district mapping process by listening to the latest episode of the “Inside Deschutes County” podcast.

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Media contact:

Kim Katchur, Public Information Officer

(541) 322-7441