PACIFIC GROVE >> A community meeting to teach Pacific Grove residents how to create a district map will take place Wednesday, detailing the software and deadlines.

The City Council has already hosted two public hearings to announce that Pacific Grove will move from an at-large to a by-district election system. The next step is to create a map that will separate the city into six equal districts, each represented by a council member. The maps will be submitted by Pacific Grove residents and will be considered by the council during their Feb. 5 meeting.

This will not be considered a council meeting, so residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn the tools used to create maps according to the city’s meeting agenda.

City Council voted in favor of creating a by-district election system in September in the wake of a formal request by the League of United Latin American Citizens, which the council found prudent not to challenge in court.

Residents interested in creating a map can get started with online tutorials at the District Election Transition webpage (https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/our_city/city_clerk/city_council_districting.php). The tools on the site include Dave’s Maps website (https://www.ndcresearch.com/daves-redistricting-app-user-guide/), and a resource linked to the city clerk’s election transition page.

There is also an option to create maps using pen and paper. The process is a bit more manual and will require the drawer to add up the numbers themselves and try to hit the target of 2,521 people with no more than a 252-person difference between the districts.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Pacific Grove City Hall, 300 Forest Ave. The meeting will be streamed online and can be watched via Zoom at https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/Zoom_CC. Directions to dial into the meeting audio are posted on the agenda.