The Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District has developed several public mapping tools to assist the public in drawing maps. There are different tools for different purposes, and different tools for different levels of technical skill and interest.
Available mapping tools include:
1. Paper-only maps for those without internet access or who prefer paper.
- Public Participation Kit – standard-size 8.5 x 11″ Paper Map w/ Population Count (available in English or in Spanish).
- Please use a thick dark-colored pen or different colors to draw your map, then submit it by email to ranchosimielectionmaps@rsrpd.us or at one of the following locations: Rancho Simi Activity Center (4201 Guardian St., Simi Valley 93063), Rancho Santa Susana Community Center (5005 E Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley 93063) or Oak Park Community Center (1000 N. Kanan Rd., Oak Park 91377).
- Alternatively, submit any form of hand-drawn map that identifies street names.
2. Online Mapping Tool: DRA (“Dave’s Redistricting App) is a simple online map drawing tool to easily draw neighborhoods or communities of interest.
DRA allows members of the community to create and submit proposed district maps for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District. Use the resources below, including a step-by-step “How To Guide” and video tutorials to learn how DRA works.
PDF “How To Guide”
Video tutorials (YouTube):
Quick Instructions:
- On the main website, register to create a user account to draw a district map.
- Once you have made an account, you can access either the blank 5-district Rancho Simi RPD template (be patient – the DRA site is slow to load and may give a quick error message before loading).
- Then click the paintbrush icon to “Make an editable copy of this map.”
- Once you have drawn your map, please email a link to map and the plan name that you published to ranchosimielectionmaps@rsrpd.us (the City will not know you have drawn it and will be unable to include it in their deliberations unless you send the link to that email address).
3. Interactive Review Map to review, analyze, and compare maps, not to create them. Zoom in and out on map boundaries, search for addresses and other locations, and view draft maps. Similar to Google Maps in ease of use.
Submit maps to ranchosimielectionmaps@rsrpd.us. After you submit your map, the demographic consultants will generate the population and other demographic details for your proposed map. Maps can be viewed on the Draft Maps page or on the Interactive Review Map.
It is helpful if you submit written comments with your map describing how your map was drawn to meet the required criteria. An example of this would be describing the specific neighborhoods or communities of interest that are kept within a single district.
If you would like to submit a map created using your own software, please email to ranchosimielectionmaps@rsrpd.us and include: (1) a GIS Shapefile and/or a Census Block equivalency file (using 2020 Census Blocks); and, (2) a description of the choices and key points of your map.