The County Council is moving the Redistricting Commission's plan for redrawing the five council districts forward, despite vehement opposition from a few Ellicott City neighborhoods.

Council Chairman Calvin Ball, a Columbia Democrat who represents District 2, pre-filed a bill Tuesday, Nov. 22 that would establish new council districts based on the commission's suggestions, a move he said follows previous redistricting processes.

"Now that the bill has been pre-filed, we'll be able to go through the legislative process," he said. "We can listen to everyone's concerns and balance those with what is legally required."

A public hearing on the redistricting bill will be held Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City. The council then has the option of voting on the proposal in early January or tabling it for further work.

Opponents vowed to continue to fight the plan.

"Wheatfield is frustrated that our voices were not heard and listened to, that the map is still going forward," Ellicott City resident Debbie Bures-Walker said. She and her husband, Stephen Walker, have spoken on behalf of the Wheatfield community against to their neighborhood being moved to District 2 from District 1, where she said the community has a "long history and walkable geography.".

At the Dec. 19 public hearing, she said, "we will be encouraging people to stand up and make their voices heard, because this may be the last time we can publicly speak about this."

Councilman Greg Fox, a Fulton Republican who represents District 5, created a separate redistricting plan that did not move Wheatfield, but did not file his plan as a bill. He said he hopes the council members will be able to compromise.

"It's my understanding that a number of council members are looking at alternatives that would not change District 4 or change Wheatfield," Fox said. "I'm hoping logic at the end of the day will prevail."

Council members can amend the commission's plan before voting on it, pass it as proposed or vote it down and file an alternative plan. If the council does not pass a plan before March 15, the commission's plan becomes law.