BACKGROUND:
Every 10 years, following the decennial census, cities with by-district election systems must use new census data to review and, if needed, redraw district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. This process, called redistricting, ensures all districts have a nearly equal population. The redistricting process for the City of Cathedral City must be completed by April 17, 2022. The City held the first of four required public hearings on December 8, 2021, and the second public hearing on January 26, 2022.
This workshop public hearing is the third in the series.
DISCUSSION:
The City adopted its current district boundaries in 2017, following the transition to district-based elections and based on 2010 census data as required by law. The districts must now be redrawn using the 2020 census data and in compliance with the Fair Maps Act, which was adopted by the California legislature as AB 849 and took effect January 1, 2020.
Under the Act, the City Council shall draw and adopt boundaries using the following criteria in the listed order of priority (Elections Code 21621(c)):
1. Comply with the federal requirements of equal population and the Voting Rights Act
2. Be geographically contiguous
3. Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together)
4. Display easily identifiable boundaries
5. Be compact (do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people)
6. Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party Once the prioritized criteria are met, other traditional districting principles can be considered, such as:
1. Minimize the number of voters delayed from voting in 2022 to 2024
2. Respect voters’ choices/continuity in office
3. Future population growth
Analysis of the City’s current district boundaries, adjusted for the 2020 Census data, shows the districts are no longer population-balanced. The City’s population is 51,683.
The ideal district population is one-fifth of that number, or 10,337.
Determining population balance is done by measuring the spread, or deviation, between the least populated district and the greatest populated district. Deviations of 10% or less are generally considered acceptable under U.S. Supreme Court rulings on equal protection.
The current population of District 3 is measurably over the ideal at 6.15% while District 4 is somewhat under the ideal at -4.09%. Combined, those deviations bring the City’s current total deviation to 10.24%. As such, the district boundaries should be adjusted to achieve a population balance with less than a 10% deviation.
Another consideration is the distribution of minority voters throughout the City, and whether there is a possibility of creating a majority/minority voting district as required under the federal Voting Rights Act. This analysis involves reviewing the ethnicity demographics from the census data, specifically citizens of voting age populations (CVAP). Upon review of the City’s CVAP data, creation of a majority/minority voting district (a district in which an identified minority comprises the majority of voting age population) is possible while remaining in compliance with regard to the other mapping requirements noted above. Currently Districts 1 and 4 are majority/minority Hispanic voting districts. A complete demographic breakdown of the existing districts is attached to this report.
The purpose of this public hearing is to review draft maps, to inform the public about the districting process, and to hear from the community on factors that must be taken into consideration for district boundaries. The public is requested to provide input regarding communities of interest and other local factors that should be considered for district maps. A community of interest under the relevant Elections Code for cities (Section 21621(c) is, “a population that shares common social or economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” The City’s current district boundary map is illustrated below:
The City’s Redistricting consultant initially prepared two draft map options for Council’s consideration at the public hearing on January 26, 2022. Following the hearing and receiving Council input, an additional map was prepared. Further, a member of the public also submitted a map. Each map is summarized below, and accompanying
images and demographic information may be found attached to this report (Attachment). An online tool for closely examining the boundaries, with zoom and search capabilities, may be found here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1gakY85gLpJoemSnu9laHwZ4nz tCboSiq&ll=33.823762257171865%2C-116.454539&z=12
Initial Maps
Map Option A
Map Option A is a relatively minor population balance adjustment that closely resembles the current boundary map, particularly with regard to Districts 1 and 2. Option A preserves majority/minority Hispanic voting districts in Districts 1 and 4, while lowering the total deviation to 4.12%, as compared to the current deviation of 10.24%. The map preserves the core of existing districts, create compact districts to the extent the geography of the City permits, and complies with the requirements of the Fair Maps Act as outlined above.
Map Option B
Map Option B balance the population more dramatically than Option A, making more significant changes to the configuration of the current boundary map. Option B exhibits a total deviation of 3.53%, moving a greater number of residents to achieve that balance. The map creates more compact voting districts, particularly with respect to Districts 3, 4 and 5. It maintains the core of the existing districts and complies with the requirements of the Fair Maps Act as required. Like Option A, Option B preserves majority/minority Hispanic voting districts in Districts 1 and 4.
New Maps for Consideration
Map Option C
Map Option C was submitted by a member of the public and makes fewer changes to the existing configuration of the current boundary map. The map generally creates more compact voting districts, particularly with respect to Districts 1, 2, and 5. District 3 remains largely unchanged. The map respects communities of interest in the areas both north and south of Date Palm Drive. It maintains the core of the existing districts and complies with all requirements of the Fair Maps Act as required. It exhibits a total deviation of 4.05% and creates two majority/minority Hispanic voting Districts. The voting districts are drawn as Districts 2 and 4, whereas in the current map Districts 1 and 4 represent a majority Hispanic citizens of voting age population (CVAP).
Map Option D
Option D was created by the city’s consultant following the second public hearing, and addressed Council’s concern about the number of residents being moved from one district to another. Minimal changes to the current boundary map were made, resulting in a deviation of 8.56%. Districts 4 and 5 remain essentially intact with the current boundaries with just one small population balancing change made. The neighborhoods in the area between Avenida Maravilla and Date Palm Drive were left in District 5 and the area between Date Palm Drive and Santoro Drive remains in District 3. Districts 1 and 4 are preserved as majority/minority Hispanic voting districts.
Next Steps
Following tonight’s hearing and continued demographic review of the recently released 2020 Census data, the City’s redistricting consultant will revise any maps as directed by the Council, as well as evaluate any maps submitted by the public. The Council may, at this public hearing, narrow their focus and identify a preferred map. In that instance, staff will also include introduction of an Ordinance approving a final map at the fourth public hearing. If at the third public hearing the Council requests additional revisions, those revisions will be presented at the fourth public hearing, scheduled for February 23, 2022. Should additional public hearings be necessary to identify and select a preferred map, they will be scheduled accordingly. The deadline for the City of Cathedral City to complete the redistricting process is April 17, 2022.
As a reminder, the City has launched an online mapping tool which allows the public to draw and submit their own district maps for consideration. Any maps submitted by the public by February 15th will be evaluated and included with any revised maps considered at the fourth public hearing on February 23rd.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.