City of El Cajon
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CITY OF EL CAJON
REDISTRICTING MEETING
MINUTES
EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA
January 22, 2022
The Redistricting Meeting of the City of El Cajon, held Saturday, January 22, 2022, was called to order by Mayor Wells at 10:31 a.m., at El Cajon Valley High School, 1035 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon, California.
R O L L C A L L
Councilmembers present: Goble, Kendrick and Ortiz
Mayor Pro Tem present: Metschel
Mayo present: Wells
Other Officers present: Mitchell, City Manager
Foley, City Attorney/General Counsel
Cortez, City Clerk
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Redistricting Hearing to Receive Public Input regarding Draft Election District Maps Received and the City Council’s Selection of a Map
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
1. Receives a report from City staff about the redistricting process;
2. Receives a presentation about submitted draft maps and associated demographics;
3. Opens the Public Hearing to receive testimony;
4. Closes the Public Hearing;
5. Selects a City Council District Election Map; and
6. Directs Staff to return with an ordinance, and any other actions needed, to adopt the selected map at its February 8, 2022, meeting.
DISCUSSION
Mayor Wells introduced the Assistant to the City Manager, David Richards, who stated that per the request of the PANA Group, Arabic, Dari and Pashtoo translators were made available by the City for those requiring live translation.
City of El Cajon
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PUBLIC HEARING: (Continued)
Only the Arabic translators, May Hlaihel and Clara Younan were utilized.
Mr. Richards stated that seven (7) emails had been received since the November 4, 2021 meeting, and those have been provided to the City Council. Mr. Ri chards provided a review of the redistricting process, and stated that the City received 13 map submissions for consideration. In addition, Mr. Richards stated that the map selected during the current meeting, will be adopted at the February 8, 2022, 7:00 p.m. meeting.
Mr. Richards provided information on the City’s compl iance w ith the FAIR MAPS Act (FMA) and, in many cases, its efforts to exceed FMA requirements regarding the Public Hearings time and locations, translation to languages required by the FMA and the additional languages provided by the City. Information was given on translated materials as required by the Secretary of State (SOS), and t he additional languages the City translated to. Mr. Richards also overviewed the City ’s extensive outreach to the community in regards to social media post, e-notifications, press releases, flyers, banners, presentations to community groups, announcements during City Council meetings and notices posted and published. The City also exceed ed the average redistricting timeline for a municipality in San Diego with an of 3 months for other cities to 7 months for El Cajon’s process to provide more time for the community to gather information and participate.
National Demographics Consultant, Shannon Kelly stated that the current City of El Cajon map is in compliance of the requirements by the Federal Voter’s Rights Act , State of California criteria and other traditional redistricting principles. Ms. Kelly mentioned that all submitted maps were accepted, but she stated a few of the maps had some area of concern in regards to compactness and geographic continuity, two principles that are part of the rules and goals of redistricting.
Mayor Wells opened the Public Hearing.
1. Paul Circo, submitted map 107 to clean up lines of the current map.
2. Yasmeen Obeid, representing Majdal Center, stated that the Arab community consider their gathering places as important as their residence and shopping locations, and spoke in support of map 112.
3. Ramah Awad, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
4. Jeanine Erikat, spoke in support of map 112.
5. Sarah Farouq, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
6. Jalal Hussain, via an Arabic translator, an El Cajon resident, spoke in support of map 112.
7. Jake Kane, Fletcher Hills resident spoke against map 111, which would divide the Fletcher Hills community, if a new map is to be selected, he suggest map 106.
8. Mohamed Erekat, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
City of El Cajon
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PUBLIC HEARING: (Continued)
9. Kay LeMenager spoke in support of map 101 and spoke against map 108 which turns District 3 into District 4 and viceversa.
10. Anna Holmes spoke in support of the current map.
11. Asia Areigat, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
12. Basem Obeid, via an Arabic translator, stated he dines and shops in El Cajon.
13. Mumtaz Momand, Deputy Director of Afghan Community Culture Center, spoke in support of map 112.
14. Thobital Khateeb, via an Arabic translator, spoke in support of map 112.
15. Husam A. spoke in support of the current map.
16. Rima Alkhateeb, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
17. Hisham Alkhateeb, spoke in support of map 112.
18. Mohammed Tuama, spoke in support of maps 108 and 109.
19. Ashraf Kadoh, representing Majdal Center, spoke in support of map 112.
MOTION BY WELLS, SECOND BY METCHEL, to CLOSE the Public Hearing.
MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Councilmember Goble requested that Consultant Shannon Kelly review all the maps and state whether or not they are within the guidelines established by the State and Federal laws.
Ms. Kelly stated the following:
Map No. 100 – No concerns
Map No. 101 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Map No. 102 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Map No. 103 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Map No. 104 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Map No. 105 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Map No. 106 – No concerns
Map No. 107 – No concerns
Map No. 108 – No concerns
Map No. 109 – No concerns
Map No. 110 – No concerns
Map No. 111 – No concerns
Map No. 112 – Compactness and some continuity concerns
Councilmember Goble stated he considered or measured the submitted maps against the current map, which is well balanced.
City of El Cajon
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PUBLIC HEARING: (Continued)
Conversation ensued amongst Councilmembers regarding the following issues:
Discussion of maps submitted;
Concern for the shape of map 112;
Encouraged constituents to reach out to any Councilmember regardin g any problem;
Minimal shift in demographics, as per the Census data; Changes to other maps such as the County, Assembly, Congress maps that may affect the City;
Other communities of interest, such as people dealing with traffic issues on District 4; and
Map 107 is very similar to the current map.
MOTION BY KENDRICK, SECOND BY METCHEL, to ADOPT the existing map at the February 8, 2022 meeting.
MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Adjournment: Mayor Wells adjourned the Redistricting Meeting of the City of El at 11:50 a.m.
________________________
ANGELA L. CORTEZ, CMC
City Clerk