SHOP HAY KING SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/82232366154?pwd=3q1d5blqtfr-SjU4YsvE3s5Y6TBLAWG.1 CALIFORNA Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
The City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Salinas at 5:30 p.m. The City Council held a hybrid meeting in the Council Chambers and virtually via Zoom.
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Salinas
Present: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrews, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño MAYOR Salinas
Absent: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dave Robinson referred to his June 30, 2024, maps submission and discussed two possible districting strategies under the California Voting Rights Act to enhance representation for protected groups; and compared single-member districts, which can appear gerrymandered, with a multi-member district approach using ranked choice voting, highlighting that the latter could better achieve the Act's goals and provide a stronger precedent for other cities.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Public Hearing No. 3 to Receive Input from the Community on City Council Districts to be Established for District-Based Elections Beginning in 2026 and Provide Initial Direction to Demographer Regarding Draft Maps PH 24-034
Staff report submitted by City Attorney Lawson, dated August 13, 2024, was filed
Interim City Manager Claussen announced the item and introduced Demographer Karin Mac Donald who provided an overview of the PowerPoint slides.
Mayor Salinas opened the public hearing at 6:03 p.m.
Scott Rafferty expressed concerns about the lack of public input on the proposed district maps, but commended the demographer's work; emphasized the importance of prioritizing the Asian community as a significant community of interest and suggested that maps one (1) and two (2) . better reflect this priority than maps three (3) and five (5); noted the challenges of creating a majority Asian district that aligns with neighborhood boundaries, suggesting that while map four (4) demonstrates the possibility, it is not a practical solution; and advocated for extending the deadline for map submissions to allow for more community feedback.
Mayor Salinas closed the public hearing at 6:14 p.m.
Council Member Zermeño requested clarification on whether the Council should provide preferences for the district maps and questioned the relevance of considering ethnicity in the decision-making process to which Karin Mac Donald clarified that while race can be considered, it should not be the predominant factor, and other data such as neighborhood and socioeconomic factors should also be taken into account; expressed his disapproval of certain maps, specifically dismissing map six (6) for lacking compactness and map four (4) for appearing gerrymandered; and indicated a preference for map three (3) as his first choice and map five (5) as his second choice.
Council Member Roche raised concern about the focus on creating a majority Asian district, questioning why similar considerations are not being applied to other racial groups, particularly the Latino population, which is the largest minority in Hayward to which Karin Mac Donald clarified that race should not be the predominant criterion, but all protected minority groups, including Latinos, will be considered when drafting maps; expressed concern about potentially disenfranchising the Latino vote by reducing their representation in the proposed maps; emphasized the importance of preserving communities of interest, specifically mentioning Fairway Park; and sought legal clarification on whether the settlement agreement or city charter allows for creative districting solutions, such as having three districts with two candidates each to which City Attorney Lawson, through outside counsel Robin Johansen, confirmed that the settlement agreement and the city charter provides for six (6) districts with an at-large mayor, limiting such flexibility.
Council Member Bonilla Jr. asked about general trends in the submitted maps to identify recurring communities of interest that should be protected to which Karin Mac Donald suggested that the Council could prioritize keeping these communities intact and ensuring racial fairness in the maps; emphasized the importance of not diluting the Latino vote in Hayward, expressing a preference for maps one (1) and two (2), which seem to keep communities together effectively; dismissed map four (4) for lacking compactness and highlighted the need to focus on maintaining the integrity of communities of interest in future drafts.
Council Member Syrop expressed agreement with previous comments dismissing map four (4) as creative but unsuitable for the City's needs; favored maps one (1) and five (5), particularly appreciating how map one (1) structures the downtown area; suggested adjustments to map one (1), specifically recommending that neighborhoods along Mission Boulevard, which he believes have more in common with the Triangle area than with the Hayward Highland district, be grouped accordingly; emphasized the importance of not splitting neighborhoods, particularly in the Triangle and Eden districts; wanted to ensure that communities of interest are respected; and asked for Council Member Roche's input on whether the Industrial Park south of Fairway Park should be considered part of the Fairway Park neighborhood.
Council Member Andrews raised concerns about the presentation of demographic data, specifically requesting that slides 22 through 26 be adjusted to better isolate the boundaries of Hayward for clearer viewing; and asked if it was possible to show a cross-section of incomes within districts rather than just homogeneous areas, reflecting community interest in having mixed-income neighborhoods within the district maps to which Karin Mac Donald 2 August 13. 2024
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
ATA https://hayward.zoom.us/j/82232366154?pwd=3q1d5blqtfrSjU4YsvE3s5Y6TBLAWG.1 CALIFORNIA Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
acknowledged this feedback and explained that while there are many criteria to consider, including socioeconomics, racial fairness, and neighborhood boundaries, they will try to accommodate these preferences in the draft maps.
Council Member Roche mentioned the Fairway Park neighborhood is traditionally defined by Industrial Boulevard and South and recommended considering this boundary more closely; noted that map two (2) effectively addresses the delineation along Mission Boulevard, a significant dividing line in that part of town; proposed that some merging of districts in maps one (1) and two (2) could be beneficial, particularly in integrating Fairway Park and adjustıng boundaries to better reflect the Industrial Park line; and expressed that maps one (1) and twc (2) are close to what she envisions, with some adjustments potentially needed.
Council Member Goldstein raised a concern about the division of communities in the proposed district maps, specifically noting that the boundary between district four (4) and district six (6) in map two (2) might split neighborhoods with different characteristics; and questioned whether the maps need to divide communities based on census blocks, particularly when those blocks separate one side of the street from the other to which Karin Mac Donald explained that the use of census blocks can sometimes result in such divisions, and suggested that if a neighborhood spans both sides of a street, the boundary could be adjusted to encompass the entire neighborhood.
Council Member Bonilla Jr. suggested revisiting the boundaries between proposed districts four (4) and five (5) in maps one (1) and two (2), with a focus on socioeconomic factors like income and education; observed that areas around Mission Boulevard might align more closely with the flatlands rather than the hills, indicating that Mission Boulevard might not be the right dividing line; proposed overlaying income and other factors on the maps so Mission Boulevard and districts four (4) and five (5) better align communities within these districts, ensuring that neighborhoods with similar characteristics, such as education and income, remain together; and noted discrepancies within district four (4) that might be addressed by adjusting the boundaries.
Mayor Salinas expressed strong opposition to overlapping City districts with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District or the Hayward Unified School District; shared his concerns about the historical dominance of representatives from the hills; expressed surprise that the proposed maps continue to segregate the hills rather than integrate them with other areas like the Jackson Triangle; questioned why the plaintiff in the lawsuit had not yet submitted a map, to which Scott Rafferty, representing the plaintiff, responded that they were still listening to public feedback and would consider submitting a map before the deadline; and noted he was waiting until all maps are submitted before making comments.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Salinas adjourned the City Council meeting at 6:55 p.m.
APPROVED
MLL
Mark Salinas
Mayor, City of Hayward
ATTEST:
Miriam Lens
City Clerk, City of Hayward
4|August 13, 2024