2021 Independent Redistricting
Commission Overview and
Recommendations
February 8, 2022
The Selection Process
• Designed to produce a Commission that is
independent and that reasonably reflects the
diversity of the City
• Outreach: from August 2019 to June 2020
• Application Submissions: 400
• Ethics Commission created a sub-pool of 20-30
qualified applicants and randomly select the first 9
Commissioners
• First 9 Commissioners selected the remaining 4
members and 2 alternates
• Seated on November 20, 2020, and began holding
training meetings on January 6, 2021
Overview: IRC Application and Selection Process
2 Overview: Commission Members & Alternates
Alejandra Gutierrez
Chair, CD 6
Sharon Diggs-Jackson
Vice-Chair, CD 5
Ryan Giffen
CD 2
Thomas J. Cooper
CD 3
Nicole Lopez
CD 4
Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon
CD 5
Kelly Nhim
CD 6
Frank Gutierrez
CD 7
Zhelinrentice Scott
CD 7
Marissa Martinez
CD 8
Sevly Snguon
CD 9
Melody Osuna, Alt.
CD 8
Josias Gonzalez, Alt.
CD 3
Eric R. Oates
CD 1
Genna L. Beckenhaupt
CD 2
Connected population that shares
common social and economic interests
that should be included within a single
district for its effective and fair
representation
What is a Community of Interest?
Overview: Community of Interest
4 Overview: IRC Meetings Held
5 • 17 Training/Business Meetings
o Brown Act and Voting Rights Act
o Redistricting Fundamentals
o Demographics
o Map Tool Training and Teambuilding
• 10 Community of Interest Outreach Meetings
o 9 District-Specific
o 1 Citywide
• 6 Mapping Hearings
Phases of Engagement Methods of Engagement
Overview: Community Redistricting Engagement
6 DIGITAL
Social Media
City Newsletter
PSA’s
Email Blasts
Text Messages
TRADITIONAL
Flyers and Posters
Local News Outlet
Advertisements
Digital Billboards
LB Transit Advertisement
Educate
May
•Introduction of
Commissioners
•Identify local community
partners
•Basics of Redistricting
Motivate
Jun – Sept
•Basics of Redistricting
•Encourage Public Testimony
•Training community on Map
Submission
•Public Mapping Tool Workshops
Activate
Oct - Dec
•Encourage public to
submit draft maps
•Encourage public
attendance to map
Hearings
•Inform the public
about the new map
May – November 2021
Overview: Community of Interest Testimony
7 772 Community of
Interest (COI) Form
submissions
90 COI mapping tool
submissions
110 partial and full
District Plans
16 total hours of public
comment heard
Over 1,000 pages of
emails submitted from
the community
New Map Adopted – 11/18/21
8 The new Council District
Map became effective on
December 18, 2021
• Be clear at the beginning about the time
commitment and limitations on political
participation during term of appointment
• Assessment of analytical skills of
applicants
Application and
Recruitment
Overview of IRC Recommendations
9 • Future Commissions should receive
training assistance from the 2021
Commissioners and City staff with
direct experience with Independent
Redistricting Commissions
Training
Overview of IRC Recommendations
10 • Commission involvement in the budget and
spending
• Commission should select the demographer
• Work directly with independent legal counsel
• Develop rules around Commissioner outreach
activities
Staffing
Overview of IRC Recommendations
11 • Hold meetings at schools and community centers
• If mapping begins after district-specific meetings, then another round of district outreach should occur
• To avoid skewing towards a political outcome,
incumbents, their staff, consultants, candidates, or City lobbyists should be discouraged from participating
• Provide the Commission with a list of registered
lobbyists
Public Input
Overview of IRC Recommendations
12 • Before selection, Commissions should create
opportunities to get to know each other and assess
leadership skills
• Consider the use of interim Chair and Vice Chair prior to selecting permanent chairs
Chair/Vice Chair Selection
Overview of IRC Recommendations
13 • Start with public-drawn and consultant-drawn maps to avoid starting with a blank map
• Transition to public live-line drawing to increase
transparency and allow the public and Commissioners
to understand the intent behind every line change
Creation of Redistricting Plans
Overview of IRC Recommendations
14 • The new map has been delivered to the LA
County Registrar.
• The map will be used for the 2022 upcoming
election.
• The IRC Report has been posted to the
Redistricting website at
www.longbeach.gov/redistricting/resources/
Conclusion
15 Thank you
Bradley Bounds
Redistricting Program Specialist
[email protected]
16