CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS
Via videoconference
Participation via Phone: (301) 715-8592
Meeting ID: 823 6820 3706
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – 5:30 p.m.
SAFETY ALERT – NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, the above meeting of the City of Los Alamitos City Council will be conducted by videoconference pursuant to the provisions of the Governor’s Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-29-20. The public may access the meeting electronically or telephonically.
Pursuant to Executive Orders and given the current health concerns, members of the public may not attend the meeting in person. Members of the public can access the meeting by phone by dialing +1 (301) 715-8592 and enter the Meeting ID: 823 6820 3706. Your microphone will be disabled upon entry for the duration of the meeting.
The public can submit comments to [email protected] with the subject line “PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM #” (insert the item number relevant to your comment) or “PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEM.” Comments received by 3:00 p.m. will be compiled, provided to the City Council, and made available to the public before the start of the meeting. Staff will not read email comments at the meeting but the official record will include all email comments received until the close of the meeting.
Members of the public wishing to verbally deliver comments via the telephone conference can submit their requests to [email protected] until the start of Oral Communications. The City Clerk will compile a list of speakers who have indicated a desire to speak. Before the close of the meeting, the City Clerk will announce each speaker, enable the speaker’s microphone, and begin the three minute timer. The speaker’s microphone will automatically be disabled at the end of three minutes.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC – This Agenda contains a brief general description of each item to be considered. Except as provided by law, action or discussion shall not be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda. Supporting documents, including staff reports, are available for review at City Hall in the City Clerk’s Office or on the City’s website at www.cityoflosalamitos.org once the agenda has been publiclyposted.
Each matter on the agenda, no matter how described, shall be deemed to include any appropriate motion, whether to adopt a minute motion, resolution, payment of any bill, approval of any matter or action, or any other action. Items listed as “for information” or “for discussion” may also be the subject of an “action” taken by the City Council at the same meeting.
Any written materials relating to an item on this agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection online at www.cityoflosalamitos.org.
It is the intention of the City of Los Alamitos to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee, or a participant at this meeting, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 431-3538, extension 220, 48 hours prior to the meeting so that reasonable arrangements may be made.
City Council Special Agenda
January 18, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor Hasselbrink
Mayor Pro Tem Doby
Council Member Bates
Council Member Chirco
Council Member Nefulda
3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Public Hearing to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the Redrawing of Election District Boundaries (City Clerk)
Every ten years, 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 nearly equal population. The redistricting process for the City of Los Alamitos must be completed by April 17, 2022.
Recommendation:
1. Conduct a public hearing to receive public input on district boundaries; and,
2. Receive a report from Staff on the redistricting process and permissible criteria to be considered to redraw district boundaries.
4. ADJOURNMENT
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, that the foregoing Agenda was posted at the Los Alamitos City Hall, 3191 Katella Ave. and online at www.cityoflosalamitos.org not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Windmera Quintanar, MMC, City Clerk
Dated: January 12, 2022
City of Los Alamitos
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 18, 2022 ITEM NUMBER: 3A
To: Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink & Members of the City Council Presented By: Windmera Quintanar, MMC, City Clerk
Subject: Public Hearing to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the Redrawing of Election District Boundaries
SUMMARY
Every ten years, 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 nearly equal population. The redistricting process for the City of Los Alamitos must be completed by April 17, 2022.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Conduct a public hearing to receive public input on district boundaries; and,
2. Receive a report from Staff on the redistricting process and permissible criteria to be considered to redraw district boundaries.
BACKGROUND
The City adopted its current district boundaries on July 30, 2018, 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 Council shall draw and adopt boundaries using the following criteria in the listed order of priority (Elections Code 21601(c) for general law cities / 21621(c) for charter cities):
• Comply with the federal requirements of equal population and the Voting Rights Act
• Geographically contiguous
• Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together)
Redistricting Public Hearing #1
January 18, 2022
• Easily identifiable boundaries
• Compact (do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people)
• Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party Once the prioritized criteria are met, other traditional districting principles can be considered, such as:
• Minimize the number of voters delayed from voting in 2022 to 2024 • Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office
• Future population growth
By law, the City must hold at least four public hearings that enable community members to provide input on the drawing of district maps:
• At least one hearing must occur before the city or county draws draft maps • At least two hearings must happen after the drawing of draft maps • The fourth hearing can happen either before or after the drawing of draft maps • City or county staff or consultants may hold a public workshop instead of one of the required public redistricting hearings
To increase the accessibility of these hearings, cities and counties must take the following steps:
• At least one hearing must occur on a Saturday, Sunday, or after 6 p.m. on a weekday
• If a redistricting hearing is consolidated with another local government meeting, the redistricting hearing portion must begin at a pre-designated time • Local public redistricting hearings should be made accessible to people with disabilities
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this public hearing is to inform the public about the districting process and to hear from the community on what factors should be taken into consideration while creating district boundaries. The public is requested to provide input regarding communities of interest and other local factors that should be considered while drafting district maps.
A community of interest under the relevant Elections Code for cities (Section 21601(c) / 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.” Redistricting Public Hearing #1
January 18, 2022
Possible features defining community of interest might include, but are not limited to:
• School attendance areas;
• Natural dividing lines such as major roads, hills, or highways; • Areas around parks and other neighborhood landmarks;
• Common issues, neighborhood activities, or legislative/election concerns; and • Shared demographic characteristics, such as:
• Similar levels of income, education, or linguistic insolation; • Languages spoken at home; and
• Single-family and multi-family housing unit areas.
Next Steps
On February 7, 2022, the City Council will conduct Public Hearing #2 at a Special meeting to seek additional public input and provide direction on criteria to be considered while drafting district maps. Following that hearing, draft district maps and proposed election sequencing will be posted to the City website and available at City Hall.
Below is the proposed schedule for the Redistricting Process:
Public Hearing 1: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – 5:30 p.m. (Regular Council Meeting) Public Hearing 2: Monday, February 7, 2022 – 5:30 p.m. (Special Council Meeting) Public Hearing 3: Monday, February 28, 2022 – 6:30 p.m. (Regular Council Meeting) Public Hearing 4: Monday, March 7, 2022 – 6:00 p.m. (Special Council meeting) Adopt District Maps: Monday, March 21, 2022 – 6:00 p.m. (Regular Council Meeting)
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds have been budgeted in the Election Expense Account, 10.511.5233.
Submitted by: Windmera Quintanar, MMC, City Clerk
Fiscal Impact Reviewed by: Craig Koehler, Finance Director Approved by: Chet Simmons, City Manager