Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 10.1. 3/8/2022 File #: 22-0085
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Thomas R. Hatch, Interim City Manager
FROM: Gary A. Sheatz, City Attorney
1. SUBJECT
Accept public comments regarding redistricting and consider staff’srequest for a continuance to a date certain to discuss possible adoption of a district map.
2. SUMMARY
At its February 8, 2022 meeting the City Council voted 5-2 in favor of adopting Map 121.
Subsequently, City staff learned of several district boundary irregularities presented in Map 121, as expressed by the demographer. Additionally, the City Attorney received a letter from an elections attorney objecting to the irregularities of the boundaries in Map 121, in potential violation of state law.
Staff has learned that the demographer has a scheduling conflict and will not be present for the City Council meeting on March 8th. Staff is requesting a continuance for consideration of the district maps to March 22, 2022, so the demographer may be present to answer any questions regarding Map 121 and other district maps as directed by the City Council.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Accept public comments regarding the redistricting maps, and;
2. Approve staff’srequest to continue consideration of the possible adoption of a district map to a meeting on March 22, 2022.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions.
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 4: Provide outstanding public service
a: Obtain, implement, and evaluate public input into our services and programs.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
At its hearing on February 8, 2022, City Council voted 5-2 in favor of adopting Map 121 siting the following justification:
· Ability to unite areas of Orange through communities of interest. An example noted includes bringing parts of the Cypress Barrio, a historic community, into District 1, which encompasses much of the City’s historic areas.
· Unites the communities of East Orange who have shown interest in vacant property City of Orange Printed on 3/3/2022Page 1 of 2
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Item #: 10.1. 3/8/2022 File #: 22-0085
· Unites the communities of East Orange who have shown interest in vacant property development in that portion of the community and share the same cut-through traffic concerns. · Provides communities east of the 55 freeway and west of Prospect inclusion in a more central district of the community, as opposed to a district aligning with East Orange. · Provides an increased Hispanic Citizens of Voting Age Population of 42 percent in District 2 and maintains 36 percent in District 5.
Subsequently, City staff learned of several district boundary irregularities presented in Map 121 that the demographer expressed as problematic. Two examples cited were boundary lines that were not easily identifiable because they split an apartment complex or followed a city street that divided a neighborhood.
Additionally, the City Attorney received a letter from an elections attorney objecting to the irregularities of the boundary lines in Map 121, in potential violation of state law. The letter concluded that the adoption of Map 121 would result in legal action.
Given the additional information that came to light after the Council meeting and the specific interest in the district boundary lines staff believes it is essential for the demographer to be present to answer any questions from the City Council and members of the public when the map is presented for adoption. Unfortunately, staff has learned that the demographer has a scheduling conflict and will not be available for the City Council meeting on March 8th. As such, staff is requesting a continuance for possible consideration of a district map to March 22, 2022, so the demographer may be present to answer any questions regarding Map 121 or any other district maps as directed by the City Council.
The maps from the February 8, 2022 meeting are included as attachments for reference.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Map 121 and additional focus maps from February 8th meeting.
City of Orange Printed on 3/3/2022Page 2 of 2
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