Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 4.1. 3/22/2022 File #: 22-0174
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Rob Houston, City Manager
FROM: Gary A. Sheatz, City Attorney
1. SUBJECT
Public Hearing and Resolution No. 11381 to consider Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, or 128 for possible adoption.
2. SUMMARY
Conduct the sixth Public Hearing on adoption of a citywide electrical map. Review Resolution No. 11381 to consider Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, or 128 for possible adoption, pursuant to the City Council’s direction provided at the March 8, 2022 Public Hearing.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Conduct a Public Hearing considering Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, or 128, for possible adoption;
2. Select a focus map; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. 11381. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange adopting revised City Council Electoral District Map following the 2020 Federal census and confirming election sequencing pursuant to Ordinance No. 06-19.
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
In October 2019, the City of Orange transitioned from an at-large election system to a district-based election system for election of the City Council members. The City Council adopted a final District Elections Map that was comprised of six districts. The Mayor remains directly elected by the voters of the City. The first City Council election under the new District Elections map was held on November 3, 2020, with four Council District seats (Districts 1,2,3,and 5) on the ballot. In compliance with federal and state law, the City must now undergo a redistricting process based on new 2020 US Census demographic data.
In April 2021, the City Council approved an agreement with National Demographics Corporation (NDC) to guide and support the City through the redistricting process. Following the approval of this agreement, as part of the redistricting process, the City Council approved an agreement with Tripepi, City of Orange Printed on 3/17/2022Page 1 of 3
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Item #: 4.1. 3/22/2022 File #: 22-0174
agreement, as part of the redistricting process, the City Council approved an agreement with Tripepi, Smith, & Associates, Inc. to assist with public outreach and meeting facilitation for the creation of the district maps in accordance with state law. The initial part of this process required the establishment of a tentative schedule of community meetings and hearings. The City Council adopted the Tentative Schedule at its meeting of August 10, 2021.
The City held its first community meeting on August 25, 2021 and attendees provided valuable input regarding criteria for redrawing the district boundaries and identifying communities of interest. The City Council reviewed this input and received a presentation from NDC at its Public Hearing regarding redistricting held on October 13, 2021. At this meeting, the City council directed NDC to begin creating initial maps for review and consideration. Additionally, the public was encouraged to draw new district maps for equal consideration.
At its Public Hearing on December 14, 2021, the City Council reviewed 19 draft maps, created by both the public and NDC. Through its discussion, the City Council narrowed its selection down to four Focus Maps, numbers 105, 108, 109, and 119. The City Council offered NDC input for revising these maps during the Public Hearing and directed the demographer to return with modified Focus Maps. In addition, the City Council set January 28, 2022 as the final deadline for the submission of public draft maps.
At the Public Hearing on February 8, 2022, City Council voted 5-2 in favor of adopting Map 121.
Subsequently, City staff learned of several district boundary irregularities presented in Map 121 that were not consistent with City Council’sredistricting goals. Additionally, the City Attorney received a letter from an elections attorney objecting to the irregularities of the boundary lines in Map 121, in violation of state law. The letter concluded that the adoption of Map 121 would result in legal action.
Given this additional information, at the March 8, 2022 Public Hearing, the City Council reintroduced Maps 119 and 126, along with Map 121, for further consideration at the next Public Hearing scheduled for March 22, 2022. Additionally, the City Council provided specific feedback for making further modifications to Map 126, and requested the demographer create a new map for consideration (Map 128). The City Council’s modification requests included:
• Addressing the boundary between Districts 3 and 4
• Addressing the boundary between Districts 1 and 2
• Addressing the boundary between Districts 4, 5, and 6 • Potentially including the Cypress Barrio in District 1, so long as the Latino CVAP in District 2 is not substantially affected
• Potentially keeping the Village at Orange (also known as the former Orange Mall) in District 3 At tonight’sPublic Hearing, the City Council is asked to receive public input, consider identifying a focus map for adoption, (either Map 119, 121, 126 or 128), and, if a focus map is selected, adopt Resolution No. 11381, formally adopting the City Council Electoral District Map and confirming the electoral sequencing pursuit to City Ordinance No. 06-19.
The next step in this process is dependent on the City Council’sdirection this evening. Should the City Council select one of the four Focus Maps for consideration this evening and adopt the resolution, staff will complete the resolution with the corresponding map number and submit it to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. In the event that the City Council does not select a map this evening, additional Public Hearings would be required to adopt a map prior to the map adoption deadline of April 17, 2022.
The following is attached for your reference: Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, and 128, Resolution No.
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Item #: 4.1. 3/22/2022 File #: 22-0174
The following is attached for your reference: Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, and 128, Resolution No. 11381, Ordinance No. 06-19, redistricting public outreach update, and public comments sent to the City Manager’s Office and the City Clerk between March 9 to 16, 2022.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Focus Maps 119, 121, 126, and 128
· Resolution No. 11381
· Ordinance No. 06-19
· Redistricting Public Outreach Update
· Public comments sent to the City Manager’sOffice and the City Clerk between March 9 to 16, 2022
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