PLACENTIA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
January 19, 2022
5:00 p.m. — City Council Chambers
401 E. Chapman Avenue
SPECIAL PROCEDURES NOTICE
On March 4, 2020, pursuant to California Government Code Section 8625, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency as a result of the threat of the COVID-19 virus.
On September 17, 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 361, which went into immediate effect as urgency legislation. AB 361 added subsection (e) to Section 54953 to authorize legislative bodies to conduct remote meetings provided the legislative body makes specified findings. As of September 19, 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 67,612 Californians. Social distancing measures decrease the chance of the spread of COVID-19.
Given the health risks associated with COVID-19, please be advised that while the City Council Chambers are open to the public, some or all of the Placentia City Council Members may attend this meeting via teleconference. Those locations are not listed on the agenda and are not accessible to the public.
Haw to Observe the Meeting
To maximize public safety while maintaining transparency and public access, in addition to being open to the public, all City Council meetings arE! available to view live on AT&T U -verse (Channel 99), Spectrum (Channel 3), and online at www.placentia.oralocty .
How to Submit Public Comment
Members of the public may provide public comment in person or comments may be sent for City Council consideration by email to the City Clerk at ([email protected]. Please limit submitted comments to 200 words or less. Comments received before or during a Council meeting, until the close of the Oral Communications portion of the agenda, may not be read during the City Council meeting but will be summarized in the public record and are subject to the regular time limitations per speaker. Longer submittals will be included in the public record. If you are unable to provide your comments in writing, please contact the City Clerk's Office for assistance at (714) 993-8231.
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodation
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at citcLerkpplacenti org or by calling (714) 993-8231. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will generally enable City Staff to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility while maintaining public safety. (28 CFR
35.102.35.104 ADA Title II)
Until further notice the City will implement the guidelines of the California Department of Public Health regarding social distancing.
The City of Placentia thanks you in advance for taking all precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Shader called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmember Green, Smith, Yamaguchi, Wanke, Shader ABSENT: None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
City Clerk McKinnell stated that no members of the public were present to comment, and no public comment had been received electronically.
Placentia City Council Minutes, January 19, 2022 SPECIAL MEETING Page 1 of 3
The City Council recessed to the City Council Caucus Room for the purpose of conducting their Closed Session proceedings on the following:
1. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(2):
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation: (1 Case)
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Shader called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmember Green, Smith, Yamaguchi, Wanke, Shader ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Attorney Christian Bettenhausen; City Administrator Damien Arrula; Deputy City Administrator Rosanna Ramirez; Deputy City Administrator Luis Estevez; Director of Development Services Joe Lambert; City Clerk Robert McKinnell; Deputy City Clerk Karen O'Leary INVOCATION: Sterling Bennett
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Shader
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Bettenhausen stated that there was nothing to report from the Closed Session.
1. PUBLIC HEARING:
1.a. Public Hearing No. 2 to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the Review of the City Council Election District Boundaries Fiscal Impact. Expense: $13,887.68 To Date for Legal, Publishing, and Translation Services
Budgeted: $35,000.00 Legislative — Other Purchased Services 101002-6299)
Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Open and conduct Public Hearing No. 2 to receive Staff and consultant input and public comments regarding the boundaries of potential Council election district maps based on 2020 U.S. Census data, as required by applicable law; and 2) Receive the staff report, consider all public testimony, ask questions of Staff; and 3) Close the Public Hearing.
City Administrator Arrula gave an overview of the City Council district review process and introduced Consultant Justin Levitt from National Demographics Corporation (NDC) to provide a presentation and answer questions from the City Council and the public. He also introduced Special Legal Counsel Craig A. Steele from RWG Law, who was available to answer questions.
Mayor Shader opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
Demographer Justin Levitt noted that February 3, 2022 was the deadline for public submission of draft maps for Public Hearing No. 3 which would be held on February 10, 2022. He gave a presentation which included an overview of the redistricting process and a timeline, redistricting rules and goals, a demographic summary of existing districts, and copies of draft maps submitted to the City for City Council consideration. He invited the City Council and the public to communicate what they liked about the maps, what parts of each map work, and what parts do not. He asked for direction on eliminating maps, a selection of focus maps, and requests for revisions to existing maps.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Placentia resident Julie Suchard gave her thoughts on the review of City Council district boundaries and focused on the election cycles for each district and how voters may be affected by changes to the district boundaries.
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City Clerk McKinnell stated that no communications had been received electronically by the City Clerk's Office.
Mayor Shader closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m.
Councilmember Smith thanked the City Clerk's Office for making maps available for all to review. He discussed a comment made by Justin Levitt regarding adjustments necessary on some draft maps to make them compliant with redistricting rules and goals so that they can be considered. He expressed his appreciation for the comments from the public speaker and congratulated the members of the public who were taking the time, energy, and effort to draft and submit maps. He encouraged the public to continue to produce and submit maps and urged the City Council to give appropriate consideration to all submitted maps.
Councilmember Green discussed the necessity to rely on consultants to insure that maps under consideration are in compliance with the rules and goals of redistricting. He thanked everyone who has worked hard on the district boundary review.
Councilmember Yamaguchi thanked all the members of the public who took time to submit draft maps. He asked that it be made clear to the City Council which maps are not in compliance and should not be considered. He asked if the demographers made changes to the public draft maps during their analysis. He requested a report for each map detailing the statistics for residents that would be prevented from voting in their previous election cycle.
Mayor Pro Tem Wanke thanked NDC for all their work on the analysis of the maps and pointed out that anyone drafting a map with the online, interactive tool should review each tab of the tool and consider the number assigned to each district. He noted that several of the maps presented to City Council split the Alta Vista North and South communities and he stressed the importance of keeping those two communities together as a community of interest. He noted parts that he liked about different maps and asked NDC to report on which maps violate federal and/or state law. He stated that he does not like districting and believes it disenfranchises voters and is divisive rather than unifying.
Mayor Shader asked for clarification on NDC's processing and analyzing of the draft maps and gave direction for a revised Public Map No. 3. She asked for clarification on the priority of the redistricting rules and goals and the requirements of the City's Settlement Agreement regarding City Council districts.
Mayor Shader noted that map drawing tools are available on the City's website and blank paper maps are available in the City Clerk's Office along with printed copies of draft maps. She encouraged residents to submit draft maps and to send comments to the City Clerk's Office or to the City Council Members with suggestions and concerns regarding the district boundary review.
City Clerk McKinnell stated that while maps can be submitted anonymously, if an email is sent to the City Clerk's Office identifying a particular map author, Staff may contact the author to suggest changes to assist in complying with the rules and goals so that the map may be considered.
City Attorney Bettenhausen discussed the issue of voter disenfranchisement that may be the result of remapping the City Council districts and noted that the existing City Council district maps are not in compliance with current redistricting rules, goals, and requirements.
ADJOURNMENT:
The City Council adjourned at 7:48 p.m
2022, at 5:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
Robert S. McKinnell, City Clerk
to a Regular City Council Meeting on Tue,e6f Qizy ,
ORPORgy
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Rhonda Shader, Mayor 2,
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