CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 19, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Rosalia A. Butler, City Clerk
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE POMONA CITY CODE TO INCLUDE THE UPDATED CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES MAP ADOPTED BY THE 2021-2022 INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council introduce, waive further and give first reading to the following ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 4317 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER X (ELECTIONS), ARTICLE I (IN GENERAL), SECTION 10-1 (BOUNDARIES OF COUNCIL DISTRICTS) OF THE POMONA CITY CODE, BY CHANGING THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTORAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, ADOPTED BY THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION PURSUANT TO THE POMONA CITY CHARTER, THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE, AND THE 2020 DECENNIAL CENSUS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Charter along with federal and state law require the City to review and potentially realign its Council districts every ten years after the completion of the decennial census. In February of 2021, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No 4297, establishing the City of Pomona Independent Redistricting Commission (“Commission”). The Commission was an independent body with the authority to “adopt a final map establishing new Council district boundaries” (Pomona City Code, Section 2-702 (a)). The Commission approved a final district map at its last meeting on April 7, 2022. The attached ordinance (Attachment No. 1) amends the Pomona City Code, Chapter 10, Article 1, Section 10-1 to include the revised City Council Electoral District Boundaries reflected in the final map.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact at this time.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On February 8, 2021, Pomona City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 4297, establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw City Council electoral district boundaries based upon the 2020 Decennial Census. At its Special Meeting on April 7, 2022, the Commission adopted Resolution No. 2022-01 establishing Map No. 120827 (Attachment No. 2) as the official City Council Electoral District Map for the City of Pomona.
DISCUSSION:
Background
Every ten years, after each federal census, a city with district-based elections must redraw its district boundaries so that they have substantially equal populations and comply with the federal and state constitutions and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
On February 8, 2021, the City of Pomona City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 4297, establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission tasked with the adoption of new City Council district boundaries. The members of the Commission were appointed in May of 2021 and held their first meeting on June 23, 2021.
Redistricting Process
According to official redistricting data the total population for the City of Pomona for redistricting purposes was 152,554. The target population for each council district was 25,425.67.
City Council Electoral District Map No. 120827 was based upon the 2020 federal census data, as adjusted according to state law, and results in the following variances from the mean population for each district described in the new map:
District Map No. 120827 results in a total deviation across all districts of 6.66% calculated from the +4.5% in District 4 and the -2.16% in District 6. The final District Map results in districts as nearly equal in population as required by City Code Section 2-706, and applicable state and federal law, after taking into consideration proper political and legislative concerns, applying the criteria set forth in the City Code, and considering the requirements of the Voting Rights Act.
In compliance with Pomona City Code Section 2-706, the Commission did not consider the residence of any individual, including any incumbent or political candidate, during its deliberation or decisions.
The preservation of existing neighborhoods, recognition of communities of interest, and continuity of districts were major focal points during the deliberations by the Commission. These concerns made for difficult policy decisions, as the location, population, and configuration of different neighborhoods within the City, as well as the various natural and artificial boundaries within the City, made it impossible to satisfy the expressed desires of every resident voicing their concerns throughout the process. The Commission, faced with a constitutional mandate of substantial population equality and confronted with the unique shape of the City’s boundaries, was forced to choose between competing criteria. The result was the Final Pomona City Council Electoral District Map No. 120827 adopted by Commission Resolution No. 2022-01 through compromise and reconciliation. Due to these considerations and legal requirements, the Commission could not avoid the division of some neighborhoods, or the union of other neighborhoods.
As required by Pomona City Code Section 2-706, the Commission aligned council districts such that, for as many residents possible, the number of the Council district they reside in remains the same. The Commission was required to comply with the constitutional mandate for substantial population equality and ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act and applicable City and State law. Using these criteria the Commission tried to maintain the geographical continuity of each district as best possible.
The record of the Commission’s redistricting process, including, without limitation, information discussed and gathered during public outreach meetings, the oral and written testimony offered during the Commission’s meetings, the written comments submitted through the City’s redistricting website, the draft maps prepared and submitted by the public, the materials developed and presented by City staff and consultants, and the deliberations by the Commission, provides appropriate evidentiary support for the findings herein.
Public Hearings
In accordance with California Elections Code Section 21617.1, the Commission held five public hearings to gather input from the public on potential new district boundaries.
The hearing dates and their general focus were as follows:
July 28, 2021 – Received public input on communities of interest August 25, 2021 – Received public input on district boundaries and discussed what should be included in the draft maps January 26, 2022 – Received public input on the submitted draft maps February 23, 2022 – Received public input on the submitted draft maps and identified preferred draft maps March 10, 2022 – Received public input on the draft maps and narrowed down the preferred draft maps to three choices In addition to the public hearings, the Commission held two Special Meeting workshops which were held on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 10:00 am and on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:00 pm. These workshops provided an overview of the online mapping tools and involved the public in an informal and also informational discussion on the redistricting process, outreach efforts, and communities of interest.
New boundaries
As aforementioned, the new City Council Electoral District Boundaries adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission became effective upon the adoption of Resolution No. 2022-01 on April 7, 2022.
For legal and election purposes, the new boundaries will first apply to Districts 2, 3 and 5 in the November 2022 General Municipal Election, and then will apply to Districts 1, 4 and 6 in the November 2024 General Municipal Election. For purposes of communications and City operations, the City will use the new boundaries as depicted in the new City Council Electoral District Map (Map. No. 120827).
These changes will not affect the term of incumbent council members. California Elections Code Section 21626 specifies the term of office of any council member who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which the council member was elected.
The Pomona City Code now needs to be amended to reflect the new district boundaries from the map adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Alison Glynn
Deputy City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 – Proposed Ordinance No. 4317
Attachment No. 2 – Proposed Ordinance No. 4317_Ex. A - Pomona Redistricting Final Proposed Map District ID 120827 Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the City Code to Include the Updated City Council District Boundaries