Inclusiveness, Community Engagement & Governmental
Processes Committee
TO: INCLUSIVENESS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DATE: AUGUST 3, 2022
AND GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES COMMITTEE
FROM: CITY CLERK WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING – RESHAPE RIVERSIDE REDISTRICTING PROCESS ISSUE:
Conduct the first of a series of Public Hearings on the Reshape Riverside Redistricting Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Committee:
Conduct a Public Hearing on Reshape Riverside Redistricting Process; and Provide further direction as the Committee deems appropriate for implementing the City’s Reshape Riverside Redistricting Plan.
BACKGROUND:
On January 11, 2022, City Council met and conferred on the procedural requirements for the Redistricting process and appointed the Inclusiveness, Community Engagement, and Governmental Processes Committee (ICGC) to oversee and advise staff on the Redistricting process and approved the tentative timeline for establishing the ward boundaries.
The City released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Demographic Consulting Services on March 18, 2022. Staff received five responses by the bid closing date (April 18, 2022). A committee comprised of departmental stakeholders is in the process of evaluating the responsive bids and working through the procurement process.
The ICGC received an updated Redistricting report on the City's proposed Engagement Plan on July 6, 2022. On July 19, 2022, the City Council approved a professional consultant services agreement with Redistricting Partners, LLC, for demographic consulting services to assist staff with a coordinated effort to implement the City's Redistricting plan in three phases.
DISCUSSION:
During the first Public Hearing, Redistricting Partners will present various topics to provide background information on the redistricting process, census data, and timeline.
Public Hearing Process
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 21627, Riverside is required to hold at least four public hearings on the redistricting process. The City must conduct the public hearings in the following manner:
At least one hearing before any maps are drawn;
At least two hearings after maps are drawn; and
At least one hearing or workshop to be held on a Saturday, Sunday, and after 6 p.m. on a weekday.
The ICGC will host one public hearing on August 3, 2022, and one public workshop on September 3, 2022, before any maps are drawn. At the first public hearing, the City's demographer, Paul Mitchell of Redistricting Partners, will present the process and the legal parameters that must be considered when preparing district boundaries and opportunities for the public to engage in the process. The ICGC will receive public comments. During both the public hearing and workshop, the ICGC will provide direction to City staff and the City's demographer regarding the criteria to be used, consistent with the required legal parameters, to create one or more draft ward maps.
Community Outreach:
In addition to the formal public hearing process, the City is implementing a robust multi-lingual community engagement plan branded "Reshape Riverside." The Engagement Plan includes 16 community workshops, including two virtual workshops held on a Saturday. Outreach efforts will include advertisements at community events; and engaging community-based organizations such as neighborhood associations, faith organizations, nonprofits, and others. The City will provide multiple ways for the public to submit feedback through in-person and online formats, such as interactive map drawings and fillable Communities of Interest forms. Materials will be provided in English and Spanish.
Thus far, the City has sent a bill insert to all utility customer households and will consistently share Redistricting information through all of the City's digital platforms, email notifications, and the posting of flyers and posters at key locations throughout the City. Staff will work with Parks, Community Services, and Recreation Department and Riverside Unified School District to distribute materials. In addition, the City will also make over 100 direct contacts to community members who participated in the 2010 redistricting process, along with reaching out to many more neighborhood and homeowners associations, churches, nonprofits, business associations, and active members of the community. Robust outreach will continue throughout the Redistricting process.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Reshape Riverside Redistricting process contributes to the City Council’s Envision 2025 Strategic Plan Priority and Goals:
Community Well-Being – Ensuring safe and inclusive neighborhoods where everyone can thrive with the following goal:
Goal 2.4 Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust: and, High Performing Government – Providing world-class public service that is efficient, accessible, and responsible to all, with the following goals:
Goal 5.2 - Utilize technology, data, and process improvement strategies to increase efficiencies, guide decision making, and ensure services are accessible and distributed equitably throughout all geographic areas of the City.
Goal 5.3 - Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making.
The Reshape Riverside Engagement Plan aligns with the Envision 2025 Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The establishment of a redistricting format and the outreach strategy that includes workshops in every ward to draft new ward boundaries are resident-led participation and public input, creating sound policy, inclusive of community engagement in the decision-making process.
Equity – Community members will utilize interactive tools. Some may participate in a redistricting commission to ensure that newly established ward boundaries comply with federal and state laws that encourage equity for all stakeholders.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City's financial resources while providing quality public services to all. The City Clerk's Office is committed to exploring services provided internally instead of consultants and looking for creative ways to reduce the redistricting project fiscal impact and outreach efforts.
Innovation – The Redistricting website will host interactive tools promoting collaborative public partnerships with redrawing ward boundaries. Riverside’s Redistricting Framework includes a marketing strategy consisting of non-English languages, including American Sign Language.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Riverside is committed to meeting the present needs without compromising the needs of the future and ensuring the City's capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during fluctuating times. Reviewing the ward boundaries every ten years is essential to maintain sustainable and resilient representation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Donesia Gause, City Clerk
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Redistricting 101 Presentation
Public Hearing Notice
Redistricting Public Hearing ● Page 2