City of Salinas RedistrictingPublic Hearing #4Post-2020 Census Redistricting not Necessary March 8, 2022
Shelley Lapkoff, Ph.D. & Jeanne Gobalet, Ph.D.
LAPKOFF & GOBALET DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, INC.
www.demographers.comOakland and Saratoga, California
What is Redistricting?
Every 10 years, cities must redistrict (adjust Council District boundaries to equalize total populations) using the new Census counts Federal and state laws apply
Cities must adopt new boundaries before
April 17, 2022
The new Council Districts will be used until after Census 2030 data are released 2 Legal guidelines that demographers follow:
3 Federal Law & Supreme Court Decisions:
Population equality
Voting Rights Act
No Racial Gerrymandering
California Fair Maps Act (AB 849, 2019), as amended by
AB 1276 (2020):
Required Redistricting criteria
Public outreach
#1 Redistricting Priority: Population Equality
Council Districts need to be nearly equal in population (some leeway is permitted) Ideal district population = 1/6 of the 2020 Census population City of Salinas=164,231 total population; 1/6=27,372 is ideal Council District population Plan deviation = Difference between the least and most populous districts, divided by the ideal trustee population 10% deviation is permitted = 2,737 persons (27,372 x 10%)
5 Current Council Districts Populations (Official 2020 Redistricting Data)
Encourage residents to participate in the redistricting process by Maintaining a redistricting website for 10 years
Providing translation services upon request
Offering multiple ways for the public to provide testimony and feedback (in writing and electronically) California’s FAIR MAPS Act (AB 849, 2019) applies to cities and counties. It requires that cities:
6 Hold at least 4 public hearings, with specific protocols:
At least one meeting held before demographers begin to draft maps At least one meeting after 6 pm or on a weekend
Meetings have definite start times
5 days notice for public hearings; adopted plan must be published and available 7 days prior to adoption California’s FAIR MAPS Act (AB 849, 2019) continued
7 If the Council wishes, current districts may be used without adjustment until after Census 2030 Tonight’s hearing is the last of the four required public hearings The Council should pass a resolution documenting its decision Demographer/Staff will notify the Registrar of Voters about the Council’s decision Next Steps
8 Questions?
Appendix
11 Current Plan: Council District 1
12 Current Plan: Council District 2
13 Current Plan: Council District 3
14 Current Plan: Council District 4
15 Current Plan: Council District 5
16 Current Plan: Council District 6
Definitions
17 Redistricting
Adjusting election district boundaries to equalize total populations. Required after each new U.S. Census.
Community of interest
Geographical area where people share common social and economic interests and should be in a single election district or be considered when drawing boundaries.
Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC)
Appointed group that recommends a redistricting plan to the governing body Population equality
Districts need to have (almost) equal Census 2020 populations Voting Rights Act
Federal law that protects minority voting rights
Gerrymander
To design odd-shaped election districts to achieve a purpose like reducing minority voting power or increasing a political party’s representation Deviation/plan deviation
A measure of how equal the Districts’ total populations are Redistricting criteria
Required and optional guidelines to consider when drawing boundaries