Agenda Item: 1
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
SPECIAL MEETING ITEMS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: May 30, 2023
SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING
SECTION 2.04.005 TO THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
ESTABLISHING BY DISTRICT ELECTIONS, DEFINING DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE
DISTRICTS
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Joseph Montes
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Conduct and close the public hearing concerning District maps.
2. Select a District map.
3. Select the two District seats to be up for election in 2024 (with the remaining District seats to be elected in 2026).
4. Introduce an ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 2.04.005 TO THE
SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING BY-DISTRICT ELECTIONS,
DEFINING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS;” waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only, as listed on the agenda; and pass to second reading.
BACKGROUND
In April of 2022, the City of Santa Clarita (City) entered into a settlement agreement, which was ultimately approved by the court as a consent decree (Consent Decree), resolving litigation filed by Michael Cruz, Sebastian Cazares, and Neighborhood Elections Now (Plaintiffs) alleging that the City’s at large election of City Councilmembers violated the California Voting Rights Act.
Pursuant to the terms of the Consent Decree, the City retained a demographer and developed a proposed joint map (Joint Draft Map) in conjunction with Plaintiffs that was presented to the public at a public hearing on March 1, 2023.
After the March 1, 2023 public hearing, members of the public were given the opportunity to provide their own proposed maps and nine maps were submitted (Maps 101 through 109 on the City’s District Elections webpage: https://www.santa-clarita.com/city-hall/district-elections).
These were reviewed at another public hearing on April 13, 2023. At that meeting, after public testimony, the City Council gave direction to the City’s demographer to generate a further map that included revisions to the Joint Draft Map proposed by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well as some minor boundary adjustments suggested by the demographer.
The revised map from the demographer (map 110) was made available to the public on April 24, 2023, along with two additional public maps (111 and 112).
On May 1, 2023, the City Council continued to hear testimony concerning proposed maps. After further discussion, the City Council gave further direction to the City’s demographer to generate a further map(s) that would unify the Shangri-La Home Owners Association into one District, and make further adjustments as appropriate to re-balance the population among the Districts as a result, including, but not limited to, potentially moving the Happy Valley neighborhood into one District.
On May 23, 2023, the demographer posted map 113 on the City’s districting website. A memo was also posted explaining the changes made.
Should the City Council select the District Map and select the two District seats up for election in 2024, it is recommended the City Council close the public hearing and introduce for first reading the attached ordinance, which will codify the switch to election of Councilmembers by District, as required by the Consent Decree. The remaining three seats will be up for election in 2026. The Consent Decree requires that one of the two District seats up for election in 2024 be the remedial District, as further described in that document.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
1. City Council request further revisions of the District maps that have been published on the City’s District Elections website; give that direction to the demographer; and continue the public hearing.
2. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
District Election Ordinance