FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 2, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared By: Chief Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY
REGARDING DISTRICT -BASED ELECTION MAPS FOR THE
REDISTRICTING PROCESS AFTER 2020 CENSUS
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council conduct a public hearing and provide direction to staff 1) on proposed draft maps that are legally compliant with the Fair Maps Act requirements and on any desired refinements; and 2) on final map(s) it wishes to consider in conjunction with the introduction of an Ordinance at the public hearing scheduled on March 15, 2022.
BACKGROUND:
The City has four distinct districts for the City Council. Under the district -based method, voters elect City Council candidates only from their district. Following receipt of the November 6, 2018, election results, the first two Districts (3 and 4) became effective in December 2018. The Mayor's position is still elected at -large by all voters. The incumbent City Councilmembers who were not up for election in November 2018 continued to serve all of the City until after the November 2020 election results were certified for Districts 1 and 2.
With the completion of the decennial Census, the City is now required to adopt new district boundaries based on the 2020 Census information. Elections Code Section 21607.1 requires the City must conduct at least one public hearing before maps are drawn and at least two public hearings after draft maps are drawn, at which time the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this public hearing, the third in the series of hearings required by the Fair Maps Act, is to continue the public engagement process by receiving input from residents and interested persons on the redistricting criteria, including "communities of interest," as well as reviewing the draft maps prepared by the City's consultant, National Demographics Corporation, and any other public submissions. The City Council will receive feedback on the draft maps that are legally compliant with the Fair Maps Act and discuss refinements if needed.
The City must ensure compliance with the following state and federally -mandated criteria:
• Each district shall contain a nearly equal population. • Each district shall be drawn in a manner that complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act.
• Each district shall not be drawn with race as the predominate factor in violation of the principles established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno, 509 U.S. 630 (1993), and its progeny.
Three draft maps have been prepared by the City's consultant, National Demographics Corporation. These maps, Plan A, Plan B, and a Quadrant Map, along with detailed demographic information for each map, are posted to the City's redistricting website for consideration by the public and the City Council, and can be accessed at:
https://cityofsantamaria.orq/redistrictingmaps .
All draft district maps received will be posted to the City's redistricting website beginning on February 25, 2022, and will also be available in the City Clerk's Office located at 421 South McClelland Street (in the lobby of the Santa Maria Public Library). Those maps (and any new or revised maps) will be discussed at the City Council public hearings on March 2, 2022 (Minami Community Center, 600 West Enos Drive), and March 15, 2022 (Maramonte Community Center, 620 East Sunrise Drive), before the anticipated introduction of an Ordinance on March 15, 2022, with second reading and adoption of said Ordinance on April 5, 2022. The deadline to adopt district maps is April 17, 2022.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this public hearing. However, the City has hired National Demographics Corporation (NDC) as its demographer. The cost of such services will be roughly $34,500 to be paid from the General Fund which has been budgeted for in the fiscal year 2021-22 Budget.
Impact to the Community:
The public's input is necessary to shape the new City Council district boundaries for the City of Santa Maria fgr the next ten years.
R O DA M. WHITE, CMC
Chief Deputy City Clerk