FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COMPOSITION OF DISTRICTS FOR
DISTRICT ELECTIONS
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will receive a presentation from National Demographics Corporation (NDC) on draft maps, provide direction on revisions to the draft maps, and introduce an Ordinance amending the City's Municipal Code regarding Elections to adopt City Council Electoral District Maps based on the 2020 Census.
A. 1. Consider Minimal Change Plan A Map by NDC and direct staff to incorporate Minimal Change Plan A Map into an Ordinance for further consideration. OR
A. 2. Consider Minimal Change Plan B Map by NDC and direct staff to incorporate Minimal Change Plan B Map into an Ordinance for further consideration. OR
A. 3. Consider Minimal Change Public Plan Map by Alfredo Ruiz and direct staff to incorporate the Minimal Change Public Plan Map into an Ordinance for further consideration. OR
A. 4. Consider Quadrant Plan (Moderate Change) Map by NDC and direct staff to incorporate Quadrant Plan (Moderate Change) Map into an Ordinance for further consideration. OR
A. 5. Consider Quadrant Plan Public Revision Map by Glenn Morris and direct staff to incorporate Quadrant Plan Public Revision Map into an Ordinance for further consideration. OR
A. 6. Consider Quadrant Plan NDC Revision Map by NDC and direct staff to incorporate the Quadrant Plan NDC Revision Map into an Ordinance for further consideration.
AND
B. Introduce for first reading, and continue to the next meeting for second reading and adoption, an Ordinance amending Sections 2-25.04 and 2-25.05 of Chapter 2-25 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code to adopt a City Council Electoral Districts Map based on results of the 2020 census.
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 fourth 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.
Six draft maps have been prepared by the City's consultant, National Demographics Corporation. These maps, Minimal Change Plan A, Minimal Change Plan B, Quadrant Plan (Moderate Change) Map by NDC, Quadrant Plan Public Revision Map, Quadrant Plan NDC Revision Map, and Minimal Change Public Plan Map, along with the corresponding 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://citvofsantamaria.orq/redistrictingmaps . Two of the six map submissions were received by members of the community — Quadrant Plan Public Revision Map (Glenn Morris) and Minimal Change Public Map (Alfredo Ruiz), respectively.
All draft district maps received have been posted to the City's redistricting website and are also available in the City Clerk's Office located at 421 South McClelland Street (in the
lobby of the Santa Maria Public Library). These maps will be further discussed at this Public Hearing with the anticipated outcome of directing staff to finalize one of the aforementioned six maps and developing an Ordinance for introduction at this meeting, 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 for the next ten years.
JASON STILWELL
City Manager
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