CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
F
ebruary 14, 2022
TO
: City Council
F
ROM: Office of the City Clerk / Office of the City Attorney S
UBJECT: SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1334 ADOPTING A MAP
DESCRIBING VOTING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND AMENDING TITLE 2 OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE SIMI VALLEY MUNICIPAL CODE
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
I
t is recommended that Ordinance No. 1334 be adopted.
BACKGROUND
E
very ten years, cities with by-district elections must use new census data to review and, if needed, redraw district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. The redistricting process for Simi Valley must be completed by April 17, 2022. Once the 2020 Census data was released, the City initiated the process to review Simi Valley’s current district lines in August 2021. As required by law, the City has provided extensive opportunities for the public to provide input into the redistricting process.
A
t its January 24, 2022 meeting, the City Council held a public hearing to receive input and to receive information concerning maps that have been submitted by the public. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the City Council introduced for first reading Ordinance No. 1334 which appr oves the continued use of the existing City Council Districts via Map 404b. It is recommended the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1334.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
S
ince the City Council’s transition to by-district elections in 2018, the State has enacte d new laws governing the redistricting process, including the FAIR MAPS Act, which was adopted by the California legislature and took effect January 1, 2020. The FAIR MAPS Act also contains new outreach and public hearing requirements.
T
he City’s redistricting process has had numerous opportunities for the public to participate in dr awing the lines. The City dedicate d a separate webpage on the City’s website to provide information to the public on the redistricting process. Additionally, the City and its Consultant (National Demographics Corporation; NDC) had a webpage with mapping software and Census information available to allow the public to submit AGENDA ITEM NO.
7A
2 proposed maps for the City Council to consider. The City went to great lengths to make the public aware of their opportunity to participate in the redistrict process. Utilizing social media, the City posted 12 times on various Facebook and Instagram platforms since the beginning of the redistricting process. The City utilized advertisements in the Simi Valley Acorn three times regarding participation opportunities and the mapping tools, published three press releases with information on the redistricting and the dates of the series of hearings, and provided information on the redistricting process and invited participation in four editions of the City’s e- Newsletter, City Focus . The City also conducted two community workshops, both held on Saturdays, to provide information about the redistricting process as well as how to use the mapping tool.
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n accordance with the FAIR MAPS Act, the City must hold at least four public hearings that enable community members to provide input on the drawing of district maps:
• A
t least one hearing must occur before the City draws draft maps • At least two hearings must happen after the drawing of draft maps • The fourth hearing can happen either before or after the drawing of draft maps • City staff or consultants may hold a public workshop instead of one of the required public redistricting hearings
I
n compliance with the Fair Maps Act, (Elections Code 21607, et seq.) the City held the following meetings and public hearings:
• A
ugust 23, 2021 – City Council received an informational presentation on the redistricting process;
• September 27, 2021 – The City Council held a public hearing to receive public input on the redistrict process, received a presentation from NDC regarding the process and the mapping tool;
• October 9, 2021 – City staff and NDC conducted a Community Redistric ting Workshop to provide information regarding redistricting and how to use the mapping tool;
• December 20, 2021 – The City Council held a public hearing to receive public input, review maps that have been submitted to date, and receive a presentation from NDC on the progress of the redistricting effort;
• January 9, 2022 – City staff and NDC conducted a second Community Redistricting Workshop to provide information regarding the redistricting process and how to use the mapping tool;
• January 24, 2022 – The City Council conducted a public hearing to receive a report from NDC regarding the progress of the redistricting and reviewed the maps submitted by the public.
3 At the January 24, 2022, public hearing, NDC reviewed with the City Council the maps submitted by the public including Map 201 (which was not population balanced and therefore did not meet Federal criteria) and M ap 202 (which added a new dist rict for a total of 5 districts) and Map 203 (which was not population balanced and therefore did not meet Federal criteria). None of these maps were recommended for the City’s adoption.
The drafter of Maps 202 & 203 asserted at the public hearing that the online mapping tool provided on the City’s website indicated his Map 20 3 w as population balanced, questioning the discrepancy with NDC.
Concern was then raised by a Council Member about the online mapping tool being faulty or the tutorial not fully giving the proper instructions to users. Both matters were addressed at the hearing by NDC. NDC confirmed users were shown the entire online mapping tool. The presentation on the use of the online mapping tool can be found at https://redistrictsimivalley.org/. NDC also examined the online tool materials during the hearing and ran Map 203 again through the online tool confirming the online mapping tool program was working properly as well as confirming that the program “analytics” portion warned the user that he had failed to include all “ district blocks” with in his map.
Specifically, the drafter had omitted one precinct with a population of 2,788 residents from Map 203, thus the reason for his different population numbers.
The official adjusted 2020 population for the City of Simi Valley is 126,360. NDC processed this population number for the current City’s 4 election districts which are depicted in Map 404b. NDC found that the City’s current districts have a total population deviation – the difference between the most populous and least populous districts – of
3.76%. This value is well below the 10% threshold where a map is considered “presumptively constitutional,” and thus the districts do not need to be redrawn to comply with the federal equal population requirement (Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, (2016) 136 S.Ct.1301).
Having concluded that the current redistricting map met the federal and state criteria, the City’s current District 404b map was selected for adoption and a first reading of the Ordinance took place.
As t he City C ouncil has i ntroduced for f irst r eading O rdinance No. 13 34, st aff recommends the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1334.
S
UGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to adopt Ordinance No. 1334 without modification. 4 SUMMARY
Since the City Council’s transition to by -district elections in 2018, the State has enacted new laws governing the redistricting process, including the FAIR MAPS Act, which was adopted by the California legislature and took effect January 1, 2020. The FAIR MAPS Act contains specified criteria that must be considered in redrawing district boundaries, new requirements for public hearings, and new outreach requirements. On January 24, 2022, the selected Map 404b as the final map and introduced for first reading Ordinance 1334. As the City Council has introduced for first reading Ordinance No. 1334, staff recommends the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1334.
_________________________________ __________________________ Lucy Blanco, CMC David L. Caceres
City Clerk City Attorney
Prepared by: Lucy Blanco, City Clerk/Sonia Hehir, Assistant City Attorney
INDEX Page
Ordinance No. 1334 ......................................................................... 5
ORDINANCE NO. 1334
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI
VALLEY, ADOPTING A MAP DESCRIBING VOTING DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES AND AMENDING TITLE 2 OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE
SIMI VALLEY MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, California Elections Code Section 21601 requires that following each decennial federal census, and using that cen sus as a basis, the City Council shall, if necessary, adjust the boundaries of any or all of the Council districts of the City so that the districts shall be as nearly equal in populati on as may be and shall comply with the applicable provisions of federal and state legal or other requirements;
WHEREAS, on September 27, 2021 , the California Statewide Database provided the City of Simi Valley (“City”) with an official population estimate of 126,360; and
WHEREAS, throughout the foregoi ng process, the City engaged in public outreach and engagement, as required by California Elections Code Section 21608; and
WHEREAS, on September 27, 2021, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 21627.1 the City Council held a first public hearing on the redistricting process where the public was invited to provide input for the redrawing of election district boundaries; and
WHEREAS, on Saturday, October 9, 2021, the City conducted a Redistricting Community Workshop via Zoom, with a live Spanish interpreter, where the public was invited to learn about the redistricting process, the mapping tools and to provide input on communities of interest; and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2021, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 21627.1, the City Council held a second public hearing to receive input from the public, review the current district map as well as one submitted map; and
WHEREAS, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, the City held a second Redistricting Community Workshop with a live Spanish interpreter, to offer an additional opportunity for residents to become informed about the process , to provide a demonstration on using the online mapping tools and for the public to provide feedback on potential district composition and criteria; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2022 , the City Council held a third public hearing to receive input from the public, review two submitted maps and the current map as well as select a district map for adoption; and
5 ORD. NO. 1334
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to adopt this Ordinance No. 1334 adopting the map as attached hereto describing the boundaries of each City Council district in the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. T he adopted m ap describing the City of Simi Valley’s boundaries following the 2020 federal decennial census in accordance with California Elections Code Section 21601 is Exhibit “A” attached hereto.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any provision of this O rdinance is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, adjudicated to a final determination, the City Council finds that said voided part is severable, that the City Council would have adopted the remainder of this Ordinance without the severed and voided part, and that the remainder of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4
. The City Clerk shall cause this O rdinance or a summary hereof to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, published in the County of Ventura and circulated in the City, and if applicable, to be posted, in accordance with Section 36933 of the California Government Code; shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause a certified copy of this O rdinance, together with proo f of publication, to be filed in the Office of the Clerk of this City.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and effect at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first (31st) day after its passage.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 14th day of February 2022.
Attest:
__
Lucy Blanco, CMC, City Clerk Keith L. Mashburn, Mayor of the City of Simi Valley, California
Approved as to Form: Approved as to Content:
David L. Caceres, City Attorney Brian Paul Gabler, City Manager 6 ORD. NO. 1334
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A
Map 404b
Map of City of Simi Valley District Boundaries
following Federal Decennial Census of 2020
7 2
3 1
4 Union Pacific RR
Chumash Park
Corriganville
Regional Pk
Suzana Woods
Prestige
Moblie Home
Park
Verde Park
Crest Mobile
Home Vlg
Simi Hills
Neighborhood
Park &
Fishing Pond
Houghton
Schreiber
Park
Rancho Tapo
Community
Park
Sycamore Sq
Sycamore Plz
Sequoia Park
Darrah
Volunteer
Park
Center Point
Plz
Sycamore
Drive
Community
Ctr
Sycamore
Park
Big Sky Park
Atherwood
Park
Mayfair Park
Simi Valley
Sanitary
Landfill
Tierra
Rejada Park
Lincoln Park
Assumption
Cmtry
Arroyo ParkStargaze
Park
Rancho
Madera
Community
Park
Oak Park
Ronald
Reagan
Presidential
Lbry
Foothill
Park
Marr Ranch
Frontier
Park
Clubhouse
118
118
118
Sinaloa Rd
Royal Ave
Long Canyon RdFirst St
E Los Angeles Ave
Sunnydale Ave
Gibson Ave
Patricia Ave
E
Ea
sy StE C
ochran St Cochran St
E Jefferson W
ay
Albertson
Fir
e Rd
Tapo St
Ave Simi
Alam
o St
Township Ave
Stearns StYosemite Ave
Kuehner Dr
Sand Canyon Rd
National Demographics Corporation, November 19, 2018
Simi Valley
Current
District Map
Map 404b
©2016 CALIPER
ORD. NO. 1334
EXHIBIT A
8 District 1 2 3 4 Total
2020 2020 Census (Adjusted) 32,386 31,229 31,197 31,548 126,360 Deviation from ideal 796 -361 -393 -42 1,189
% Deviation 2.52% -1.14% -1.24% -0.13% 3.76%
% Hisp 22% 29% 42% 20% 28%
% NH White 57% 53% 43% 63% 54%
% NH Black 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
% Asian-American 15% 12% 10% 12% 12%
Total 23,941 23,880 20,736 22,683 91,240
% Hisp 17% 21% 31% 14% 20%
% NH White 67% 67% 57% 75% 67%
% NH Black 1% 2% 2% 1% 2%
% Asian/Pac.Isl. 13% 9% 9% 9% 10%
Total 22,360 19,900 17,806 22,413 82,479
% Latino est. 16% 21% 29% 14% 19%
% Spanish-Surnamed 14% 19% 27% 13% 18%
% Asian-Surnamed 6% 4% 4% 5% 5%
% Filipino-Surnamed 2% 2% 2% 1% 1%
% NH White est. 77% 73% 65% 79% 74%
% NH Black 1% 2% 2% 1% 1%
Total 15,253 11,357 9,994 14,884 51,488
% Latino est. 13% 16% 23% 11% 15%
% Spanish-Surnamed 12% 15% 21% 10% 14%
% Asian-Surnamed 5% 3% 3% 4% 4%
% Filipino-Surnamed 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
% NH White est. 80% 78% 71% 83% 79%
% NH Black 1% 2% 2% 1% 1%
Total 19,740 17,177 14,976 20,040 71,933
% Latino est. 15% 20% 27% 13% 18%
% Spanish-Surnamed 14% 18% 25% 12% 17%
% Asian-Surnamed 6% 4% 4% 5% 5%
% Filipino-Surnamed 2% 1% 2% 1% 1%
% NH White est. 77% 74% 67% 80% 75%
% NH Black est. 1% 2% 2% 1% 1%
ACS Pop. Est. Total 32,495 32,418 30,933 29,563 125,408 age0-19 24% 22% 26% 23% 24%
age20-60 53% 55% 58% 52% 55%
age60plus 22% 23% 16% 25% 21%
immigrants 18% 18% 21% 15% 18%
naturalized 74% 64% 57% 73% 67%
english 75% 74% 65% 79% 73%
spanish 11% 15% 26% 11% 16%
asian-lang 7% 6% 5% 5% 6%
other lang 7% 4% 4% 6% 5%
Language Fluency Speaks Eng. "Less
than Very Well" 7% 9% 13% 5% 9%
hs-grad 44% 51% 51% 42% 47%
bachelor 26% 20% 17% 29% 23%
graduatedegree 13% 8% 8% 14% 11%
Child in Household child-under18 36% 31% 37% 29% 33%
Pct of Pop. Age 16+ employed 67% 67% 70% 65% 67%
income 0-25k 8% 12% 10% 8% 9%
income 25-50k 13% 17% 15% 10% 14%
income 50-75k 12% 13% 15% 12% 13%
income 75-200k 48% 50% 51% 49% 50%
income 200k-plus 19% 8% 8% 20% 14%
single family 84% 83% 81% 85% 83%
multi-family 16% 17% 19% 15% 17%
rented 25% 32% 34% 20% 28%
owned 75% 68% 66% 80% 72%
Total population data from the California adjustment to the 2020 Decennial Census. Surname-based Voter Registration and Turnout data from the California Statewide Database. Latino voter registration and turnout data are Spanish-surname counts adjusted using Census Population Department undercount estimates. NH White and NH Black registration and turnout counts estimated by NDC.
Citizen Voting Age Pop., Age, Immigration, and other demographics from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey and Special Tabulation 5-year data.
Housing Stats
Household Income
Education (among those
age 25+)
2020 Total Pop
City of Simi Valley - Current Districts - 2020 Census Adjusted Language spoken at home
Immigration
Citizen Voting Age Pop
Age
Voter Registration (Nov
2020)
Voter Turnout (Nov
2018)
Voter Turnout (Nov
2020)
ORD. NO. 1334
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