RESOLUTION 2022-11 ADOPTING NEW CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 21621- 21629 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE WHEREAS, following each federal decennial census the City of Visalia must adopt boundaries for all the council districts in the City with any necessary revisions so that the council districts shall be substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution; and WHEREAS, California Elections Code sections 21621 through 21629 sets forth the criteria, requirements, procedures and deadlines for the adoption of charter city council district boundaries following the release of census data, and establishes a deadline for adoption of boundaries of on or before April 17, 2022; and WHEREAS, the City of Visalia last adopted boundaries for council districts by Resolution 2015-19 on May 18, 2015; WHEREAS, Elections Code Section 21621 provides that district boundaries for charter cities, adopted following a federal decennial census, may be adopted by ordinance or resolution; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Visalia City Council finds and declares as follows: 1) The City council held public hearings before and after drawing draft maps as required by Elections Code section 21627.1, as follows: a. August 23, 2021, 7 p.m. Public Hearing No. 1, Visalia Convention Center, Visalia, CA before drawing maps; b. September 20, 2021, 7 p.m. Public Hearing No. 2, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA before drawing maps; c. December 6, 2021, 7:30 p.m. Public Hearing No. 3, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA before drawing maps; d. January 10, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Public Hearing No. 4, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA after drawing maps, with review and discussion of draft maps; e. February 7, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Public Hearing No. 5, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA after drawing maps, with review and discussion of draft maps; f. February 22, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Public Hearing No. 6, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA after drawing maps, with review and discussion of focus maps and for selection of map for approval that best satisfies the criteria set forth in Elections Code section 21621, subdivisions (b) through (d). 2) As directed by the City Council, staff additionally conducted public presentations at City Council meetings and workshops to educate the public on a. September 7, 2021, 7 p.m., Update to the City Council, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA b. October 13, 2021, 6 p.m., Mapping Workshop #1; Whitendale Community Center, Visalia, CA c. October 23, 2021, 10 a.m., Mapping Workshop #2; Anthony Community Center, Visalia, CA d. November 15, 2021, 7 p.m. Update to City Council, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA e. December 20, 2021, 6 p.m. Drop-In Map Time, City Hall West, Visalia, CA f. January 3, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Mapping Workshop #3, Visalia Emergency Communications Center, Visalia, CA g. January 10, 2022, 6 p.m. Drop-In Map Time, City Hall West, Visalia, CA h. January 15, 2022, 10 a.m. Mapping Workshop #4, City Hall West, City Council Chambers, Visalia, CA i. January 18, 2022, 6 p.m. Drop-In Map Time, City Hall West, Visalia, CA 3) The City took steps to encourage residents, including those in underrepresented communities and non-English speaking communities, to participate in the redistricting public review process by: a. Publishing the date, time, and location of all public hearings in public notices; b. Publishing the date, time, and location of all workshops, and Redistricting activities on the City website; c. Engaging in a social media campaign; d. Utilizing City information channels, both print and digital, to provide the public with information on Redistricting; e. Providing press releases, news items and information to media organizations; f. Engaging with community groups and organizations; g. Arranging for live, simultaneous translation of all public meetings, workshops, and Redistricting activities; h. Disseminating all written public outreach materials in Spanish and English; i. Allowing the public to submit testimony and draft maps in writing and electronically. 4) Of the alternatives prepared by independent consultants, and the public, the Council Districts set forth in detail by census blocks in Attachment A, to the extent practicable best meet the applicable legal redistricting criteria in order of priority: a. Population equality within allowed percentage deviation; b. Geographic contiguity; c. Respect for the integrity of local neighborhoods or communities of interest; d. Respect for geographic integrity of census designated places in a manner that minimizes its division; e. Establishes boundaries that are easily identifiable and understandable by residents, following natural and artificial barriers, by streets or the boundaries of the city; f. Geographic compactness; g. Racial and ethnic balance; and h. Does not favor or discriminate against a political party. 5) The Council finds the City is in substantial compliance with the procedural requirements of the Charter and Elections Code sections 21621-21629 and that proposed new Council District boundaries in the Proposed Map are in accord with the criteria and guidelines set forth in Elections Code sections 21621-21629; and 6) The Council, in accordance with Elections Code sections 21621-21629, hereby adopts as the Official Council District Map the redetermined Council District boundaries set forth in Proposed Map. The Proposed Map shall be published on www.visalia.city/drawvisalia. 7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, each of the councilmembers in office at the time this ordinance takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the full term to which he or she was elected and until his or her successor is qualified, and a vacancy in a term currently underway shall be filled based on the districts in effect the time the current councilmembers were elected. For all Visalia City Charter and Municipal Code purposes, the districts shall be effective and fully implemented as of the effective date of this resolution. 8) The City Manager is directed to take all necessary steps to give effect to this ordinance. If necessary to facilitate the implementation of this ordinance, the City Manager or his or her designee is authorized to make technical adjustments to the district boundaries that do not substantively affect the populations in the districts, the eligibility of candidates, or the residence of elected officials within any district. The City Manager shall consult with the City Attorney concerning any technical adjustments deemed necessary and shall advise the City Council of any such adjustments required in the implementation of the districts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council for the City of Visalia hereby adopts the City Council district boundaries for each district as more fully set forth in Attachment A, and as depicted on the map in Attachment A.
PASSED AND ADOPTED: LESLIE CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF TULARE ) ss. CITY OF VISALIA ) I, LESLIE CAVIGLIA, City Clerk of the City of Visalia, certify the foregoing is the full and true Resolution 2022-XX passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Visalia at a regular meeting held on Dated: LESLIE CAVIGLIA, CITY CLERK By Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk ATTACHMENT A Map ____