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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2b: Direction Regarding Boundary Adjustments of County Supervisory Districts ti oFF xv� ° y STAFF REPORT Office of the City Manager DATE: July 5, 2011 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Don Penman, City Manager SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS OF COUNTY SUPERVISORY DISTRICTS Recommendation: Provide Direction SUMMARY Every ten years based on the Decennial Census the County of Board of Supervisors is required to adjust the boundaries of any or all of the supervisorial districts to ensure fair representation. Adjustments to the boundaries are made to ensure that districts are made to be "as nearly equal in population as may be ". The Board of Supervisors has appointed a Boundary Review Committee (BRC) to study proposed changes to the boundaries. The BRC is an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and will be responsible for preparing a detailed and comprehensive report with recommended boundary changes. The Board has also approved a Public Access Plan to promote public participation in the redistricting process and ensure the widest practicable participation and dissemination of pertinent redistricting information. Individuals and /or community groups may submit plans for redistricting for consideration provided they meet redistricting criteria. DISCUSSION The Board of Supervisors must adopt a redistricting plan by October 31, 2011 though the Board is expected to adopt a plan by August 2011. The deadline for submission of plans from the public was June 10. There have been at least twenty public plans submitted to the BRC and not all of these plans have Arcadia remaining in the Fifth Supervisory District. The BRC will develop a recommended plan for consideration by the Board of Supervisors in July. Staff believes that it would be appropriate for the City of Arcadia to provide input in this process. Arcadia has been served well by supervisors elected to the Fifth District and therefore is asking the City Council to consider sending a letter to the County recommending that the City of Arcadia remain in this District as part of any adjustments made in response to the 2010 Decennial Census. Mayor & City Council- Boundary Adjustments July 5, 2011 Page 2 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council consider directing staff to submit a letter to the County Boundary Review Committee recommending that Arcadia remain in the Fifth Supervisory District as part of any boundary adjustments. Attachments Redistricting LA County 2011 Page 1 of 3 Home Community Meetings Boundary Review Committee Important Dates Prepare a Plan Commentf f)" `$q It; . ?' Click hi d'1 . Introduction WHAT IS REDISTRICTING? Language 1 Every ten years, the United States attempts to count every person in the country through a process called the Decennial Census. It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. E Constitution. The latest Census was conducted on April 1, 2010, and provides a snapshot Powered by ( of how many people there are and where they live. This website Once we know how many people there are and where they live in the County of Los translation. H Angeles, the population must be divided as evenly as possible into five supervisorial perfect and is districts for the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Adjusting the boundaries is translation m. called "redistricting." website. If an information p1 WHY DO THE BOUNDARIES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED? please refer t official versio. Per California Election Code Section 21500, et seq., the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is required to adjust the boundaries of any or all of the supervisorial districts following each decennial federal census to ensure fair representation. Adjustments to the boundaries are made to ensure that districts are made to be as nearly equal in population as may be." Proposed redistricting plans must also be in accordance with the requirements of the Los Angeles County Charter, including Article 11, Section 4, which provides that the County of Los Angeles shall have a Board of Supervisors consisting of five members, each of whom must be an elector of the district which she /he represents. and must reside therein during their incumbency. httn: / /redi stri cti ng. i acountv.gov/ 6/29/2011 • Redistricting LA County 2011 Page 2 of 3 In addition, proposed redistricting plans must comply with requirements of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and with the mandate of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 USC § 1973, et seq., to assure fair and effective representation for racial and language- minority groups. HOW WILL REDISTRICTING BE COMPLETED? The Board of Supervisors has appointed a Boundary Review Committee (BRC) to study proposed changes to the boundaries. The BRC is an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and will be responsible for preparing a detailed and comprehensive report with recommended boundary changes. Click here for more information on the Boundary Review Committee. HOW CAN THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATE IN REDISTRICTING? The Board of Supervisors has also approved a Public Access Plan to promote public participation in the redistricting process and ensure the widest practicable participation and dissemination of pertinent redistricting information. Click here for more information on the Public Access Plan. Individuals and /or community groups are encouraged to participate in the redistricting process. Meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes will be updated on a regular basis on this website and will be publicized in media press releases. A free web -based mapping program is available on this website for use by the public to prepare and submit redistricting plans for consideration. For more details and information on how to submit proposed plans, please click here. Sign up to receive email notification for upcoming meetings: Your Name (required) Your Email (required) Send or by emailing CommservQbos.lacountv.gov WHEN WILL THE PROCESS BEGIN AND END? The County expects to receive Census data in late March 2011 (but by no later than April 1, 2011), at which time the Boundary Review Committee will implement the major components of the Board of Supervisors' adopted Public Access Plan. The Board of Supervisors must adopt a redistricting plan by October 31, 2011, per California Elections Code Section 21501, however, the Board is expected to adopt a redistricting plan in August 2011. Prior to adoption, the Board is required to hold at least one public hearing on any proposal to adjust the boundary of a district, prior to the public hearing at which the Board votes to approve or defeat the proposal. Contact Us: http: / /red: ictina.lacountv.gov/ 6/29/2011 Frequently Asked Questions !Redistricting LA County 2011 Page 1 of 4 Home Community Meetings Boundary Review Committee Important Dates Prepare a Plan Comment Az Click h Frequently Asked Questions What is redistricting? Language 1 • Every ten years, the Census attempts to count every person living in the United States. The latest Census was conducted in 2010, The Census provides a E snapshot of how many people there are and where they live. Following the Powered by ( Census, the County of Los Angeles must attempt to divide its total population This website as evenly as possible into five Supervisorial Districts. This is called redistricting. translation. H Why is redistricting important? perfect and is translation mi • As United States citizens, we have the privilege and right to elect our own website. If an representatives. As such, as our population grows, the Supervisorial information p boundaries must be adjusted to ensure that voters in each Supervisorial district please refer t have an equal voice in electing their representatives. The representatives we official versio elect, are responsible for public policy and funding decisions that impact the lives of County residents, such as: Law Enforcement, Hospitals, Public Works, Children and Family Services and Public Social Services to name a few. How will this affect me financially? • Redistricting will not directly affect anyone financially; however, redistricting may indirectly affect the level of services the County provides residents depending on the Supervisorial District you reside in. http : / /redi stricting.lacountv.gov /index.php /frequently- asked - questions/ 6/29/2011 Frequently Asked Questions 1 Redistricting LA County 2011 Page 2 of 4 How is the 2011 Los Angeles County Supervisorial Redistricting process different from other Redistricting efforts going on in the State? • The State of California Citizens Redistricting Commission is completely separate entity, they are charged with drawing the district lines of the House of Representatives districts, 40 Senate districts, 80 Assembly districts, and four Board of Equalization districts. The Los Angeles County Supervisorial Redistricting will only affect the boundary lines of the five Supervisorial Districts in Los Angeles County. How was the Los Angeles County Boundary Review Committee members selected? • Each Supervisor nominates two voting members and two alternate members, all of whom are confirmed by the full Board. The Boundary Review Committee members are comprised of individuals with diverse professional and personal backgrounds; for more information about the members, please click here. Where are the Supervisorial District Boundary Review Committee meetings held? • Meetings are held at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 What dates are the meetings held? • Meetings are held on Wednesdays, from 3 to 6 p.m. through July 13, 2011. More dates may be added. How can I communicate with the Supervisorial District Boundary Review Committee members? • You can call (213) 974 -1432 • Send an e-mail to: CommServObos.lacountv.gov • Mail correspondence to: Supervisorial District Boundary Review Committee Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 West Temple Street, Room B -50 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Will I still be able to access the website after the Plan submission deadline? • Yes, the website, including submitted plans, timeline, redistricting data, and public input, will be available at least until adoption of a final redistricting plan. Who will make the final decision on boundary adjustments? • The Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles will adopt the final redistricting plan; a 4/5 vote of the Board is required. What percentage vote is required for the Boundary Review Committee to recommend a redistricting plan to the Board of Supervisors? http ://redi str; cti n a.lacounty.gov /index.php /frequently- asked - questions/ 6/29/2011 • Frequently Asked Questions I Redistricting LA County 2011 Page 3 of 4 • A majority vote (50 percent plus 1) of the Committee's total membership is required; that is, six of the 10 members. Will public input be accepted after the deadline for submission of plans? • Yes, public input will be encouraged at Boundary Review Committee meetings through July 13, 2011, and consistent with hearings before the Board of Supervisors, anticipated to occur in August 2011. Input can also be provided via telephone, email or correspondence throughout this period. Can plans be submitted with more than five districts? • No. The County Charter requires five Supervisorial districts. A voter - approved Charter amendment would be required to expand the number of districts. Where can I find a map of the current Boundaries? • You can access maps atwww .redistrictinc.lacountv.gov, or by clicking on the links below. I do not have internet access, how do I get involved? • You may call (213) 974 -1432 or mail inquiries and /or correspondence to: Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Room B -50, Los Angeles, CA 90012. • Additionally, internet access is available at all County Public Libraries to utilize the County's redistricting mapping software. Extended internet access time specifically for visiting and /or working on the redistricting website will be permitted at the following locations: First District Second District East Los Angeles Carson 4837 East Third Street 151 East Carson Street Los Angeles, CA 90022Sorensen Carson, CA 90745Culver City 6934 Broadway Avenue 4975 Overland Avenue Whittier, CA 90606 Culver City, CA 90230 Third District Fourth District Agoura Hills Angelo M. lacaboni 29901 Ladyface Court 4990 Clark Avenue Agoura Hills, CA 91301 San Fernando Lakewood, CA 90712Norwalk 217 North Maclay Avenue 12350 Imperial Highway San Fernando, CA 91340 Norwalk, CA 90650 Fifth District Lancaster 601 West Lancaster Blvd. Lancaster, CA 93534 West Covina httn: / /redi stri cting.lacounty.gov /index.php /frequently- asked - questions/ 6/29/2011