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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09a - Redrawing of City Council Election District Boundaries DATE: August 17, 2021 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager By: Michael Bruckner, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE REDRAWING OF CITY COUNCIL ELECTION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES Recommendation: Receive Public Input SUMMARY As a result of the 2020 Census, the City of Arcadia is required to review new population data and to rebalance its City Council election districts. Per the Election’s Code, the City Council is required to adopt a new district map or, if appropriate, readopt the existing district map by Ordinance following a series of public hearings. As required by law, the City Council districts must be “substantially equal in population” based upon the results of the 2020 Census. The districts are also required to comply with the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. On June 15, 2021, the City entered into a contract with National Demographic Corporation (“NDC”) to provide Demographer Services for this effort. This public hearing is the first of several public hearings and community workshops to receive input from the Arcadia community regarding the redrawing of City Council district boundaries. BACKGROUND On July 21, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 7179, a resolution declaring the City’s intent to transition from at-large to district-based elections. After holding a series of required public hearings, on October 17, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2350 establishing by-district elections, defining district boundaries, and scheduling elections within the districts. Two subsequent elections have been held using the district format, with all five seated Council Members now representing specific districts of the community (Attachment “A”). Cities that use district voting systems are required to update their adopted district boundaries in conjunction with each decennial Census to ensure that the districts Public Hearing to Receive Community Input on Redistricting August 17, 2021 Page 2 of 4 remain numerically and demographically balanced. As a result of the 2020 Census, the City of Arcadia is required to review new population data and to rebalance its districts. The canvassing for the 2020 Census was completed last year; however, the US Census Bureau announced that it will deliver the final data to all states by September 30, 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic related delays, which is six months later than the statutory deadline of March 31, 2021. Additionally, the State of California will take another month to review the Census data to incorporate certain state-specific information – resulting in a practical arrival date in early October 2021. Under the State’s Fair Maps Act, the City must hold at least four public hearings for the community to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. Further, the Fair Maps Act requires that the new district maps be adopted at least 174 days prior to the election. The next regularly scheduled municipal election is November 8, 2022, which requires the City to adopt maps no later than April 17, 2022. Assuming that there are no further delays, the City will have sufficient time to complete the redistricting process. DISCUSSION The purpose of this public hearing is to inform the public about the districting process and to hear from the Arcadia community on what factors should be taken into consideration while creating district boundaries. The public is requested to provide input regarding communities of interest and other local factors that should be considered while drafting district maps. A community of interest under the relevant Elections Code Section 21621(c) is, “a population that shares common social or economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” Per the Election’s Code, the City Council is required to adopt a new or readopt the existing map, if appropriate, by Ordinance following a series of public hearings, to include: • At 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 • Alternatively, the City may hold a public workshop instead of one of the required public redistricting hearings The City is proposing to hold three public hearings and one community workshop to satisfy the requirements of the Fair Maps Act. The project timeline is as follows: 1. August 17, 2021 – Public Hearing 2. November 10, 2021 – Community Workshop 3. February 1, 2022 – Public Hearing (after draft maps are drawn) 4. March 15, 2022 – Public Hearing (after draft maps are drawn) Public Hearing to Receive Community Input on Redistricting August 17, 2021 Page 3 of 4 The districts must now also be in compliance with the Fair Maps Act (“Act”), which was adopted by the California legislature as AB 849, and took effect January 1, 2020. Under the Act, the City Council must draw and adopt City Council district boundaries using the following criteria in the listed order of priority (Elections Code 21621(c)): 1. Comply with the federal requirements of equal population and the Voting Rights Act 2. Geographically contiguous 3. Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together) 4. Easily identifiable boundaries 5. Compact (do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people) 6. Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party Once the prioritized criteria are met, other traditional districting principles can be considered, such as: • Minimize the number of voters delayed from voting from 2022 to 2024 • Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office • Future population growth The City has also created a Redistricting page on the City’s website at www.ArcadiaCA.gov/redistricting, which will be used as a central repository to catalog all information related to the redistricting process. A mapping tool will also be added to this page to assist the community in submitting its own recommendations for City Council districts. Map submissions and general inquiries about the redistricting process should be sent cityclerk@ArcadiaCA.gov. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this public hearing. The cost of the entire redistricting process has been included in the FY 2021-22 operating budget. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed actions do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), based on Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that they will have no impact on the environment. Thus, these matters are exempt under CEQA. Public Hearing to Receive Community Input on Redistricting August 17, 2021 Page 4 of 4 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council determine that this project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and hold a public hearing to receive community input on City Council election district boundaries. Attachments: “A” - City Council Districts “B” - Redistricting Presentation o 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 o o o o o o o o o o 3 o o 1 54 3 2 TEMPLE CITY MONROVIA TEMPLE CITY BLVDN PECK RDL O W E R A Z U S A R D W LIVE O AK AV E 10TH AVEROYAL OAKS DR LOS ANGELES ST ELIVOAKAVE TYLERAVEDUARTE R D E CALIFORNIA BLVD HUNTINGTON DR NMAYFLOWERAVEN5THAVEMYRTLEAVEMISSI O N D R S SUNSET BLVDCOGSWELL RDW GRANDVIEW AVE JEF F R I E S A V ECOLORADO P L LO N G D E N AV E E FOOTHILL BLVD W COLORADO BLVD E COLORADO BLVDNBALDWINAVE L I V E O A K AV E E DUARTE RD E HUNTINGTON DRS5THAVE BROADWAY E SIERRA MADRE BLVD FREER ST CAMPUS DR HOLLY AVEW LONGDEN AVE PECK RDL A R O S A D R W SIERRA MADRE BLVD E GRANDVIEW AVE W HILLCREST B LV D EL MONTE AVES10THAVESCALIFORNIAAVEE LONGDEN AVE W FOOTHILL BLVD OLIVE ST W DUARTE RD SMAYFLOWERAVEW HUNTINGTON DRE L I V E O A K A V E LAS TUNAS DRSBALDWINAVE BALDWIN AVENMYRTLEAVES2NDAVESANTAANITAAVEARDENDRSMYRTLEAVEENCINITA AVENSANTAANITAAVEArcadia H.S. Baldwin Stocker E.S. Camino Grove E.S. Highland Oaks E.S. Holly Avenue E.S. Hugo Reid E.S. Longley Way E.S. Richard Henry Dana M.S. Foothills M.S. Huntington H.S. ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST Santa Anita Race Track Elsenhower Park Arcadia Community Regional Park Peck Road Water Conservation Park Santa Anita Golf Course Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden Tripolis Park Fairview Ave Park Santa Anita Park Tierra Verde Park Bonita Park Wilderness Park ¥¦605 ¥¦210 NORTHVIEW AVE E SIERRA MADRE BLVD HARVARD DR STANFORD DR SAN VICENTE RD S ALTURA RD E HAVEN AVE E NORMAN AVE ENCANTO DR OAKHAVEN RD OAKGLEN AVE S GOLDEN WEST AVE SANT A AN IT A CANY O N RDPORTOL A DR LINDA WYPARKAVECABALLERORDONTA R ERDES ANDRAAVEORANGEWOODLNROSEMARIE DR RAMONARDROLYN PLSANTAMARGARITADRE WISTARIA AVE 7TH PLWOODL AND LN DANIMERE AVE LOGANRITAAVERAN D O L P H S T EGRANDVIEW A V E SANLUISREYRDWATSON DRWHITE O A K D R FLORENCE AVEVIRGINIA DR WORKMAN AVE PERKINS DRLOUISEAVEW FOREST AVE W ARTH UR AVE E ARTHUR AVE E FLORAL AVE WHEELER AVE E NEWMANAVE E FOREST AVE ALICE ST W NORMAN AVE W SYCAMOR E AVE ES TREL L A AVE SANTACLA R A S TANDREALN ALSTER AVE E LEMON AVE S9THAVEW FOOTHILL BLVD DRAKERDARBOLADA D R LOS ALTOS AVE W FLORAL AVE W LEROY AVE ENCINO AVEW WINNIE WY E SYCAMORE AVE LA CADENA AVEOA K L AWNRDCAMBRIDGE DR MURIE TTA DR GL ORI AR DSANTACRUZRDKINGSLEY DR E SAINT JOSEPH ST LA PORTE ST LAUREL AVE BONITA ST ALTA ST DIAMOND ST E LAS FLORES AVE FANO STNGOLDENWESTAVEVICTORIADR W SANTA ANITA TER LEE AVEOXFORD DR OAKWOOD DRELKINS AVE W ORANGE GROVE AVE LOVELL AVEW LE ROY AVE W LA SIERRA DR W WISTARIA AVE WARREN WYSHARON RD W PAMELA RD E SANTA CLARA STOAKWOODAVE PANORA MA DR WILSONAVEGOL D R I N G R DELEVADOAVESANCARLOSRDCORONADODR PALOMA DR VOLANTE D R E CAMINO REAL 8TH AVEHAMPTONRD ALTAOA KS DRS3RDAVEBALBOA DR S4THAVENALTURARDELDORADO ST CALIFORNIA ST GENOA ST MO N TEVERDEDR W NAOMI AVE ARCADIA AVE N1STAVEHUGO R E I D D R W WOODRUFF AVE W LAS FLORES AVE WALNUT AVE H A C I E N DA DR W LEMON AVE S1STAVEW PALM DR W CAMINO REAL S6THAVEFAIRVIEW AVE S2NDAVEVALENCIAWYHYLAND AVESANSIMEON RD OAKMEADOWRDSANANTONIORDLENTA LNCABRILLORD ELVISTACIR EL CAPITAN AVEMAGELLANRDDOOLITTLEAVEW SANDRA AVE S8THAVESA N MIGUELDRELKINSPLCARRIAGE H OUSEDR7TH AVEPALOALTODRDEXTER AVECAROLW O O D D R GREENFIELD AVEN OLD RANCH RDSOLDRANCHRDVAQUEROR D SANTAROSARDHIG H L A NDVISTADRMONTEVISTARDLONG L EY WYCOLUMBIARDCORTEZRD WHISPERING PINE S D R CATALPA RD RANCHOR D S5THAVEFALLEN LEAF RD CLA R K S T SINGING WOOD DR RODEO RDCAN Y ON RD HIGHLANDOAKSDRW MAGNA VISTA AVE SIERRA MADRE IRWINDALE Council Districts City Boundary Ü00.5 Miles Data Sources: City of Arcadia, 2017. Council District City of Arcadia, California $WWDFKPHQW$ 1 City of Arcadia First Public Hearing for Redistricting August 17, 2021 Attachment "B" 2 2021 Arcadia Redistricting August 17, 2021 ‰The 2021 redistricting process •Project timelines •Key deadlines •Next steps and hearings •Project website –ArcadiaCA.gov/redistricting 3 Arcadia Elections August 17, 2021 ‰Mayor & Council Members hold 4 -year terms •Districts 1 & 4 terms end November 2024* •Districts 2, 3, 5 terms end November 2022* *City changed election dates from April to November in order to comply with California’s SB 415 4 Redistricting Process August 17, 2021 Step Description Initial Pre-Draft Hearing(s) Held prior to release of draft maps. Education and to solicit input on the communities in the City. Identify “neighborhoods,” “communities of interest,” and “secondary areas.” Initial deadline for draft maps Deadline for the public to submit draft maps for inclusion in the next hearing packet and presentation Release draft maps Draft maps posted to project website Two hearings on draft maps Two meetings to discuss and revise the draft maps and to discuss the election sequence. Map adoption Map adopted via ordinance. Final map must be posted at least 7 days prior to adoption. 5 Redistricting Rules and Goals August 17, 2021 …Equal Population …Federal Voting Rights Act …No Racial Gerrymandering 1. Federal Laws 2. California Criteria for Cities 1.Geographically contiguous 2.Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (Socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together) 3.Easily identifiable boundaries 4.Compact (Do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people) Prohibited: “Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.” 3. Other Traditional Redistricting Principles …Minimize voters shifted to different election years …Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office …Future population growth …Preserving the core of existing districts 6 Asian-American CVAP August 17, 2021 7 Arcadia Income Statistics August 17, 2021 8 Percentage of Citizens Living in Apartments August 17, 2021 9 Defining Neighborhoods 1st Question: what is your neighborhood? 2nd Question: what are its geographic boundaries? Examples of physical features defining a neighborhood boundary: …Natural neighborhood dividing lines, such as highway or major roads, rivers, canals and/or hills …Areas around parks or schools …Other neighborhood landmarks In the absence of public testimony, planning records and other similar documents may provide definition. August 17, 2021 10 Beyond Neighborhoods: Defining Communities of Interest 1st Question: what defines your community? …Geographic Area, plus …Shared issue or characteristic †Shared social or economic interest †Impacted by city policies …Tell us “your community’s story” 2nd Question: Would this community benefit from being “included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation”? …Or would it benefit more from having multiple representatives? August 17, 2021 Definitions of Communities of Interest may not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates. 11 Possible Neighborhoods / Communities August 17, 2021 •Neighborhoods •Commercial Areas •HOAs •Other designated areas 12 Public Hearing & Discussion …What is your neighborhood and what are its boundaries? …What other notable areas are in the city, and what are their boundaries? …Any questions about the mapping tools? …At the 2nd Hearing, Commission Discussion, then Action: †Vote on areas that meet each AB 849 definition: „“neighborhoods” „“communities of interest . . . that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” August 17, 2021 13 Timeline & Next Steps …Due to delays in the release of the Census data, it is anticipated that full data sets from the Census Bureau will not be ready until late September or early October …The approved map must be submitted to the LA County Registrar of Voters by no later than April 17, 2022 August 17, 2021 14 Timeline & Next Steps August 17, 2021 Date(s) Description Comments August 17, 2021 1st Public Hearing October 2021 Mapping software released to the public. Redistricting data available. Census data will be released in mid- to late-August. California will release the prisoner-adjusted redistricting data around October 1. *Estimated time, dependent on Census data November 10, 2021 Proposed 2nd hearing – Community Workshop February 1, 2022 Proposed 3rd hearing Mid-February, TBD Maps due from the public. Early-March, TBD Publish revised map(s) 7 Days prior to adoption March 15, 2022 Proposed 4th hearing. Final Hearing and Council adopt District map. Must be completed no later than April 17, 2022; 14 Days (if adopting by Ordinance) April 17, 2022 (E-205) City deadline to adopt and submit map to Registrar