REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission to Conduct Public Engagement and Adoption of City Council District Election Map as a Result of the 2020 U.S. Census
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Every ten years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, local jurisdictions must review and possibly adjust political boundaries to ensure proportional representation. This process is known as redistricting. The redistricting process is a non-political process of reviewing census data and ensuring that council district lines are accurately drawn so that each district contains a roughly equal population.
U.S. Census data is typically released by April 1st of the year following the census; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 U.S. Census data is delayed. The City of Santa Clara (City) expects the census data no earlier than end of September 2021, after the State of California adjusts its population counts. Per Elections Code sections 21622 and 21628, the City must complete the redistricting process and adopt the resulting map no later than April 17, 2022. This will be the City's first redistricting process since the City moved to council districts in 2018.
The City's current council district map was the result of public input as well as a California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) lawsuit. The council district map was drawn using 2010 Census data and considered housing growth since 2010 as well as projected growth. For background on the 2018 districting process, please visit www.santaclaraca.gov/districtelections. Because this effort occurred recently and attempted to account for projected growth, significant changes to council district boundaries are not expected as part of the upcoming redistricting process.
The City transitioned to by-district elections in 2018 as a result of a court order issued in July 2018. On August 7, 2018, the City adopt...
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