REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Report and Presentation from the Independent Redistricting Commission on the 2020 Census Redistricting Process and its Adoption of a Final Map; Action on the Introduction of an Ordinance Adopting the New Council District Map
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Every ten years, after the U.S. Census is conducted, city council district lines must be reviewed and possibly adjusted to ensure each council district contains approximately the same number of residents. 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 fairly equal population. The City is required to adopt its final map 205 days before the next regular election. Deadline for submittal of final map for November 8, 2022 election is April 17, 2022.
The City must adopt boundaries for all council districts so that the districts will be substantially equal in population. According to the FAIR MAPS Act, districts must meet the following requirements:
District Map Criteria
• Comply with federal requirements of population equality and the Voting Rights Act
• Have districts that are geographically contiguous (connected).
• Maintaining the geographic integrity by minimizing division of local neighborhoods and communities of interest.
• Have districts that are easily identifiable, and to the extent practicable, bonded by natural and artificial barriers, streets, and boundaries.
• Draw districts that are geographical compactness where nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.
• Do not favor or discriminate against a political party.
On July 6, 2021, the City Council approved the formation of an Independent Redistricting Commission (Commission) that was tasked to redraw the Council district boundaries and adopt a final map. The Commission is composed of seven members and one alternate representing each of the six Council districts and one citywide member, all of whom are Santa Clara residents. They have dedicated the past 7 months to completing the redistricting process on behalf of the City.
DISCUSSION
To assist staff with resourcing the redistricting process, the City secured Lapkoff & Gobalet Demographic Research, Inc. (Lapkoff and Gobalet). Lapkoff and Gobalet has supported redistricting projects since 1990 including redistricting work after the 1990, 2000, and 2010 U.S. Censuses. The firm previously worked with the City on its past City Charter Review Committees, the City Ad-Hoc Redistricting Committee and assisted with the development of the map that was court-ordered in 2018. Lapkoff and Gobalet has been instrumental in facilitating and assisting the City and the Commission through the redistricting process.
Public Notices and Outreach
While conducting the redistricting process, the City took steps to coordinate specific outreach requirements that must be met. At a minimum, four public hearings are required. One of these public hearings must be held prior to issuing the first draft map, two must be held after the draft map is issued, and one must be held on a weekend or weeknight after 6:00 p.m. Live translation is also required if requested at least 48 or 72 hours in advance depending on how much notice is provided. In addition to the four required public hearings, the City created a specific redistricting process webpage, and provided an opportunity for residents to provide input through promote public hearings, ecomment, city calendar alerts, etc., and established an email address for feedback. Additional public hearings were held.
The City took steps to encourage public participation including a good faith effort to provide information to local media and social media. City staff used social media by posting information on the City’s redistricting process and opportunities for public participation on a variety of platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The City published public notices in the Santa Clara Weekly informing the public of the public hearings and prior to the adoption of the Final Map. The City also took steps to provide information in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. The Public had the opportunity to seek live translation services if needed at any of the Commission meetings. In accordance to Elections Code 21628, the proposed final map was published on the City’s Independent Redistricting website for at least seven days prior to adoption.
Public Hearings
Public hearings were held on October 23, 2021, December 9, 2021, January 13, 2022, and January 29, 2022, February 10, 2022, and February 28, 2022 where presentations were provided by staff and Lapkoff and Gobalet, on the redistricting process and criteria and the 2020 Census data; demonstration of mapping tools available for public participation; and direction was provided to staff and our demographers by the Commission on district boundary mapping alternatives to be explored. Additionally, these hearings provided opportunities for public participation, input, comment, and testimony on the redistricting process, communities of interest, and potential district boundary adjustments for consideration.
During the February 10, 2022 public hearing, the Commission considered the fifteen (15) draft district maps and submaps submitted by the public, commissioners, and Lapkoff and Gobalet. The Commission also took into consideration testimony from the community provided at each of the Redistricting Commission Meetings. Following the close of the public hearing, the Commission selected Map 4A as the proposed final map. It should be noted that the criteria in the FAIR MAPS Act were carefully considered, as well as the Commission’s desire to maintain local neighborhoods and existing communities of interest.
Map 4A (Adopted Plan) changes the City Council boundaries in two areas:
1. Area moved from District 2 to District 1 (population = 1,638): This area’s boundaries are:
• Highway 101 (northern boundary),
• the railroad tracks (southern boundary),
• San Tomas Expressway (eastern boundary),
• the city’s western City limits.
2. Area moved from District 4 to District 5 (population = 572): This area’s boundaries are:
• El Camino Real (northern boundary),
• Homestead Rd. (southern boundary)
• San Tomas Expressway - Madera Dr. -Las Palmas Dr. - Arroyo Dr. - White Dr. (eastern boundary)
• Saratoga Creek - Kiely Blvd (western boundary)
(Census 2020 population data, adjusted by the California Statewide Database)
The February 28, 2022 duly noticed public hearing represents the sixth public hearing
in order to complete the redistricting process. At the February 28 public hearing, the Commission reviewed Map 4A and unanimously approved Map 4A as the Final Map for the City of Santa Clara’s district based elections.
Santa Clara Independent Redistricting Commission Meeting Summary
|
Date |
|
Action |
|
September 23, 2021 |
Workshop |
Independent Redistricting Commission overview and training on Brown Act, Public Records Act and Redistricting Process |
|
October 23, 2021 |
Hearing |
Review of Fair Maps Act requirements, process and criteria, Presentation on Communities of Interest, Review of New Census Data, Presentation regarding the Pieces Tool for Plan Drawing; public input and comments |
|
December 9, 2021 |
Hearing |
Review of Fair Maps Act requirements, process and criteria, public input and comments on communities of interest |
|
January 13, 2022 |
Hearing |
Review of Fair Maps Act requirements, process and criteria, Presentation of Demographer's Draft Map, Review of Public Submitted Maps; public input and comments |
|
January 29, 2022 |
Hearing |
Review of Criteria for a District Map, Review of Demographer and Public Submitted Maps; Review of Neighborhood Maps and Plan Comparisons; public input and comments |
|
February 10, 2022 |
Hearing |
Review of maps and Commission selection of the proposed final draft map; public input and comments |
|
February 28, 2022 |
Hearing |
Reviewed Map 4A and Adopted Map A as the Final Map for the City |
The Commission has completed the redistricting process and has adopted a final map. The City Council will now need to adopt an ordinance to update the existing district map with the newly adopted Council District Map.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the City other than administrative staff time and expense.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the Independent Redistricting Commission, City Manager’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approval of the introduction of an ordinance adopting a new City Council District map describing the district boundaries for the City of Santa Clara’s By-District elections.
Staff
Approved by: Hosam Haggag, City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
2. Exhibit a - Final map 4A