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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 7, 2018 C-18 PH/ERCITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM CLI8 TM AGENDA TITLE: Set Public Hearing for February 13, 2018, to Receive Further Public Input on Draft Maps of Voting District Boundaries and Election Sequencing as Part of Transition to By -District Elections for City Council Members MEETING DATE: February 7, 2018 PREPARED BY: City Attorney RECOMMENDED ACTION: Set Public Hearing for February 13, 2018, to receive further public input on draft maps of voting district boundaries and election sequencing as part of the transition to by -district elections for City Council members. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On October 31, 2017, the City received a letter from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), threatening to sue the city for alleged violations of the California Voting Rights Act (the "CVRA") (Elec. Code sections14025-14032), unless the city voluntarily converts to a "by -district" election system. MALDEF's letter asserts that the City's at -large system for the election of city council members results in Latino vote dilution and prevents Latino voters from electing candidates of their choice. MALDEF has served similar letters and subsequently filed lawsuits against cities for alleged CVRA violations. On December 12, 2017 the City Council adopted a resolution initiating procedures for establishing and implementing by -district elections for City Council members. Council's adoption of the resolution was not based on any admission or concession that the City would ultimately be found to have violated the CVRA; rather, the risks and costs associated with protracted CVRA litigation, particularly in light of results in all other cities that have fought to retain at -large voting. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010, five public hearings need to be held to provide the public with an overview of the process required to transition to by -district elections, receive public input, and establish boundaries and compositions of districts to be established. The first public hearing was held on December 20, 2017, the second public hearing will be held on January 17, 2018, and the third and fourth public hearings on January 31, 2018, and February 7, 2018, respectively. On February 6, 2018, a map drawing workshop was held for the pubic. Staff recommends that the City Council set an additional public hearing for 7. a.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, a special Council meeting, to receive further public input on draft maps of voting district boundaries and election sequencing as part of the transition to by -district elections for City Council members pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010. FISCAL IMPACT: The cost to publish the notice of public hearing. FUNDING AVAILABLE: City Clerk's Elections BucIg'et (10005000.72450) APPROVED: Janice D Magdich, City Attorney , City Manager PUNTO DE ORDEN DEL DiA eqg CITY OF LODI COMUNICACION DEL CONSEJO TM TITULO DE AGENDA: Programar una Audiencia Publica para el 13 de Febrero de 2018, para Obtener opiniones adicionales del publico pertinente a los bocetos de los Mapas de los Distritos Electorales y la Sucesion de las Elecciones como Parte de la Transicion a las Elecciones Por -Distrito para la Votacion de los Miembros del Consejo Municipal. FECHA DE LA JUNTA: 7 de Febrero de 2018 PREPARADO POR: El Fiscal Municipal ACCION RECOMENDADA: Programar una Audiencia Publica para el 13 de Febrero de 2018, para obtener opiniones adicionales del publico pertinente a los bocetos de los mapas de los distritos electorales y la sucesion de las elecciones como Parte de la transicion a las elecciones por- distrito para la Votacion de los Miembros del Consejo Municipal ANTECEDENTES: El 31 de Octubre de 2017, el Municipio recibio una carta del Fondo Mexico-Americano de Defensa Legal y Educacion (MALDEF) amenazando con demandar a Ia Ciudad por presuntas contravenciones de Ia ley de Derecho al Voto de California (CVRA") (Codigo de Elecciones §§ 14025- 14032), a menos que la Ciudad se convierta a un sistema de elecciones "por distrito". La carta de MALDEF afirma que el sistema de elecciones generales del Municipio para la eleccion de los Miembros del Consejo Municipal resulta en la dilucion del voto latino e impide a electores Latinos a elegir candidatos de su predileccion. MALDEF ha entregado cartas similares y posteriormente ha presentado demandas en contra de los Municipios por presuntas violaciones de CVRA (La Ley de Derecho de Voto de California). El 12 de Diciembre de 2017, la Ciudad adopto una resolucion para iniciar el procedimiento para establecer e implementar las elecciones por distrito para Ia votacion de los Miembros del Consejo Municipal. La adopcion de Ia resolucion por el Consejo, no fue basada en ninguna admision o concesion de que la ciudad ha violado la Ley de Derecho al Voto de California, mas bien, los riesgos y costos relacionados con contiendas alargadas de CVRA—particularmente, fue en vista de los resultados en otras ciudades que han peleado para retener la votacion de elecciones generales. De acuerdo al Articulo 10010 del Codigo de Elecciones, cinco audiencias publicas se Ilevaran a cabo para proporcionarle al publico un resumen del proceso que se requiere para efectuar la transicion a elecciones por distrititos, para obtener opiniones del publico, y para establecer las demarcaciones y composiciones de los distritos que seran instituidos. La primera audiencia publica se celebro el 20 de Diciembre de 2017. La segunda audiencia publica se Iievara a cabo el 17 de Enero de 2018 y la tercera y cuarta audiencia publica el 31 de Enero y el 7 de Febrero de 2018 respectivamente. El 6 de Febrero de 2018 un taller para diseriar mapas para los miembros del publico, se neva a cabo APROBADO POR: Stephen Schwabauer, Administrador Municipal El personal recomienda que el Consejo Municipal, adicionalmente, programe una audiencia publica para el Martes 13 de Febrero de 2018 a las 7:00 AM; una junta especial del Consejo para obtener opiniones adicionales del publico pertinente al diseno de los mapas, demarcando los distritos electorales y la secuencia de las elecciones como parte del cambio a elecciones por-distrito para la votacion de los Miembros del Consejo Municipal de acuerdo al Articulo 10010 del Codigo de Elecciones. IMPACTO FISCAL: PRESUPUESTO DISPONIBLE: El costo para publicar el aviso de la audiencia publica. Presupuesto de Elecciones del Secretario Municipal (10005000.72450) 2 Janice D. Magdich, Fiscal Municipal Please immediately confirm receipt of this fax by calling 333-6702 CITY OF LODI P. O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 ADVERTISING INSTRUCTIONS SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT ON DRAFT MAPS OF VOTING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ELECTION SEQUENCING AS PART OF TRANSITION TO "BY -DISTRICT" ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PUBLISH DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018 TEAR SHEETS WANTED: One (1) please SEND AFFIDAVIT AND BILL TO: LNS ACCT. #0510052 JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO, CITY CLERK City of Lodi P.O. Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241-1910 DATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 ORDERED BY: JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO CITY CLERK ELA M. UTY CI ARRIS CLERK • ELIZABETH BURGOS ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK Verify Appearance of this Legal in the Newspaper — Copy to File Emailed to the Sentinel at classified)@lodinews.com at (time) on (date) (pages) LNE. Phoned to confirm receipt of all pages at (time) _EB _PMF (initials) forn_s\advins.doc DECLARATION OF POSTING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INPUT ON DRAFT MAPS OF VOTING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ELECTION SEQUENCING AS PART OF THE CITY'S TRANSITION FROM AN "AT -LARGE" ELECTION SYSTEM OF ELECTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO A "BY -DISTRICT" ELECTION SYSTEM On Thursday, February 8, 2018, in the City of Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, a copy of a Notice of Public Hearing to receive additional input on draft maps of voting district boundaries and election sequencing as part of the City's transition from an "at - large" election system of electing City Council Members to a "by -district" election system (attached hereto, marked Exhibit "A") was posted at the following locations: Lodi City Clerk's Office Lodi City Hall Lobby Lodi Carnegie Forum WorkNet Office I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on February 8, 2018, at Lodi, California. RIS PUTY C Y CLERK ORDERED BY: JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO CITY CLERK ELIZABETH BURGOS ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK N:\Adniinistration\CLERK\Public Hearings\AFFADAVITS\DECPOST1.DOC CITY OF LODI Carnegie Forum 305 West Pine Street, Lodi NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Date: February 13, 2018 Time: 7:00 a.m. For information regarding this notice please contact: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo City Clerk Telephone: (209) 333-6702 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, February 13, 2018, at the hour of 7:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, the City Council will conduct a public hearing at the Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street, Lodi, to consider the following item: a) Receive additional public input on draft maps of voting district boundaries and election sequencing as part of the City's transition from an "at -Targe" election system of electing City Council Members to a "by -district" election system. The City Council adopted a resolution of intention on December 12, 2017, to transition from at -large to by -district elections in order to ensure compliance with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 ("CVRA") and Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 ("FVRA"). At the public hearing described in this notice, the City Council may receive staff presentations regarding the draft district maps, discuss the draft maps, and potentially select a voting district map to adopt at a subsequent public hearing. Information regarding this item may be obtained in the Office of the City Attorney, 221 West Pine Street, Lodi, (209) 333-6701. All interested persons are invited to present their views and comments on this matter. Written statements may be filed with the City Clerk, City Hall, 221 West Pine Street, 2nd Floor, Lodi, 95240, at any time prior to the hearing scheduled herein, and oral statements may be made at said hearing. If you challenge the subject matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk, 221 West Pine Street, at or prior to the close of the public hearing. By Order of the Lodi City Council: fifer M. If rraiolo y Clerk Dated: February 7, 2018 AVISO: Para obtener ayuda interpretativa con esta noticia, por favor Ilame a la oficina de la Secretaria Municipal, a las (209) 333-6702. Public Hearing 4_2.doc d Carnegie Forum 305 West Pine Street, Lodi AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PIJBLICA Fecha: 13 de Febrero de 2018 Hora: 7:00 a.m. f 1 Para informacion pertinente a este aviso por favor contacte a: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo Actuaria Municipal Telefono (209) 333-6702 AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA QUE: el miercoles 13 de Febrero de 2018, a la hora de las 7:00 a.m., o tan pronto sea posible que se pueda air este asunto, el Consejo Municipal efectuara una audiencia publica en el Carnegie F�rum, 305 West Pine Street, Lodi, para considerar el siguiente punto: a) Para obtener opiniones adicionales del publico pertinente a los bocetos de los mapas sobre las demarcaciones de los distritos electorales y la sucesi6n de las elecciones como parte de la transicion del Municipio de un sistema de "elecciones generales" a un sistema electoral "por distrito" para la eleccion de los miembros del Consejo Municipal. El Consejo Municipal adopto una resolucion de proposito el 12 de Diciembre de 2017, para convertirse de elecciones generales a elecciones por distrito para cerciorarse del acatamiento de la Ley de Derecho al Voto de California del 2001 ("CVRA") y la Ley Federal de Derecho de Votacion de 1985 ("FVRA"). En la audiencia p ibica descrita en este aviso el Consejo Municipal puede obtener presentaciones del personal sobre los bocetos de los mapas de los distritos, conversar sobre los mapas delineados y posiblemente seleccionar un mapa de distrito electoral para que sea adoptado durante una audiencia publica subsiguiente. Se puede obtener informacion pertinente a este punto en la Direcci�n del Fiscal Municipal, 221 West Pine Street, Lodi, (209) 333-6701. Toda persona interesada esta invitada a presentar su punto de vista y su comentario sobre el terra. Declaraciones por escrito pueden ser presentadas con el Secretario Municipal en City Hall, 221 West Pine Street, 2do. piso, Lodi 95240, en cualquier momento antes de la audiencia programada en este documento. Declaraciones orales se pueden hacer durante la dicha audiencia. Si desafia el asunto en un tribunal, puede ser limitado a iinicamente plantear cuestiones que usted y alguien mos hayan planteado durante la audiencia publica detallada en este aviso o por correspondencia escrita, entregada al Secretario Municipal, 221 West Pine Street, durante o antes que se finalice la audiencia publica. Por Orden del Consejo Municipal de Lodi: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo Actuaria Municipal Fechado: el 7 de Febrero de 2018 Aprobado en su redaccion: Janice D. Magdich Fiscal Municipal OBSERVACION: Si necesita asistencia con la traduccion de este aviso, por favor Ilame a la oficina del Secretario Municipal al (209) 333-6702. Spanish Version Public Hearing 4_2 Spanish doc