HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 31, 2018 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
The Special City Council meeting of January 31, 2018, was called to order by Mayor Nakanishi at
7:02 p.m.
Present: Council Member Chandler, Council Member Johnson, Council Member Kuehne, and Mayor
Nakanishi
Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Ferraiolo
B. Public Hearings
B-1 Public Hearing to Take Input Regarding Draft Voting District Maps and Potential Sequence of
District Elections as Part of the Transition to By -District Elections for City Council Members (CA)
Notice thereof having been published according to law, an affidavit of which publication is on file in the
office of the City Clerk, Mayor Nakanishi called for the public hearing to take input regarding draft voting
district maps and potential sequence of district elections as part of the transition to by -district elections
for City Council Members.
City Attorney Magdich announced this was the first public hearing to discuss draft maps and reported
that 16 maps were received from the public, 10 of which were eligible to move forward in the
process, and 2 were prepared by the consultant, National Demographics Corporation (NDC).
Ms. Magdich reminded the public there will be a workshop on Tuesday, February 6, from 4:30 to 8:00
p.m., at the Lodi Public Library to assist the public in drawing maps based on the maps that move
forward as a result of this hearing. Afterward, Council will hold its next public hearing on maps on
Wednesday, February 7, as well as a special public hearing on February 13 at 7:00 a.m. to review any
remaining maps.
Following discussion, Council concurred that the six non-compliant maps -- i.e., Maps 101, 104, 106,
109, 111, and 113 -- be eliminated from the process and from Council consideration.
Using the NDC website, www.drawlodi.orq Shalice Tilton, representing NDC, and Ms. Magdich
reviewed the maps submitted by the public and NDC -- i.e. Maps 102, 103, 105, 107, 108, 110, 112,
114, 115, 116, 117, and 118 -- and provided information on each regarding percentage of deviation
from ideal, Latino voting age population percentages, the number of Council Members in each district,
district representation in the downtown area and east side Heritage district, and map submitters'
comments, followed by Council discussion and questions. Revised Map 119 was held over for
discussion to the next public hearing on February 7.
Council Member Johnson expressed his opinion that it is reasonable to have multiple districts
representing the downtown area; however, it is unnecessary to have all five districts with
representation.
Council Member Kuehne stated that Map 108 is one of his considerations because it provides greater
representation in the downtown area and it has multiple districts with a greater concentration of Latino
voters. He also believes Maps 105 and 110 are reasonable.
Mayor Nakanishi opened the public hearing for public comment.
Theresa Johnson requested clarification on the comments relating to diluting the Latino vote versus
saturating one area. She stated all of the maps, with the exception of Map 116, place the Latino vote in
one area, while Map 116 provides at least two districts with a 28 to 31 percent Latino voting age
population.
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David Claxton, speaking as a board member of the Downtown Business Alliance, stated the group
voted in favor of having a minimum of three districts touching the downtown area and he was pleased
to see some of the maps accomplish that goal. Speaking as a downtown business owner, Mr. Claxton
expressed support for Maps 108 and 117. He stated Map 108 has a low deviation, three districts
touching the downtown, and four districts touching Kettleman Lane and suggested a slight deviation in
District 1 that would have four districts touching downtown. With regard to Map 117, he suggested a
minor adjustment in District 2 to pick up School Street, which would have all five districts touching
downtown.
Spencer Dayton stated he believes one or two districts versus three or more representing the
downtown area is ample and that districts should not be based on where current Council Members
reside. He stated it is more important to ensure communities of interest vote together. He expressed
support for Map 102, stating he believes it holds all of the important factors other than having more than
one representative for the downtown area.
Mike Carouba stated he believes the process of drawing maps was made more complicated when the
notion was added that downtown is more important than any other street and that the east side is more
essential than any other area because it divvies the community into complicated lines when, instead, it
is all equally important. He expressed displeasure in the maps prepared by NDC -- Maps 117 and 118
-- stating the districts are nonsensical, they lose the impact this process is trying to achieve, and the
districts do not represent communities of interest. He expressed preference for Map 110 at this time
and suggested the final map be created with districts that can expand to address future growth when
this process is revisited after the 2020 Census.
There being no further public comments, Mayor Nakanishi closed the public hearing.
Council Member Johnson expressed support for Map 117 based on the fact that it meets all of the
minimum requirements to protect the minority population and meets the DBA's comfort level with
respect to downtown representation.
Ms. Tilton stated the goal is to narrow down the maps to the top three or four. In response to
Mr. Schwabauer, Ms. Tilton stated that any map with a total Latino voting age population under 40
percent would mean the community is divided. Ms. Magdich stated maps under 40 percent
include Maps 112, 116, 114, 110, 115, 103, and 107, while maps over 40 percent include Maps 102,
105, 108, 117, and 118. Maps moving forward from this hearing will serve as a template at or outside of
the public workshop on February 6 and can be modified and submitted. The last day to adopt the
ordinance during the 90 -day safe harbor is February 21 in order to avoid a lawsuit and attorney fees.
Council Member Kuehne stated he prefers Maps 105, 108, and 117, each with minor adjustments.
Mayor Nakanishi stated his preferences are Maps 117 and 118 because they comply with the law and
meet the intent behind this process, adding he likes the concept of vertical lines, not horizontal.
Council concurred that Maps 105, 108, 117, and 118 will move forward in the process and become the
"focus maps" because they meet all of the requirements.
C. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at
8:35 p.m.
ATTEST:
Jennifer M. Ferraiolo
City Clerk
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