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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 16, 2021 H-01AGENDA ITEM Hwl CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Redistricting Project Schedule and Public Outreach Presentation MEETING DATE: June 16, 2021 PREPARED BY: City Clerk RECOMMENDED ACTION. Receive a presentation about the schedule and public outreach plan for the Redistricting Project BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Redistricting, or the redrawing of district lines, is a once -in -a -decade opportunity to ensure that communities are meaningfully represented by their local governments and that elected officials reflect the diversity of the City's population. It is important that the redistricting process be fair, transparent, and accessible. AB 849, known as the Fair Maps Act, passed in 2019 to improve and standardize the local redistricting process and incorporate best practices that California already uses for redistricting at the state level. Local governments now have clearer guidelines around drawing district maps and the Fair Maps Act also created public outreach and transparency requirements so communities know about and can directly participate in the process of the drawing of the City district lines. PROJECT SCHEDULE: In a normal census, local population data for redistricting is delivered by March 31. Because of the impacts of COVID-19 on census data collection and processing, the data has been delayed. The most recent update from the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the data will be delivered to the State in mid or late August. The State will then make adjustments to account for the incarcerated population and then provide the data to local jurisdictions. The City's next regular election for Council is scheduled for November 2022 therefore the City Council must adopt district maps before April 17, 2022. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: It is the goal of the City to make sure the redistricting process is accessible and transparent. By taking active steps to encourage robust public participation, the City will have stronger community testimony and be better equipped to draw district maps that reflect the needs of our diverse community. Hearings By law, cities must hold a minimum of four public hearings that enable community members to provide input on the drawing of the district maps: • At least one hearing must occur before the City draws draft maps. At least two hearings must be held after the drawing of draft maps. The fourth hearing can happen either before or after the drawing of draft maps. APPROVED: Steve SchwabaUer Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager May 19, 2021 Page 2 To increase the accessibility of the Public hearings, the City must take the following steps: • At least one hearing must occur on a Saturday, Sunday, or after 6 p.m. on a weekday. • If a redistricting hearing is consolidated with another local government meeting, the redistricting portion must begin at a pre -designated time. • Local public redistricting hearings should be made accessible to people with disabilities. The schedule for the four required Public hearings is currently as follows: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Wednesday, April 6, 2022 The City Clerk is also recommending that the City host two Community Redistricting Workshops, in October 2021 and January 2022, in addition to the required four public hearings. At the June 16 City Council Meeting, staff is requesting that the City Council set the first Public hearing on July 21. At the initial Public hearing, the consultant, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), will be present to discuss the Federal and State requirements for redistricting, explain the map drafting process, review the tools that will be available, answer questions from the Council and the public, and receive and preliminary feedback. Translations The City will be providing all redistricting materials in both English and Spanish. The City must also offer live translation of public redistricting hearings or workshops in applicable languages if a request is made at least 72 hours in advance. Outreach In order to engage underrepresented communities in the local redistricting process, the City will make a good faith effort to do the following: ■ Share information about the redistricting process with media organizations that cover news in the City, including media organizations that reach language minority communities. • Share information via civic engagement and community groups/organizations that are active in the City. • Share information via the City website and social media accounts in both English and Spanish. Public Feedback Members of the public must be allowed to submit testimony and draft maps electronically or in writing. The City will provide a mailing address, an email address for submittal of draft maps, and an online map submittal tool. The public may also drop off draft maps upon the reopening of City Hall. ENSURING TRANSPARANCY: Transparency provides accountability and promotes trust. The City will use the technology available to put information about the redistricting process online and readily available to the public. Notices • The date, time, and location of all public hearings or workshops will be noticed online and in a location(s) easily accessible to the public at least five days in advance. • Draft maps will be published on the City website at least seven days before adoption. May 19, 2021 Page 2 Each draft map prepared by the City will be accompanied by the following information: total population, citizen voting age population (CVAP), and racial and ethnic characteristics of the citizen voting age population of each proposed district. Recording The City will provide an audio, audiovisual, or a written summary of public comment and council deliberations at all public redistricting hearings and workshops. The recording or written summary will be made available within two weeks after the public hearing or workshop. Website The City will create a dedicated redistricting webpage and maintain it for at least ten years following the adoption of new district boundaries. The webpage will be created in both English and Spanish and will include: • An explanation of the redistricting process ■ Procedures for a member of the public to offer verbal testimony during a public hearing or submit written testimony • A calendar that lists the dates of all public redistricting hearings and workshops • Access to the Maptitude Online Redistricting (MOR) tool which allows the public to design and submit maps online • Each draft map the City considers at public hearings • The final adopted district map of the City FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. Jennifer Cusmir Jennifer Cusmir City Clerk Signature: I lly-�LLILL Signature: Jennifer Cusmir(Jun 10,202114:59 PDT) Y �r(Jun 10, 202115:01 PDT) Email: jcusmir@lodi.gov Email: sschwabauer@lodi.gov BLUE SHEET AGENDA ITEM H-1 ° CITY OF LODI „. COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Redistricting Project Schedule and Public Outreach Presentation MEETING DATE: June 16, 2021 PREPARED BY: City Clerk RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive a presentation about the schedule and public outreach plan for the Redistricting Project BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Redistricting, or the redrawing of district lines, is a once -in -a -decade opportunity to ensure that communities are meaningfully represented by their local governments and that elected officials reflect the diversity of the City's population. It is important that the redistricting process be fair, transparent, and accessible. AB 849, known as the Fair Maps Act, passed in 2019 to improve and standardize the local redistricting process and incorporate best practices that California already uses for redistricting at the state level. Local governments now have clearer guidelines around drawing district maps and the Fair Maps Act also created public outreach and transparency requirements so communities know about and can directly participate in the process of the drawing of the City district lines. PROJECT SCHEDULE: In a normal census, local population data for redistricting is delivered by March 31. Because of the impacts of COVID-19 on census data collection and processing, the data has been delayed. The most recent update from the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the data will be delivered to the Stateon October 16, 2021. The State will then make adjustments to account for the incarcerated population and then provide the data to local jurisdictions. The City's next regular election for Council is scheduled for November 2022 therefore the City Council must adopt district maps before April 17, 2022. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: It is the goal of the City to make sure the redistricting process is accessible and transparent. By taking active steps to encourage robust public participation, the City will have stronger community testimony and be better equipped to draw district maps that reflect the needs of our diverse community. Hearings By law, cities must hold a minimum of four public hearings that enable community members to provide input on the drawing of the district maps: At least one hearing must occur before the City draws draft maps. At least two hearings must be held after the drawing of draft maps. The fourth hearing can happen either before or after the drawing of draft maps. APPROVED: Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager May 19, 2021 Page 2 To increase the accessibility of the Public hearings, the City must take the following steps: • At least one hearing must occur on a Saturday, Sunday, or after 6 p.m. on a weekday. • If a redistricting hearing is consolidated with another local government meeting, the redistricting portion must begin at a pre -designated time. ■ Local public redistricting hearings should be made accessible to people with disabilities. The schedule for the four required Public hearings is currently as follows: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Wednesday, April 6, 2022 The City Clerk is also recommending that the City host two Community Redistricting Workshops, in January 2022 and February 2022, in addition to the required four public hearings. At the June 16 City Council Meeting, staff is requesting that the City Council set the first Public hearing on July 21. At the initial Public hearing, the consultant, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), will be present to discuss the Federal and State requirements for redistricting, explain the map drafting process, review the tools that will be available, answer questions from the Council and the public, and receive and preliminary feedback. Translations The City will be providing all redistricting materials in both English and Spanish. The City must also offer live translation of public redistricting hearings or workshops in applicable languages if a request is made at least 72 hours in advance. Outreach In order to engage underrepresented communities in the local redistricting process, the City will make a good faith effort to do the following: • Share information about the redistricting process with media organizations that cover news in the City, including media organizations that reach language minority communities. • Share information via civic engagement and community groups/organizations that are active in the City. ■ Share information via the City website and social media accounts in both English and Spanish. Public Feedback Members of the public must be allowed to submit testimony and draft maps electronically or in writing. The City will provide a mailing address, an email address for submittal of draft maps, and an online map submittal tool. The public may also drop off draft maps upon the reopening of City Hall. ENSURING TRANSPARANCY: Transparency provides accountability and promotes trust. The City will use the technology available to put information about the redistricting process online and readily available to the public. Notices • The date, time, and location of all public hearings or workshops will be noticed online and in a location(s) easily accessible to the public at least five days in advance. • Draft maps will be published on the City website at least seven days before adoption. May 19, 2021 Page 2 • Each draft map prepared by the City will be accompanied by the following information: total population, citizen voting age population (CVAP), and racial and ethnic characteristics of the citizen voting age population of each proposed district. Recording The City will provide an audio, audiovisual, or a written summary of public comment and council deliberations at all public redistricting hearings and workshops. The recording or written summary will be made available within two weeks after the public hearing or workshop. Website The City will create a dedicated redistricting webpage and maintain it for at least ten years following the adoption of new district boundaries. The webpage will be created in both English and Spanish and will include: An explanation of the redistricting process Procedures for a member of the public to offer verbal testimony during a public hearing or submit written testimony A calendar that lists the dates of all public redistricting hearings and workshops • Access to the Maptitude Online Redistricting (MOR) tool which allows the public to design and submit maps online • Each draft map the City considers at public hearings • The final adopted district map of the City FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. Jennifer Cusmir City Clerk