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D.1
To: Board of Supervisors
From: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Date: December  7, 2021
The Seal of Contra Costa County, CA
Contra
Costa
County
Subject: Draft Maps of House of Representatives, State Legislature and Board of Equalization Districts
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On:   12/07/2021
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-655-2057
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:     December  7, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator
 
BY: , Deputy

 

RECOMMENDATION(S):

CONSIDER providing comments to the California Independent Redistricting Commission on the draft maps for the House of Representatives, State Legislature, and Board of Equalization districts that affect Contra Costa County.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact to the County from providing input into the state's redistricting process.

BACKGROUND:

Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts so that the districts correctly reflect the state’s population. The U.S. Constitution requires that every American receive as close to equal representation as possible in government. As populations of districts change over time, it can leave some people overrepresented and others underrepresented in government. The redistricting process evens out the population between districts.  
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
      
    In November 2008, California voters passed the Voters FIRST Act, authorizing the creation of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new state assembly and state senate district lines, shifting the responsibility from the California Legislature and transferring it to the citizens. With this vote, California became one of eight states in the nation with an independent commission. In 2010, the Voters FIRST Act for Congress, Proposition 20, added the job of drawing Congressional districts to the Commission. This year marks the second time that an independent commission is drawing the state and congressional districts.  
      
    In California, the 14-member Commission is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats, and four individuals not affiliated with either party. Commission members, seated in August 2020, were selected by the following process. The initial and supplemental applications were forwarded to an Applicant Review Panel (panel) consisting of three independent auditors from the California State Auditor. After the panel reviewed all the applications, the panel selected 120 of the “most qualified applicants,” divided into three equal sub-pools according to party affiliation, who were then personally interviewed. The pool was then narrowed down to 60 applicants in three equal sub-pools. The panel presented those 60 applicants to the California State Legislature, where the leadership had the option of removing up to 24 names from the list—eight from each sub-pool. The names of the applicants not removed from the sub-pools were then submitted to the California State Auditor. The California State Auditor randomly drew from the names remaining in the three sub-pools: three Democrats, three Republicans, and two from neither of those parties. These eight applicants became the first eight members of the Commission. The first eight members of the Commission then selected the final six members of the Commission by selecting two commissioners from each of the three sub-pools.  
      
    The Commission must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians. The Commission must hold public hearings and accept public comment. After hearing from the public and drawing the maps for the House of Representatives districts, 40 Senate districts, 80 Assembly districts, and four Board of Equalization districts, the Commission must vote on the new maps to be used for the next decade. Once the Commission has approved the final four maps, the maps are certified to the California Secretary of State with a report explaining the basis on which the Commission made its decisions. To be approved, each map must receive the affirmative vote of at least three Commissioners who are Democrats, three Commissioners who are Republicans, and three Commissioners from neither of those parties.  
      
    Map Requirements:
    1. First Preliminary Maps must be displayed no later than November 15, 2021.  
    2. Public comment shall be taken for at least 14 days from the date of public display of the first preliminary statewide maps of the Congressional, State Senatorial, Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.  
    3. The Commission shall not display any other map for public comment during the 14-day period.  
    4. Public comment shall be taken for at least seven days from the date of public display of any subsequent preliminary statewide maps.  
    5. Public comment shall be taken for at least three days from the date of public display of any final statewide maps.  
    6. Final Maps must be certified to the Secretary of State by December 27, 2021. Final maps will need to be displayed by December 23, 2021 due to the requirements outlined in #5, above.  
    7. With each of the four final maps, the Commission must issue a report that explains its decisions in achieving compliance with the various criteria listed in subdivision (d) and must include definitions of the terms and standards used in drawing each final map.  
    8. The four final redistricting maps must be approved by at least nine affirmative votes which must include at least three votes of members registered from each of the two largest political parties in California based on registration and three votes from members who are not registered with either of these two political parties.  
    9. “Day” means a calendar day, except that if the final day of a period within which an act is to be performed is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the period is extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.  
    10. Nine or more affirmative votes shall be required for any official action; nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.  
    11. Notice for meetings, the purpose of which is to seek public input, must be agendized for at least 14 calendar days. Meetings for which public input is not the purpose must be agendized for at least ten calendar days. For the final fifteen days prior to the finalization of maps, public meetings require only three days’ notice.
      
      
    Timeline:  

    February - July 2021: Education Presentations (California Redistricting Basics)  

    June - September 2021: Public Input Meetings (Communities of Interest)  

    August 12, 2021: Census Data Received by the State  

    September 20, 2021: Final data set provided to Commission and Public with People in State Custody Reallocated  

    October - November 2021: Public Input Meetings/Line Drawing Sessions   

    No Later than November 15, 2021: Preliminary Draft District Maps Released

    *14 days following the release of Preliminary Draft District Maps, the Commission may not display any other maps for public comment during this period.

      
    November-December 2021: Following Release of Preliminary Draft Maps: Additional Public Input Meetings and Line Drawing Sessions

      
    December 2021: Possible additional draft District Maps Released

      
    No Later than December 23, 2021: Display of Commission Approved Final Maps

      
    No Later than December 27, 2021: Final District Maps Certified to Secretary of State

      
      
    After earlier phases of its work to provide public education and engagement, on November 10, 2021 California's independent redistricting commission released drafts maps of new House, Legislature, and Board of Equalization districts. (Earlier in the process, the Commission released "visualizations" which grouped certain geographic areas that could make up a district or cluster of districts for purposes of discussion.) The Commission also has an interactive map available for public use. There is an expectation that alternative draft maps may be released in December; the final maps will be displayed no later than December 23. Commissioners have until December 27, 2021 to finalize the lines that will shape California campaigns and representation for the next decade. At its November 8, 2021 meeting, the Board of Supervisors' Legislation Committee (Supervisors Burgis and Mitchoff) recommended that this matter be referred to the full Board for consideration and comment.   
      
    The Commission must follow these criteria, in this order, when drawing district maps:  
      
    1. Districts must be of nearly equal population to comply with the U.S. Constitution.  
    2. Districts must comply with the Voting Rights Act to ensure that minorities have a fair opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
    3. Districts must be drawn contiguously, so that all parts of the district are connected to each other.
    4. Districts must minimize the division of cities, counties, neighborhoods, and communities of interest to the extent possible.  
    5. Districts should be geographically compact such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant populations. This requirement refers to density, not shape.  
    6. Where practicable, each Senate District should be comprised of two complete and adjacent Assembly Districts. Board of Equalization districts should be comprised of ten complete and adjacent State Senate Districts.  
      
    In addition, the place of residence of any incumbent or political candidate may not be considered in the creation of a map, and districts may not be drawn for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party.  
      
    The public can participate by submitting public comment on the Commission's website, at one of its meetings, through the communities of interest mapping tool and by mailing their input. The Commission's website notes: "Speaking up about your community is critical to ensuring district lines are drawn to keep your community whole to the extent possible and grouped with nearby communities with similar interests." The public comment and public input the Commission has received, to date, is included on its website.  
      
    How to Submit Input:  
      
    1. Real-Time Feedback Form: https://airtable.com/shrQDD2ta2emnSzzO  
    2. Mapping Tools: https://drawmycalifornia.org/  
    3. On the Website: www.wedrawthelinesca.org/contact  
    4. Call In to a Public Input Meeting: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/meetings  
    5. By E-mail: VotersFirstAct@crc.ca.gov  
    6. By Mail: California Citizens Redistricting Commission, 721 Capitol Mall, Suite 260, Sacramento, CA 95814  
      
    Contra Costa County Maps  
      
    The draft Congressional District maps include areas of Contra Costa County on pages 11, 12, 13, and 14 (Attachment A). These proposed districts would place Contra Costa County into two districts: "CD_NORTHCONT_DRAFT" and "CD_CONCORDTR_DRAFT." Parts of Contra Costa County are currently included in four congressional districts: D-5 (Rep. Thompson), D-9 (Rep. McNerney), D-11 (Rep. DeSaulnier), and D-15 (Rep. Swalwell).   
      
    The draft Senate District maps include areas of Contra Costa County on pages 12-16 (Attachment B). These proposed districts would place Contra Costa County into three districts: "SC_SD80CORR_DRAFT," "SD_COCO_DRAFT," and "SD_NAPABYRON_DRAFT." Parts of Contra Costa County are currently included in three state senate districts: SD-3 (Dodd), SD-7 (Glazer), and SD-9 (Skinner).  
      
    The draft Assembly District maps include areas of Contra Costa County on pages 15, 19, 24, 30, 31 (Attachment C). These proposed districts would place Contra Costa County into four districts: "AD_EASTBAY_DRAFT," "AD_680CC_DRAFT," "AD_EASTCC_DRAFT," and "AD_SOLANO_DRAFT." Parts of Contra Costa County are currently included in four districts: AD-11 (Frazier), AD-14 (Grayson), AD-15 (Wicks), AD-16 (Bauer-Kahan).   
      
    The draft Board of Equalization map includes Contra Costa County in district C. Contra Costa County is currently in District 2.  
      
      
      
      
      
      

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