RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
2. ACCEPT the report from Deborah Cooper, County Clerk/Recorder; Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) GIS Mapping Staff; and David Twa, representing the County Administrator’s Office on the 2021 Board of Supervisors redistricting efforts to date, including development of the CoCoRedistricting.org Website; DistrictR Mapping Program; Community of Interests materials; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); public outreach; and
3. DIRECT David Twa, representing the County Administrators Office and the DCD GIS Mapping staff to provide training to staff and the public on the DistrictR modules and the public submission portal that will allow members of the public to submit their Community of Interest suggestions and redistricting maps; to establish locations for public supervisorial workshops; and to continue outreach to the public on the redistricting process; and
4. DIRECT David Twa, representing the County Administrators Office and the DCD GIS Mapping staff to return to the Board once the Official U.S. Census numbers have been released, to provide an analysis of the 2020 redistricting Census Population Data as applied to the current Supervisorial District Boundaries and for the Board’s consideration of a proposed timeline for additional Public Hearings, Board Workshops, additional public outreach, and next steps.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County Administrator's Office, Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) County Counsel and Clerk/Recorder’s offices will incur staff and other costs in order to facilitate the 2021 Board redistricting process, including preparing map alternatives, arranging, and conducting Public Hearings/Workshops/training sessions, preparing public notices and other public outreach materials, and to maintain a webpage dedicated to the 2021 redistricting process. Total costs are estimated to be $300,000.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Census Bureau normally would release the official data necessary for the County to begin the redistricting process by April 1 of the year following completion of the census. However, the official data has been delayed and is now expected to be released in September 2021. Legacy data is expected to be released sometime in late August 2021. Legacy data provides a breakdown of population changes in a summary format that often requires either a third party or a data expert to download and analyze the data sets. Legacy data may provide an approximate breakdown of population changes for the County and the supervisorial districts. However, it is the official redistricting data to be released in September that must be used for redistricting.
California law (Elections Code section 21500 et. seq.) requires the Board of Supervisors to approve supervisorial district boundaries following each federal decennial census so that district boundaries are “substantially equal in population.” (Elec. Code, § 21500(a).) The state block-level redistricting database, which will be based on official 2020 U.S. Census data, must be used to determine supervisorial district boundaries. The boundaries will remain in effect until redistricting following the next decennial census. The Board must adopt the new district boundaries no later than December 15, 2021.
At the February 9, 2021, Board of Supervisors meeting the Board approved the following approach and work program for the 2021 Board redistricting:
GUIDING PRINCIPLES/CRITERIA - Guiding principles or criteria in adjusting district boundaries should be established at the outset of the process to provide clear guidance for staff in mapping new district boundaries and to assure the public that the process will be open and transparent. Preliminarily, the following guiding principles/criteria have been identified for the Board’s consideration:
- To the extent possible, achieve substantially equal population for each district according to the Official U.S. Census data. The difference in population between the largest and smallest district should be less than 10%.
- Use easily identifiable geographic features and topography to draw compact and contiguous adjusted boundaries.
- Maintain communities of interest in a single district and avoid splitting communities when adjusting boundaries. Communities of interest may be defined by existing boundaries for cities, school districts, special districts, and unincorporated communities.
The state block-level redistricting database information is estimated to be received by September 24, 2021. Upon receipt, the Board has directed that staff analyze and prepare 3-6 map alternatives for consideration by the Board of Supervisors along with any map alternatives suggested by the public.
All map alternatives are to be appropriately labeled and accompanied with a summary written description so that the public and interested parties can easily track map changes as they may evolve through the process up through adoption. The first draft maps cannot be released until at least three weeks after the state block-level redistricting database is made available.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP GROUP - The County Administrator’s office has established an interdepartmental leadership group to provide oversight/management of the redistricting process. The leadership group is comprised of the County Administrator, or designee, Department of Conservation & Development (DCD), County Counsel, Department of Information and Technology, and the Clerk-Recorder.
PUBLIC OUTREACH – A Redistricting webpage on the County’s website in multiple languages, was established as of August 04, 2021 and is the primary portal for public information and access. The public may use the website to provide feedback and comments. The Website will remain on the County’s homepage for ten years and can be accessed at CoCoRedistricting.org.
The interactive feature accessible on the Website will enable the public and all interested parties to draw and submit their own supervisorial district map proposals and Community of Interest suggestions. Our public outreach will use electronic or web-based communication to the greatest extent possible, including the new dedicated website with area for comments, public access to maps, census data tabulation, record of comments, and regular bi-weekly updates.
The public outreach will include press releases to local newspapers, public notices on County website, CCTV, contact with City Managers, the Mayor’s Conference, and community groups.
Furthermore, our outreach efforts will provide multiple avenues for the public to provide comments, including, but not limited to, letters, email, and website comments. This direct outreach to targeted groups/communities is designed to ensure their awareness and participation in the process.
The county will host one or more technical workshops for the public to learn how the online mapping application works.
Additionally, once we have the Census Data, and starting in October, the County Administrator’s Office and DCD will support public workshops/meetings in supervisorial districts, hosted by the district Supervisor, to provide background on the redistricting process, present potential boundary changes (map alternatives), answer questions and receive input. Depending on COVID 19 restrictions, these workshops may be in-person, or by Zoom, call-in, or some combination of those alternatives.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION ADOPTION – Redistricting is currently adopted by an ordinance; however, a bill is pending in the State Legislature that would allow redistricting to be adopted by resolution. State law requires at least four (4) public hearings, and at least one public hearing or public workshop must be held on a Saturday, on a Sunday, or after 6 p.m. on a weekday (Monday through Friday).
Because we do not know for certain when we will have the Official U.S. Census Data some of the following Proposed Schedule is yet to be determined and subject to change. This condensed timeline requires an expedited, outreach strategy. Clear and concise messaging will increase public awareness and opportunity for the public to engage in the redistricting process.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
August 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM – First Public Hearing On the required adjustment of boundaries of supervisorial districts; provide an overview of the redistricting process; review the new redistricting dedicated website; provide information about communities of interest; explain how to submit draft maps once Census Data is available; describe planned public outreach and availability of mapping software training; receive input from the public; and receive direction from the Board of Supervisors.
DATE TBD - Technical Workshop # 1 The County will host a technical workshop for the public to learn how the online mapping application works.
October 5, 2021 at 9:00 AM - Second Public Hearing Obtain public input on Community of Interest suggestions; staff to provide over/under population numbers for existing districts; review the criteria for adopting redistricting maps; and receive direction from the Board of Supervisors.
DATE TBD - Technical Workshop # 2 The County will host a technical workshop for the public to learn how the online mapping application works.
October 19, 2021 at 6:15 PM - Third Public Hearing Update on public input received to date on Community of Interest suggestions; staff to review over/under population numbers for existing districts; present publicly drawn maps received to date; review the criteria for adopting redistricting maps; present (3 – 6) conceptual drafts of supervisorial maps and receive direction from the Board of Supervisors.
October 20 – 29, 2021 (time & location TBD) - Supervisor’s Workshops Hosted by the district Supervisor(s), to provide background on the redistricting process, present potential boundary changes (map alternatives), answer questions and receive input. Depending on COVID 19 restrictions, these workshops may be in-person, by Zoom, by call-in, or some combination of those alternatives.
November 9, 2021 at 9:00 AM - Fourth Public Hearing Report on Workshops held in Supervisorial districts; provide update on additional public input received on Community of Interest suggestions; staff to review over/under population numbers for existing districts; present publicly drawn maps received to date; review the criteria for adopting redistricting maps; present (3 – 6) conceptual drafts of supervisorial maps and receive direction from the Board of Supervisors.
November 23, 2021 at 9:00 AM - Fifth Public Hearing Provide update on additional public input received on Community of Interest suggestions; review publicly drawn maps received; review the criteria for adopting redistricting maps; review proposed Final supervisorial district map; receive public input; and Board of Supervisors to consider selection of final map.
Should the Board not be able to adopt the final redistricting map at the November 23, 2021, Public Hearing, the Board will consider the final map on December 7, 2021 an already scheduled Board meeting.
December 15, 2021 - Statutory deadline to complete redistricting (CA Elections Code section 21501(a)(2))
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County is required to hold a minimum of four Public Hearings before adoption of the required redistricting of supervisorial districts. Failure to schedule at least four Public Hearing may result in the county not being in compliance with the legal requirements for approving supervisorial district boundaries.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
Speaker: Shawn Gilbert, Vice President, Diablo Valley League of Women Voters; Pete Bennett, Walnut Creek.