HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 17 PH Input from Community Re: Redrawing of Election District BoundariesCity Council Agenda Report
City of Lake Elsinore 130 South Main Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
www.lake-elsinore.org
File Number: ID# 21-285
Agenda Date: 8/10/2021 Status: Approval FinalVersion: 1
File Type: Council Public
Hearing
In Control: City Council / Successor Agency
Agenda Number: 17)
Public Hearing to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the Redrawing of Election
District Boundaries
Conduct a Public Hearing to receive a report on the redistricting process and criteria to be considered
to redraw district boundaries and receive public input on district boundaries.
Page 1 City of Lake Elsinore Printed on 8/5/2021
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Candice Alvarez, MMC, City Clerk
Date: August 10, 2021
Subject: Public Hearing to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the
Redrawing of Election District Boundaries
Recommendation
Conduct a Public Hearing to receive a report on the redistricting process and criteria to be
considered to redraw district boundaries and receive public input on district boundaries.
Discussion
Pursuant to Government Code Section 25100 et. seq., each city with district-based election
systems must use new census data to review and, if needed, redraw district lines to reflect how
local populations have changed. This process, called redistricting, ensures all districts have
nearly equal population. The redistricting process for the City of Lake Elsinore must be completed
by April 17, 2022.
The City adopted its current district boundaries on February 1, 2018 based on 2010 census data
as required by law. The districts must now be reviewed and, if needed, redrawn using the 2020
census data and in compliance with the Fair And Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities And
Political Subdivisions (FAIR MAPS) Act, which was adopted by the California legislature as AB
849 and took effect January 1, 2020.
Under the Act, the Council shall draw and adopt boundaries using the following criteria in the
listed order of priority (Elections Code 21601(c)):
1. Comply with the federal requirements of equal population and the Voting Rights Act
2. Geographically contiguous
3. Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (socio-economic geographic
areas that should be kept together)
4. Easily identifiable boundaries
5. Compact (do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people)
6. Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.
Redistricting Public Hearing #1
August 10, 2021
Page 2 of 3
Once the prioritized criteria are met, other traditional districting principles can be considered, such
as:
1. Minimize the number of voters delayed from voting in 2022 to 2024
2. Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office
3. Future population growth
The City must hold at least four public hearings that enable community members to provide input
on the drawing of district maps:
At least one hearing must occur before the city or county draws draft maps
At least two hearings must happen after the drawing of draft maps
The fourth hearing can happen either before or after the drawing of draft maps
City or county staff or consultants may hold a public workshop instead of one of the
required public redistricting hearings
To increase the accessibility of these hearings, cities and counties 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 hearing portion must begin at a pre-designated time
Local public redistricting hearings should be made accessible to people with disabilities
The purpose of this first public hearing is to inform the public about the districting process and to
hear from the community on what factors should be taken into consideration while creating district
boundaries. The public is requested to provide input regarding communities of interest and other
local factors that should be considered while drafting district maps. A community of interest under
the relevant Elections Code for cities (Section 21601(c) / 21621(c)] is “a population that shares
common social or economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes
of its effective and fair representation.”
Possible features defining community of interest might include, but are not limited to:
A. School attendance areas;
B. Natural dividing lines such as major roads, hills, or highways;
C. Areas around parks and other neighborhood landmarks;
D. Common issues, neighborhood activities, or legislative/election concerns; and
E. Shared demographic characteristics, such as:
(1) Similar levels of income, education, or linguistic insolation;
(2) Languages spoken at home; and
(3) Single-family and multi-family housing unit areas.
Redistricting Public Hearing #1
August 10, 2021
Page 3 of 3
Next Steps
On September 14, 2021, the City Council will conduct Public Hearing #2 to seek additional public
input regarding district maps. Following that hearing, draft district maps and proposed election
sequencing will be posted to the City website and available at City Hall.
The dates for Public Hearings #3 and #4 to consider draft maps are yet to be determined
depending on release of the delayed U.S. Census data and state prisoner population adjusted
counts.
Attachments
Exhibit A - Presentation
City of Lake Elsinore
Introduction to Redistricting 2021
8/10/2021 Todd Tatum
National Demographics Corporation
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Redistricting Process
2*SB 594 would explicitly confirm maps may be adopted by resolution.
Step Description
Two Initial Hearings
August 10 & September 14
Held prior to release of draft maps.
Education and to solicit input on the communities in the Districts.
Census Data Release
Mid/Late August
Census Bureau releases official 2020 Census population data.
California Data Release
Early October 2021
California Statewide Database releases California’s official ‘prisoner-
adjusted’ 2020 redistricting data.
Two Draft Map Hearings
TBD & TBD
Two Public Hearings to discuss and revise the draft maps and to
discuss the election sequence.
Map Adoption
By April 17, 2022
Final map must be posted at least 7 days prior to adoption.
Map adopted via ordinance.*
3
Equal Population
Federal Voting Rights Act
No Racial Gerrymandering
Minimize voters shifted to
different election years
Respect voters’ choices /
continuity in office
Future population growth
Preserving the core of existing
districts
1. Federal Laws 2. California Criteria for
Cities (rank ordered)
1.Geographically contiguous
2.Undivided neighborhoods and
“communities of interest”
(Socio-economic geographic areas that
should be kept together)
3.Easily identifiable boundaries
4.Compact
(Do not bypass one group of people to
get to a more distant group of people)
Prohibited:
“Shall not favor or discriminate against
a political party.”
3. Other Traditional
Redistricting Principles
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Redistricting Rules and Goals
4
Demographic Summary of Existing Districts
Estimates using official 2020 demographic
data and NDC’s estimated total population
figures.
Each of the 5 districts must contain about
13,374
people.
City of Lake Elsinore - Current Districts
Category Field 1 2 3 4 5 Count
2020 Est. Population
2020 Estimated Pop. 10,388 14,274 16,363 12,722 13,123 66,870
Estimated Deviation -2,986 900 2,989 -652 -251 5,975
Est. Pct. Deviation -22.32%6.73%22.35%-4.87%-1.88%44.67%
Citizen Voting Age Pop
Total 5,774 8,356 8,756 7,137 6,233 36,256
Hisp 43%42%26%52%53%42%
NH White 42%40%45%39%30%40%
NH Black 6%5%17%4%11%9%
Asian/Pac.Isl.6%12%11%3%6%8%
5
Latino CVAP
There is some concentration of Latinos, African-
Americans, Asian-Americans, or Native Americans
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Defining Neighborhoods
1st Question: What is your neighborhood?
2nd Question: What are its geographic boundaries?
Examples of physical features defining a neighborhood boundary:
Natural neighborhood dividing lines, such as highway or major
roads, rivers, canals and/or hills
Areas around parks or schools
Other neighborhood landmarks
In the absence of public testimony, planning records and other similar
documents may provide definition.
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7
Beyond Neighborhoods:
Defining Communities of Interest
1st Question: What defines your community?
Geographic Area, plus
Shared issue or characteristic
Shared social or economic interest
Impacted by county policies
Tell us “your community’s story”
2nd Question: Would this community benefit from being “included within a
single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation”?
Or would it benefit more from having multiple representatives?
Definitions of Communities of Interest may not include relationships
with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.
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Beyond Neighborhoods: Communities
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Under the California Elections Code, “community of interest” has a very
specific definition in the context of districting and redistricting cities and
counties:
A “community of interest” is a population that shares common social or
economic interests that should be included within a single district for
purposes of its effective and fair representation.
Communities of interest do not include relationships with political parties,
incumbents, or political candidates.
(emphasis added)
9
Story Map
Easy to use “story” of demographic and other data
Similar to PowerPoint, but interactive
Used to identify “communities of interest”
Sample map from Goleta
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Simple Map Review Tool
Online Interactive Review Map
ESRI’s “ArcGIS Online” – similar to Google Maps in ease of use
Used to review, analyze and compare maps, not to create them
Includes overlays of “community of interest” and other data
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Public Hearing & Discussion
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What is your neighborhood and what are its boundaries?
What other notable areas are in the City, and what are their
boundaries?
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Share Your Thoughts
Website
http://www.lake-elsinore.org/city-hall/city-clerk/election-
information/election-districts/2021-2022-redistricting
Phone
(951) 674-3124 ext. 269
Email
calvarez@lake-elsinore.org
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