City Council
MEETING DATE: 5/10/2017
TITLE:
Title
Resolution Adopting an Amended Public Hearing Schedule for Potential Council Election Districts
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the attached resolution to amend the public hearing schedule for potential council election districts.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City's charter commits the City to changing the election of City Council members from "at large" to "by districts" by no later than the November 2022 election or when the City's population reaches 65,000. On January 11, 2017, the City Council approved an agreement with National Demographics Corporation to commence the process of establishing Council districts. On March 8, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 2017-06 approving a schedule for public hearings for potential council election districts to commence during the November 2018 general election. On April 12th, the City held its first public hearing prior to the draft maps. Mr. Douglas Johnson of National Demographics Corporation provided an overview and demonstration of an online map drawing tool. The City offered an interpreter for those who only speak Spanish. The City posted on its official websites, www.CathedralCity.gov <http://www.CathedralCity.gov> and DiscoverCathedralCity.com, information about the plan to move to voting "by district" elections and seeking the community's input. The city made available on its website the online drawing tool as well as a city map that can be downloaded and drawn manually. Additionally, the move to electoral districts is a featured news article on the Home Page of www.CathedralCity.gov <http://www.CathedralCity.gov>. The City also posted to its social media pages including Facebook, Nextdoor.com, and Twitter its requests for public input. On April 26th, the City held its 2nd public hearing prior to draft maps being released requesting input from the community. Both public hearings prior to the draft maps were posted in English and Spanish in the local newspapers as public notices. A Spanish interpreter was available for the 2nd Public Hearing prior to the draft maps and will continue to be provided throughout the entire process.
DISCUSSION:
The final date of the community to submit its proposed draft maps is May 15, 2017. On May 18, 2017, maps submitted by the public and map(s) provided by National Demographics Corporation will be released and posted on the www.CathedralCity.gov <http://www.CathedralCity.gov> website. The public is encouraged to provide input on the draft maps.
During the April 26th meeting, the council heard public comments with regards to the schedule. Members of the public voiced their concerns about holding public hearings on electoral districts and a vote to introduce the ordinance during the month of August. They stated that many residents leave town to escape the summer heat in August. Based on the public's input, the City Council, at its April 26th meeting, asked staff to look at providing more time for review of the draft maps and to emphasize in our outreach that the "City Hall at Your Corner" previously scheduled for June 7th be a dedicated opportunity for the public to provide valuable input on electoral districts and the draft maps. This meeting is being held at Cardenas Market, which caters heavily to the Hispanic community. That invitation has already been posted to our www.DiscoverCathedralCity.com <http://www.DiscoverCathedralCity.com> and will be posted to www.CathedralCity.gov <http://www.CatehdralCity.gov> and our social media pages as well as the City's electronic weekly newsletter.
In response to this feedback, staff recommends that the Council amend the public hearing schedule for electoral districts to the proposed new schedule outlined in Attachment A. This will allow the community additional time to review the draft maps and offer additional input by moving the first public hearing from June 14th to June 26th and holding the second public hearing on the draft maps on July 26th during a special meeting instead of July 12th. The amended schedule also eliminates two public hearings and the vote to introduce the ordinance and final adoption of the ordinance previously scheduled in the month of August and moves them both to the month of September.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no significant fiscal impact to amend the schedule for public hearings on electoral districting.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution