Report to Mayor and City Council
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Special Orders of the Day
SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING NO. 2 RELATED TO CHANGING FROM AN AT-LARGE TO A BY-DISTRICT SYSTEM FOR ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACT (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
Tonight is the second public hearing in the matter related to by-district voting in Carson. In order to move from at-large elections to by-district voting the City needs to establish both the data necessary to complete the process as well as a timetable for meeting state and federal requirements for the transition. The City has selected Compass Demographics, Inc. to assist with this process. The principal of the firm, David Ely, will lead tonight's discussion.
The discussion will surround the composition of maps and solicit public input on what to consider when preparing the maps. No draft maps will be drawn tonight. During the meeting there will be an opportunity for the residents to comment and ask questions. The next discussion on the transition to by-district voting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, 2019. All documents pertaining to districting are available on the city website.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. OPEN the Public Hearing.
2. TAKE public testimony.
3. CLOSE the Public Hearing.
1.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
WHY IS CARSON CHANGING THE ELECTION PROCESS?
On May 22, 2018 the City received a letter from Shenkman and Hughes, PC of Malibu demanding that the City Council elections transition from the current "at-large" method to "by-district" in order to conform to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Mr. Shenkman asserted that the City of Carson is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 because "racially polarized voting" occurs in the city.
A by-district election process means voters within a designated Council electoral dis...
Click here for full text