Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Special Orders of the Day
SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE REDISTRICTING OF ESTABLISHED CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 DECENNIAL CENSUS ON REDISTRICTING, AND REVIEW OF DRAFT MAP #1 AND DRAFT MAP #2
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I. SUMMARY
In 2020, the City of Carson adopted City Council districts for the four City Council seats, with the Mayor’s seat remaining at large. Every ten years, districts must be redrawn so that each district is substantially equal in population. This process, called redistricting, is important in ensuring that each city councilmember represents about the same number of constituents. In the City of Carson, the Mayor and City Council are responsible for drawing council districts. Redistricting is done using U.S. Census data, which was released in September 2021. For the City of Carson, the redistricting process must be completed by April 17, 2022.
The City was required to hold two public meetings on the districts during the initial process prior to the publication of any draft redistricting maps being produced. A formal public hearing was held on November 16, 2021 followed by a less-formal public workshop on December 4, 2021 at the Community Center.
Two draft maps have now been produced and were published on the City’s redistricting website on January 10, 2022. (Exhibit 1.) The City is now conducting a series of public informational meetings in the parks and a series of public hearings, including this meeting, leading to adoption.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. OPEN the Public Hearing.
2. RECEIVE testimony from the Public on Draft Map #1 and Draft Map#2.
3. CLOSE the Public Hearing.
4. PROVIDE direction to Staff and the Demographer on Draft Map #1 and Draft Map #2.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
In 2020, the City of Carson adopted City Council districts for the four City Council seats, with the Mayor’s seat remaining at large. The 2020 election was the first held under the Council district system, for Council Districts 1 and 3. The redistricting process is important to ensure that each city councilmember represents about the same number of constituents.
2020 Census Data
Redistricting is done using U.S. Census data, which was released in September 2021. The 2010 US Census recorded Carson’s population at 91,714; the official 2020 Census data puts the population at 95,994, an increase of about 4,000 residents for more than 4% growth over the past decade.
The review of the data shows that the population increase did not result in any of the districts adopted in 2020 becoming “unbalanced” under the California Voting Rights Act or applicable constitutional requirements. While there may be other reasons the City Council or the community wish to change the configuration of the districts, there is not a demographic necessity to do so.
Redistricting Calendar
The schedule for the redistricting process generally follows a similar timetable that was followed in 2019-2020 for the original adoption of the Council districts. At least two public meetings must be conducted prior to the publication of any draft maps, and the first public hearing to consider such maps must be conducted at least seven days after the publication of the maps. This is that first public hearing.
Section 21627.1 of the Elections Code requires that (a) Before adopting a final map, the council shall hold at least four public hearings at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of one or more council districts.
(1) At least one public hearing shall be held before the council draws a draft map or maps of the proposed council boundaries.
(2) At least two public hearings shall be held after the council has drawn a draft map or maps of the proposed council boundaries.
Now that the first two meetings have been held, the two draft maps were published on January 10, 2022. These public hearings for the public to provide input and the City Council to consider the maps will be held through mid-March.
Draft Maps
The two draft maps were designed to make all the Council districts more compact and to make better use of accepted community boundaries such as the 405 Freeway. The most significant impacts are to Districts 3 and 4; District 4 is now entirely south of the 405 Freeway and District 3 is almost north of the 405 Freeway and almost entirely north of Carson Street, except in the far eastern section of the City. Smaller changes to Districts 1 and 2 were made to accommodate those changes.
In Draft Map #2, District 4 would also still be entirely located south of the 405 Freeway, but a significant change to District 2 would occur as it would be shifted north and to begin in the neighborhood between Sepulveda and 223rd Street but extend the entire length of the City, to Alondra Boulevard. District 1 would similarly become more north-south focused and less wide, while District 3 would extend from the University to both sides of Carson Street from the 405 Freeway to the eastern city limits.
As noted previously, the current district map is a valid map from a demographic perspective (i.e. it is “balanced”) and could be considered for adoption as well.
Staff conducted two in-person public workshops on the redistricting process on January 10 and January 11, at Hemingway Park and at Dolphin Park. Early feedback from the public on the draft maps included questions about the amount of District 1 that is needed to extend below the 405 Freeway, especially if it now makes District the largest district among the four in terms of population. The request was for the consider the reallocating part of the neighborhood at the southernmost edge of District 1 to either District 2 or District 4, if possible. A second concern is that the Draft #1 Map sets the northern boundary of District 4 at Carson Street, separating the neighborhood south of Carson Street (east of Bonita/405 Freeway) and north of the 405 Freeway from the similar neighborhood just on the other side of Carson Street. Draft Map #2 places that neighborhood in District 3.
Other Activities
Section 21608 of the Elections Code includes the following direction for cities:
(a) The council shall take steps to encourage residents, including those in underrepresented communities and non-English speaking communities, to participate in the redistricting public review process. A good faith effort satisfies the requirements of this subdivision. These steps shall include the following:
(1) Providing information to media organizations that provide city news coverage, including media organizations that serve language minority communities.
(2) Providing information through good government, civil rights, civic engagement, or community groups or organizations that are active in the city, including those active in language minority communities, or that have requested to be notified concerning city redistricting.
The public hearing notice for this meeting was provided in applicable languages (e.g., Spanish and Tagalog) and other flyers and materials will be translated as well. The City has notified the public about redistricting public workshops and public input hearings, posted the draft maps online, and created a dedicated web page for all relevant information about the redistricting process.
Section 21608 requires the City to establish and maintain for at least 10 years after the adoption of new council district boundaries an internet web page dedicated to redistricting. The web page is hosted on the city’s existing internet website. The web page includes, or links to, all the following information:
(1) A general explanation of the redistricting process for the city in English and any applicable language.
(2) The procedures for a member of the public to testify during a public hearing or to submit written testimony directly to the council in English and any applicable language.
(3) A calendar of all public hearing and workshop dates. A calendar listing that includes the time and location of the public hearing or workshop satisfies the notice required by subdivision (c).
(4) The notice and agenda for each public hearing and workshop.
(5) The recording or written summary of each public hearing and workshop.
(6) Each draft map considered by the council at a public hearing.
(7) The adopted final map of council district boundaries.
That website is being established and all future materials related to redistricting will be loaded onto it. The link to the site is https://carsonca.gov/redistricting
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Aside from the Demographer contract, which is by separate action, there is not a fiscal impact from the adoption of a new district map.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. City of Carson Draft City Council District Maps, prepared by Bear Demographics (pgs.6-42)
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Prepared by: John Raymond, Assistant City Manager