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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-09; City Council; Resolution 2017-083RESOLUTION NO. 2017-083 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'S INTENTION, PURSUANT TO ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10010(e)(3)(A), TO INITIATE PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING BY-DISTRICT ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS EXHIBIT 1 WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad, California ("City'') is a charter city, duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California; and WHEREAS, four of the members of the Carlsbad City Council are currently elected in at-large elections, in which each City Council member is elected by all registered voters of the entire City, with the mayor being separately elected by all registered voters of the entire City, pursuant to California Government Code sections 34871 and 34900 et seq.; and WHEREAS, Section 34886 of the Government Code authorizes any city to change to a by-district system or by-district system with an elective mayor without the need to put such a change to voters; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to move from its current at-large electoral system to a by-district election for members of the City Council in furtherance of the purposes of California Voting Rights Act; and WHEREAS, the City moves to make this transition from an at-large system to a by-district system in accordance with the new procedural rules outlined in Government Code Section 34886 and Elections Code 10010; and WHEREAS, the City received a letter threatening action under the California Voting Rights Act on April11, 2017, less than forty-five (45) days before the date of this Resolution; and WHEREAS, the City will begin by working with an experienced demographer to assist the City in establishing maps for a by-district electoral system; and WHEREAS, before drawing a draft map ofthe proposed boundaries ofthe districts, the City will hold at least two (2) public hearings over no more than thirty (30) days, at which time the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts; and WHEREAS, the City will then publish and make available for release at least one (1) draft map of the new electoral districts, including the potential sequence of elections shown; and EXHIBIT 1 WHEREAS, once the draft map has been publicized for at least seven (7) days, the City will hold at least two (2) additional public hearings, over no more than forty-five (45) days, at which time the public is invited to provide input regarding the content ofthe draft map and the proposed sequence of elections prior to the public hearing at which the City Council adopts a map; and WHEREAS, if a draft map is revised at or following a public hearing, the revised map will be published and made available to the public at least seven (7) days before the City chooses to adopt it; and WHEREAS, in determining the final sequence of staggered district elections, the City Council will give special consideration to the purposes of the CVRA, and will take in to account the preferences expressed by the members of the districts; and WHEREAS, the City Council now wishes to adopt criteria to guide the establishment of electoral districts consistent with legal requirements including reasonable equal population and section 2 ofthe federal Voting Rights Act, as well as other concerns and considerations important to the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference. 2. The City Council hereby resolves, pursuant to Elections Code section 10010, to adopt a by-district election system by ordinance as authorized by California Government Code section 34886, for use in the City's General Municipal Election for City Council Members. 4. The City Council further resolves to retain a qualified demographer, hold at least five (5) public hearings and publish at least one (1) draft map and staggering sequence. 5. The City's redistricting/demographic consulting firm, acting under the supervision of the City Manager, is hereby authorized to direct and formulate one or more electoral district scenarios for review by the public and City Council at two or more public hearings if necessary, in accordance with the City's proposed timeline. 6. Working with the demographic consulting firm, staff is directed to publicize relevant maps, information, notices, agendas and other materials regarding by-district elections and to establish means of communication to answer questions from the public. EXHIBIT 1 7. All public hearings shall be noticed as follows: posting on the City's website at least ten (10) calendar days in advance of the hearing and publication at least ten (10) days in advance of the hearing in the newspaper adjudicated to provide notice within the City. 8. The City Manager is authorized to take any and all other necessary actions to give effect to this Resolution. 9. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 9th day of May, 2017, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: K. Blackburn, M. Schumacher, C. Schumacher. M. Hall, M. Packard. None. (SEAL)