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DATE: May 16, 2018 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION OF THE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES,
SCHEDULE, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TOOLS TO AID IN THE
TRANSITION FROM AN AT-LARGE ELECTORAL SYSTEM TO A
DISTRICT-BASED ELECTORAL SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL (REVISED ON 05/15/18)
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Office of the City Clerk
SUMMARY
This is a request for the City Council to discuss and adopt the Statement of Principles,
schedule of City Council Public Hearings and community outreach events, and tools to
aid in the transition from an at-large electoral system to a district-based electoral system
for members of the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and adopt the Statement of Principles, schedule of City Council Public Hearings
and community outreach events, and tools to aid in the transition from an at-large electoral
system to a district-based electoral system for members of the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
On April 19, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 24406 declaring its intention to
transition from at-large to district-based elections pursuant to Elections Code Section
10010. Although the Elections Code provides for a 90-day safe harbor period to complete
the transition to district elections; the City has reached an agreement to allow for the City
to conduct additional community outreach, provided that the transition is completed by
December 31, 2018.
The City's Demographer, National Demographic Corporation (NDC) has prepared a
preliminary schedule of Public Hearings and community outreach events to ensure that the
process is completed before December 31, 2018. In addition, the City's Demographer has
a number of tools to assist the community in developing district maps, including "public
participation kits" and the creation of an online interactive system to allow the public to draw
and submit proposed district plans.
On May 10, 2018, a Working Group consisting of the City Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee
on the California Voting Rights Act (Kors/Middleton) and community members met and
unanimously recommended that Statement of Principles (Attachment 1) be adopted by the
City Council.
City Council Staff Report
May 16, 2018 -- Page 2
Transition to a District-Based Electoral System—Draft Schedule and Community Outreach Tools
Below is a list of the Working Group community members:
• Melanie Brenner
• Aftab Dada
• J. Douglas Donenfeld
• Dixie Miller
• Stephen Moses
• Alexis Ortega
• Gary Soto
• Kathy Weremiuk
• Tobias Wolff
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be significant staff time needed to transition to a district-based electoral system
due to the need to conduct multiple Public Hearings and community workshops, in
addition to the cost for a demographics consultant. The typical cost for a demographics
consultant ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 in comparable cities, depending on the
number of community outreach events facilitated by the consultant and use of interactive
tools to aid the community in the creation of district maps. In addition, although the exact
fiscal impacts associated with media advertisements, citywide education mailers/noticing,
and specialized legal counsel are unknown at this time, it is anticipated that such costs
may range from an additional $40,000 to $60,000.
n
thon J. ejia, M David H. Ready, Esq., .D.
City Clerk City Manager
Attachments:
1. CVRA Statement of Principles
2. Draft Schedule
04
City Council Staff Report
May 16, 2018 -- Page 3
Transition to a District-Based Electoral System —Draft Schedule and Community Outreach Tools
ATTACHMENT
California Voting Rights Act
Statement of Principles
(Correction: Inadvertently, the second bullet point was
not included in the original staff report and the bullets were not
separated into Goals and Process, update on 0511412018.)
Goals:
• Maximize the goals of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA).
• Prioritize the creation of majority/minority districts.
• To the extent practical, keep organized neighborhoods intact.
• Maintain the principle that the best interest of the City as a whole remains the first
responsibility of all elected officials.
Process:
• Evaluate our current structure of government and demographics, compare with
and learn from other comparable cities and recommend the structure of
government that best achieves the goals of the CVRA and the long-term needs of
our city.
• Encourage and work through communication platforms to obtain participation from
as many residents and stakeholders as possible in the process.
02
ATTACHMENT 2
NDCDraft Districting Schedule for the City of Palm Springs
Date Day of Week Type of Event Description
05/16/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting Approval of schedule and tools
06/06/2018 Wednesday Public Notice Official notice of public hearing schedule
06/20/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 1s'hearing
Public Hearing Discussion of topic, schedule,process and map-
drawing tools.
June and City Council Conduct three (3) community study sessions in
early JulyStudy Sessions various locations of the City.
June and General Outreach Staff and working group outreach to
early July neighborhood,community group meetings, and
`harder-to-reach' communities.
07/11/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 2nd hearing
Public Hearing Repeat discussion of topic, schedule,process and
map-drawing tools.
July 19 to August "dark" No official meetings Public time to draw and submit draft map
Sept 24 window proposals;
Staff outreach to any regular neighborhood or
other community group meetings
08/24/2018 Friday Initial Public Deadline for public to submit maps and have
Submissions deadline them be a part of the Council discussion
(not final public September 5'
submissions deadline
09/05/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 3`d hearing
Presentation of draft maps
September City Council Conduct five (5) community study sessions in
Study Sessions various locations of the City.
10/03/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting Discussion and determination regarding City
Governance Structure.
10/24/2018 Wednesday Final Public Deadline for public to submit maps and have
Submissions deadline them be a part of the Council discussion Nov. 7`'
11/07/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 4' hearing
Presentation of draft maps
Council selection of preferred map, possibly with
direction on small changes
11/21/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 5'' hearing
Council introduces ordinance,including selected
map and election sequence
12/05/2018 Wednesday Council Meeting 2"d reading of ordinance
12/31/2018 Monday Project Deadline Agreement that project will be completed by this
date
* The Timelines contained in Attachment A may be adjusted by the City Council, Council Ad Hoc
Subcommittee, or the City Clerk as deemed necessary, provided that such adjustments shall not prevent the
City from complying with the time frames specified by Elections Code Section 10010 and the agreement
reached to complete the transition to district-based elections by December 31, 2018. 0q