Title
a. Adopt a resolution setting forth the 2021 County of Monterey Supervisorial District Boundaries; and,
b. Authorize and Direct the County Administrative Officer, County Counsel and the Registrar of Voters, to take such other and further actions as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the intent and purposes of this resolution.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt a resolution setting forth the 2021 County of Monterey Supervisorial District Boundaries; and,
b. Authorize and Direct the County Administrative Officer, County Counsel and the Registrar of Voters, to take such other and further actions as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the intent and purposes of this resolution.
SUMMARY:
The United States Census Bureau is required by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution to conduct an accurate count of the population every ten years, and the census data is used to determine how many seats each state will have in the United States House of Representatives and to adjust the districts for state legislatures, county boards of supervisors, and city councils.
On April 26, 2021, the Census Bureau delivered 2020 Census state population counts to be used for reapportionment, on August 16, 2021, the Census Bureau released redistricting counts to all 50 states, and on September 20, 2021, the State of California released adjusted redistricting counts. These counts are used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes. California Elections Code Section 21500 (a) provides, in pertinent part, “…following each federal decennial census for a county whose board is already elected using district-based elections, the board shall, by ordinance or resolution, adopt boundaries for all of the supervisorial districts of the county so that the supervisorial districts shall be substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution,” and “[p]opulation equality shall be based on the total population of residents of the county as determined by the most recent federal decennial census.” The Registrar of Voters also reserves the right to make minimal administrative changes, to the boundary lines, if needed to follow parcel boundaries.
In order to comply with the requirement to adjust district boundaries, counties are required to adopt Redistricting Plans, and state law allows for Redistricting Plans to be approved either by resolution. The Board of Supervisors established an Advisory Redistricting Commission to hold the required hearings to obtain public input on revising the supervisorial boundaries in Monterey County and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. The Advisory Redistricting Commission was made up of 15 commissioners and 4 alternate commissioners. Between August 9, 2021, and December 14, 2021, the Advisory Redistricting Commission (the Commission) held a total of approximately 19 meetings. It should be noted that even though the Commission had 19 meetings spanning just over three months, the Commission had near perfect attendance by all commissioners at every meeting. All Commission meetings were held in the early evening with an online option to attend via Zoom and language interpretation in Spanish was made available regardless if a request for interpreting was received from the public. In particular, the Commission held five meeting where the laws and process of redistricting were taught and discussed. The Commission held five Community of Interest meetings to hear and discuss public testimony from each district, with one meeting being held in each district, as well as on remote zoom access. The Commission held six public workshops to learn about two different map drawing tools and to discuss maps that were submitted by the public and by commissioners, with one meeting being held in each district, including one on a Saturday morning, as well as through remote zoom access. Three joint public hearings were held with the Board of Supervisors and the Advisory Redistricting Commission, one of which was held on a Saturday morning and two others at 5:30 p.m. or after. The joint public hearings served the purposes of reporting on the results of the Communities of Interest public testimonies, receive preliminary recommendations on draft map plans and to receive the final recommendations on draft map plans for adoption.
Throughout the process, community outreach efforts to notify and engage public testimony related to the redistricting draft maps was performed through Community Outreach email distribution lists which included key community partner organizations, Media buys in Spanish and English, notification to LULAC Councils, NAACP, League of Women Voters, Japanese American Citizens League, 2020 Census Complete Count Committee, Telemundo/KION, Entravision, Radio Bilingue, and the following newspapers: The Californian, El Sol, South County Papers, The Monterey County Weekly and The Monterey County Herald. Three days of Virtual Office Hours were scheduled for the public and/or commissioners to receive one-on-one training and technical assistance on the map drawing tools, including the actual drawing of a map and submitting it for them. A Monterey County Redistricting Website was created and information regarding all redistricting education tools, presentations at meetings, minutes and recordings of meetings, notifications of upcoming meetings, notification of the map drawing Virtual Office Hours and draft maps are posted. The website also hosted the Communities of Interest public testimonies online tool Survey123 and the Maptitude Online Redistricting, an online mapping tool. Social media pages on Facebook and Instagram included content focused on building community awareness on the redistricting process and information on meetings, workshops, and public hearings.
Public input has now been received and the public hearings required by the Elections Code have been held. The Advisory Redistricting Commission made its recommendations on map(s) to the Board of Supervisors. Adoption of a resolution setting forth the 2021 County of Monterey Supervisorial District Boundaries is recommended.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) have been consulted on the redistricting maps and concur with these actions. The following departments are engaged in support of the 2021 Redistricting process in their respective capacities: Elections, Information Technology Department, Contracts and Purchasing, Libraries and Public Works-Facilities.
FINANCING:
The FY 2021-22 County budget includes funding in the amount of $400,000 to cover costs related to the 2021 Redistricting process. Board action on map plan recommendations have no additional financial impact.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Receipt of this report and adoption of a map plan supports the selected Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
X_Economic Development
X_Administration
X_Health & Human Services
X_Infrastructure
X_Public Safety
Prepared by: Anne K. Brereton, Deputy County Counsel x5363
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant CAO
Attachments:
Resolution;
Map Plan Recommendations by the Advisory Redistricting Commission:
Plan 1.1, Plan B, and Plan N