Title
El Dorado County Surveyor, Registrar of Voters, County Counsel, and the Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board Approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5155 amending the Existing Supervisorial District Boundaries to those Shown on the Map entitled "Official Map, Supervisorial District Boundaries, adopted December 2021. (Cont. 12/7/2021, Item 50)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
On December 7, 2021, the Board Continued Ordinance 5155 to December 14, 2021 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
The United States Constitution requires a count every ten (10) years of everyone residing in the United States. Census data is used for geographically defining state legislative districts in the year following a census. At the conclusion of each United States of America Census process, the County must conduct a process to analyze population data in order to redraw district boundaries to ensure that districts are substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution and in compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. According to the 2020 census data, the total county population equals 191,185, which means each of the five supervisor districts in every alternative has a target population of 38,237.
The County must consider the following factors in order of priority:
1. Geographic contiguity
2. Geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local communities of interest.
3. Geographic integrity of any cities or census-designated places.
4. Easily identifiable and understandable districts bound by natural and artificial barriers, including streets and boundaries of the county when practicable.
5. Encouraging geographical compactness so that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.
The Elections Code also specifies that the Board shall not adopt supervisorial district boundaries for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against a political party. Additional criteria can be considered, as long as they are not in conflict with or outweigh the criteria required by the State and Federal laws. In order to meet these requirements, the County undergoes a process to redistrict following the conclusion of each Census. Before adopting new Boundaries, the Board must hold at least four public hearings or public workshops at which the public can provide input on the composition of the Districts.
In accordance with California Elections Code Sec. 21507.1:
- At least one public hearing shall be held before the board draws draft maps of the proposed supervisorial district boundaries.
- At least two public hearings shall be held after the board has drawn a draft map or maps of the proposed supervisorial district boundaries.
- At least one public hearing or public workshop shall be held on a Saturday, on a Sunday, or after 6 p.m. on a weekday Monday through Friday.
- Public hearing buildings shall be accessible to persons with disabilities.
The County Redistricting Page provides information about this process, including ways to participate, the date and time of the public workshops, videos and minutes from past meetings, and a list of frequently asked questions and answers. Five public hearings were conducted to inform the community and to receive public input on the redistricting process. The first occurred on June 4, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Legistar Item #21-0917), the second occurred on August 4, 2021 at 6 p.m. (Legistar Item 21-1225), the third occurred on October 14, 2021 at 6 p.m. (Legistar Item 21-1617), the fourth on November 3, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Legistar Item #21-1713), and the fifth as part of the regular Board meeting on November 16, 2021 (Legistar Item #21-1823).
The first two meetings were conducted prior to the release of 2020 Census data, and focused on providing information on the Redistricting process and soliciting input on Communities of Interest.
Following the release of the data, nine draft maps were added to the website for the consideration of the public prior to the October 14, 2021 Public Hearing (Public Hearing #3). At the October 14, 2021 Hearing, the Board provided direction to staff to move forward with Map Alternative #1, City Map Alternative, but with changes incorporating feedback on Communities of Interest.
At the November 3, 2021 Hearing, the Board considered new alternatives prepared as a result of the feedback gleaned from the October 14, 2021 meeting. The Board directed staff to create one or more alternatives based on the City Redistricting Alternative - Revised #2 Map with the following changes: keep historic communities together, avoiding using Highway 50 as dividing line for Cameron Park or Shingle Springs, keep MC&FP area in District Three, and include Somerset and Pleasant Valley in District 2; and directed staff to create one or more alternatives based on the El Dorado Hills Community Draft Redistricting Alternative map with the following changes: bring Pleasant Valley into District Two and include El Dorado in District Three, avoiding using Highway 50 as dividing line for Cameron Park or Shingle Springs, and do not divide Diamond Springs.
At the November 16, 2021 meeting, two versions of each map were provided, for a total of four new map alternatives. The Board provided direction to staff to move forward with changes to the El Dorado Hills Community Draft Redistricting Alternative - Revised B Map with the following changes: 1) Include the Business Park in El Dorado Hills in District 1; 2) Keep Rescue (North of Green Valley Road) together in District 4; 3) Keep the Northern portion of Pleasant Valley in District 2; and 4) If District 4 population needs to be adjusted, have District 3 go out to Cold Springs. Using the direction provided, as well as the required mapping factors for drawing a new map, a final version of the map has been prepared.
Two maps have been prepared. Staff is recommending that the Board select one map for approval and adoption.
The Surveyor's office has completed the task of converting census tract boundaries as shown on both versions of the map to definite and certain boundaries at the parcel level. These boundaries are depicted on both versions of the map. Following selection of the map alternative, the selected map will be entitled "Official Map, Supervisorial District Boundaries Adopted December 2021" on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. A copy of the map may be viewed at the Board of Supervisors' Office during normal working hours.
The final reading and adoption of this ordinance will be set for December 14, 2021. The ordinance adopting the new Supervisorial District boundaries will become effective on January 13, 2022.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/a
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board choose a map alternative and approve the Ordinance in order to meet the statutory map adoption date of December 15, 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Upon Board adoption and approval, Clerk to obtain the Chair's signature on the Ordinance and the Official Map, Supervisorial District Boundaries Adopted September 2021.
2) Clerk to publish the Ordinance within 15 days of its passage
3) Clerk to post the signed Official Map, Supervisorial District Boundaries Adopted December 2021 in a conspicuous location in the public lobby of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Jennifer Franich, Principal Management Analyst