Title
Discussion Regarding Recommendation for City Council Redistricting
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2020 federal census data used to redraw legislative voting districts for San Leandro was released in August 2021. The population growth reflected in the census data requires that the City Council undertake redistricting of its district boundaries. This report provides three proposed maps for discussion and recommendation to City Council for Redistricting.
Staff recommends that the City Council Rules Committee review all draft maps and recommends forwarding them to the City Council for review and approval of one, while expressing preference for the map that had the least changes to the existing districts.
BACKGROUND
Section 230 of the Charter of the City of San Leandro requires district boundaries to be drawn whenever the results of the federal census show an increase of five percent (5%) or more since the last redistricting. The City Council last approved new Council district boundaries in 2011, following the 2010 federal census. The 2020 census data, released in August 2021, reveals population growth of 7.13% Citywide, triggering the Charter requirement for the Council’s review of its district boundaries.
On January 26, 2022, the Rules Committee received the proposed timeline criteria and outreach plan for the development and approval of new Council district boundaries.
On February 7, 2022, the City Council reviewed, adopted the criteria, timeline, and public outreach plan to be used in the redistricting process.
On February 12, 2022, February 15, 2022, and February 17, 2022, staff held community workshops to receive public input on where district lines should be drawn.
DISCUSSION
A comparison of the 2010 and 2020 census population figures by Council district is attached. According to the 2020 census, the Citywide population is 91,008: making the target, or average, district population 15,168 for each of the six Council districts. The attached chart shows the Council district with the lowest population at 5.92% below the target, and the district with the highest population at 3.26% above the target, while three of the other four districts are all within 2%. District 6 is 2.72% above the target.
On February 7, 2022, the City Council reviewed and adopted the criteria to be used in the redistricting process. Upon review of the census data, City Council input, and community input, staff has proposed three maps for discussion and recommendation to City Council for Redistricting.
Summary of Public Outreach
On February 12, 2022, February 15, 2022, and February 17, 2022, staff held community workshops to receive public input on where district lines should be drawn. Comments by the community include the following:
• The public noted
o The Manor neighbohood is split between two districts but is a very large neighborhood.
o District boundaries will be even more important if the City moves from Citywide [correct term?] voting to voting by district [correct term?]. It would be helpful to address redistricting early enough to consider large changes after the 2030 census.
o How did these boundaries get laid out originally, was it based on some historical bias?
o What are the significance of districts if they are voted at large and there is no money specifically allocated to specific districts for their needs.
o Inequities between the two school districts within the City.
• The public recommends to
o Use scenario 1 as it is the simplest change to meet the criteria of the Rules Committee and seems "the way to go."
o Update boundaries to put industrial more evenly across the districts instead of concentrating them in District 3 and 6. This will require large changes and can be addressed with a future evaluation of the district layout after the 2030 census.
o Move boundary between District 1 and 2 along Sybil Ave to the south of San Leandro High School. Move boundary between District 2 and 3 to Washington Ave. Adjust other boundaries as necessary to accommodate the change.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council Rules Committee review all draft maps and recommends forwarding them to the City Council for review and approval of one, while expressing preference for the map that had the least changes to the existing districts.
Attachments
• Census Population Differences: 2010 and 2020
• Map-Census 2010-2020 population changes
• Proposed Maps
PREPARED BY: Leticia I. Miguel, City Clerk