To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Yvonne Shu 565-1739, Christel Querijero 565-7071
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Appointment of Members to the 2021 Advisory Redistricting Commission (continuation)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Appoint members to the 2021 Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC)
B) Authorize the use of $20,000 from FY 2021-22 contingency funds for stipend expenditures for up to 12 half-day meetings
C) Receive overview of redistricting process from National Demographics Corporation (NDC)
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
On February 23, 2021, your Board authorized the creation of an Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC), comprised of two appointees per district and five at-large appointees (15 total), to advise and assist the Board with redrawing supervisorial district boundaries. On April 20, 2021, your Board requested additional clarification of the elections code before proceeding with appointment of the ARC members.
A supplemental ARC application period was held May 13-20, 2021 in addition to the original application period of February 24 - March 23, 2021. All previously submitted applications were retained for consideration. Each supervisor has selected two district appointees; today the full Board should appoint the remaining five at-large members.
Your Board also adopted a resolution establishing a stipend of $100 per half day and $200 per day for the ARC members the April 20, 2021 meeting. Staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $20,000 in contingency funds for commissioner stipends for up to 12 half-day meetings. ARC members will attend seven meetings, in addition to County-mandated training.
Discussion:
Background
Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau conducts a nationwide census to enumerate the country’s population. The Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the California Elections Code mandate that the Board of Supervisors (Board) adjust supervisorial district boundaries within the County to reflect the new census data and keep supervisorial districts substantially equal in population. The 2020 Census data was initially due to be released on March 31, 2021, but is now expected to be delayed until September 30, 2021. The California Elections Code prescribes a very robust process that requires extensive public outreach and adoption of the new district boundaries to reflect the 2020 Census data no later than December 15, 2021.
Advisory Redistricting Committee
On February 23, 2021, your Board authorized the creation of an Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC) to advise and assist the Board with redrawing supervisorial district boundaries, comprised of two appointees per district and five at-large appointees (15 total).
Elections Code section 23002 provides:
§ 23002. Advisory redistricting commissions; Appointment of members
a) This section applies to advisory redistricting commissions.
b) Notwithstanding any other law, the local jurisdiction may prescribe the manner in which members are appointed to the commission.
c) A person who is an elected official of the local jurisdiction, or a family member, staff member, or paid campaign staff of an elected official of the local jurisdiction, shall not be appointed to serve on the commission.
d) A local jurisdiction may impose additional requirements or restrictions on the commission, members of the commission, or applicants to the commission in excess of those prescribed by this section.
Note: Elections Code section 23000 defines “Family member” to mean a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or in-law.
Appointees per District
A supplemental ARC application period was held May 13-20, in addition to the original application period of February 24 - March 23, 2021. All previously submitted applications were retained for consideration. Each supervisor has selected two district appointees (Attachment 1); resumes for each of the appointees are included in Attachment 2.
At-Large Appointees
Each Supervisor has also received and reviewed the remaining eligible applications for consideration for the five at-large appointees. These applications are summarized in Attachment 3. The at-large appointees should be discussed and appointed today by your Board.
Childcare reimbursement for ARC members
Your Board directed staff on April 20, 2021 to research childcare reimbursement as a general practice for commission members. Due to the limited timeframe, inquiries were sent to discussion forums for Human Resources executives and to Clerks of Boards in other California counties, but responses were very limited. During budget hearings next month, the Board will have an opportunity to consider financial implications of stipend policies across all County commissions. Should the Board identify funding during budget hearings for an expanded stipend program across the various county committees, staff can come back later in the year with options and recommendations for the program.
National Demographics Corporation (NDC)
As the result of a competitive bidding process, the County has executed a contract for a not-to-exceed amount of $120,000 for redistricting services with NDC. Since 2001, NDC has conducted over 360 local government districting and redistricting projects, primarily in California and Arizona.
NDC will provide ARC training and support; preparation and facilitation of all required public hearings; provision and facilitation of the mapping tool; engagement and communications support as needed; and assurance that the County is adhering to the requirements outlined in the California Elections Code (sections 21500-21509) and the principles outlined in the California Fair Maps Act.
Redistricting Timeline
NDC and County staff have developed a proposed timeline for Sonoma County’s redistricting process (Attachment 4), while adhering to the requirements outlined in section 21507.1 of the elections code for redistricting public hearings. These dates will be posted on the County’s Redistricting 2021 website <https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Policy-Grants-and-Special-Projects/2021-Redistricting/>. Because census data is not expected until September 30, 2021 and the deadline to approve maps is December 15, 2021, the consideration and revision of maps will occur within a compressed timeframe in October and November.
Next steps for ARC
After appointment today, ARC members will need to complete the following County-related tasks before the first ARC meeting can occur: take oaths of office, complete paperwork, and complete mandatory ethics and sexual harassment training through the County. Staff will contact ARC members individually to facilitate this process, which will need to occur, as schedules permit, before the first ARC meeting on June 28, 2021.
Prior to release of the census data in late September, ARC members will meet three times to receive a redistricting overview, discuss communities of interest, and receive mapping tools training. Brown Act training will be part of the first ARC meeting.
Fiscal Impact
At the April 20, 2021 meeting, your Board adopted a resolution establishing a stipend of $100 per half day and $200 per day for the ARC members. Staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $20,000 in FY 2021-22 contingency funds for commissioner stipends for up to 12 half-day meetings. In addition to mandated training on ethics, sexual harassment, and the Brown Act, the proposed redistricting 2021 timeline includes seven ARC meetings.
Prior Board Actions:
4/20/21 Adopted resolution establishing a stipend for ARC members; authorized the use of $40,000 from contingency funds for media production and placement costs for public outreach; authorized the execution of a contract for redistricting services for an estimated contract value of $120,000
2/23/21 Adopted resolution establishing the Sonoma County Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC); directed staff to solicit interest in serving on the ARC; authorized the use of $130,000 from contingency funds to procure specialized redistricting facilitation and training services, interactive mapping technology, and unanticipated translation and interpretation services to support the redistricting process.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY 21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
$20,000 |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$20,000 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
$20,000 |
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$20,000 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $20,000 in FY 2021-22 contingency funds for commissioner stipends for up to 12 meetings. If approved, funds will be appropriated during first quarter consolidated budget adjustments.
STAFFING IMPACTS
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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|
|
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|
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|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
1 - List of district appointees (preliminary)
2 - Resumes of district appointees
3 - Summary of at-large appointee applications
4 - Preliminary timeline of the redistricting process
5 - 6/8/21 Redistricting Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None