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
Expansion of the Sonoma County Advisory Redistricting Commission (continuation) and Appointment of Remaining Members to the 2021 Advisory Redistricting Commission
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt resolution expanding the number of members of the Sonoma County Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC) from 15 to 19;
B) Appoint remaining five members of the ARC;
C) Authorize the use from contingency funds of $53,800 for stipend expenditures for the additional members of the ARC, development of English and Spanish videos that explain the redistricting process and tools, and a 20% contingency for future miscellaneous expenses that may be incurred in connection with the redistricting effort.
(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. ARC applications were received February 24 through March 23, 2021.
On April 20, 2021, your Board deliberated and requested clarification of the elections code before proceeding with appointment of the ARC members. A supplemental ARC application period was held May 13-20, 2021. On June 8, 2021, your Board appointed 14 commissioners of the then 15-member ARC, as one of the original 15 appointees was later determined to be ineligible.
On July 13, 2021, your Board moved to continue the ARC agenda item of approving the 15th member to July 20, 2021, and also directed staff to return with a resolution amending the ARC, increasing the commission size from 15 to 19 members and filling the remaining five seats with people whose applications were previously received.
Finally, staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $53,800 in contingency funds for stipend expenditures for the additional members of the ARC, development of English and Spanish videos that explain the redistricting process and tools, and a 20% contingency for future miscellaneous expenses that may be incurred in connection with the redistricting effort.
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 extensive communications ahead of the adoption of new district boundaries that reflect the 2020 Census data; these boundaries must be approved no later than December 15, 2021.
Expansion of 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). On July 13, 2021, your Board directed staff to return with a resolution (Attachment 1), which amends the ARC and increases the commission size from 15 to 19 members. These additional four seats will be filled with people whose applications were previously received during the original or supplemental application periods.
On July 13, 2021, your Board also moved to continue the ARC agenda item of approving the 15th member to today’s meeting. Currently the Board is seated with 14 commissioners. Today’s adoption of the resolution expands the ARC to 19 members and permits appointment of the following individuals:
• Lyndsey Burcina (District 5)
• Kirstyne Lange (District 4)
• Mike Martini (District 3)
• Veronica Vences (District 3)
Resumes for each of these appointees are included in Attachment 2.
One seat of the 19 total remains unfilled. Attachment 3 provides a list of the remaining at-large applications.
After appointment today, the newest ARC members will need to take oaths of office, complete required 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 soon as feasible. A recording of the first ARC meeting, which occurred on June 28, 2021, is posted on the County redistricting website <https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Policy-Grants-and-Special-Projects/2021-Redistricting/>. Brown Act training was part of the first ARC meeting.
Currently the ARC meetings are expected to be virtual, given the size of the group and also the availability of staff from our redistricting consultant, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), who is working with various jurisdictions on the same compressed timeline. Prior to release of the census data in late September, ARC members will receive a redistricting overview, discuss communities of interest, and receive mapping tools training. The state deadline to approve maps is December 15, 2021, but census data is not expected until the end of September. The current schedule of upcoming redistricting public meetings is as follows:
|
Date |
Time |
Public Meeting |
|
June 28 |
4:00 PM |
Meeting already occurred |
|
July 26 |
4:00 PM |
Advisory Redistricting Commission |
|
August 23 |
6:15 PM |
Advisory Redistricting Commission |
|
October 5 |
8:30 AM |
Board of Supervisors (with Advisory Redistricting Commission in attendance) |
|
October 18 |
4:00 PM |
Advisory Redistricting Commission |
|
October 22 |
4:00 PM |
Advisory Redistricting Commission |
|
October 25 |
4:00 PM |
Advisory Redistricting Commission |
|
November 2 |
8:30 AM |
Board of Supervisors |
|
November 16 |
8:30 AM |
Board of Supervisors |
|
December 7 |
8:30 AM |
Board of Supervisors |
There are multiple meetings in a tight timeframe in October in order to meet the required deadline of December 15, 2021 for map approval.
Fiscal Impact
Your Board has authorized the use of $190,000 in contingency funds to date toward the redistricting effort, as follows:
• 6/8/21 $20,000 for stipend expenditures for 15 members
• 4/20/21 $40,000 for media production and placement costs for redistricting communications
• 2/23/21 $130,000: redistricting services contract, mapping technology, translation and interpretation services to support the redistricting process
Today staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $53,800 in contingency funds for:
• Stipend expenditures for the additional ARC members ($4,800);
• Development of two English and Spanish videos that a) explain the redistricting process and b) provide a brief overview of the tools ($9,000); and
• 20% contingency amount of authorized budget of $40,000 for future miscellaneous expenses that may be incurred in connection with the redistricting effort.
Prior Board Actions:
7/13/21 Moved to continue the ARC agenda item of approving the 15th member to July 20, 2021, and directed staff to return with a resolution amending the ARC, increasing the commission size from 15 to 19 members and filling the remaining five seats with people whose applications were previously received
6/8/21 Appointed 14 members of the ARC; authorized the use of $20,000 from contingency funds for stipend expenditures
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 21-22 Adopted |
FY 22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$53,800 |
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Total Expenditures |
$53,800 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
$53,800 |
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Total Sources |
$53,800 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Staff requests that the Board authorize the use of $53,800 in contingency funds for:
• Stipend expenditures for the additional ARC members ($4,800);
• Development of two English and Spanish videos that a) explain the redistricting process and b) provide a brief overview of the tools ($9,000); and
• 20% contingency amount of authorized budget of $40,000 for future miscellaneous expenses that may be incurred in connection with the redistricting effort.
If approved, funds will be appropriated during first quarter consolidated budget adjustments.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Attachments:
1 - Resolution
2 - Resumes of proposed new ARC members
3 - List of remaining at-large applications
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: