City of Sanger Introduction to Redistricting - September 2, 2021

City of Sanger
                    Introduction to Redistricting
                                        Dr. Jeff Tilton, Senior Consultant
September 2, 2021
                                      National Demographics Corporation

Redistricting Process
Step                          Description

    Two Initial Hearings      •   Held prior to release of draft maps
   September 2 & October 7    •   Education and to solicit input on the communities in the Districts
          6:30 p.m.
       Census Data Release    •   Census Bureau releases official 2020 Census population data
         August 12, 2021
   California Data Release    •   California Statewide Database releases California’s official ‘prisoner-
     Mid/Late September           adjusted’ 2020 redistricting data
       Draft Map Hearing      •   Discuss and revise the draft maps
         January 6, 2022      •   Discuss the election sequence
             6:30 p.m.        •   Deadline to submit draft maps: December 23, 2021, 5 p.m.
                              •   Post draft maps by December 30, 2021, 5 p.m.
       Draft Map Hearing      •   Discuss and select final map
         March 3, 2022        •   Discuss and determine election sequence
             6:30 p.m.        •   Deadline to submit draft maps: February 17, 2022, 5 p.m.
                              •   Post draft maps by February 24, 2022, 5 p.m.

                                                                                        September 2, 2021   2

Redistricting Rules and Goals
                                 2. California Criteria for                3. Other Traditional
    1. Federal Laws
                                           Cities                        Redistricting Principles
• Equal Population            1. Geographically contiguous             • Minimize voters shifted
                              2. Undivided neighborhoods                 to different election years
• Federal Voting              and “communities of
  Rights Act                  interest”                                • Respect voters’ choices /
                              (Socio-economic geographic areas
                                                                           continuity in office
                              that should be kept together)
• No Racial
  Gerrymandering              3. Easily identifiable
                              boundaries                               • Future population growth
                              4. Compact
                              (Do not bypass one group of              • Preserving the core of
                              people to get to a more distant
                                                                           existing districts
                              group of people)

                Prohibited: “Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.”

                                                                                      September 2, 2021   3

Defining Neighborhoods

1st Question: What is your neighborhood?

2nd Question: What are its geographic boundaries?

Examples of physical features defining a neighborhood boundary:
   ▪   Natural neighborhood dividing lines, such as highway or major
       roads, rivers, canals and/or hills
   ▪   Areas around parks or schools
   ▪   Other neighborhood landmarks

In the absence of public testimony, planning records and other similar
documents may provide definition.

                                                              September 2, 2021   4

Beyond Neighborhoods:
       Defining Communities of Interest
1st Question: What defines your community?
   ▪   Geographic Area, plus
   ▪   Shared issue or characteristic
       ▪ Shared social or economic interest
       ▪ Impacted by city policies
   ▪   Tell us “your community’s story”

2nd Question: Would this community benefit from being “included within a
single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation”?
   ▪   Or would it benefit more from having multiple representatives?

       Definitions of Communities of Interest may not include relationships
             with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.

                                                                   September 2, 2021   5

Possible Neighborhoods / Communities

                             September 2, 2021   6

Simple Map Review Tool
Online Interactive Review Map
   ▪ ESRI’s “ArcGIS Online” – similar to Google Maps in ease of use
   ▪ Used to review, analyze and compare maps, not to create them
   ▪ Includes overlays of “community of interest” and other data

                                                             September 2, 2021   7

Simple Map Drawing Tool

Paper “Public Participation Kit”
   ▪ For those without internet access
       or who prefer paper
   ▪ Total Population Counts only –
       no demographic numbers

Simple Map Drawing Tool + Excel Supplement
“Public Participation Kit”
   ▪ For those who know Excel and
       do not wish to use online tools
   ▪ Adds CVAP data
   ▪ Excel does the math

Share Your Thoughts

         Website: www.cityofsanger.net
Phone: 559-876-6300| Email: bramirez@ci.sanger.ca.us

                                             September 2, 2021   10

Public Hearing & Discussion
❑   What is your neighborhood and what are its
    boundaries?
❑   What other notable areas are in the City, and what are
    their boundaries?

❑   Any questions about the mapping tools?

Council Discussion on:
        ■ “neighborhoods”

        ■ “communities of interest”

                                                   September 2, 2021   11