Recommend the City Council conduct Public Hearing 4 to receive community input regarding configuration of the draft map alternatives and;

1. Select and adopt a district map from the map(s) identified at the October 23, 2019 public hearing (note: the City Council may also provide additional changes to the selected map), or select a new district map for consideration, and in which case adoption of the map would occur at the November 20, 2019 City Council meeting;  
2. Determine the sequencing of districts dependent on the selected map; and
3. Discuss a process for appointment of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

The district map, the sequencing of districts, and the process for appointment of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor will be included in the ordinance brought forward to the City Council at the November 20, 2019 public hearing.  The draft ordinance is attached for review and discussion.  Direction from the City Council on items 1-3 above will be incorporated in the ordinance for final adoption. 

In order to conform with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA), the city will transition to by-district based elections in preparation for the 2020 General Election.  Pursuant to Elections Code § 10010, the city has held two required public hearings over a period of no more than 30 days before any maps of the proposed voting districts were drawn.  At the public hearings, the community was invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts.  Using community and City Council input, preliminary draft maps were drawn by the city's demographer and the public and were made available for review.  The third and fourth public hearings held on October 23, 2019, and November 6, 2019, allow opportunity for the community to provide input regarding the content of the maps.  

Since the City Council's unanimous adoption of the resolution of intention on September 4, 2019, the City has engaged in public outreach efforts to help inform the community  regarding transitioning to by-district based elections and to encourage participation.  As of the October 11, 2019 deadline to submit maps, a total of 28 maps were made available for public review.  On October 21, 2019, draft map 101 was withdrawn by the submitter.  The following four focus maps were chosen by the City Council at the October 23, 2019 public hearing:

Map 106, Map 113, Map 117, Map 122.  Maps are attached for review.

Additionally, three new maps may be potentially considered at Council's discretion.  Maps 102B and 105B are revised maps by original submitters.  Map 117B is revised by the demographer at the request of a resident to keep Westpark and Fiddyment Farm in one district, with as few neighborhood splits as possible.  All three maps are attached for review. 

The sequence of district elections must be considered dependent on the selected map.  If approved, the transition to by-district elections will include three Councilmember seats on the November 2020 ballot, and two Councilmember seats on the November 2022 ballot. 

At the conclusion of Public Hearing 4 - the City Council will select a map for inclusion in the first reading of an ordinance to adopt district boundaries, provide direction on the  sequence of district elections dependent on the proposed map, and consider a procedure to appoint the Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

At the fifth and final public hearing scheduled for November 20, 2019, the City Council will vote to adopt an ordinance establishing district based elections, including the final adoption of a district map, the sequence of elections, and a procedure to select the Mayor and Vice-Mayor.

The public is encouraged to provide any final input on the proposed district boundary map at the November 20, 2019 public hearing, or via email to cityclerk@roseville.ca.us.  Input may also be sent via mail to the following address:  City Clerk, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 95678.  Input may also be dropped off at City Hall.

There is no fiscal impact associated with this specific public hearing.  The overall fiscal impact for conversion to by-district elections is estimated to be between $35,000.00 to $50,000.00. Costs include the contract for a demographer to assist with drawing boundaries for the voting districts which was approved at the August 21, 2019 Council meeting with a cost not to exceed $30,750.00.  There are also costs for time spent by the City Clerk's Department, the City Manager's Office, and the City Attorney's Office.  Funds are available in the City Manager's Contingency budget to pay for these costs.

Should the City Council not implement the transition from an at-large election system to a by-district election system, the fiscal and administrative impacts could result in economic exposure and potential litigation costs.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §1506(c)(3) and §15378.  Staff's request for public input and information on by-district elections meets the above criteria and is not subject to CEQA.  No additional environmental review is required.  

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Dominick Casey, City Manager