To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Introduction of the Proposed Ordinance Relating to Supervisorial District Boundaries
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Introduce by Title, Ordinance No.____, amending Chapter 2 of Division 1 of Title II of the Humboldt County Code relating to supervisorial district boundaries (Attachment 1), and waive further reading of the ordinance;
2. Approve the reenacted and renewed supervisorial district boundaries as set forth in the proposed ordinance;
3. Set the proposed ordinance for adoption on February 8, 2022;
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post a certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance in the office of the Clerk of the Board at least five days prior to the Board meeting at which the ordinance will be adopted and to post and publish in a newspaper of general circulation the County of Humboldt a pre-adoption summary of the ordinance at least five days before the date set for adoption; and
5. Direct the Clerk of the Board, within 15 days after adoption of the ordinance to publish a post-adoption summary of the ordinance with the names of the Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance, and direct the Clerk of the Board to post in the office of the Clerk of the Board a certified copy of the full text of the adopted ordinance.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
On Dec. 7, 2021, your Board approved Resolution No. 21-154 which adopted a redistricting plan for Humboldt County. This plan was based on the district boundaries in place in Humboldt County since 2011. Resolution No. 21-154 met California Elections Code, §§21500 et seq., which requires that following each federal decennial census for a county whose Board is already elected using district-based elections, the Board shall adopt boundaries for all of the supervisorial districts of the county so that the supervisorial districts shall be substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution.
The adopted plan is consistent with the provisions of California Elections Code, §§21500 (c)(1)-(5) which requires that, to the extent practicable, supervisorial districts be geographically contiguous, maintain geographic integrity of any local neighborhood, and any local “community of interest” shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division; the geographic integrity of a city or census designated place shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division; supervisorial district boundaries should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents and bounded by natural and artificial barriers, by streets, or by the boundaries of the county; and to the extent practicable, supervisorial districts shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.
Further, the process followed by the county in defining the adopted plan was consistent with California Elections Code, §§21507, 21507.1 and 21508 which outline the extent, frequency and timing of community involvement, outreach and hearings necessary to encourage residents, including those in underrepresented communities and non-English speaking communities, to participate in the redistricting public review process.
Staff in the departments of Planning and Building, Public Works, the County Administrative Office and Elections worked collaboratively to bring forward the attached proposed ordinance which amends Chapter 2 of Division 1 of Title II of the Humboldt County Code relating to boundary changes to supervisorial districts, following the boundaries established in 2011 and supported through the redistricting efforts undertaken in 2021.
Staff recommends that your Board set the proposed ordinance for adoption on February 8, 2022, waiving further reading of the ordinance; for the Clerk of the Board to post a certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance and pre-adoption summary, as described in attachment 4, and that the Clerk of the Board post the post-adoption summary of the ordinance with the names of the Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance, as described in Attachment 5.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the General Fund in introducing and adopting this ordinance beyond staff time related to updating maps, related documentation and election/voter registration data bases.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by inviting civic engagement and awareness of available services fostering transparent, accessible, welcoming and user friendly services and by providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board Discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Reenacting 2011 District Ordinance
a. Chapter 2 of Division 1 of Title II of the Humboldt County Code
2. Humboldt County Supervisorial District Map_2021
3. Ordinance 2461 - Relating to Boundary Changes 10.25.2011
4. Summary for Publication Prior to Adoption of Ordinance
5. Summary for Publication After Adoption of Ordinance
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: I-1, C-12
Meeting of: 12/7/2021, 10/25/2011
File No.: 21-1744, 16-3418