To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Time Certain Matter
SUBJECT:
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11:00 am - Hearing Related to the Redistricting Effort in Humboldt County and Resolution Amending and Updating the Rules and Procedures of the Redistricting Advisory Commission
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Open the public hearing;
2. Receive the presentation made on behalf of the Redistricting Advisory Commission in regard to the redistricting effort in Humboldt County;
3. Adopt the draft Resolution Amending and Updating the Rules and Procedures of the Redistricting Advisory Commission; and
4. Close the Public Hearing.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
On July 20, your Board appointed members to the Redistricting Advisory Commission (RAC) and adopted Resolution No. 21-76, Establishing the Redistricting Advisory Commission and Adopting Rules and Procedures (Attachment 1). Staff is returning to your Board today with information on progress made thus far by the RAC and share a brief update on the preliminary release of 2020 Census data and what it may mean for Humboldt County.
The RAC is a five-member commission appointed by your Board to hear public testimony, receive draft district maps and to present a final draft map for your Board’s approval and adoption. Members of the RAC met weekly throughout the month of August for training related to the legal framework of redistricting, best practices related to gathering Community of Interest (COI) testimony and on their role as commissioners. During the meeting of Aug. 25, the RAC voted in favor of bringing an amendment to Resolution No. 21-76, specifically to the Rules and Procedures, Section 3, which establishes a quorum of four members of the Commission. It is recommended that your Board approve the attached Draft Resolution (Attachment 2) which amends the above noted section to reflect a reduced quorum of three members. The RAC requested this adjustment in consideration of the essential nature of their work, the restricted timeline available and additional challenges facing the Commission in meeting the Dec. 15 deadline posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, official RAC meetings are on hold until Sept. 29. During this time, the California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP) will be hosting a series of community outreach workshops. These workshops are scheduled for Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Sept. 15, 19, and 26 from 6 - 8 p.m. Two commissioners will attend each workshop to hear testimony from community members and report back to the commission when meetings commence in late September. These meetings are open to all members of the public. Recordings of the workshops and resources to submit testimony and/or draft maps are available on the county Redistricting webpage. It is anticipated that the state of California will adjust Federal Census Data to meet state standards by the end of September, allowing for the release of official statewide data to coincide with the return of RAC meetings at the end of the month.
As mentioned, preliminary data from the 2020 Census has been released and can provide early estimates regarding the changes in local population. Though these numbers are not final, they can provide a window into how population shifts in and across the county may affect existing boundaries of supervisorial districts. Final data will take into account California State Assembly Bill No. 2172, passed in 2018, which changes the way incarcerated individuals are counted across the state. This change is expected to reflect a small change to local population totals but will likely be more significant in counties which have a prison located within their borders. Additional details related to the preliminary data and what it could signal for Humboldt County will be presented to your Board by the consultants at Redistricting Partners.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the county General Fund.
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. Resolution No. 21-76
2. Draft Resolution Amending the Rules and Procedures of the Redistricting Advisory Commission
3. Letter dated 9/8/21 from RAC Chair
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: G-3, L-2, I-1, I-1, I-1
Meeting of: 6/07/2011, 6/21/2011, 3/16/2021, 7/13/2021, 7/20/2021
File No.: 16-3965, 16-3900, 21-273, 21-873, 21-1018