RulesCommunications Highlights 2011 0623

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City Council Rules and Communications Committee June 23, 2011 Page 14 Staff will incorporate the items into the social media policy, and bring it back to the Committee for review at its next meeting. 4. Continued Discussion Regarding Council Redistricting City Clerk Marian Handa reviewed the revised redistricting timeline and criteria, and ideas for community outreach. She requested that the Committee discuss and recommend a timeline, criteria and community outreach plan for consideration by the full Council. Ms. Williams reviewed the redistricting requirements contained in the state Elections Code, which requires compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act. Other factors that must be considered include topography, geography, cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity, and compactness of territory, as well as communities of interest in the districts. The Committee reviewed the timeline, and requested that at least one additional community meeting be held. Chair Cassidy requested holding at least two community meetings with translators, and have translated redistricting information on the City website. He suggested posting the redistricting information on the website now, and asking residents to comment. Public Comments Charles Gilcrest commented that both the state and federal Voting Rights Act address the dilution of votes, and that San Leandro's at -large election system prevents this by allowing everyone to vote for every candidate. He commented that he would like the public to have the opportunity to submit their own draft maps, and provide input on what communities of interest they believe exist in San Leandro. End of Public Comments The Committee discussed the amount of population variation between the districts. It was proposed that there be minimal change to the existing districts, keeping the population variance within 5 %, and ideally 2 -3 %. The Committee requested that after the Council has adopted the redistricting criteria, staff create two draft maps that meet the adopted criteria, and bring them back to the Committee for review. Committee Recommendation The Committee recommends scheduling consideration by the City Council of adoption of the proposed redistricting timeline, criteria and community outreach.