Reso 2025-003 District-Based Election System

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IN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO RESOLUTION NO. 2025-003 RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO’S INTENT TO INITIATE PROCEDURES TO TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE ELECTIONS TO DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10010; AND SETTING FORTH THE PROCESS FOR TRANSITIONING TO DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 14026, the City of San Leandro’s election system is considered an “at-large” system because it utilizes a combination of “at-large” and “district-based” methods; and WHEREAS, pursuant to City of San Leandro Charter Section 225, members of the City Council are elected in “at-large” elections, in which each City Councilmember is elected by the registered voters of the entire City; and WHEREAS, any amendments to the City’s Charter regarding its existing election system method requires a majority vote of the City’s electorate through a ballot measure; and WHEREAS, on November 21, 2024, the City of San Leandro (“City”) received a letter from a prospective plaintiff’s attorney alleging a violation of the California Voting Rights Act (the “CVRA”) and signaling litigation if the City declines to voluntarily change to a district-based election system for electing Councilmembers; and WHEREAS, the letter itself was not accompanied by any statistical evidence to support the claim of a CVRA violation; and WHEREAS, the City Council denies that its election system violates the CVRA or any other provision of law, asserts that the City’s election system is legal in all respects, and further denies any wrongdoing whatsoever in connection with the manner in which at-large City Council elections have been conducted; and WHEREAS, nevertheless, the City welcomes the views of its constituents as to whether or not the public interest is better served by initiating a process for transitioning to a district-based election system; and WHEREAS, Elections Code Section 10010 provides a method whereby a jurisdiction can transition to a district-based election system and cap attorneys’ fees under the CVRA if the jurisdiction complies with the “safe harbor” provisions of Elections Code Section 10010. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Leandro does RESOLVE as follows: 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein. 2. The City Council hereby expresses its intent to consider transition from an at-large election system to a district-based election system as authorized by Elections Code Section 10010 for use in the City’s election for City Councilmembers commencing in November 2026. 3. The City Clerk is directed to publicize and post information regarding the proposed transition to a