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City of San Leandro City Council Meeting Date: April 21, 2025 Agenda Number: 8.a. Agenda Section: PUBLIC HEARINGS File Number: 25-173 File Type: Staff Report Public Hearing Number 1 to Receive Input from the Community on City Council Districts to be Established for District-Based Elections Beginning in 2026 RECOMMENDATION The Council conducts the public hearing, and receives input from the community regarding composition of City Council districts for district-based elections with the 2026 election cycle. SUMMARY The City Council adopted a resolution of intent on January 6, 2025, which would end the 90-day safe harbor period in California Elections Code Section 10010 on April 7, 2025. The City Council adopted a resolution to enter into a written agreement on April 7, 2025 to extend the safe harbor period to July 5, 2025. With the adoption of Resolution No. 2025-034 the transition to district-based elections begins with two public hearings required by Elections Code Section 10010. The City anticipates completing the requisite public hearings within the 90-day period as well as preparing and presenting an Ordinance to establish district-based elections within the safe harbor period. The City will also conduct additional community outreach, including at the local Wednesday Farmer’s Market, on social media, and in publications targeting Spanish, and Chinese speaking populations. During these hearings, the City Council receives input from the community regarding the composition of the proposed districts. Subsequent public hearings involving review and discussion of district maps are also required to be held. BACKGROUND On November 21, 2024, the City received a letter pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010(e)(1) from Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho on behalf of a prospective plaintiff, Robert Bulatao. Mr. Bulatao alleges the City violated the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”) because its current at-large election system led to racially polarized voting that diminished the electoral power of the City’s Asian electorate. The letter concluded that the City must move to district-based elections to resolve these issues. The November 21, 2024, letter triggered a 45-day period during which Mr. Bulatao was prohibited from filing a CVRA suit. On January 6, 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution noticing the City’s intent to move to district-based elections for the 2026 elections, and which also proposed a timeline for the City to conduct public hearings that are required by the CVRA within 180 days. The adoption of the notice of intent triggered a 90-day safe harbor period, preventing Mr. Bulatao from suing the City, and capping at $30,000 any attorneys’ fees Mr. Bulatao can recover. The 90-day safe harbor was set to end on April 7, 2025. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-xxx, and the City Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/4/2025