HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2022-10RESOLUTION NO. 2022-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND
BAR, CALIFORNIA, STATING THE CITY'S INTENT TO TRANSITION
FROM AT -LARGE TO BY -DISTRICT ELECTIONS PURSUANT TO
CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10010(e)(3)(A)
WHEREAS, members of the City Council of the City of Diamond Bar ("City
currently elected in at -large elections, in which each Councilmember is elected by all
registered voters of the entire City; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 34886 authorizes the City Council to adopt
an ordinance to change its method of election from an at -large system to a district -based
system, in which each Councilmember is elected only by the voters in the district in which
the candidate resides; and
WHEREAS, on January 13, 2022 the City received a letter from Kevin Shenkman,
attorney for the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVERP), asserting that
the City's at -large election system violates the California Voting Rights Act ("CVRA") and
threatening litigation if the City declines to voluntarily change to a district -based election
system for electing Councilmembers; and
WHEREAS, while Mr. Shenkman's letter did not include any evidence to support the
claim that the CVRA was violated by the City's use of an at -large election system, the City
Council has concluded that it is in the public interest to begin the process of transitioning
from at -large to district -based elections due to the uncertainty of litigation to defend against
a CVRA lawsuit and the potentially extraordinary cost of such a lawsuit, even if the City
were to prevail.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Diamond Bar as follows:
Section 1. That the above recitals are true and correct.
Section 2. That the City Council of the City of Diamond Bar intends to consider
an ordinance to change to a district -based election system for use in the November 2022
General Municipal Election for City Council Members.
Section 3. That the City Council hereby outlines its intention to transition from at -
large to district -based elections, the specific steps it will undertake to facilitate this
transition, and an estimated time frame for doing so.
Section 4. That City staff shall work with a demographer to provide a detailed
analysis of the City's current demographics and any other information or data necessary to
prepare a draft map that divides the City into voting districts in a manner consistent with
the intent and purpose of the CVRA and the Federal Voting Rights Act.
Resolution No. 2022-10
Section 5. The City Council hereby approves the tentative timeline as set forth in
Exhibit "A", attached to and made a part of this Resolution, for conducting a public process
to solicit public input and testimony on proposed district -based electoral maps before
adopting any such map.
Section 6. That the timelines contained in Exhibit "A" may be adjusted by the City
Manager as deemed necessary, provided that such adjustments shall not prevent the City
from complying with the time frames specified by Elections Code Section 10010, and/or as
the same time frames may be modified by agreement approved pursuant to California
Elections Code section 10010(e)(3)(C)(i).
Section 7. The City Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption of
this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions, and it shall become effective
immediately upon its approval.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 17t" day of February, 2022.
THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
Low, Mayor
ATTEST:
I, Kristina Santana, City Clerk of the City of Diamond Bar, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly passed, approved and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Diamond Bar, California, at its special meeting held on the 17t" day
of February, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Liu, Lyons, Tye, MPT Chou, M/Low
None
None
None
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
2
Resolution No. 2022-10
Exhibit A
TENTATIVE TIMELINE: CONSIDERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
DISTRICT -BASED ELECTION METHOD
DATE
EVENT
COMMENT
February 17, 2022
City Council adopts Resolution
CVRA action cannot be
declaring its intention to
commenced for 90 days
transition from at -large to
(Deadline: May 18, 2022)
district -based elections
February -March
Public Outreach regarding
process and to encourage public
participation
March 1, 2022
1st Public Hearing
City Council hearing regarding
composition of districts; no maps
et.
March 15, 2022
2"d Public Hearing
City Council hearing regarding
composition of districts; no maps
Must be conducted no more
yet.
than 30 days from the 1st public
hearing date
No Later Than
Post draft maps and potential
Draft maps and proposed
March 29, 2022
sequence of elections
sequence of elections must be
posted publicly at least 7 days
before 3d Public Hearing.
April 5, 2022
3rd Public Hearing
City Council hearing regarding
composition of districts.
No Later Than April
Post any new or amended maps
Draft maps and proposed
121 2022
and potential sequence of
sequence must be posted publicly
elections.
at least 7 days before 3d Public
Hearing.
April 19, 2022
4th Public Hearing — Select map,
City Council introduces
ordinance establishing district
elections, including district
boundaries and election
sequence. First Reading of
ordinance.
May 3, 2022
5ch Public Hearing — adoption of
ordinance establishing district
elections
Day 90 — May 18, 2022
June 2, 2022
Effective date of ordinance
establishing district elections
July 18, 2022-
Candidate filing period
August 12, 2022
i
