TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Rick Otto, City Manager
FROM: Gary A. Sheatz, City Attorney
1. Subject
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Professional Services Agreement with National Demographics, Inc. to provide demographic services related to the California Voting Rights Act requirements for by-district elections using the 2020 Census data and the requirements of California’s “Fair Maps Act.”
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2. Summary
The agreement with National Demographics, Inc. is to provide demographic services, using 2020 Census data, to achieve a population balance among voting age citizens for the six City districts. In addition to the analysis, it will provide facilitation and support for the redistricting process, pursuant to the California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act, in an amount not to exceed $55,000.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Approve agreement with National Demographics, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $55,000 for demographic services; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.
2. Authorize the appropriation of $55,000 from the General Fund unreserved fund balance to expenditure account number 100.0301.51600.00000, General Fund - Legal Services.
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4. Fiscal Impact
The total exependiture for this agreement is $55,000 and will be funded in the General Fund (100).
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 2: Be a fiscally healthy community
a: Expend fiscal resources responsibly.
6. Discussion and Background
Every ten years, following each U.S. census, local public agencies with elected officials by or from geographical districts must consider “redistricting.” This requires the review of recent Census population data and, if necessary, adjusting the voting area boundaries. District boundaries must be kept as equal in population as possible, allowing for certain variances due to geography, topography, and communities of interest, in accordance with federal and California law.
In addition to the population balance considerations under the voting rights act, the State recently enacted the Fair Maps Act (Election Code section 21000 et. seq.) which prescribes the local agency process for redistricting. Under the Act, cities must conduct certain outreach, maintain websites with publicly available information about draft maps and hold public hearings on the proposed redistricting. The requirements are very similar to the process undertaken by the City in 2019 when districts were created under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA).
The contract with National Demographics, Inc. will assist the City with the complex process of collecting and using demographic analysis from the 2020 census data to ensure the population of citizens of voting age are equally represented in the six City districts. Using their expertise, they will also facilitate any efforts at redistricting in compliance with the CVRA and Fair Maps Act. National Demographics, Inc. is especially well known for its work with state and local government and has established a reputation as the state’s leading demographic expert on redistricting matters.
An appropriation from unreserved general fund is required to support this agreement.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Professional Services Agreement with National Demographics, Inc.