HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - SPECIAL DISTRICTING MIN APPROVALO
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Monday, May 1, 2023
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
City Council
Special Meeting
-Minutes-
6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
CITY CLERK ANNOUNCEMENT
City Clerk Mary Cusick announced the meeting would be simultaneously translated into Spanish
onsite and over Zoom and provided information on how the public may participate and comment;
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the announcement was repeated by the Spanish interpreter.
CALL TO ORDER
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Mayor Gibbs called the Special Meeting to order at 6:14 p.m.
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ROLL CALL
All Councilmembers were present.
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Miranda led the flag salute.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ITEM 1
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 2.04.005 TO THE SANTA
CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING BY -DISTRICT ELECTIONS, DEFINING
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS
AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA
City Council will conduct a continued public hearing on the maps for election of the City
Council by District and consider giving first reading to an ordinance switching to District
elections, selecting a District map, and the sequencing of by District elections starting with the
2024 election.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City Council:
1. Conduct and close the public hearing concerning District maps.
2. Select a District map.
3. Select the two district seats to be up for election in 2024 (with the remaining district seats to
be elected in 2026).
4. Introduce an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 2.04.005 TO THE
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SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING BY -DISTRICT ELECTIONS,
DEFINING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE
DISTRICTS;" waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only, as listed on the
agenda; and pass to second reading.
The City's demographer, Douglas Johnson with National Demographics Corporation, presented
the timeline, rules, and goals of the suggested maps; and reviewed the joint map proposal, public
comments, and new maps received.
Addressing the Council remotely was Scott Rafferty who spoke in favor of switching to districts.
Addressing the Council in person and opposing the recommendation were Missy (no last name
provided) regarding Government Code 54953.3; and Tony Maldonado regarding creating racial
segregation as a result of districting and the plaintiffs map.
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Addressing the Council in person, and with no position checked, were Alan Ferdman regarding
the joint map being unbalanced, the Chamber of Commerce's proposed map, and support of Map
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108; Peter Warda, representing SCV Chamber of Commerce, regarding support for Map 110;
Diane Trautman regarding support for Map 108; Steve Petzold opposing districts, returning to
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court, the racial division of the map, and not hearing from the complainants; Elaine (no last name o
provided) opposing districts and the plaintiffs attorney; and Reena Newhall regarding M
disappointment that Santa Clarita will no longer be one community. c
One written comment was received by Valerie Bradford, representing NAACP Santa Clarita, in
support of establishing districts for representation for marginalized communities.
Council thanked the public speakers, spoke of the lack of public comment from the plaintiffs,
expressed the difficulties of fighting the lawsuit, commented on the uniqueness of the Santa
Clarita community, and acknowledged the passing of Glo Donnelly.
Mayor Gibbs inquired if there was plaintiff support for the revised joint map, and Mr. Johnson
responded that the plaintiff s counsel was not willing to identify support to any changes to the
original joint map.
Council discussed adjusting Map 110 to keep the Shangri-La HOA together, to match up any
deviations by potentially removing Happy Valley from District 1, and any other minor
adjustments to lower the deviation numbers.
Council inquired if changes to the map would impact the deadline of the settlement agreement,
and City Attorney Joseph Montes responded that in order to make changes to the map, the
meeting will need to be continued to give the demographer time to make changes to the map and
be available to the public. Mr. Montes suggested the first reading of the ordinance could be read
at a special meeting on May 30 at 6:00 p.m. in order for the ordinance to be adopted by the June
30 deadline.
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Mayor Pro Tem Smyth made a motion to continue the meeting to May 30, directing the
demographer to review and incorporate changes to the Shangri-La HOA lines and make any
changes for population deviation.
RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Cameron Smyth, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Bill Miranda, Councilmember
AYES: Gibbs, Smyth, McLean, Miranda, Weste
ADJOURN
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Mayor Gibbs continued the public hearing to May 30, 2023, and adjourned the meeting at 7:02
p.m.
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
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