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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-30 - MINUTES - SPECIALCITY OF SANTA CLARITA City Council Special Meeting —Minutes— Tuesday, May 30, 2023 6:00 PM City Council Chambers CITY CLERK ANNOUNCEMENT Deputy City Clerk Amanda Santos announced the meeting would be simultaneously translated into Spanish onsite and over Zoom and provided information on how the public may participate and comment; the announcement was repeated by the Spanish interpreter. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Gibbs called the Special Meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. ROLL CALL All Councilmembers were present. FLAG SALUTE Councilmember Miranda led the flag salute. PUBLIC HEARINGS ITEM 1 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 2.04.005 TO THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING BY DISTRICT ELECTIONS, DEFINING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS 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 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. City Attorney Joseph Moores gave an orientation to the process and commented that if the Council is inclined to give a first reading to the ordinance, the maker of the motion will need to include which map is to be used and which two districts will be up for the 2024 election. Mr. Monies clarified that if the first reading of the ordinance is passed, the second reading would be on the consent calendar at the next regular meeting, rather than hold another Public Hearing, The City's demographer, Douglas Johnson with National Demographics Corporation, presented each alignment change made to Map 113. Addressing the City Council remotely were Steve Petzold regarding opposition to all maps and supports at -large elections; Tony Maldonado regarding opposition to districts, support of returning to court, and rejection of all maps; and Daniel Maldonado regarding racially segregated districts. Addressing the Council in person were Alan Ferdman regarding the realignment changes to Map 113; Diane Zimmerman, in opposition, regarding Council's opinions on districts and commented the plaintiffs attorney home town of Walnut Creek is at -large; Missy (no last name provided) regarding rejection of all maps, opposition to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), and support of term limits; Elaine (no last time provided), in opposition, regarding unfairness of the lawsuit and supporting a Council rejection of the ordinance; Santa Rivera regarding the right to n vote in different areas of the City, retaining at -large elections and subjecting only newly annexed properties to districting; Cindy (no last name provided) regarding being confused by the map, stating that is wrong for the community and the City needs to fight districts; Nancy (no last time provided) regarding Scott Rafferty, political beliefs, and stating that district elections create chaos; and Douglas Fraser regarding term limits and election of a Mayor, support of District 5 as the second district for the 2024 election, and inquired what happens if the attorney does not agree with the chosen map. Mayor Gibbs closed the public comment portion of the hearing and requested that the City Attorney address some of the comments. Mr. Monies responded that Map 113 was not attached to the agenda item since the item before the Council is to determine which map to choose; commented that Map 113 was made available to the public, along with all of the other maps, on the City's district website at least one week prior to the meeting; stated if Council passes the first reading tonight, the second reading of the ordinance will be presented as a consent item, and the public may comment at that time in the same way they could comment on any consent agenda item; and shared he cannot predict what actions Mr. Rafferty may take, but Mr. Rafferty indicated that he would not challenge Map 113. Mayor Pro Tern, Smyth requested further clarification on the next steps. Mr. Monies responded that once a map has been selected and an ordinance has been adopted, the map becomes the Page 2 official map for the City for the 2024 election; the data will be transferred by the demographer to nn Los Angeles County to be in place by next summer for the 2024 election; no further action is required by the court unless enforcement of the consent decree is necessary; and he anticipates a filing of a joint status statement that the requirements of the enforcement decree have been met and the court will retainjurisdiction to enforce the consent decree through 2030. Councilmember Weste inquired if there have been any wins by cities against the C VRA, and Mr. Montes responded that Santa Monica lost at the trial level, but has won at the appellate level; however, there are pending challenges at the California Supreme Court level. Council made several comments, including the money spent by cities fighting CVRA lawsuits, the belief that district maps segregate communities, the option to return to at -large elections should the Supreme Court overturn the district requirements, and not wishing to risk a tremendous amount of money to fight the lawsuit. Due to an audience disturbance, Council recessed the meeting at 7:10 p.m. and reconvened at 7:16 p.m. Councilmember Miranda made a motion to adopt Map 113. Mayor Pro Tem Smyth amended the motion to include District 1 and District 3 as the districts to be included in the 2024 election. Council commented on the injustice of Mayor Pro Tem Smyth not being able to run for Council in 2024, that there is no other alternative, and rights are being taken away from the community. RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 11 MOVER: Bill Miranda, Councilmember SECONDER: Cameron Smyth, Mayor Pro Tem AYES: Jason Gibbs, Cameron Smyth, Bill Miranda, Laurene Weste NAYS: Marsha McLean ADJOURN Mayor Gibbs adjourned the Special Meeting at 7:27 p.m. q4� AV OR ATTEST: Vr�GI� CITY CLERK Page 3