HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/19/2011, COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 2 - COUNCIL COMMUNICATION -- REDISTRICTING RED FILE
From: Carter, Andrew MEETING AGENDA
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 1:59 PM PATEJAZIL PATE /LITEM #^
To: Lichtig, Katie; Dietrick, Christine; Cano, Elaina Coptmrtul�dl/o�1.oZ
Subject: Council Communication -- Redistricting
BCC to Council:
While at the League of California Cities Employee Relations Committee meeting in Ontario on 4/4,
I also attended a general session on the new California redistricting process. It was led by two
redistricting consultants --one Republican, the other Democrat.
Both consultants believe that the Redistricting Commission will not be able to meet its deadlines -
- a)to have a draft plan by June 10th and b) to have a final plan by Aug. 15th. That assessment
is based on the consultants' view of how much time the Commission has taken in getting started
and on the fact that the Commission has decided to conduct public hearings across the state.
Those public hearings won't conclude until May 26th. The consultants also wonder whether the
Commission members are truly prepared for the public task they have to perform. The
consultants note that Commission selection rules essentially excluded people with any prior
service on public decision-making bodies. Finally, the consultants note that three majorities must
be reached to recommend any redistricting plan -- a majority of the Dems on the commission, a
majority of the Reps on the commission, and a majority of all members of the commission.
Incidentally, you may have seen in The Tribune that the Commission was in SLO on April 13th.
Unfortunately, there was little to no public communication about this prior to the meeting.
Although the primary impetus for the Commission was the redrawing of state assembly and state
senatorial lines, the consultants believe the biggest initial impact will be on California
congressional districts. (Thinking about Congresswoman's Capps current district perhaps
explains why.) The consultants believe that 10-12 congressional districts will see new congress
members, either because the district"flipped" from one party to the other or because the new
lines caused the existing congress member to retire. The consultants note that the average age
of California's congressional delegation is 75, and many of the older members may decide they'd
rather retire than run in a newly competitive seat.
Andrew Carter
Council Member
City of San Luis Obispo
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