REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Introduce an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.28 (Elections) of Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Add Provisions Relating to City Council District Elections, Adopting a Map Describing District Boundaries and Establishing District Election Sequencing
Report
BACKGROUND
The City began exploring changing from the City's current at-large with numbered seats system for electing City Council members to a district-based form of elections (RTC No. 18-0776) in the fall of 2018, shortly before receiving a letter from a potential plaintiff alleging the City's current electoral system violates the California Voting Rights Act ("CVRA") because it "dilutes the voting power of Asian American voters."
Council adopted a resolution of intent to change to district-based elections in November 2018 and adopted an amended Resolution of Intent on March 19, 2019 (Resolution No. 907-18) declaring its intent to place a charter amendment measure on the March 2020 ballot to transition to district-based elections.
The Phase I: Education and Input focused on educating the public on the CVRA and gathering input on the number of districts and selection of the mayor. After a robust community outreach effort, on June 18, 2019 (RTC No. 19-0362) Council directed staff to move forward with a six-district model with a directly-elected, at-large mayor.
The Phase 2: Community-Driven Mapping process began in July with support from National Demographics Corporation (NDC). NDC provided an online mapping tool using 2010 census, 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS), and California Statewide Database data. Residents were given training and access to the online mapping tool to develop proposed six-district maps. A total of 26 viable maps were submitted by the public in August 2019. Council received public input and narrowed the preferred district maps during four public hearings held between September and November 2019.
On Novembe...
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