REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Introduce an Ordinance Establishing a Public Process for Redistricting
Report
BACKGROUND
Sunnyvale voters adopted a six-district Council election system with a directly-elected mayor (Measure B) on March 3, 2020. As part of Measure B (Sunnyvale City Charter section 609(b)), Council must adopt an ordinance establishing a public process for redistricting. Staff provided an overview of the redistricting process at a study session on January 12. Council discussed options at its Council Strategic Session on January 28. It provided direction on key components of a draft ordinance on February 2, February 23, and March 16. The attached draft Ordinance (Attachment 1) includes the most recent changes directed by the Council on March 16.
At the March 16 Council Meeting, the City Council also directed staff to return to Council on March 30 for the consideration of the introduction of an Ordinance Establishing a Public Process for Redistricting.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale City Charter section 609(c): "The City Council shall adopt an ordinance establishing a public process for redistricting. Such ordinance shall be adopted in sufficient time for redistricting following release of the 2020 federal Census."
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15320,15378 and 15061(b)(3) as it is an organizational structure change and does not have the potential to result in either a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Staff prepared a draft ordinance establishing a restricting process based on Council direction. Council discussed the redistricting process at five public meetings, giving community members several opportunities to provide feedback. Council accepted many of the suggestions given by members of the public, which are incorporated into the draft o...
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