Title
Appoint Applicants to the Redistricting Commission
Report
BACKGROUND
At its April 6, 2021 Council meeting, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3174-21 establishing a public process for redistricting. This public process includes establishing a Redistricting Commission of Sunnyvale residents that consists of seven members and three to six alternates. Commissioners shall be selected through an open application process that generally aligns with the city council policy for selecting members of other boards and commissions with a few exceptions (see Attachment 1). The Commission will hold public meetings and hearings as required by law and recommend three to five maps to the Council. Council will adopt a final district map that will be used in elections between 2022 and 2030.
The City received 22 applications for the Redistricting Commission and Council conducted applicant interviews on June 17, 2021.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 2.31 Redistricting (Attachment 1)
Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions
Administrative Policy Manual Chapter 1 - General Management Article 15
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental, organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Appointments
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 2.31.030 provides for the selection process for Redistricting Commissioners to generally align with the city council policy for selecting members of other boards and commissions. Per Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions, appointments are placed on the City Council meeting agenda. When one or more Councilmembers participate via teleconference, the appointment process is conducted by Individual Candidate Votes.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 2.31.030 (a) (Composition of Redistricting Commission) (see Attachment 1) provides the following requirements for the composition of the Redistricting Commission:
The redistricting commission shall consist of seven commissioners and three to six alternates. The city council will use its best efforts to make appointments that achieve the goal of having at least one and not more than two members per district on the redistricting commission, based on residency at the time of application, and at least one but not more than two alternates per district. However, these numbers are not required if a majority of councilmembers agree to a different composition that achieves the other standards described in this section.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 2.31.030 (c) (1) (Open Application Process) provides for the process of applying and being appointed to the Redistricting Commission:
Open Application Process. Commissioners shall be selected through an open application process that aligns with the city council policy for selecting members of other boards and commissions, except: (a) as provided in this section; and (b) that the city council may choose a different voting process than outlined in the policy to achieve the goals described in Section 2.31.030(a). Commissioners and alternates shall be appointed by the city council at a public hearing from the pool of qualified applicants.
The Mayor will ask Council for a motion to identify which applicant from among those with the most affirmative votes and at least four affirmative votes will be appointed to the position of Commissioner (seven) versus Alternate (three to six).
Resolving ties: Should a tie between the candidates receiving the most affirmative votes occur, the affected applicants will be voted on again. If a tie still remains, and the affected applicants each have received at least four affirmative votes, the Mayor would ask the City Attorney to draw the name of the person to be appointed.
In order for the Council to use an appointment method that differs from the existing policy it would be necessary for the Council to establish that methodology through a majority vote of the Council.
No candidate receiving fewer than four affirmative votes will be appointed.
Below is the list of current applicants, applicant information is available as an attachment to the June 17, 2021 Council meeting packet and upon request from the Office of the City Clerk at cityclerk@sunnyvale.ca.gov or 408-730-7483.
District 1
Alan Herrmann
Charles Shoemaker
Christina Dinwoodie
Maryam Chenna
Nicole Hakimi
Pam Anderson
Sandy Agbayani
Scott Duncan
District 2
Gregory McNutt
Mehmet (Matt) Pamukcu
District 3
Calvin Cornwell
Galen Kim Davis
Ken Olevson
District 4
Henry Alexander III
Jessie Salas
Linda Ralleca
Lucas Cantin
Rita Chiang
District 5
Karen Brenchley
District 6
Frances Stanley-Jones
Gail Rubino
Pauline Brown
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Appoint commissioners from the applicants listed in this report.
2. Provide other direction to staff on how to proceed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation.
Staff
Prepared by: David Carnahan, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 2.31 (Redistricting)