TITLE
Recommendation to refer to the Elections Oversight Committee to study the merits of developing an 11-member appointed citizen redistricting advisory commission to research and advise the City Council on the possible mid-decade and future redistricting processes. The commission would be made up of Long Beach residents appointed by each Council District with two at-large appointees from the Mayor; and request the Elections Oversight Committee to report back to City Council within 90 days.
DISCUSSION
Section 103 of the Long Beach City Charter states in part that" ... at intervals of five (5) years, or at any other time the City Council may direct, the Planning Commission shall ascertain the number of inhabitants in each Councilmanic District and report its findings to the City Council. If the report shows that the Councilmanic Districts are not approximately equal in number of inhabitants, the City Council shall, by ordinance, redistrict the City into nine (9) Councilmanic Districts, each having approximately an equal number of inhabitants."
With the City Council looking at a potential need to redistrict the Council district boundaries in 2016, it is important that the City Council encourage an open and fair process and look at the best practices that have been established in the state.
A Citizen Redistricting Advisory Commission will promote civic participation, encourage a more transparent process, and hopefully provide confidence to the residents in the fairness of any redistricting process that is undertaken.
We request that the Elections Oversight Committee review this proposal and report back to the City Council within 90 days on the merits of establishing an 11-member appointed citizen redistricting advisory commission made up of Long Beach residents that is appointed by each council district with two at-large appointees from the Mayor.
FISCAL IMPACT
The potential fiscal impact of the Commission will be studied and reported back to the Cit...
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