HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Reso 2017-06 RESOLUTION NO. 2017-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY, CALIFORNIA,
INITIATING PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING
AND IMPLEMENTING BY-DISTRICT ELECTIONS
FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHEREAS, members of the City Council of the City of Cathedral City ("City")
are currently elected in "at-large" elections, in which each City Council member is
elected by the registered voters of the entire city, held concurrently with the Statewide
General Election in November of even numbered years; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code section 34886, effective January 1,
2016, permits the City Council of a city with a population of fewer than 100,000 people,
to change the city's method of election by ordinance, with certain formalities, to a "by-
district" system in which each City Council member is elected only by the voters in the
district in which the candidate resides; and
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2017, the City Council approved a contract with
National Demographics Corporation to commence the process of establishing Council
districts; and
WHEREAS, by letter dated February 7, 2017, the law firm of Shenkman and
Hughes, apparently unaware that the City had already started the process of
establishing districts, threatened litigation against the City if it does not convert to
district-based elections for City Council members; and
WHEREAS, on February 22, 2017, the City Council, after meeting in closed
session with the City Attorney to discuss the threatened litigation reaffirmed its
commitment to switching from "at-large" elections to a "by-district" electoral system; and
WHEREAS, California Elections Code section 10010 requires a total of four
public hearings before a public hearing is held for the adoption of an ordinance to
establish district boundaries for a by-district electoral system is approved; and
WHEREAS, as a charter city the City is not required to adhere to the procedural
requirements of Elections Code section 10010, but is choosing to follow those
procedures to maximize public participation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
A. The above recitals are true and correct.
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B. The City Council hereby resolves to adopt a by-district election system as
authorized by Government Code section 34886 for use in the City's General Municipal
Election for City Council Members in November 2018.
C. The City Council hereby approves the tentative timeline contained in
Exhibit A hereto, and incorporated herein by this reference, for conducting a public
process to solicit public input and testimony on proposed by-district electoral plans
before adopting any such plan.
D. This timeline contained in Exhibit A shall be subject to adjustment by the
City Council as it deems necessary, provided that such adjustments shall not prevent
the City from meeting its goal of finalizing the change to by-district elections in time for
the November 2018 elections.
E. The City Manager shall consult with legal counsel to resolve all legal
issues necessary to give effect to this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Cathedral City held on this 8th day of Marc, 2017, by the following
vote:
Ayes: Council Members Aguilar, Carnevale and Kaplan; MayorPro Tem
Pettis and Mayor Henry
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Stanley E. Henry, Mayor
ATTEST:
- Gary F. owell, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Eric S. V.il, City Attorney
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CERTIFICATION
I, Gary F. Howell, City Clerk to the City of Cathedral City, hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced, passed, and adopted by the City Council
at its regular meeting held on March 8, 2017.
DATED: March 8, 2017
IPâ– Ort.. / Li
Gary F. Ho ell
City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
TENTATIVE TIMELINE: ADOPTION OF "BY-DISTRICT" ELECTION METHOD
Adopt Resolution of Intent to Change Elections and Criteria Resolution
March 8 Discussion of schedule and outreach efforts
NDC presentation
1 st public hearing prior to draft maps
April 12 Demo of public online line-drawing tools
NDC presentation
April 26 2nd public hearing prior to draft maps
(NDC possibly needed)
May 15 No meeting.
Deadline for initial public map submissions
No meeting.
May 18 NDC Draft Maps and any maps received from the public posted on City
website
1st public hearing to discuss draft maps.
June 14 Possible Council direction on map revisions.
NDC Presentation
2nd public hearing to discuss draft maps.
July 12 Possible Council direction on map revisions.
NDC Presentation
August 9 Public Hearing and Vote to introduce ordinance (with map)
NDC in person to answer questions
August 23 2nd reading and final adoption of ordinance
(NDC not needed)
November 2018 First districts hold by-district elections
November 2020 Remaining districts hold by-district elections
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