HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 09.17.21 DocuSign Envelope ID:OE07E7DE-3638-4988-8507-EB263ED01 D05
CITY OF TUSTIN SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ■ VIDEO CONFERENCE
Austin Lumbard, Mayor Pro Tem
Barry W. Cooper, Council Member Letitia Clark, Mayor Matthew S. West, City Manager
Rebecca Gomez, Council Member Erica N.Yasuda, City Clerk
Ryan Gallagher, Council Member David E. Kendig, City Attorney
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL/
PUBLIC HEARING #2 REGARDING PROPOSED TRANSITION TO DISTRICT
ELECTIONS
1:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER at 1 :32 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Mayor Pro Tem Austin Lumbard and Council Members Ryan Gallagher
and Rebecca Gomez
Absent: Mayor Letitia Clark and Council Member Barry W. Cooper
City Clerk: Erica N. Yasuda, City Clerk
Others Present: David E. Kendig, City Attorney, Matthew S. West, City Manager
PUBLIC INPUT — None
CLOSED SESSION UPDATE — City Attorney David E. Kendig: The Council will convene
to discuss Item 1A on the Closed Session agenda.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS - The Brown Act permits legislative bodies to discuss certain
matters without members of the public present. The City Council finds, based on advice
from the City Attorney, that discussion in open session of the following matters will
prejudice the position of the City in existing and anticipated litigation:
1 . CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (1 case)
A. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of
Section 54956.9 related to a written threat to initiate litigation against the City for
City Council September 17, 2021
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alleged violation of the California Voting Rights Act.
Recessed to Closed Session at 1 :33 p.m.
Council Member Barry W. Cooper arrived at 1:35 p.m.
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ PUBLIC HEARING #2
REGARDING PROPOSED TRANSITION TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS
2:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER at 2:02 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT — None
PUBLIC HEARING
1. SECOND PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY
REGARDING THE TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS
Public Hearing opened at 2:03 p.m.
Jen Nentwig, Tripepi Smith and Dr. Justin Levitt, National Demographics Corporation
provided a PowerPoint presentation.
The City received a letter from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education
Fund (MALDEF) asserting that the at-large election system violates the California
Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and threatens litigation if the City declines to voluntarily
convert to districtbased elections. On August 3, 2021 the City Council adopted
Resolution 21-64 declaring its intention to transition from at-large to district-based
elections, and to complete the transition in time for the 2022 General Municipal
Election. By voluntarily proceeding to transition to district-based elections, the City
benefits from a "safe harbor" provision in the CVRA that maximizes community
control and self-determination over the process of establishing districts and district
boundaries.
The first steps in the transition process include holding at least two public hearings
to invite public input regarding the composition of the City's voting districts before any
draft maps are drawn. The first public hearing occurred on August 31 st, and this item
will involve the second such public hearing. Next, one or more draft maps of proposed
district boundaries will be prepared and made available to the public and the Council
must hold at least two additional public hearings on the draft map(s) of the districts
themselves.
City Council September 17, 2021
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Public Input:
1 . AJ Coco
2. Wisam Altowaiji (audio was unclear)
3. Peter Brakke (volunteered to test audio)
Public Hearing closed at 2:49 p.m.
The City Council unanimously:
1 . Received a report on the districting process and permissible criteria to be
considered to create district boundaries; and
2. Conducted a public hearing to receive public input regarding "communities of
interest" and considerations for establishing district boundaries; and
3. Following input received during the public hearing, provided direction to the
demographer regarding potential draft maps to be considered at the third
public hearing scheduled for Saturday October 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
ADJOURNED at 3:06 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, September 21 , 2021
for the Closed Session Meeting at 4:30 p.m. and the Regular Business Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
DocuSigned by: DocuSigned by:
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LETT ,CiLARWi- ERI C'Ak-tWY4DUDA,
Mayor City Clerk
City Council September 17, 2021
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