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101-Redistricting Staff Report.pdf OFFICEOFTHE CITYMANAGER CITY HALL 10300TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 TELEPHONE: (408)777-3212www.cupertino.org CITYCOUNCILSTAFFREPORT Meeting:June 7,2011 Subject Considermaking a recommendationtotheCounty ofSantaClaraBoardof Supervisorsregarding redistricting. RecommendedAction: Considermaking a recommendation. Description: Everytenyears,theUSgovernment conducts anationwidecensustodeterminethe population.Withthe updatedcensus numbers,legislative districtsareredrawntoreflect changesinpopulation.As aresult, SantaClaraCounty hascreatedaCitizenRedistrictingCommissiontoredrawtheboundariesforthefive supervisorial districts.Concurrently, a statewideCaliforniaCitizensRedistrictingCommission hasbeen establishedtoredrawstateandfederaldistrictlines(previously,thesehad been determined by legislature).HowthelinesaredrawnmayimpactCupertinoandtheCity’s abilitytoinfluenceregional, statewide and nationalissues. Discussion: TheCountyCommissionhasmade no specificrecommendationstotheBoardofSupervisors.The State Commission hasuntilAugust 15toapprove districtlines.Both commissionsseek publicinput as partof theirdeliberations. The cityCouncil has previouslyrecommendedtotheSantaClaraCounty citizensredistricting commissionthatCupertinobe considered a “Community ofInterest.”A copy ofthatletteris attached. _____________________________________ Prepared by:RickKitson,Public andEnvironmentalAffairsDirector Approvedfor Submissionby:David W. Knapp,CityManager AttachmentA:LettertotheSantaClaraCountyCitizensRedistrictingCommission dated May 18, 2011. AttachmentB:ArticlefromCupertino.Patch.comfrom May 20, 2011. OFFICEOFTHEMAYOR CITY HALL 10300TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 (408)777-3212•FAX (408) 777-3366 May 18, 2011 SusanneWilson,Chair SantaClaraCountyCitizensRedistrictingCommission CountyGovernmentCenter 70WestHeddingStreet SanJose,California 95110 DearChairpersonWilson, TheCupertinoCityCouncil sincerelyappreciatesthework oftheSantaClaraCountyCitizens RedistrictingCommission. These profoundly difficultandimportant decisions determinethe characterof ourcommunitiesand of ourgovernment. To thisend,theCupertinoCityCouncil hascarefullyconsideredandweighedthefive optionsthat have beenarticulatedandillustratedin thefivemapscurrentlybeforetheredistrictingcommission. TheCupertinoCityCouncil unanimouslymap number one approves and supports · (SupervisorialDistricts Map 1 (Emphasis:NoChanges)April 7, 2011). TheCupertinoCouncilfinds unanimouslymapsthree(Map 3replacedbyMap 4: acceptable · SupervisorialDistricts Map 3 (Emphasis:SunnyvaletoD3)April 7, 2011)andfourto be acceptable(SupervisorialDistricts Map 4 (Emphasis:SunnyvaletoD3)April 21, 2011). TheCupertinoCityCouncil unanimouslymaps numberstwo(Supervisorial opposes · Districts Map 2 (Emphasis:SunnyvaletoD5)April 7, 2011)andfive(SupervisorialDistricts Map 5 (Emphasis:SunnyvaletoD5andConformitytoSanJoseCouncilDistricts) May 5, 2011). Consistentwiththeguidelines ofthecommission,theCupertinoCityCouncilfeels stronglythat Cupertino shouldcontinueto becloselyassociatedwithcommunitiesinthecountythathave similar hi-techeconomies.Likewise, sinceitsincorporation,Cupertino hasalwaysassociated communitieswith similargeographic dispositions, suchas proximitytothefoothills.Lastly, Cupertino hasworkedformanyyearstomitigatetheimpacts oftheLehighHansonCement PlantandQuarry on ourcommunity.Cupertinomustremaininthe same supervisorial districtas Lehigh. Cupertino’sconcernswarrantthecommission’smost seriousconsiderationand protection.By almostevery possiblemeasure,west valleycommunities have been shownto sharecommon socialandeconomicinterests.WetrustthattheRedistrictingCommissionwilltakethe CupertinoCityCouncil’s unanimousrecommendationintoconsiderationwhenmakingitsfinal recommendationtotheBoard ofSupervisors. On behalf oftheentireCupertinoCityCouncil, pleaseaccept ourgratitudeandthanksforthe importantrecommendationthecommissionmustmake. Sincerely, GilbertWong Mayor Cupertino.Patch.com:Government WhereCupertino LandsisNowinSupervisors'Hands TheCitizensRedistrictingCommissionforwardsmapsto supervisorswith no specific recommendations. ByPam Marino| May 20, 2011 It’s stillanyone’sguesswhereCupertinowillwind up on theSantaClaraCounty supervisorial districtsmap,aftertheCitizensRedistrictingCommission sidesteppedtakingany stands on boundaries Thursday night. Thecommission voted unanimouslyto send sevenmapstotheSantaClaraCountyBoardof Supervisors,with no rankings orjudgments.CommissionChairwomanSusanneWilsonwill presentthemapstothesupervisorsat 1:30 p.m. June 7 atthecounty headquarters, 70 W. HeddingSt.,SanJose. The supervisorsmust decide on afinalmapbyAug. 15. CupertinocouncilmembersBarryChangandOrrin Mahoney pleadedCupertino’scase on ThursdaytoremaininDistrict 5. They underscoredthecity’sdesiretoremaininthe same districtasLehighSouthwestCementPlantandQuarry,aswellaswithWestValleycitiesthat share boundarieswiththecounty’swestern hillsides. Thechallenge before supervisorsis howto balanceallthecompetingintereststocreate districts that haveroughlythe same populationineach,aswellas keepingwhatare knownas “communities ofinterest”together. Byfarthe biggestchallengeisaccommodatingthecityofSunnyvale.Officialsthereare pushing to beincludedasawholeinDistrict 5, instead ofitscurrent state ofbeingsplit between districts 3and 5. Yetanymovebythe second-largestcityinthecountywouldmostlikelymean pushing smallercitieslikeCupertinoandSaratogaintoeither districts 1 or 4. Whilemany ofthe 11-membercommissionadvocated puttingSunnyvalewhollyinDistrict 5, some suggestedtakinganincrementalapproach, bymovingmore ofSunnyvaleintothe district thisyear,withaneyetowardmovingmore ofitafterthe 2020 Census. Even officialsfromcompetingcities saidtheyaresympathetictoSunnyvale’s plight, but notat therisk offorcing othercitiesinto districtsthey don’t shareinterestswith. “We’reeagerto help ourneighborSunnyvaleachieveitsgoals, butwethinkwe knowwhat’s bestfortheWestValleycities,” Mahoneytoldcommissioners. Once supervisorsreceivethemapsfromthecommission,theycaneitherchoose one, ormake their owntweaksandrevisions. Andexpect politicstocomemoreinto play.WithLizKnissterming out oftheDistrict 5 seat nextyear, potentialcandidatesfromCupertinoandSaratogacould havealottoloseifmoved into districts 1 or 4, whichelected MikeWassermanandKenYeager,respectively,last November.Candidateswould havetowaitthreeyearsandthenfaceatoughraceagainstan incumbent. Four ofthemaps now underconsiderationare on thecounty’swebsite. Threemorewere introduced Thursday nightand had not been uploadedbythetimePatchpostedthis story.Below isa summaryofthemapsthe supervisorswillreceivefromthecommission: Map 1:Nochangeto boundaries.CupertinoandSaratogaremainsinDistrict 5. Sunnyvale remains split between 3 and 5. Thismapwas officiallyendorsedbytheCupertinoCityCouncil on Tuesday. Map 2:All ofSunnyvaleinDistrict 5, pushingCupertinoandSaratogaintoDistrict 4, joining Campbelland parts ofSanJose.LehighremainsinDistrict 5. Thismapwas deemed “unacceptable”byCupertino’sCouncil. Map 4:SunnyvalegoesasawholetoDistrict 3, somethingSunnyvale officials have saidis unacceptabletothem, becausethey do not shareasmanyinterestswithSanJoseand Milpitas,as they docitiestothe northinDistrict 5. CupertinoandSaratogaremaininDistrict 5. Thismap wasalso officiallyendorsedbythecouncil on Tuesday. Map 5:CreatedbySunnyvale officials,thismap putsSunnyvaleinDistrict 5, Cupertinoand SaratogainDistrict 1.LehighremainsinDistrict 5. Also deemed“unacceptable”bythecouncil. MayorGilbertWonghas pointed outthatCupertino does not sharethesameinterestsasthemore agriculturalcommunities of MorganHillandGilroy. Map 6:IntroducedbySunnyvale officials on Thursday night,thismapalsoputsSunnyvalein District 5, andCupertinoandSaratogainDistrict1.AccordingtoSunnyvaleVice MayorJames Griffith,LehighremainswithCupertino. Mahoneytoldcommissionersthat based on the same reasonstheCupertinocouncilrejectedMaps 2 and 5, itwouldreject Map6. Map“XX”:CupertinoandSaratogainDistrict 1;LehighinDistrict 5. Takesanincremental approachtomovingSunnyvaleintoDistrict 5. More ofthecitywouldcomeintothe districtthis year,withaneyeto possiblymovingmoreinafterthe 2020 Census.Sunnyvale MayorMelinda Hamiltonwas stronglyagainstthismap, sayingthat voters north ofHighway 101would be disenfranchised. Map“SunnyvaleD”:PlacesCupertinoinDistrict 5, SaratogainDistrict 1,and splitsSunnyvale vertically downWolfeRoad. Everythingtothewest ofWolfeinDistrict 5, totheeast,District 4. FormerSaratogaMayorKathleenKing spoke outagainstthemap, becauseshe said hercity wantstoremainwithcitieswith similarissues,likeCupertino,and shouldremaininthe same districtasthe unincorporated hillsideswithinthecity’s sphere ofinfluence.