City of Tustin, CA

Meeting: Special Meeting of the City Council/Public Hearing #2 Regarding Proposed Transition to District Elections

Meeting Time: September 17, 2021 at 1:30pm PDT

Agenda Items

Select an Agenda Item to Comment on.

SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ PUBLIC HEARING #2 REGARDING PROPOSED TRANSITION TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS - 1:30 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER –

ATTENDANCE-

PUBLIC INPUT – Members of the public may offer comments in writing or electronically in real time via Zoom to address the City Council on items on the Closed Session Agenda.

Comment

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 alleged violation of the California Voting Rights Act.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL/ PUBLIC HEARING #2 REGARDING PROPOSED TRANSITION TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS - 2:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER –

PUBLIC INPUT - At this time, any member of the public may address the Council on matters which are not on this evening's agenda, provided the matter is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council.

Comment

PUBLIC HEARING

Comment

1. SECOND PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS 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 31st, 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.

Comment

ADJOURNMENT - 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.