[EL] Models for local districting

[Scott Rafferty]

In California, the Fair Maps Act (eff. 1/2020) provides new
substantive guidelines EC 21601 as well as hearing requirements (4
meetings) EC 21608.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB849

An important requirement is that public comments be accepted in writing or
electronically, and posted or summarized online.   EC 21608(e), (f).
First time districting must also comply with EC 10010, which requires five
hearings.
I represented CVRA petitioners in what I believe to be the first two cities
to complete districting under the new law.   City of Napa did better.  I'd
still like to see an online forum that allowed the public to post maps
interact, recognizing that some moderation might be necessary.
Napa had two workshops the Sunday before lockdown.   In between them, I saw
first-hand the boldest minority outreach ever:  the city manager in the
ambo of the city's largest church delivering an extra sermon on the CVRA,
translated by the priest to a couple thousand people attending the Spanish
mass.  Then, the priest chimed in, telling the assembled multitude that
they shouldn't complain about bad sidewalks unless they went to the city's
mapping workshop in the parish hall after mass.

You referred to a districting body.   EC 23000, et seq. provides standards
for advisory and independent commissions.   As part of settling a Section 2
claim, West Contra Costa USD proposed an independent commission.   The
stipulation is at WCCUSD.net and adds some procedural principles to the
statutory framework.    The selection process will begin soon, with Hon.
Thelton Henderson appointing the commissioners.

As an aside, DistrictR.org is an amazing public mapping tool, although it
has VAP by block, instead of CVAP which the Legislature has disaggregated
to block level.


Scott Rafferty
1913 Whitecliff Ct
Walnut Creek CA 94596
 mobile 202-380-5525



On Sat, 29 Aug 2020 at 17:04, Cover, Benjamin (bcover at uidaho.edu) <
bcover at uidaho.edu> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I’m looking for examples of good districting processes for local bodies
> like city councils, county commissions, or local school boards.
>
>
>
> Until now, the Boise city council has used at-large elections. This past
> session, the Idaho legislature enacted a statute mandating districted
> elections for Boise city council. To implement this mandate, Boise needs to
> figure out how to district, including the composition, voting rules, and
> selection process for the districting body, and the substantive criteria
> and procedural requirements it will follow.
>
>
>
> If there is a particular local districting body/process that you would
> recommend as a model for others to follow, I would appreciate your
> perspective.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Benji
>
>
>
> *BENJAMIN COVER*, J.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
> Associate Professor of Law
> University of Idaho College of Law
> Office: ILJLC 320
> bcover at uidaho.edu
>
> SSRN <https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2191568>
> |  Twitter <https://twitter.com/bplenercover>  | LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjicover/>
>
> 208-364-4094
> 514 W. Jefferson St.  |  Boise ID 83720   |  United States
>
>
>
> [image: University of Idaho]
>
>
>
>
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