Council to Hold Fourth Public Hearing, Introduce Ordinance Establishing By-District Elections on February 1

The fourth Public Hearing will be held on February 1, 2022. The introduction and first reading of the ordinance establishing and implementing by-district elections, with draft final map (the “Dolphin” map plan) including the sequencing schedule (Districts 1 and 2 in 2022 and Districts 3 and 4 in 2024), would be held during this meeting. The sequencing direction is determined by the City Council per Elections Code 10010(b).

During the Third Public Hearing on January 18, 2022, after receiving public input from the community and asking questions to staff and consultant, a majority of the City Council chose the Dolphin map. The Dolphin map keeps as many neighborhoods intact as possible, and maintains Communities of Interest as much as possible. This map maximizes minority voting rights by creating the highest percentage of Latinx voters and citizens, which is the largest protected class in the City of Monterey. Councilmember District 4 under the Dolphin Map would be comprised of a 16.9% Latinx Citizen Voting Age Population; or 29.8% Latinx total 2020 Census population, larger than any other District in any of the four maps presented (Councilmember District D in the Bat Ray map is identical to the District 4 in the Dolphin Map, but was not chosen because it splits the New Monterey neighborhood).

The City Council chose to schedule elections under the Dolphin Map for City Councilmember Districts A (1) and D (2) in November 2022 and Districts B (3) and C (4) in November 2024. This sequencing corresponds with the expired terms of office for existing councilmembers based on their residency. This option also reduces the need under certain scenarios for the City Council to appoint as many as two councilmembers to at-large seats for a brief two-year term starting in December 2022.

Furthermore, sequencing District 4 to coincide with the 2024 Presidential Election would maximize voting rights for Latinx voters by allowing that district (16.9% Latinx Citizen Voting Age Population; or 29.8% Latinx total 2020 Census population) to increase their likelihood for voting a candidate of their choice. This is because Latinx voters have higher rates of voter turnout during presidential elections when compared to midterm elections, even when compared with the overall population

View the agenda for the February 1, 2022 meeting: https://isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=5149&doctype=1