Draft Maps Published - Public Feedback Sought at Third Public Hearing on January 4, 2022 on Draft Maps and Election Sequence/Timeline

On December 28, 2021, the atlas of Draft Maps of Monterey City Councilmember Districts were published online at www.haveyoursaymonterey.org/districting and physically posted at the agenda posting board outside the City Council Chamber (580 Pacific Street), as well as the windows to the front entrances of the Monterey Public Library (625 Pacific Street), El Estero Park Center (777 Pearl Street), Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center (735 Ramona Street), and Scholze Park Center (280 Dickman Avenue). The full City Council agenda packet will be posted later in the day on December 28, 2021.

At this third public hearing on January 4, 2022, the City Council will receive public feedback on the draft maps and discuss the potential sequence of elections for staggered terms of office.

Draft Maps
The City’s public engagement process encouraged community members to provide feedback on their Communities of Interest and potential councilmember district boundaries. The City received proposed district map submissions using the Community Mapping Tool (“placemats”) and completed Communities of Interest Forms. All submitted feedback, including correspondence from the public, can be viewed and downloaded at www.haveyoursaymonterey.org/districting.

The City’s demographer, Redistricting Partners, used the information from the publicly-submitted Communities of Interest Forms and councilmember district maps from the public to develop four (4) draft maps. Each draft map shows four (4) potential councilmember districts. All draft maps developed by the City’s demographer are in compliance with criteria mandated by State and Federal law, including population equality across districts (no greater than a 10% deviation).

On December 28, 2021, the draft maps were published online and physically posted at the City Council Chamber, Monterey Public Library, El Estero Park Center, Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center, and Scholze Park Center.

At the 3rd Public Hearing on January 4, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., the City Council will be asked to receive public feedback on the four (4) draft maps and choose one map to move forward in the process. Modifications or changes to the map could be directed to Redistricting Partners for consideration, as long as it meets legal requirements.

Potential Sequence of Elections

During the public hearing process, in addition to selecting a final councilmember district map, the City Council will also identify which two districts will hold district-based elections in 2022 and which two will hold district-based elections in 2024 (the “sequencing schedule”). The map and sequencing schedule will be included in the districting ordinance, and presented for public input and consideration at first and second readings as reflected in the public hearing timeline (details in Attachment 1).

Legal requirements

Pursuant to Elections Code section 10010(b), in determining the final sequencing schedule, the City Council shall give special consideration to the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (protecting the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice) and it shall take into account the preferences expressed by members of the districts.

How are the new district areas phased in?

Councilmembers whose terms expire in 2022 will continue to serve the City at-large for their elected terms, and will have the opportunity to run for district-based seats in November 2022, provided they reside in one of the two districts scheduled for that election.

Councilmembers whose terms do not expire until 2024 will continue to serve the City at-large for their elected terms, and will have the opportunity to run for district-based seats in November 2024, provided they reside in one of the two districts scheduled for that election.

What happens if multiple current councilmembers live in the same district?

If multiple incumbents live in the same councilmember district, and an election is held in that district in 2022, the incumbents are eligible to run for election in that district along with any other candidates. The person who receives the most votes will win the seat for that district (and the four-year term that goes with it), while any losing incumbent will drop off the City Council, either immediately if their elected term expires in 2022, or in 2024 if their elected term expires in 2024. In other words, even if a current councilmember whose elected term ends in 2024 is defeated in a bid to win a district-based seat in 2022, he will continue to serve on the City Council as an at-large councilmember until his elected term expires. If a current councilmember whose elected term ends in 2024 wins a district-based seat in 2022, then he would resign his at-large seat. The vacancy would be filled pursuant to Charter section 2.5 which provides in part that “[a] vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by appointment by the Council, such appointee to hold office until the next General Municipal Election and until a successor is elected and installed.”

What happens if no councilmember resides in a district?

After the sequencing schedule is adopted, if no councilmember resides in a district scheduled for the November 2022 election, then only non-incumbents will be qualified to run for election in that district. If no councilmember resides in a district scheduled for the November 2024 election, that district will continue to be represented by the remaining at-large councilmembers until 2024 when its first district-based election will be held.

Once one of the four draft maps is selected to move forward in the process (with potential modifications), Council will provide feedback on the sequencing schedule. Two (2) districts will be selected to hold elections in 2022 and the remaining two (2) districts will be selected to hold elections in 2024.

The draft maps can be downloaded here.