ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICT - Report ID: 23-391c

• Report ID: 23-391c
• Type: Public Hearing
• Meeting Body: Board of Directors - Regular Meeting
• Meeting Date: 9/13/2023
• Recommended Action: Receive presentation from the District's demographer on redistricting to a seven-ward election system for the Board of Directors; and hold the second of two public hearings to receive public input on the composition of the voting wards before maps are drafted and provide initial direction to the demographer on the composition of the draft maps. Staff Contact: Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary Presenter: Michael Wagaman, Wagaman Strategies

Date	Action By	Action	Result
9/13/2023	Board of Directors - Regular Meeting	Hearing held

TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary
SUBJECT: Redistricting to Seven-Ward Election System - Public Hearing #2

ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

Title
Receive presentation from the District's demographer on redistricting to a seven-ward election system for the Board of Directors; and hold the second of two public hearings to receive public input on the composition of the voting wards before maps are drafted and provide initial direction to the demographer on the composition of the draft maps.

Staff Contact:
Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary

Presenter:
Michael Wagaman, Wagaman Strategies
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:

Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Internal and External Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Programs and Priorities

BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this report.

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:

Since its establishment, AC Transit has had a directly elected seven-member Board of Directors consisting of five Board members representing specific geographic areas known as "wards" and two representing the entire District "at-large". On March 27, 2023, AC Transit received a letter from attorney Ginger L. Grimes asserting that the District's at-large electoral system violates the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 ("CVRA"). The letter claims that polarized voting may be occurring in the District and threatened litigation absent the District's voluntary conversion to a seven-ward election system for Boardmembers.

On July 26, 2023, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 23-033, declaring the Board's intent to transition from a hybrid ward-based and at-large election system to a solely ward-based election system, to initiate procedures, and implement ward-based elections for at-large members of the Board of Directors. In establis...