TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary
SUBJECT: Redistricting to Seven-Ward Election System
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of either Ordinance 20 (Evergreen) or Ordinance 20 (Jade) establishing a seven-ward election system, including one option for the sequencing of elections beginning with the November 2024 Statewide General Election pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010; and waive the second reading of the selected ordinance.
Staff Contact:
Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Internal and External Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Programs and Priorities
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Adopting one of the two ordinances will save AC Transit approximately $2.5 million in at-large election costs for the 2024 and 2026 election cycles based on 2022 figures. This does not include any additional savings that will result from reducing the size of each ward, which will have fewer voters.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
On July 27, 2023, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 23-033 declaring its intent to transition from hybrid ward-based and at-large elections to solely ward-based elections, to initiate procedures, and implement ward-based elections for at-large members of the Board of Directors.
On September 6 and September 13, 2023, the Board of Directors held the first and second of five public hearings required to transition AC Transit's Board elections to a seven-ward election system. Public hearings #1 and #2 were held prior to any draft maps being drawn and covered the public input process and the composition of the new voting wards prior to the drawing of any draft maps. At its September 13 hearing, the Board provided direction to begin...
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