TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Linda A. Nemeroff, District Secretary
SUBJECT: 2021 Ward Redistricting Project
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving a report on the process and timeline for the 2021 Ward Redistricting Project; and the adoption of Resolution No. 21-033 establishing procedures for adjusting the boundaries of the wards of the Alameda - Contra Costa Transit District.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
The redistricting process is mandated by law and, therefore, has no strategic importance.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Notwithstanding staff time, the cost is estimated at $25,000 which includes the purchase of the necessary software, legal advice and consultation, translation and interpreter services, print ads, and publication of the required public hearing notice. In-house resources will be used to carry out the technical aspect and public outreach elements of the redistricting project.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Redistricting is the process of adjusting ward boundaries in order to equalize populations following the completion of the federal decennial census. The process is governed by federal and state laws, including the Federal Voting Rights Act; Transit District Law; and Elections Code Section 22000. The redistricting process aims to establish boundaries that recognize the importance of providing members of racial ethnic groups the same opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice as other members of the electorate. The Board should note that AB 849 (The Fair and Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions Act) signed into law on October 8, 2019, is only applicable to county and city governments and is not applicable to special districts; however, AC Transit’s redistricting effort will aim to incorporate the public outreach requirements of that legislation which are substantially similar to AC Transit’s 2011 outreach efforts.
The Board should also be aware of Senate Bill 594 (Glazer). This will require special districts to pass a board resolution adopting their updated boundary maps by April 17, 2022, if their regular election is on the same day as the statewide November 2022 general election. SB 594 is intended to address the unique circumstances of the pandemic-delayed 2020 Census and includes a January 1, 2023 sunset date. Staff intends to have new boundary maps approved by the Board before April 1, 2022, well in advance of any changes in the mandated deadline.
Redistricting Criteria
In addition to federal and state requirements of equal population and opportunity for racial and ethnic groups to participate the political process, staff is recommending the adoption of Resolution No. 21-033 setting forth additional criteria that shall be given consideration for the 2021 Redistricting Project (to the extent practicable):
(a) Community of interest of the population of the ward;
(b) Maintaining the compactness, cohesiveness, and contiguity of the ward;
(c) Maintaining integrity of the ward by keeping cities, and census-designated places (unincorporated areas) intact;
(d) Topography by drawing lines that are easily understood using the artificial and natural physical features of an area; and
(e) Geography.
Defining Redistricting Criteria
The redistricting principles listed below are common to state and local redistricting processes:
“Community of Interest” is a contiguous population which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single ward for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Some examples of relevant social and economic characteristics include, but are not limited to:
• Income Levels
• Educational Backgrounds
• Housing Patterns
• Cultural and Language Characteristics
• Employment and Economic Patterns
• Health and Environmental Conditions
“Compactness” refers to the shape of the ward and how tightly it is drawn.
Illustration 2. Compactness
“Contiguity” means all parts of a district are physically connected to each other.
Illustration 1. Contiguity
Scope
AC Transit is a large special district spread over portions of two counties encompassing 13 cities and eight unincorporated areas. Because the District is so large and only has 5 wards, boundary changes will occur in and around the existing divisions between Wards 1 and 2 (Berkeley), 2 and 3 (Oakland), 3 and 4 (San Leandro), and 4 and 5 (Hayward). All other cities within the District and unincorporated areas are wholly located within their respective ward. Growth within the cities themselves will impact how much adjustment will be required.
Census Data
The first detailed statistics from the 2020 Census were released on August 12, 2021, and staff is currently in the process of acquiring the necessary software containing the newly released data to create maps and produce ward statistics that will be evaluated during the redistricting process.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quick Facts Statistics for state, cities and counties, population changes within AC Transit’s jurisdiction are summarized below:
|
City |
Population |
|
|
Census April 1, 2010 |
Census April 1, 2020 |
Percent change per city/area |
|
Alameda |
73,812 |
78,280 |
6.0% |
|
Albany |
18,539 |
20,271 |
9.3% |
|
Ashland* |
21,925 |
23,823 |
8.6% |
|
Berkeley |
112,580 |
124,321 |
10.4% |
|
Castro Valley* |
61,388 |
66,441 |
8.2% |
|
Cherryland* |
14,728 |
15,808 |
7.3% |
|
El Cerrito |
23,549 |
25,962 |
10.2% |
|
El Sobrante* |
12,669 |
15,524 |
22.5% |
|
Emeryville |
10,080 |
12,905 |
28.0% |
|
Fairview* |
10,003 |
11,341 |
12.5% |
|
Fremont |
214,089 |
230,504 |
7.6% |
|
Hayward |
144,186 |
162,954 |
13.0% |
|
Kensington* |
5,077 |
5,428 |
6.9% |
|
Newark |
42,573 |
47,529 |
11.6% |
|
Oakland |
390,724 |
440,646 |
12.7% |
|
Piedmont |
10,667 |
11,270 |
5.6% |
|
Richmond |
103,701 |
116,448 |
12.3% |
|
San Leandro |
84,950 |
91,008 |
7.1% |
|
San Lorenzo* |
23,452 |
29,581 |
26.1% |
|
San Pablo |
29,139 |
32,127 |
10.2% |
*Unincorporated areas
Note: Population data for the unincorporated area of North Richmond was not readily available.
Timeline
There are numerous tasks associated with carrying out the redistricting process. Currently, staff is doing preliminary work which will culminate in a completion of the process prior to staff’s April 1st deadline. Staff plans to conduct public outreach workshops at the end of January/early February 2022 to seek recommendations and input from the public on redrawing the boundaries in the affected areas of Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and Hayward. A draft workplan outlining the entire process and timeline is provided in Attachment 2.
Next Steps
Given the importance of public outreach in this process, staff will be returning to the Board on October 27th with a public outreach plan for the Board’s review and comment. The District Secretary’s Office is working with the External Affairs, Marketing and Communications Department to develop a robust outreach effort and with the Innovation and Technology Department on the development of a website that will incorporate a tool for members of the public to draw and submit recommendations for ward boundaries.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
In addition to traditional redistricting criteria, the advantage of the redistricting process is to afford fair and equal representation to members of racial and ethnic groups in order for them to have the same opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice as other members of the electorate.
There are no disadvantages associated with this report.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
There are no practical alternatives to the course of action recommended in this report as the redistricting process is required by state and federal law.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Resolution No. 780 adopted on November 20, 1991
Resolution No. 11-048 Current Ward Boundary Descriptions and Maps
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 21-033
2. Draft Workplan and Timeline
3. Presentation
Prepared by:
Linda Nemeroff, District Secretary
Jelena Harada, Assistant District Secretary
Approved/Reviewed by:
Linda A. Nemeroff, District Secretary
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Chris Andrichak, Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Nichele Laynes, Acting Director of Marketing and Communications