Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 2019 0123 CC SPC MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL Moorpark, California January 23, 2019 A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Moorpark was held on January 23, 2019, in the Community Center of said City located at 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, California. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Parvin called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Former Councilmember Mark Van Dam led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Enegren, Mikos, Pollock, Simons, and Mayor Parvin. Staff Present: Troy Brown, City Manager; Kevin Ennis, City Attorney; Deborah Traffenstedt, Assistant City Manager; Jeremy Laurentowski, Parks and Recreation Director; Sean Corrigan, City Engineer/Public Works Director; Joseph Fiss, Acting Community Development Director; Captain John Reilly, Sheriff's Department; and Maureen Benson, City Clerk. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. 5. PUBLIC HEARING: A. Public Hearing to Receive Comments on the Transition to District-Based Elections and Drafts of Proposed Council District Maps and Sequencing of Elections. Staff Recommendation: 1) Hold the third public hearing to receive public comments regarding the transition of the City from at-large elections to district-based elections for City Council Members, the content of the draft Council district maps, and the proposed sequencing of elections; and 2) Provide direction to staff concerning a preferred map(s), any changes the Council may wish to incorporate into the preferred map(s), or request additional maps. Minutes of the City Council Moorpark, California Page 2 January 23, 2019 City Attorney Kevin Ennis gave the staff report and introduced demographer Robert McEntire of National Demographics. Mr. McEntire reviewed the criteria for districting rules, federal voting laws, traditional redistricting principles, and California voting rules for compact, contiguous communities of interest, while observing visible boundaries and considering the majority/minority district requirement of the law not to dilute the Latino voting power; and the importance of selecting the maps in order to discuss sequencing options. A discussion among the Councilmembers, staff, and Mr. McEntire focused on: 1) Which maps were submitted late or were not advertised for 7 days and, therefore, could not be considered until the February 6, 2019 City Council meeting; 2) How new 2020 census data will require district boundary lines to be reconsidered in advance of the 2022 election; 3) The desire to hear from the public on the number of districts desired; 4) Hearing comments on the unacceptable and acceptable maps in regard to legal requirements, and 5) Explaining the concepts used in creating or critiquing the various maps. Councilmember Mikos stated she was not in favor of deciding between 5 districts or 4 districts with an at-large elected Mayor without more meetings to review the maps. Mr. McEntire went on to discuss the maps: 1) Mays which do not qualify for a variety of reasons and what would need to be changed in order to reconsidered at the next public meeting; 2) Maps which will be eliminated from consideration; and 3) Maps that were submitted but need to be considered at the next meeting on February 6 as they were not posted for the required seven days prior to the public hearing. Mayor Parvin opened the public hearing. The following Moorpark residents spoke in favor of dividing the City into four districts with an at-large elected Mayor and made comments about specific maps and/or sequencing: Harvey Plaks Tania de Haz Richard Buchalter Theresa Hagman-Lawson Hugh Riley Lori Nowaski Ute Van Dam Mark Van Dam Robert Perez Bruce Hamous Bruce Rokos Steven Kueny Diana Walters Adam Haverstock Linda Plaks Daniel Groff Their comments included: 1) Changing from an elected Mayor is contrary to what Moorpark voters wanted in the 1988 election and if changed Minutes of the City Council Moorpark, California Page 3 January 23, 2019 should be by a vote of the people; 2) An elected Mayor represents the entire City at local volunteer events providing a cohesive representation at the Ventura Council of Governments and other County committee/council bodies; 3) An elected Mayor would represent all 10 schools in our City on policy issues; 4) Need for a Mayor as a unified voice for Moorpark; 5) Possibility of in-fighting among a five district council; 6) Map 407 with four districts takes into consideration the HOAs, 118 freeway, Arroyo Simi, and Mountain Meadows with its dense population needing to be divided, and this map supports sequencing of Districts 2 and 4 to be in the 2020 election; 7) One strong Mayor limits the City Manager's power; 8) Latinos have voting power in the City already and districting may even limit their influence; 9) In regard to sequencing, maps 401, 402, 424, and 412 are good examples with balanced population; 10) Quadrant maps would give equal representation; 11) Future census population units should be taken into consideration; 12) A map with four compact districts should include communities of interest without gerrymandering and which touch on the Arroyo Simi and Los Angeles; 13) A separate exhibit for Sequencing should be made available on the website; and 14) An elected Mayor is more responsive to the voters. The following Moorpark residents spoke in favor of dividing the city into five districts with a rotating Mayor and made comments about specific maps and/or sequencing. Monika Savic Janet Murphy David Lopez-Lee Bernardo Perez Their comments included: 1) Five districts would be a fellowship of equals where all voices are valued and would maintain the balance of power and integrity of neighborhoods; 2) Common denominators such at state highway 118, Los Angeles Avenue, the Arroyo Simi, business districts, the railroad tracks should all be considered for the process of forming five districts such as those in maps 519 and 520; 3) A rotating Mayor would allow for better distribution of power; 4) Five districts are more likely to elect from a protected class with the opportunity to rotate into being Mayor, and provide an equitable representation for all members of the community; and 5) Support for map 508 as representing the needs and desires of the entire community. Gary Mussell was not sure if he wanted a four or five district system, but stated maps 401 and 508 are acceptable, while all others are racially gerrymandered. He requested an independent commission be established to draw the district lines prior to the 2022 election. Minutes of the City Council Moorpark, California Page 4 January 23, 2019 Victoria Perez advised the public to not consider the existing Mayor and Councilmembers, but to consider the future of Moorpark and to remember the word "under-represented" and how to involve those voters in appointments to the Arts, Parks and Recreation, and Planning Commissions. In response to Mayor Parvin the City Clerk announced there were two Written Statement cards in favor of four districts with an at-large elected Mayor. Mayor Parvin closed the public hearing. AT THIS POINT in the meeting, a recess was declared at 8:39 p.m. and the Council meeting reconvened at 9:01 p.m. A lengthy discussion followed among the Councilmembers, staff, and the demographer in consideration of the 19 draft maps submitted by the public and the five draft maps submitted by the demographer, which focused on: 1) Balanced population between the districts; 2) Contiguous districts; 3) Avoiding a division of the protected class neighborhoods; 4) Including boundaries that touch Los Angeles Avenue and the Arroyo Simi where possible, and also including business areas in each district; 5) Consideration of future census numbers; 6) Preserving communities of interest; 7) Possibly keeping homeowners association areas together; and 8) Not dividing residents living on the same street into different districts. Councilmember Mikos repeated that she was not in favor of deciding between 5 districts or 4 districts with an at-large elected Mayor without more meetings to review additional maps. Another discussion followed among the Councilmembers regarding whether to divide the City into five districts or four districts with an elected at-large Mayor and focused on: 1) An elected Mayor was established in 1988 by the voters and to change from an at large-Mayor to a rotating Mayor should be sent back to the voters; 2) Importance of having one person on the Council with a city-wide perspective with a tie-breaking vote; 3) Four districts with an elected at-large Mayor allows the voter to cast two votes; and 4) The original communication with the attorney suing the City and the resolution adopted by the Council was for four districts and an elected Mayor at-large. MOTION: Mayor Parvin moved and Councilmember Enegren seconded a motion to move forward with considering a map that divides the City into four Council districts with an at-large, directly elected Mayor. The motion carried by voice vote 4-0, with Councilmember Mikos abstaining. Following the decision to proceed with a four district map, the Council continued discussion of the guiding principles for the maps to include: 1) Create a concentrated minority majority in a downtown district; 2) Use natural boundaries Minutes of the City Council Moorpark, California Page 5 January 23, 2019 to define the districts; 3) Include Los Angeles Avenue and/or the Arroyo Simi in each district; 4) Continue on with consideration of maps 401, 402, 406, 407, 411, 412, 413, 418, 421, 422, 423, and 424 along with any newly submitted maps at the February 6, 2019 regular meeting; and 5) Include more explanation on sequencing. 6. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Parvin adjourned the meeting at 10:05 p.m. 40.' 70°41 ice S. Parvin, Mayor ATTEST: Maureen Benson, City Clerk - sE4