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Public Hearing: Amend Council Ward Boundaries <br />November 20, 2018 <br />Page 2 <br />City Council meeting. The New Boundaries will be effective for the 2020 General Municipal <br />Election. <br />Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement entered by the City of Santa Ana and plaintiff, consistent with <br />California Elections Code section 10010(b), the Ward with the highest percentage of Asian - <br />American citizens of voting age shall be designated among the three Wards (1, 3 and 5) subject to <br />election on November 3, 2020, with Wards 2, 4 and 6 to be subject to election on November 8, <br />2022; and any special elections after November 3, 2020 shall be By—Ward. Based on Asian CVAP <br />populations, and minimal disruption to the existing election cycle, the proposed Ward numbers and <br />term expirations are provided for in map D-2 (Exhibit 1). <br />Under the provisions of the Settlement Agreement, staff proposed that the Wards be numbered as <br />reflected above in the versions of the maps under consideration, but can be changed by a Council <br />majority. Once a map is selected, metes and bounds descriptions for each Ward will be appended <br />to the map in Exhibit 2 and sent to the Registrar of Voters Office. <br />Under the City Charter, an ordinance adjusting ward boundaries must be approved by a 2/3 <br />affirmative vote requirement and be adopted no later than 120 days before an election in order to be <br />effective for that election. While the City Charter currently limits ward boundary adjustments as <br />needed to ensure equality of population among the wards, the settlement agreement recognized the <br />need to comply with the California Voting Rights Act, which applies to both general law and charter <br />cities. <br />This proposed re -boundary process is categorically exempt from the California Environmental <br />Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 15320 — Class 20 (Changes in Organization of Local <br />Agencies) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, since it <br />involves a proposed reorganization of the City Council Wards and does not change the <br />geographical area in which previously existing powers are exercised. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN <br />Approval of this item allows us to meet Goal #5. Community Health, Livability, Engagement & <br />Sustainability, Priority #1, Establish a comprehensive community engagement initiative exhibit to <br />expand access to information and create opportunities for stakeholders to play an active role in <br />discussing public policy and setting priorities. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. <br />Al"' , D /42 <br />Maria D. Huizar D <br />Clerk of the Council <br />Exhibits: 1. Map D-2 with proposed Election Sequence <br />2. Ordinance <br />75A-2 <br />