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Home My WebLink About12 - Supporting the Inclusion of the City of Newport Beach in a Coastal Orange County Congressional DistrictQ �EwPpRT CITY OF O � z NEWPORT BEACH <,FORN'P City Council Staff Report November 16, 2021 Agenda Item No. 12 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk - 949-644-3005, (brown@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk TITLE: Resolution No. 2021-116: Supporting the Inclusion of the City of Newport Beach in a Coastal Orange County Congressional District ABSTRACT: The California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) is in the process of redrawing the boundaries for electoral districts, including congressional districts. This is an opportunity for the City to express its desire to be placed in a congressional district that includes other Orange County coastal cities. RECOMMENDATION: a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; b) Adopt Resolution No. 2021-116, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Requesting the California Citizens Redistricting Commission Include the City of Newport Beach and All Other Orange County Coastal Cities in the Same Congressional District; and c) Authorize the Mayor to sign the letter to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. DISCUSSION: Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of the electoral districts, including congressional districts, so that the districts correctly reflect the state's population. 12-1 Resolution No. 2021-116: Supporting the Inclusion of the City in a Coastal Orange County Congressional District November 16, 2021 Page 2 California voters authorized the creation of the 14 -member Commission (Commission) when the Voters FIRST Act (Act) was passed in 2008 and, in 2010, the Commission's responsibilities were expanded to include the drawing of congressional districts. In addition to evenly distributing representation for voters, the Commission must also learn about communities of interest and, whenever possible, keep those communities together. The Commission is regulated by laws at the federal and state levels, and is currently holding public meetings to determine where to redraw the electoral district boundaries. Currently, the more northern Orange County coastal cities, from Seal Beach to Laguna Niguel, and including Newport Beach, are in Congressional District 48 (Representative Michelle Steel), while the county's southern coastal cities are combined with cities in northern San Diego County, in Congressional District 49 (Representative Mike Levin). It has been voiced at Commission meetings to place all Orange County coastal cities - Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Seal Beach - into a single Congressional District due to the common interests, concerns and challenges these coastal cities share. R Hemi �-' SIM Llpt + Nwwioton eMaca«.A_+a+ -yLyaaadr_.n ulw _ N --t. Congressional Meu elsfnme encho Santa � � .. n Yiefe LWltlmler Congressional District 48 Congressional District 49 I'" LL -- ij vain vans 0—as m CmL�Gd San 74a r[PS Esondldo '.�4ac eEE YEeVEIY N9 Rarnona 4mCOert_ Aoway l Y S -GIS, E.A, HERE, G.—in, SafeGr ph, FAG, MFOUNASA, IISGS, Bureau oh Land Manage men[... 12-2 Resolution No. 2021-116: Supporting the Inclusion of the City in a Coastal Orange County Congressional District November 16, 2021 Page 3 At the October 26, 2021 City Council meeting, the City Council approved (7-0) Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon's request to place on a future agenda the following matter: Consideration of requesting a resolution and supporting letter addressed to the California Redistricting Commission stating the desire of the City of Newport Beach to be a part of a Coastal Orange County Congressional District that includes all coastal Orange County cities that have shared community interests and face similar challenges Consistent with that direction, Resolution No. 2021-116 (Attachment A) and a draft letter (Attachment B) have been prepared to reflect the City's interest in consolidating the Orange County coastal cities into the same congressional district. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A — Resolution No. 2021-116 Attachment B — Draft Mayor's Letter to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission 12-3 ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. 2021-116 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE CALIFORNIA CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION INCLUDE THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH AND ALL OTHER ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL CITIES IN THE SAME CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHEREAS, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission ("Commission") is in the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts, including Congressional Districts; and WHEREAS, the cities of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente are coastal cities within Orange County ("Orange County Coastal Cities") that have common interests and concerns as well as similar challenges and would thus benefit from having the same congressional representative. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as follows: Section 1: The City Council does hereby request the Commission to include the Orange County Coastal Cities within the same Congressional District. Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are incorporated into the operative part of this resolution. Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. 12-4 Resolution No. 2021 - Page 2 of 2 Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution. ADOPTED this 16th day of November, 2021. Brad Avery Mayor ATTEST: Leilani I. Brown City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE owe— �..�- Aaron C. Harp City Attorney 12-5 ATTACHMENT B November 17, 2021 California Citizens Redistricting Commission 721 Capitol Mall, Suite 260 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Commissioners: On behalf of the City of Newport Beach, I'd like to thank you for the work the Commission has been undertaking. We understand that the task of redrawing electoral boundaries is complex and we appreciate you taking the time to listen to everyone's suggestions. The City of Newport Beach kindly urges the Commission to place all Orange County coastal cities into a single Congressional District. Those cities would include Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Seal Beach. Currently, the cities are spread amongst two Counties and two Congressional Districts, and we are certain that, due to the common interests, concerns, and challenges these coastal cities share, the most prudent solution would be to consolidate the cities into one Congressional District. The City of Newport Beach respectfully requests your support in consolidating all the Orange County coastal cities into one Congressional District. Sincerely, Brad Avery Mayor 12-6