Foothill-DeAnza Community College Trustee Areas Election Meeting of October 4, 2021
Board President Landsberger:
The District is working with Redistricting Partners to develop communities of interest and boundary lines (maps).
President Landsberger reminded people that there are multiple ways to participate in the process.
- Attending and speaking at public meetings like this one
- Taking the online survey to identify communities of interest
- Using the online map tool (DistrictR) on the District website.
All discussions with the Redistricting Partners about boundary lines will be in public meetings. The final decision will be made on February 14, 2022 and the new election system will be phased in over two election cycles beginning in November 2022.
Redistricting Partners:
Three critical questions to answer about a community of interest.
- Does it have a shared culture, characteristics or bond?
- Is the community geographic in nature? Is the community able to be mapped?
- What is the community’s relationship with the jurisdiction being districted? How is it affected by the policy decisions made by the elected officials?
Comments from the audience:
Roberta Hollimon of LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale shared League criteria for drawing district boundaries, which she noted are very similar to those of the College District.
- Population is the most important.
- Keep communities together.
- Stay in compliance with the federal voting rights act.
- Boundaries should provide no incumbent protection.
Trustee questions to Redistricting Partners:
Which is more restrictive – the federal voting rights act or the state’s?
Answer: The Federal Voting Rights Act and the California Voting Rights Act operate in two different ways and have different standards for the plaintiff. In California, the CVRA requires all at-large districts to convert to a by-district process if the plaintiff charges that racially polarized voting exists. Once the district converts to by-district, then the CVRA no longer applies as the remedy has been imposed on the agency.
The Federal Voting Rights Acts applies to all government agencies whether by-district or at-large, and requires that the district create minority/majority districts if certain conditions apply.
The population numbers in the Board packet are different from those of DistrictR. Why?
Answer: The Board packet numbers have the prison population included, the DistrictR does not. The DistrictR numbers will be updated.
What percentage differential is allowed by law between districts?
Answer: The law allows a 10% deviation for the total plan.
What will the next two meetings look like?
Answer: Redistricting Partners will summarize the community input data and any maps that have been submitted via DistrictR. Redistricting Partners often finds themes and will consolidate for easier consumption. Three maps will be presented and will be accompanied by a rationale for their selection.
What is the last date that a member of the public can submit input to Redistricting Partners?
Answer: Up to February 14, 2022.
How many maps have been submitted so far?
Answer: At last check – 16.
What number will be used to create the district?
Answer: Total population.
Next public meetings:
December 13, 2021 – discussion of maps
January 10, 2022 – discussion of maps
February 14, 2022 – review and vote on final map by the FH-DA Board of Trustees.