ELECTORAL DISTRICTS 2015/06/04ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL DISTRICTS MINUTES
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015
6:30 P.M.
Brookhurst Community Center
Committee Members Present: Hon. Edward Wallin, Ret., Chairman; Hon. Stephen Sundvold,
Vice Chair; Hon. James Jackman, Ret.; Hon. Nancy Wieben Stock, Ret.; Ret.; Hon. Thomas
Thrasher, Ret.
Staff Present: City Clerk Linda Andal, Outside Counsel Ben De Mayo, Consultant Justin Levitt.
Chairman Wallin called the meeting to order at 6:41 p.m. The committee members and staff
provided brief introductions. Judge Jackman joined the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
Without objection, the Committee agreed to hold public comments following the presentation of
Item No. 2, unless a member of the public wish to speak prior. Receiving no public request,
Public comments was moved to follow Item No. 2.
2. Discussion on creating City Council district boundaries and possible direction to
staff.
Justin Levitt, demographic consultant, provided a brief background on his role as a
demographer and provided a PowerPoint presentation on the demographics of Anaheim. He
discussed how the City arrived at this process through voter approval of Measures L and M at
the November 2014 election and described various Federal and State regulations, laws, and
criteria that affect the establishment of districts, focused on the requirement for equal population
in each district, advising that in Anaheim it would be approximately 56,000 people per district
with an overall variance up to 10% allowed. He also presented other considerations that could
be used in creating districts including protected classes, race, topography, geography,
contiguity, and communities of interest. Mr. Levitt indicated the focus of these meetings was for
the public to assist in defining the communities of interests by their shared problems, schools,
parks, road maintenance issues, shopping areas, road boundaries, etc. and indicating the
geographic boundaries of their communities on a map.
Mr. Levitt reviewed several maps reflecting the demographics of Anaheim based on the 2010
Census data. He also indicated additional maps had been created by the Planning Department
depicting school locations, parks, and other public facilities; announcing that all maps available
were at the meeting and online.
Mr. Levitt discussed ways the public could participate by drawing their own maps, submitting a
public participation kit online or on paper, sharing opinions at meetings, and sending an email to
the Committee. He then reviewed the stages of the process to get input during the first round of
meetings, receive feedback on draft maps during the second round of public meetings, make
changes and develop a full plan, and then make a recommendation to the City Council, which
will hold at least three public hearings prior to adopting the final district maps for use in the
November 2016 election.
1. Public Comments (3 minutes - all agenda items)
Denise Silberman, resident, shared her view that the meetings needed to be advertised more
but acknowledged the good attendance, regardless. Shia mentioned issues she encountered
Regular Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Electoral Districts
June 4, 2015
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living in West Anaheim including poor code enforcement, graffiti, weeds, and abandoned
properties.
Adela Lopez, resident, referred to West Anaheim as the Bermuda Triangle, discussed her
concerns with outreach efforts as well as quality of life issues such as population density,
schools with excessive student populations, and lack of parks.
David Lopez, resident and retired law enforcement officer, offered comments relative to gangs
and the need for additional patrol officers in West Anaheim to combat drug dealers and gangs.
Chairman Wallin addressed deployment of police resources, noting it to be a subject under the
purview of the City Council. Judge Stock indicated the important of this process in creating
districts appropriately so that the elected Council Members share the concerns and values of
the residents of their district.
Larry Larsen, resident and former Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) member, thanked the
committee for their service and provided his opinion on the task at hand and the response that
could be made to their findings.
A male speaker addressed the fast approaching release of draft maps on July 1" and expressed
concerns about public outreach, however noting that turnout was good this evening.
Benita Gagne, resident, questioned the process of drawing individual districts for the entire City
with Chairman Wallin and Judge Jackman indicating that either could be done as well as the
need for specific information on where or where not the lines should be drawn. Ms. Gagne
shared her boundaries would be Lincoln Avenue to the north and Brookhurst Street to the east.
Maria Guzman, resident, provided her opinion about providing information in various languages.
Tiffany Welt, resident, spoke about the importance of keeping commercial structures within each
boundary, which she believed would encourage residents to stay within the City. She also
addressed outreach in the far west portion of Anaheim.
Marisol Ramirez, resident, requested staff to go door-to-door with materials rather than rely on
e-mail and internet based efforts.
Ed Lopez questioned whether the committee was considering contingency plans based on a
current Supreme Court case relative to using eligible voter population rather than total
population.
Chairman Wallin explained that any such decision by the Supreme Court would not be eminent
and changes would not be required prior to the 2016 election. Mr. DeMayo also noted that the
Ninth Circuit decision and California State law apply to Anaheim and it would take time for the
Supreme Court decision, and any potential changes, to make their way down.
Gloria Ma'ae, resident and former CAC member, acknowledged the presence of outreach
efforts and shared her belief that residents who are interested will find ways to get knowledge
and be involved. She also expressed concerns about the process of the CAC and offered to
share her information with interested parties.
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June 4, 2015
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Judy Gollette, resident, spoke about the history of dividing the City and her opposition to the
division. She spoke of the population density in West Anaheim, particularly west of Beach
Boulevard, and the absence of parks and amenities in the area.
Dr. Patricia Adeleken suggested hiring a consultant to reach neighborhoods on a person-to-
person level.
Mark Daniels, resident, suggested using high schools as the focal points for each district.
Art Beas encouraged each attendee to bring another person with them to the next meeting to
double the attendance, explaining how each person can influence those around them. He
announced that the City is making strides with its outreach including videos that he participated
in and questioned how current development and potential population growth would be
considered in the process.
Chairman Wallin explained that 2010 Census data must be used and the lines will be
reevaluated after the 2020 Census. Judge Thrasher added that population growth was a
traditional criterion that would be considered.
Vic Real, resident and former CAC member, discussed the need for a responsive voter
population.
With no further comments being offered, Chairman Wallin closed the public comment period
and asked staff to respond to the questions received.
Mr. Levitt encouraged the public to obtain maps to draw out various regions of the City, defined
density as equaling the number of housing units per square acre, and explained that household
size has a large variation across the City with the South having the highest number of people
per housing unit. He noted that their concerns about gang areas, crime issues, and number of
parks per square mile would all be considered when creating the draft maps.
Mr. DeMayo addressed comments relative to projected and actual development and population
growth, reiterating that the districts must be based on the 2010 Census data but the growth
could be considered in the allowable variance between the largest and smallest districts.
Judge Jackman requested information on the current population of Anaheim with Mr. Levitt
providing a one-year Census estimate from 2013 of approximately 344,000, noting that
Anaheim suffers from undercount where more people live in Anaheim than are actually counted.
Mr. Levitt further added that Citizen Voting Age Population data provided was from the
American Community Survey completed by the Census Bureau, as a replacement for the long -
form of the census, completed by a 300,000-400,000 sample population each year.
3. Update on Community Outreach Plan.
Linda Andal, City Clerk, presented a PowerPoint presentation of outreach efforts that have been
carried out to inform the community about these meetings and the districting process. Ms.
Andal explained the e -Postcard, a grassroots effort to provide information to community groups
identified by City departments, was an effort to share and pass forward meeting information with
their members. Ms. Andal announced the e -Postcard is currently available in both English and
Spanish and can be translated into any language upon request, and discussed it effectiveness
as the meetings have been better attended each time. Included on the distribution list are the
Police Chief's Advisory Board & Neighborhood Advisory Council, representing 22
neighborhoods around the city, as well as community groups, such as Los Amigos. The e-
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June 4, 2015
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Postcard is also available in hard copy as well as posted to both Facebook and Twitter 5-7 days
prior to each meeting. Ms. Andal reviewed the Fast Facts, a 1 page, English/Spanish flier
containing quick information that is circulated to e -subscribers, community members, libraries,
community centers, public counters, and field staff including police, community preservation,
and community services team members. She announced that Fast Facts would be available at
the Public Utilities Department's Save Water Expo on Saturday, June 6, 2015 as well as other
City events.
Other outreach efforts highlighted by Ms. Andal were the Public Utilities Newsletter, reaching
over 115,000 residents and businesses, running June 10 to August 10; an article in both the
print and electronic editions of Anaheim Magazine distributed to over 119,000 residents and
businesses on June 22; the dedicated City website with all information, agendas, related
materials, power point presentations, FAQs, maps submitted by the public, and pre- and post -
meeting press releases; social media presence on Facebook and Twitter; partnering with
community groups and individuals to spread the word continued; recorded meetings available
on the City's local cable channel and online; the monthly Andy Anaheim newsletter with over
10,000 subscribers; and recently, Public Service Announcements featuring Chairman Wallin
and six community members available on the website and YouTube. Ms. Andal also
announced planned efforts including a media strategy with a push in the Spanish community to
include audio/radio and paper, utility bill inserts to announce committee and City Council related
public hearings, radio spots, an article in the Orange County Register, and attendance at all four
Neighborhood Council meetings in July, for the purpose of presenting draft maps.
In response to public comments and translation - Ms. Andal shared that materials were
available in both English and Spanish, with other languages available upon request. She
indicated the City recently translated Fast Facts into Tagalog and Vietnamese, at the request of
the public. She added, per the Settlement Agreement, all agendas are posted in five languages
and the dedicated webpage also had a tool for users to translate all materials in the required
five languages. Ms. Andal encouraged residents to contact her to coordinate individual door-to-
door distribution of materials to reach the community and shared that to date, individuals and
groups have already begun picking up flyers from her office.
Ms. Lopez requested instant translation at meetings to which Ms. Andal replied that a Spanish
interpreter has been and will continue to be present at each meeting, providing simultaneous
translation through the use of a headset. She added that simultaneous translation in any other
language was also available upon request. She highlighted that, this information was included on
each agenda and translated agenda.
4. Discussion and scheduling of district committee meetings.
Ms. Andal announced the committee had requested this item to discuss the scheduling of
additional meetings and possible Saturday meetings.
Following committee discussion and the availability of staff and remote locations, Chairman
Wallin directed staff to defer this discussion until June 9, 2015.
5. Committee Comments / Staff comments
Judge Stock anticipated having greater public participation once proposed draft maps were
released, as there would be concrete items to visualize.
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June 4, 2015
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Mr. Levitt announced draft plans would be presented to the Committee on July 1, 2015 and
welcomed submissions of individual districts or the city as a whole.
6. Adjourn meeting. Next regular meeting scheduled for June 9, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at
the East Anaheim Community Center, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim.
Chairman Wallin thanked everyone for attending in support of their community and adjourned
the meeting at 8:26 p.m.
espe tfully su fitted,
Linda N. Andal, CMC
City Clerk