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PRESS RELEASE.
Applications are now open for residents who want to serve on the City of Half Moon Bay’s Redistricting Advisory Committee, which will study and recommend updated draft boundaries for City Council districts based on results of the 2020 Census. This is a once-a-decade opportunity to help revise district boundaries to ensure they reflect new population data and demographic changes in Half Moon Bay.
The application is available on the City’s website in English and Spanish. Applicants can fill out an online form or pick up a paper form from the City at 501 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 31, 2021.
“I want to encourage all interested community members, from throughout every part of Half Moon Bay, to apply to serve on this important Committee,” said Half Moon Bay Mayor Robert Brownstone. “How we draw these boundaries is fundamental to the election process. Input from this Committee, which needs to represent the diverse interests, demographics, and geographic variety of our community, will be invaluable in ensuring our City Council districts are fully representative of the people who live here.”
The City Council will assess applicants using the following guidance:
- Committee members must be residents of Half Moon Bay, and at least 18 years old.
- Half Moon Bay elected officials, their family members, staff members, or paid campaign staff are not eligible to serve on the Committee.
- The selection process will consider applicants associated with good government, civil rights, civic engagement, and community groups or organizations that are active in the City with the goal of forming a Committee with membership that is geographically diverse and consistent with the City’s emphasis on valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The City Council is anticipated to select seven residents to serve on the Committee. Applicants who are appointed may not serve on the City Council or the Planning Commission for four years following adoption of the final map by the City Council. The Committee will be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act and Public Records Act. Additionally, applicants will be required to fill out a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 700 within 30 days of appointment.
Once formed, the Committee will hold a series of public meetings and workshops to study the boundaries of the City’s districts, election sequencing, and district model. The Committee’s work will be supported by a professional demographer and City staff. Following an extensive public engagement and input process, the Committee will recommend two draft maps to the City Council, which will review, approve, and adopt a final district map.
Meetings will primarily be held on weekday evenings with some weekend workshops. It is anticipated that the Committee’s work will be completed by early 2022. However, applicants should be willing and able to serve longer if necessary.
Located 28 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Half Moon Bay is a community of about 12,500 people, situated on the peninsula between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. Its historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses, and its celebrated beaches and parks are wonders of nature, accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. With its many activities and events, beautiful natural scenery, old-town charm, and abundance of retail and commercial services, Half Moon Bay is a regional destination. The City’s website is www.hmbcity.com.
