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VIDEO. From the San Mateo County Redistricting Advisory Commission meeting on Thursday, October 28th, 2021 at 7:00pm by Zoom.
All Draft Maps: Which Map Do You Like?
Submit written testimony about the process or a specific map to [email protected].
San Mateo County Redistricting Commission Sends 2 Draft Maps to Board of Supervisors Nov. 9th, 2021
Tue. November 9th @ 9:00am – 12:00pm
PRESS RELEASE. From San Mateo County, Oct. 29, 2021.
Public hearing set for Tuesday, November 9
Redwood City – An advisory commission tasked with studying potential changes to the boundaries of the county’s five supervisorial districts voted Thursday to send two proposed maps to the Board of Supervisors.
The two maps were selected from among about 30 proposals considered by the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission. The Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, to review the commission’s recommendations and to consider additional public testimony and input.
The work to redraw the boundaries of the supervisorial districts takes place every 10 years, after the U.S. Census Bureau publishes updated census information. The Board of Supervisors, based on recommendations from local chapters of the League of Women Voters, appointed the 15-member volunteer commission to engage in a months-long public process to gather public input.
Thursday’s selection of two draft maps to forward to the Board of Supervisors came during the commission’s 10th meeting. More than 200 comments from the public were submitted in person, online, through social media, or by mail.
“What we have been a witness to here, in San Mateo County, is the antidote to the idea that people are not interested in participating in local issues,” said Commission Chair Jim Lawrence of Foster City. “The very opposite is true. We have seen tremendous involvement in this very fundamental part of democracy.”
While the five districts must be substantially balanced in population, key requirements under state and federal law for districts also include:
- Compliance with federal and state equal voting rights
- Drawing districts that are, as much as possible, geographically contiguous
- Keeping communities of interest intact, as much as possible
- Keeping cities intact, as much as possible
- Having easily identifiable boundaries (major highways, railways, streets, rivers, mountains), as much as possible
Based on the 2020 Census, each district must contain about 153,083 people.
Draft Maps for Consideration
Following a five-hour public hearing, the advisory commission voted to send two draft maps for consideration by the Board of Supervisors. These are labelled by the authors and are available at the embedded links:
Thrive Unity Map, submitted by a coalition led by Thrive, an alliance of local nonprofit agencies.
Commissioner Espinoza Map, submitted by Advisory Commissioner Rudy Espinoza of Redwood City.
A map of current districts can be found here. Residents can find their current district on a look-up tool here.
All commission agendas, draft maps and other information can be found at smcdistrictlines.org. A playlist of all commission meetings can be found on the County’s YouTube channel.
Next Steps
The community is invited to comment on the draft maps and to submit additional ideas and testimony during the Board of Supervisors’ Nov. 9, 2021 public hearing. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. The agenda will be posted here.
The Board will also hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, and additional hearings as needed. The Board is required by law to adopt a final map by Dec. 15, 2021.
Existing
The San Mateo County 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission consists of 15 people (scroll below for more).
San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner, Virginia Chang Kiraly, launched a campaign to get locals to write letters to the Commission.
Farmworker Advisory Committee member, and Redistricting Commissioner, Rudy Espinoza Murray, was impressed at the input from the Coastside.
Nadia Bledsoe, also a Redistricting Commissioner, lives in Moss Beach, and understands our need to have one supervisor.
“Bad”? Public Map 57388, drawn by *NDC splits the Coastside into 5 sections, which mean Coastsiders will have less voice than we do now.
“Good”? There is the “NDC Minimal Change” map which mimics the current map.
“Good”? And there is “NDC Coast” map that includes us with Pacifica.
Which Map Do You Like?
Submit written testimony about the process or a specific map to [email protected].
All maps submitted by the public and prepared by the consultant team are posted to this page for public consideration.
You can provide feedback on the proposed maps by submitting Public Comment.
Maps must be submitted by October 25, 2021 to be considered by the 2021 District Lines Advisory Commission at their final meeting on October 28, 2021
*Note NDC stands for National Demographic Corporation.
“Nationally recognized as a pioneer in good government districting and redistricting, NDC is especially experienced in working with local jurisdictions in California, Arizona and Nevada. With over 250 successful county, city, school district, community college district, water district, and special district districting and redistricting projects completed, NDC is, by far, responsible for successfully districting and redistricting more local governments than any other firm.
Since our founding in 1979, NDC has successfully guided clients nationwide through every aspect of the districting and redistricting process. We have a unique combination of expertise in the Federal and California Voting Rights Act requirements, the technical challenges of districting, and in public education and outreach on these issues.
NDC’s trademark “3 E’s” approach to districting and redistricting — Engage, Educate, and Empower — has a proven record of generating constructive public participation in these projects.
If your county, city, school district, water district, or special district is considering redistricting or contemplating a move from at-large to by-district and from-district election systems, contact NDC today.
More About Districting and Redistricting
This map breaks the Coastside apart.
Current Map.
Closest to Current Map.
The whole coast.
Current San Mateo County Supervisor District Maps
The above link goes to an interactive County district map.
Midcoast Community Council website
PRESS RELEASE. As of August 3rd, 2021.
Board of Supervisors Appoint 14 Residents to
District Lines Advisory Commission
Applications now being accepted for 15th and final seat on the commission
Redwood City – The Board of Supervisors today appointed 14 residents reflecting the diversity of San Mateo County to the District Lines Advisory Commission.
Applications for the 15th and final seat on the commission will be received until noon on Monday, August 16. To be eligible, applicants must live in supervisorial District 4, which includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park (east of El Camino Real) and the unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks.
More information and the application are available at https://cmo.smcgov.org/
The all-volunteer commission will hold a series of public hearings to gather public input on the supervisorial district boundaries and recommend possible changes based on population data from the 202 Census.
The 14 commissioners were recommended by a committee formed by local chapters of the League of Women Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.
“We all owe a special thanks to the League of Women Voters for poring over dozens and dozens of candidates to recommend a group that truly reflects the diversity of San Mateo County,” said David J. Canepa, president of the Board of Supervisors.
“The next step is inviting every resident, regardless of age or immigration status to get involved in the process and contributing to our future,” said Canepa, who represents District 5 and served on a Board committee with Supervisor Don Horsley overseeing the recruitment effort. “Where those lines go helps to ensure everyone has an equal voice.”
Commissioners appointed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors are the following:
Nirmala Bandrapalli (Burlingame)Nathan Chan (Millbrae)
Hermes Monzon Ruiz (South San Francisco)
Marcus Barber (San Mateo)
James Lawrence (Foster City)
Kailen Sallander (San Mateo)
Benj Azose (San Carlos)
Nadia Bledsoe Popyack (Moss Beach)
Marian Lee (San Carlos)
Mark Dinan (East Palo Alto)
Rudy Espinoza (Redwood City)
Rita Chow (Daly City)
Miguel Louis (Rudy) Guerrero (Daly City)
Priscilla Romero (Daly City)
The Board also selected two alternates:
David Chu (District 1) (Burlingame)
Mark Olbert (District 3) (San Carlos)
The County received a total of 65 applications following an extensive recruitment process that included providing an online and mail-in application in four languages.
All applications were forwarded to the League of Women Voters, which recommended the 14 candidates based on guidance from the Board of Supervisors. This guidance included prioritizing forming a commission with a membership “that is geographically diverse and consistent with the County’s emphasis on valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
To fill the 15th and final seat, the Board voted 5-0 to open applications from residents of District 4 so that each district would have three members. Once the application period closes at noon on Monday, August 16, the League of Women Voters will recommend a candidate who will automatically be appointed to the commission.
Mission of the District Lines Advisory Commission
Every 10 years, districts must be redrawn so that each district is substantially equal in population (one person, one vote). This process will use data from the 2020 Census to help ensure that each board member represents about the same number of constituents.
The 15 commission members in the coming weeks will launch a series of meetings and workshops to gather public input. District boundaries must take into consideration topography, geography, cohesiveness, contiguousness, compactness of territory and communities of interest.
All materials related to the effort will be posted on a dedicated website that will also include an online mapping tool where residents can draw their own districts and submit them to the commission.
The commission will ultimately recommend a draft map or maps to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
“Drawing lines matters,” said Supervisor Horsley, who represents District 3. “This is a once-a-decade opportunity for all residents to tell the commission what they consider their community and where they think the lines should be drawn.”
Learn More:
Residents interested in applying for the open seat representing District 4 can apply online or mail a printable pdf available at https://cmo.smcgov.org/
The application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog.
To be notified of Supervisorial District Lines Updates, sign up on the County’s website.
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SUPERVISOR’S AGENDA. From the San Mateo County Supervisor’s agenda for their meeting on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 at 9:00am.
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President David Canepa, District 5 and Vice President Don Horsley, District 3
Subject: Forming and Appointing Advisory Redistricting Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
A) From the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission to consist of fifteen members and two alternates; and
B) Appoint the fourteen members and two alternates recommended by the League of Women Voters; and
C) Provide direction on appointing a final (15th) member; and
D) Provide additional direction to the Commission on the redistricting process as follows: it hold at least two introductory meetings prior to the release of the Census data, followed by a meeting sited in each existing district (five in total) and a final sixth meeting, at which a final map or maps will be recommended to the Board for approval; and
E) Provide additional direction to the Commission to complete its work by November 12, 2021 (or earlier, to the extent feasible); and
F) Delegate authority to the County Manager to replace any appointed members with an alternate in the event the County Manager determines in his discretion that any appointed member is unwilling or unable to meet the obligations of service and to modify the schedule and process as necessary and appropriate, including to extend the timelines if allowed by State law.
BACKGROUND:
The Board established the County’s current Supervisorial districts in November 2013. To assist with the district-drawing process, the Board elected to form an advisory committee, the San Mateo County Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Committee, which consisted of two Board members (Supervisor Slocum and then-Supervisor Tissier), two elected city representatives (one from Daly City and one from East Palo Alto), and five public members, one from each Supervisorial district. The Committee held 10 public meetings, two in each district, before recommending three draft maps to the Board.
In prior cycles, the Board performed the redistricting processes itself, which has historically been the most common method around the State.
The Board must ensure the Supervisorial districts remain substantially equal in population-based data from the 2020 federal census. (Elec. Code, § 21500(a)). Under current law, the Redistricting must be completed and maps fully approved by December 15, 2021. However, the census data remains unavailable and is not expected to be ready until October 2021.
On January 26, 2021 the Board met and received a presentation from Staff and consultant National Demographics Corporation regarding the requirements of redistricting. The Board voted unanimously to use an advisory commission that would recommend district lines to the full Board and formed and appointed a Board subcommittee of Supervisors David Canepa and Don Horsley to make a recommendation on membership at a future meeting.
On February 9, 2021, the Board met again to consider the recommendations of the Board subcommittee and directed staff and the subcommittee to work with the League of Women Voters (if it agreed) and develop a process, by which the League of Women Voters would recommend a slate of Commission members to the Board.
DISCUSSION:
Following the February 9, 2021 meeting the Board subcommittee contacted chapters of the San Mateo County’s League of Women Voters (the “League”), which graciously agreed to consult on the recruitment process and recommend a slate of Commission members. The direction given to the League was that:
• Commissioners must be residents of San Mateo County.
• Elected officials (County, City, School and Special District) are not eligible to serve on the commission.
Further, the League was asked to have a selection process that would “prioritize applicants associated with good government, civil rights, civic engagement, and community groups or organizations that are active in the County, including those active in language minority communities, with the goal of forming a commission with membership that is geographically diverse and consistent with the County’s emphasis on valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Staff then conducted an extensive outreach campaign to encourage applicants, ultimately receiving sixty-five by the June 4th closing of the application period. All of the applications were forwarded to the League. The League then engaged in a vigorous selection process choosing approximately half of the best qualified applicants for interviews and conducted video interviews of the applicants. Neither the Board subcommittee nor County staff participated in that process.
Initially, the Board had intended a Commission of 11 members with two alternates. But based on the results of the initial selection process, the Board subcommittee advised that a Commission of 15 members, specifically with three members from each District and two alternates, would be appropriate and informed the League representatives, who supported the expansion to 15. However, based on the number of applications received and the interviews conducted, the League is recommending a slate of 14 members, with three members from each district with exception of District 4, as to which it is recommending 2 members. That current slate is as follows:
Members:
District 1
Nirmala Bandrapalli (Burlingame)
Nathan Chan (Millbrae)
Hermes Monzon Ruiz (South San Francisco)
District 2
Marcus Barber (San Mateo)
James Lawrence (Foster City)
Kailen Sallander (San Mateo)
District 3
Benj Azose (San Carlos)
Nadia Bledsoe Popyack (Moss Beach)
Marian Lee (San Carlos)
District 4
Mark Dinan (East Palo Alto)
Rudy Espinoza (Redwood City)
District 5
Rita Chow (Daly City)
Miguel Louis (Rudy) Guerrero (Daly City)
Priscilla Romero (Daly City)
Alternates:
David Chu (District 1) (Burlingame)
Mark Olbert (District 3) (San Carlos)
The Board subcommittee presents this slate as recommended by the League without modification and proposes that the Board approve it and discuss a plan for filling the remaining “District 4” Commission slot. The Board subcommittee further recommends that the Board delegate authority to the County Manager to replace any appointed members with an alternate in the event that the County Manager determines in his discretion that any appointed member is unwilling or unable to meet the obligations of service.
Further, the Board subcommittee recommends that the Board direct the newly formed Advisory Commission to hold at least two introductory meetings prior to release of the Census data, followed by a meeting sited in each existing District (five in total) and a final sixth meeting, at which a final map or maps will be recommended to the Board for approval. The Board further directs that the Commission complete its work by on or about November 12, 2021 or earlier, to the extent feasible. This schedule may be modified as necessary and appropriate as determined by the County Manager in consultation with the County Counsel.
Author: Coastside Buzz
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