CHRONOLOGY OF THE MEETING:

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ralph R. Pesqueira at 4:10 p.m. Chairman Pesqueira adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m. to the next scheduled meeting of the Redistricting Commission on Monday, April 23, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. at Tubman-Chavez Cultural Center for the first Public Hearing in Council District 4.

ITEM-1:	CALL TO ORDER Chairman Ralph R. Pesqueira called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.
ITEM-2:	ROLL CALL Redistricting Operations Director, Ms. Staajabu Heshimu called the roll: (C) Chairman Ralph R. Pesqueira-present (VC) Vice Chairman Leland T. Saito-present (M) Mateo R. Camarillo-not present (M) Charles W. Johnson-present (M) Marichu G. Magaņa-present (M) Shirley ODell-present (M) Juan Antonio Ulloa-present Also present were: (EO) Deputy City Attorney Lisa Foster REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: A005-010.).ATTENDANCE DURING THE MEETING: (C) Chairman Ralph R. Pesqueira-present (VC) Vice Chairman Leland T. Saito-present (M) Mateo R. Camarillo-not present (M) Charles W. Johnson-present (M) Marichu G. Magaņa-present (M) Shirley ODell-present (M) Juan Antonio Ulloa-present Also present was: (EO) Deputy City Attorney Lisa Foster-present
ITEM-3:	NON-AGENDA COMMENT None.
ITEM-4:	DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ms. Heshimu updated the Commission on the status of the updated press release which is now finished, dated April 2, 2001. The Public Hearing schedule was pointed out in the packet. An announcement was made that Dr. Heslop from Claremont McKenna College will be in town on May 1, 2001 talking about edistricting in San Diego. The Commissioners are invited to attend. Ms. Heshimu mentioned that staff briefed the Council Representatives on April 13, 2001 regarding the Commission's plan for holding public hearings. Two of the offsite meetings will be taped. The two meeting are Wednesday, April 25 and May 9, 2001. Thereafter most of the Commission meetings held in Council Chambers on the 12th Floor will be taped. The timeline is adjusted to reflect for the tiger files to be received along with the Maptitude software. The secretaril vacancy in Ms. Heshimu's office is expected to be filled by the City's employment pool but not until April 30, 2001. The City Manager has asked that Ms. Heshimu draft the MOU requested by the Commission because she attended the meeting and Ms. Mayou did not. Ms. Heshimu has added this to her list of things to do and will complete it as soon as possible. In the meantime, she does not expect any negative impact on the progress of this project. In response to a question from Commissioner Ulloa about the secretarial vacancy, Ms. Heshimu said the MOU and the vacancy are unrelated. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: A013-120.)
ITEM 5:	PURCHASE OF REDISTRICTING SOFTWARE This item was postponed due to Joey Perry's absence due to illness. not taken. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: A021-138.)
ITEM 6:	INTRODUCTION OF CONSULTANT TEAM Bruce Cain and Karin Mac Donald were introduced as the team recommended to provide assistance to the Redistricting Commission. Bruce Cain introduced himself and gave some background on his experience Karin Mac Donald was introduced by Mr. Cain. Mr. Cain stressed his willingness to work with the Commission in whatever way the Commission warrants necessary. Mr. Cain stated that one of the prime challenges will be: a) To somehow draw lines needed for districts without considering race as the primary consideration while somehow still considering race. Other challenges will be: a) How to come up with the right criteria and how to order that criteria, b) How to solicit public input (a decision which needs to be made prior to public meetings), c) How provisions are made regarding public input, d) What do you do when submissions are made, e) How do you incorporate that into your thinking, f) How do you distribute your plan. Mr. Cain stated that there should be things on the data-set that show many things were being taken into consideration, and that there was racial fairness. Ms. Mac Donald stated that many technical decisions of building data-sets should be made soon. Accepting public input will need to be incorporated in building this data set. Overlaying of maps and adjustments regarding population changes need to be considered. Comments by Commission: MOTION BY ULLOA TO ASK CHIEF OF STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH CAIN AND MAC DONALD AS ADVISORS. THEY WILL BE HIRED ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS. Second by Johnson. Passed by the following vote: Pesaqueira-yea, Saito-yea, Camarillo-not present, Johnson-yea, Magana-yea, ODell-yea, Ulloa-yea REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: A072-102.) The Commission posed questions to the consulting team on various topics: Commissioner ODell asked for information on their plan for addressing the Public at hearings. Mr. Cain responded that if the goal is an attempt to include more people then taking the educational format is advised. If the public happens to be already educated on redistricting then a less formal introduction may be appropriate. Mr. Cain suggested that a written statement detailing what the mandate, composition and purpose of the hearing is, with no in-depth detail unless asked, would be the recommended format. Chairman Pesqueira commented that the impression the Commission should make to the public at the Redistricting Meetings should be that of a real open approach. Multi-racial categories and how retrogression is evaluated were discussed. Chairman Pesqueira reminded the Commission os the City Council vote against the further use of the term "minority".. Commissioner Ulloa expressed that Hispanics need to have a way to be considered as such and not white or other. Mr. Ulloa questioned the consulting team on whether the Federal Census Bureau recognizes that and adjusts accordingly. Mr. Cain answered that the problem is taken care of by the use of current categories. Mr. Cain addressed the question of draft maps being taken to the Community. Current maps and population lines are needed as well as solicitation of public reaction. But no draft maps are needed. Putting out premature maps might appear that the public interest isn't being considered. Chairman Pesqueira stated that we should set the tone at the first meeting and mainly "be ears". He recommends simply introducing the Commissioners and the process of redistricting. Commissioner Marichu questioned the way in way in which the Commission receives public input. The Commission agreed that they may want to develop criteria for submission to assure receipt in a legible format which would be useful to the Commission. Everything submitted should be seriously considered. Outlining a couple of ways acceptable for submitting information up front will help the Commission and the consulting team be efficient. Ms. Heshimu questioned Mr. Cain on whether or not there are guidelines or rules on how the commission communicates with the Council. Mr. Cain suggested that if Council staff or the public calls with questions regarding the Redistricting Commission everything should be directed to him as not to allow unfair treatment of individuals. Chairman Pesqueira stated that it is important for the Commission to listen to the public but remember to immediately update and inform the him, for solidarity. He also stated that mail-ins to the Commission or telephone numbers offered to the Commission should go to Ms. Heshimu only. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: A139-B237.)
ITEM 7:	GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES Deputy City Attorney Lisa Foster will lead a discussion of the latitude in the guidelines for drawing district boundaries based on the City Charter, U.S. Constitution, other federal statutes, and recent case law. Possible action relating to the use and ranking of redistricting criteria. PUBLIC SPEAKER: PC-1: Mr. John Kern spoke on Community Planning districts and Council districts. He stated that communities of interest are usually based on geography. In considering criteria for drawing districts, he recommended the Commission take into account the recognized community interest (planning groups) for voting data. Commissioner ODell questioned the arrangement of schools district boundaries. The consultants said it does come up and is an issue. Ms. Foster stated that she will be inviting the Community Planning Groups to the meetings for input. Ms. Foster reviews hand-out distributed to Commissioners: Ms. Foster updated the Commission on noticing practices, the latitude, and guidelines. The Commission was briefed on her handouts for item 7 dated 4-18-01. (Refer to handout). Ms. Foster commented on district population deviation issues. She stated that if we find we have deviation of less than 10% and we've made an effort to keep it as small as possible (under 10%) then we should be okay in our consideration of the one-person-one-vote principal. The Commission agreed to strive for 5% with an assurance of maintaining deviations below10%. Ms. Foster ranked as number 2 the Voting Rights Act. She further briefed the Commission her handout. Mr. Cain briefed the Commission on issues of interest regarding district line drawing. Mr. Cain recommended as an alternative to use the term, "protected groups" in place of "minority". Ms. Foster recommends that in redistricting, whether one is a citizen or nor, and whether one can vote or not, is not considered; it is the total population that is important. Polarized voting concerns were discussed by Mr. Cain Commissioner Ulloa requested that Joey Perry obtain a copy of the National Alliance of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender People position paper in order to address their concerns when meetings are held in their district. Ms. Foster emphasized the importance of input from the public in assisting the Commission's identification of the various communities of interest. Ms. Foster stated that there is much discretion and no absolutes in this process other than maintaining eight districts. Mr. Cain mentioned the importance of avoiding violations of communities of interest. Mr. Cain also mentioned avoiding split blocks as was done in the last redistricting. He urges the Commission to draw lines as the blocks as the fundamental unit rather than splitting blocks. Motion by Ulloa to accept criteria and ranking as set forth with a caveat that #4 be moved to #3. Second by Saito and later withdrawn. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: D000-D036) Commissioner ODell stated that she is not ready to vote on motion as she doesn't have enough information to vote. Commissioner Magana stated that she feels it is not necessary to vote on this as criteria. Ms. Foster feels there is no necessity to accept this by a motion and vote as well. Commissioner Ulloa expressed his desire to vote on this issue. Commissioner Saito withdraws his second on the motion.
ITEM 8:	PUBLIC HEARINGS WORKSHOP Staff report on outreach strategies employed, and progress in scheduling and preparing materials for the April and May Public Hearings. Discussion and possible action relating to the Public Hearings. Ms. Heshimu introduced two speakers from JA Consultants. Julie Gelfat and Alexandra Hart are the principals of JA Consultants who are assisting the Commission with outreach and staging for the public hearings. JA Consultants briefed the Committee on their outreach measures for inviting the public to the public hearings. Commissioner Ulloa asked Ms. Heshimu about using public access for notification of public hearings. Ms. Heshimu said they will look further into public access as an option. Commissioner Marichu stated the Commission needs to pull out the 2-minute limit regardng public comments since they previously agreed not to limit the public. She also feels that clarification should be made to the public regarding when they may speak. Chairman Pesqueria stated he will alter the speaker time limit as needed. He plans to introduce an end-time certain and control the Commission's responses to the public; allowing them maximum time to speak. Commissioner Marichu stressed the need for the public to be informed of the hearing's ending time. Mr. Cain suggested that the Commission reduce their introductions and educational portion of their addresses to leave more time for public input. Chairman Pesqueria stated that the time limit on the introductions will be a combined total of 15 minutes. He plans to be the time-keeper for the public. Ms. Foster stated that if a sign in sheet is used, according to the Brown Act there can't be a condition of providing personal information in order to speak. For speaker management, a speaker slip is recommended. Ms. Heshimu said a sign-up sheet rather than a sign-in sheet will be provided for the public to sign-in. This sheet will be used for the public to be notified of future meetings. Ms. Heshimu is planning to have translators for some district meetings. She will be working with City staff to obtain this service from an outside vendor as it looks like the City cannot provide it in-house. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: D189-E199.)
ITEM 9:	SUPPLEMENTAL OUTREACH AND PUBLIC HEARING STAGING SERVICES Staff will recommend a consultant contract with Julie Gelfat and Alexandra Hart, not to exceed $3,000, to supplement outreach and staging capacity in support of the upcoming public Hearings. Possible action on staff recommendation. MOTION BY MAGANA TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TO J.A. CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST IN PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR A TOTAL OF $3000 DOLLARS AND TO ALLOW MS. HESHIMU TO USE DISCRETION ON THE APPLICATION OF THE FIRM AND THE USE OF THEIR TIME. Second by Ulloa. Passed by the following vote: Pesaqueira-yea, Saito-yea, Camarillo-not present, Johnson-yea, Magana-yea, Odell-nay, Ulloa-yea REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: E200-240.)
ITEM 10:	COMMISSION CALENDAR Discussion and action to establish dates for Commission meetings after the conclusion of the Public Hearings in May. The following meeting were established during discussion by the Commission: To meet April 23, 25 and 30, 2001 and not to meet on Wednesday, May 2 but on May 4 , a Friday; To meet May 7, 9, 14 and16, 2001 to conclude the Public Hearings The Commission will then meet on May 23, 2001 and continue to meet on Wednesdays as they have been, changing or cancelling the Wednesday meetings as needed. Meetings may have to change to other days if certain Commissioners are unable to attend. Ms. Heshimu had requested the Commission to schedule out as far as possible for the convenience of the videotaping personnel. REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: E241-312.)
ITEM 11:	ADJOURNMENT. MOTION BY MAGANA ADJOURN AT 7:25 P.M. Second by Johnson. Passed by the following vote: Pesaqueira-yea, Saito-yea, Camarillo-yea, Johnson-yea, Magana-yea, ODell-nay, Ulloa-yea REDISTRICTING COMMISSION ACTION: (Tape location: E200-240.)

Ralph Pesqueira, Chairman
2000 Redistricting Commission

Ramone Lewis
Legislative Recorder II