Council District Election Process/Proceso de elecciones de los distritos del consejo

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The District-Based Election process is now complete. The page is still available for review.

The District-Based Election process is now complete. The page is still available for review. 

Council Chooses to Establish Four Councilmember Districts and a Mayor Elected At-Large - SEE FINAL MAP - The City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance adopting the voting district map known as the “Dolphin” map and placing the Council District 1 and 2 seats on the November 8, 2022 ballot, and the Council District 3 and 4 seats on the November 5, 2024 ballot. 

VEA LAS ÚLTIMAS NOTICIAS ACTUALIZADAS A CONTINUACIÓN

El Ayuntamiento opta por establecer cuatro concejales por distrito y un alcalde general



MONTEREY CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO CONVERT FROM AN AT-LARGE METHOD OF ELECTION TO A BY-DISTRICT SYSTEM 

At its meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted a Resolution of Intention as amended to convert from the current at-large method of electing City Councilmembers to a by-district system. The resolution does not change the structure of the City Council; instead it starts the process to implement a district based election system where the City is divided into separate geographical areas of equal population, composed of voters residing within the district which elect a representative who also resides within the district. The resolution adoption triggers the public hearing timeline - see timeline at right (may be subject to change).

EL CONSEJO DE LA CIUDAD DE MONTEREY ADOPTA UNA RESOLUCIÓN PARA CAMBIAR DE UN MÉTODO DE ELECCIONES GENERALES A UN SISTEMA POR DISTRITOS

En su reunión del martes 16 de noviembre de 2021, el Consejo Municipal adoptó una Resolución de Intención en su forma enmendada para cambiar del método general actual de elegir a los Concejales de la Ciudad a un sistema por distritos. La resolución no cambia la estructura del Consejo Municipal; en su lugar, inicia el proceso para implementar un sistema electoral distrital en el que la ciudad se divide en áreas geográficas separadas con una población igual, compuestas por votantes que residen dentro del distrito y que eligen a un representante que también reside dentro del distrito. La adopción de la resolución activa el cronograma de las audiencias públicas; consulte el cronograma a la derecha (puede estar sujeto a cambios).



The City Council welcomes and encourages feedback from the community on the composition of the yet-to-be-formed voting districts. There are several mandatory criteria that the City must comply with when the districts are created:

a) Population equality across districts (districts shall be nearly as equal in population).

b) Race cannot be the “predominant” factor or criteria when drawing districts.

c) Compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act (FVRA), which, among other things, prohibits districts that dilute minority voting rights, and encourages a majority-minority district, if the minority group is sufficiently large, and such a district can be drawn without race being the predominant factor.

In addition, the California Elections Code requires to the extent practicable, that district lines compliant with the Federal Voting Rights Act and be adopted using the following criteria, in the following order of priority:

1. Geographically contiguous districts (each city council district should share a common border with the next).

2. To the extent practicable, the geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division.

3. Council district boundaries should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents.

4. To the extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criteria in this subdivision, council districts shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.

5. The council shall not adopt council district boundaries for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against a political party.


Criterios para la creación de distritos El ayuntamiento aceptará y fomentará la información de la comunidad sobre la composición de los distritos electorales aún por formar. Hay varios criterios obligatorios que la ciudad debe cumplir cuando se creen los distritos:

a) Igualdad de población entre los distritos (los distritos deberán ser casi iguales en población).

b) La raza no puede ser el factor o criterio “predominante” al trazar los distritos.

c) Cumplimiento de la Ley Federal sobre el Derecho al Voto (FVRA, por sus siglas en inglés), que, entre otras cosas, prohíbe los distritos que diluyan los derechos de voto de las minorías, y fomenta la creación de un distrito con mayoría de minorías, si el grupo minoritario es lo suficientemente grande, y dicho distrito puede trazarse sin que la raza sea el factor predominante.

Además, el código electoral de California exige, en la medida de lo posible, que las líneas de los distritos cumplan con la ley federal de derecho al voto y se adopten utilizando los siguientes criterios, en el siguiente orden de prioridad:

1. Distritos geográficamente contiguos (cada distrito municipal debe compartir una frontera común con el siguiente). Las zonas que sólo se encuentran en los puntos de las esquinas adyacentes no son contiguas. Las zonas que están separadas por el agua y no están conectadas por un puente, un túnel o un servicio regular de transbordador no son contiguas.

2. En la medida de lo posible, se respetará la integridad geográfica de cualquier barrio o comunidad de interés local de manera que se minimice su división. Una “comunidad de interés” es una población que comparte intereses sociales o económicos comunes que deben ser incluidos dentro de un único distrito a efectos de su representación efectiva y justa. Las comunidades de interés no incluyen las relaciones con partidos políticos, titulares o candidatos políticos.

3. Los límites de los distritos municipales deben ser fácilmente identificables y comprensibles para los residentes. En la medida de lo posible, los distritos del ayuntamiento deberán estar delimitados por barreras naturales y artificiales, por calles o por los límites de la ciudad.

4. En la medida de lo posible, y siempre que no entre en conflicto con los criterios anteriores de esta subdivisión, los distritos del ayuntamiento se trazarán para fomentar la compactación geográfica de manera que las áreas de población cercanas no sean obviadas en favor de poblaciones más distantes.

5. El ayuntamiento no adoptará los límites de los distritos del ayuntamiento con el propósito de favorecer o discriminar a un partido político.


BACKGROUND
The district elections conversion is in response to a letter received September 25, 2021 from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), District 12 (Monterey, San Benito, and Merced counties), to switch to district-based elections.

The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”) was enacted to implement the California constitutional guarantees of equal protection and the right to vote. (Elections Code section 14031.) Although the CVRA is based on the federal Voting Rights Act, it. expands the protections provided under federal law. Should the City Council vote to adopt the Resolution of Intention to Transition from At-Large to District Based Elections, the City will hold a minimum of five (5) public hearings and conduct an extensive public engagement process over a 90-day period to gather input on communities of interest, and how councilmember districts should be defined, drawn, and adopted. Public hearings and information about the districting process will be available in English and Spanish.


The Monterey City Council invites and encourages public participation at its meetings. Requests for language interpretation may be made by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@monterey.org or (831) 646-3935. The City Clerk will make every effort to accommodate requests for interpreter assistance. Requests should be made as soon as possible in advance of any meeting of the City Council. The City is committed to addressing language interpretation requests swiftly in order to maximize public participation.

El Consejo Municipal de Monterey invita y alienta la participación del público en sus reuniones. Se puede solicitar interpretación de idiomas comunicándose con el secretario de la ciudad a cityclerk@monterey.org o (831) 646-3935. El secretario de la ciudad hará todo lo posible para adaptarse a las solicitudes de asistencia de interpretación. Las solicitudes deberían hacerse lo antes posible antes de cualquier reunión del Consejo Municipal. La Ciudad se compromete a atender las solicitudes de interpretación de idiomas con rapidez para maximizar la participación del público.


The District-Based Election process is now complete. The page is still available for review. 

Council Chooses to Establish Four Councilmember Districts and a Mayor Elected At-Large - SEE FINAL MAP - The City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance adopting the voting district map known as the “Dolphin” map and placing the Council District 1 and 2 seats on the November 8, 2022 ballot, and the Council District 3 and 4 seats on the November 5, 2024 ballot. 

VEA LAS ÚLTIMAS NOTICIAS ACTUALIZADAS A CONTINUACIÓN

El Ayuntamiento opta por establecer cuatro concejales por distrito y un alcalde general



MONTEREY CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO CONVERT FROM AN AT-LARGE METHOD OF ELECTION TO A BY-DISTRICT SYSTEM 

At its meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted a Resolution of Intention as amended to convert from the current at-large method of electing City Councilmembers to a by-district system. The resolution does not change the structure of the City Council; instead it starts the process to implement a district based election system where the City is divided into separate geographical areas of equal population, composed of voters residing within the district which elect a representative who also resides within the district. The resolution adoption triggers the public hearing timeline - see timeline at right (may be subject to change).

EL CONSEJO DE LA CIUDAD DE MONTEREY ADOPTA UNA RESOLUCIÓN PARA CAMBIAR DE UN MÉTODO DE ELECCIONES GENERALES A UN SISTEMA POR DISTRITOS

En su reunión del martes 16 de noviembre de 2021, el Consejo Municipal adoptó una Resolución de Intención en su forma enmendada para cambiar del método general actual de elegir a los Concejales de la Ciudad a un sistema por distritos. La resolución no cambia la estructura del Consejo Municipal; en su lugar, inicia el proceso para implementar un sistema electoral distrital en el que la ciudad se divide en áreas geográficas separadas con una población igual, compuestas por votantes que residen dentro del distrito y que eligen a un representante que también reside dentro del distrito. La adopción de la resolución activa el cronograma de las audiencias públicas; consulte el cronograma a la derecha (puede estar sujeto a cambios).



The City Council welcomes and encourages feedback from the community on the composition of the yet-to-be-formed voting districts. There are several mandatory criteria that the City must comply with when the districts are created:

a) Population equality across districts (districts shall be nearly as equal in population).

b) Race cannot be the “predominant” factor or criteria when drawing districts.

c) Compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act (FVRA), which, among other things, prohibits districts that dilute minority voting rights, and encourages a majority-minority district, if the minority group is sufficiently large, and such a district can be drawn without race being the predominant factor.

In addition, the California Elections Code requires to the extent practicable, that district lines compliant with the Federal Voting Rights Act and be adopted using the following criteria, in the following order of priority:

1. Geographically contiguous districts (each city council district should share a common border with the next).

2. To the extent practicable, the geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division.

3. Council district boundaries should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents.

4. To the extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criteria in this subdivision, council districts shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.

5. The council shall not adopt council district boundaries for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against a political party.


Criterios para la creación de distritos El ayuntamiento aceptará y fomentará la información de la comunidad sobre la composición de los distritos electorales aún por formar. Hay varios criterios obligatorios que la ciudad debe cumplir cuando se creen los distritos:

a) Igualdad de población entre los distritos (los distritos deberán ser casi iguales en población).

b) La raza no puede ser el factor o criterio “predominante” al trazar los distritos.

c) Cumplimiento de la Ley Federal sobre el Derecho al Voto (FVRA, por sus siglas en inglés), que, entre otras cosas, prohíbe los distritos que diluyan los derechos de voto de las minorías, y fomenta la creación de un distrito con mayoría de minorías, si el grupo minoritario es lo suficientemente grande, y dicho distrito puede trazarse sin que la raza sea el factor predominante.

Además, el código electoral de California exige, en la medida de lo posible, que las líneas de los distritos cumplan con la ley federal de derecho al voto y se adopten utilizando los siguientes criterios, en el siguiente orden de prioridad:

1. Distritos geográficamente contiguos (cada distrito municipal debe compartir una frontera común con el siguiente). Las zonas que sólo se encuentran en los puntos de las esquinas adyacentes no son contiguas. Las zonas que están separadas por el agua y no están conectadas por un puente, un túnel o un servicio regular de transbordador no son contiguas.

2. En la medida de lo posible, se respetará la integridad geográfica de cualquier barrio o comunidad de interés local de manera que se minimice su división. Una “comunidad de interés” es una población que comparte intereses sociales o económicos comunes que deben ser incluidos dentro de un único distrito a efectos de su representación efectiva y justa. Las comunidades de interés no incluyen las relaciones con partidos políticos, titulares o candidatos políticos.

3. Los límites de los distritos municipales deben ser fácilmente identificables y comprensibles para los residentes. En la medida de lo posible, los distritos del ayuntamiento deberán estar delimitados por barreras naturales y artificiales, por calles o por los límites de la ciudad.

4. En la medida de lo posible, y siempre que no entre en conflicto con los criterios anteriores de esta subdivisión, los distritos del ayuntamiento se trazarán para fomentar la compactación geográfica de manera que las áreas de población cercanas no sean obviadas en favor de poblaciones más distantes.

5. El ayuntamiento no adoptará los límites de los distritos del ayuntamiento con el propósito de favorecer o discriminar a un partido político.


BACKGROUND
The district elections conversion is in response to a letter received September 25, 2021 from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), District 12 (Monterey, San Benito, and Merced counties), to switch to district-based elections.

The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”) was enacted to implement the California constitutional guarantees of equal protection and the right to vote. (Elections Code section 14031.) Although the CVRA is based on the federal Voting Rights Act, it. expands the protections provided under federal law. Should the City Council vote to adopt the Resolution of Intention to Transition from At-Large to District Based Elections, the City will hold a minimum of five (5) public hearings and conduct an extensive public engagement process over a 90-day period to gather input on communities of interest, and how councilmember districts should be defined, drawn, and adopted. Public hearings and information about the districting process will be available in English and Spanish.


The Monterey City Council invites and encourages public participation at its meetings. Requests for language interpretation may be made by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@monterey.org or (831) 646-3935. The City Clerk will make every effort to accommodate requests for interpreter assistance. Requests should be made as soon as possible in advance of any meeting of the City Council. The City is committed to addressing language interpretation requests swiftly in order to maximize public participation.

El Consejo Municipal de Monterey invita y alienta la participación del público en sus reuniones. Se puede solicitar interpretación de idiomas comunicándose con el secretario de la ciudad a cityclerk@monterey.org o (831) 646-3935. El secretario de la ciudad hará todo lo posible para adaptarse a las solicitudes de asistencia de interpretación. Las solicitudes deberían hacerse lo antes posible antes de cualquier reunión del Consejo Municipal. La Ciudad se compromete a atender las solicitudes de interpretación de idiomas con rapidez para maximizar la participación del público.


The District-Based Election process is now complete. The page is still available for review.

  • District-Based Elections Ordinance Adopted//Final Map Published

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    At the Monterey City Council Meeting's 5th Public Hearing, February 15, 2022 on district-based elections, the Monterey City Council adopted the ordinance and finalized the map.

    Read the Ordinance in English | En Español

    View the map in English | En Español

    View the video playback from the meeting

  • 5th Public Hearing, Tuesday, February 15, 7:00 pm

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    The agenda for the Tuesday, February 15, City Council meeting is now posted at isearchmonterey.org. At this 5th Public Hearing the City Council will receive public comment on the final map and the elections sequence/timeline, as well as have a second reading to adopt the Ordinance for District Elections.


    Video playback from meeting

  • Video Playback, Feb. 1 Public Hearing #4

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    Video playback of the February 1 Public Hearing #4

    The third public hearing was held on January 18, 2022, at which time the City Council received additional public feedback on the draft maps and discussed the potential sequence of elections for staggered terms of office. Council provided direction to schedule elections under the “Dolphin map” for Councilmember Districts A (1) and D (2) to take place in November 2022 and Districts B (3) and C (4) in November 2024.

    The City Council affirmed this decision at the Fourth Public Hearing on February 1, 2022, by introducing the ordinance and holding a first reading of the Ordinance, including the final map and sequencing.

    The fifth Public Hearing will be held on February 15, 2022. The second reading of the ordinance establishing and implementing by-district elections, with final map and sequencing schedule would be held during this meeting. The sequencing direction is determined by the City Council per Elections Code 10010(b). In order to comply with the legal timeline, no changes to the map or sequencing schedule as presented and published can be made at this meeting.

  • Council to Hold Fourth Public Hearing, Introduce Ordinance Establishing By-District Elections on February 1

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    The fourth Public Hearing will be held on February 1, 2022. The introduction and first reading of the ordinance establishing and implementing by-district elections, with draft final map (the “Dolphin” map plan) including the sequencing schedule (Districts 1 and 2 in 2022 and Districts 3 and 4 in 2024), would be held during this meeting. The sequencing direction is determined by the City Council per Elections Code 10010(b).

    During the Third Public Hearing on January 18, 2022, after receiving public input from the community and asking questions to staff and consultant, a majority of the City Council chose the Dolphin map. The Dolphin map keeps as many neighborhoods intact as possible, and maintains Communities of Interest as much as possible. This map maximizes minority voting rights by creating the highest percentage of Latinx voters and citizens, which is the largest protected class in the City of Monterey. Councilmember District 4 under the Dolphin Map would be comprised of a 16.9% Latinx Citizen Voting Age Population; or 29.8% Latinx total 2020 Census population, larger than any other District in any of the four maps presented (Councilmember District D in the Bat Ray map is identical to the District 4 in the Dolphin Map, but was not chosen because it splits the New Monterey neighborhood).

    The City Council chose to schedule elections under the Dolphin Map for City Councilmember Districts A (1) and D (2) in November 2022 and Districts B (3) and C (4) in November 2024. This sequencing corresponds with the expired terms of office for existing councilmembers based on their residency. This option also reduces the need under certain scenarios for the City Council to appoint as many as two councilmembers to at-large seats for a brief two-year term starting in December 2022.

    Furthermore, sequencing District 4 to coincide with the 2024 Presidential Election would maximize voting rights for Latinx voters by allowing that district (16.9% Latinx Citizen Voting Age Population; or 29.8% Latinx total 2020 Census population) to increase their likelihood for voting a candidate of their choice. This is because Latinx voters have higher rates of voter turnout during presidential elections when compared to midterm elections, even when compared with the overall population

    View the agenda for the February 1, 2022 meeting: https://isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=5149&doctype=1


  • The City Council votes to select Draft Map "Dolphin"

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    supporting image

    Watch the discussion from the Jan. 18, 2022 City Council Meeting.

    At the January 18, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting, the Monterey City Council hosted the third public hearing on the Council District-Based Elections process. A district-based election system differs from the current at-large election process; it is one where the City is divided into separate geographical areas making up districts, and voters residing within the district elect a representative who also resides within the district.

    The City Council reviewed the four draft maps, named Abalone, Bat Ray, Cuttlefish, and Dolphin. Each map divides the City into four geographical areas (districts): A, B, C, and D. Each map is different and is compliant with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and the Fair Maps Act, based on State law, population equity, geographical compactness, and feedback from residents on Communities of Interest (COI). Each map attempts to create the best-case scenario for public involvement, participation, and representation of the population in the City Council election process. The City Council received and considered feedback from over a dozen speakers during the meeting, as well as from 72 emails and letters, and 27 submitted maps during the process that began in early December 2021.

    After receiving public input from the community and asking questions to staff and consultant, a majority of the City Council chose the Dolphin map. The Dolphin map strives to keep as many neighborhoods intact as possible, and maintains Communities of Interest as much as possible. This map option also maximizes minority voting rights by creating the highest percentage of Latinx voters and citizens (16.9% Latinx/Hispanic Citizen Voting Age Population; or 29.8% Latinx/Hispanic total 2020 Census Population). The Dolphin map contains by the following neighborhoods:

    • District A includes New Monterey and most of Old Town; Lower Presidio; the New Monterey (Lighthouse Avenue) and Cannery Row Business Districts; and Coast Guard Pier.
    • District B combines Skyline Forest and Skyline Ridge neighborhoods with the upper portions of the Monterey Vista neighborhood, and upper portion of the Presidio of Monterey; includes Veterans Memorial Park and the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.
    • District C keeps the neighborhoods near North Fremont Street together – Villa Del Monte, Del Monte Grove/Laguna Grande, Casanova Oak Knoll as well as the Del Monte Beach and Oak Grove neighborhoods; includes the North Fremont Business District, Monterey County Fairgrounds, and Naval Postgraduate School.
    • District D keeps the lower sections of Old Town and Monterey Vista neighborhoods together, as well as the entirety of Downtown, Alta Mesa, Glenwood, La Mesa Village, Aguajito Oaks, Fisherman’s Flats, Deer Flats, and Ryan Ranch neighborhoods; with the Old Monterey Business District, Fisherman’s Wharf, Municipal Wharf 2, El Estero Park, Monterey Peninsula College, and Del Monte Center.

    The Council then decided on the sequencing schedule, in effect, which two districts will be up for election. Two districts will have elections in November 2022, and two districts will have elections in November 2024. With more discussion coming in two weeks, Council’s motion was to schedule elections under the Dolphin Map for districts A and D to take place in 2022, and districts B and C in 2024.

  • Participate in Public Hearing #3, Tues., Jan. 18, 7:00 PM

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    Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 3rd Public Hearing - Public comment on draft maps and election sequence/timeline, Regular Council Meeting, Item 11 at 7:00 PM.

    https://isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=5137&doctype=1

    We hope you will tune in at youtube.com/cityofmonterey to participate in the next step of the district-based elections process (see isearchmonterey.org for other ways to participate):

    Third Public Hearing to Receive Public Input Regarding the Composition of City Councilmember Districts After Draft Map or Maps are Drawn and on the Potential Sequence of Elections for Staggered Terms of Office; Tercera audiencia pública para recibir la opinión del público sobre la composición de los distritos de los concejales de la ciudad después de la elaboración del proyecto de mapa o mapas y sobre la posible secuencia de elecciones para mandatos alternados

    Links are also posted at isearchmonterey.org and haveyoursaymonterey.org/districting.

    Agenda Report (Item 11) - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 1: Atlas of Draft District Maps - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 2: Current Timeline - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 3: Second Public Hearing Agenda Report - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 4: First Public Hearing Agenda Report - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 5: Nov 16 Council Presentation - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 6: Adopt a Resolution of Intention Agenda Report - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 7: Resolution of Intention to Initiate Procedures for Establishing and Implementing District-Based Elections - ENGLISH | Español

    Attachment 8: Flyer in English and Español

    Attachment 9: Community Interest Form and Mapping Tool - ENGLISH | Español

  • City Council Holds Public Appearance on January 4th; Third Public Hearing Set for January 18th

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    Due to a clerical error with the posting of the Spanish-language Public Hearing Notice in the Monterey Herald, the 3rd Public Hearing on District-based Elections that was scheduled for January 4th was postponed to January 18th.

    Since the meeting was scheduled and public feedback was anticipated, the City Council took the opportunity on January 4th to hold the meeting as a Public Appearance Item, reviewing the four (4) draft maps and learn more about the sequencing of elections.

    City staff and Paul Mitchell from the City's demographer, Redistricting Partners, delivered an overview of the four (4) proposed maps. The sequencing of elections were also discussed. Public input was also received.

    To view the presentation and discussion from the meeting, please view the YouTube video below.

    The next meeting will be the Third Public Hearing on January 18, 2021.



  • Draft Maps Published - Public Feedback Sought at Third Public Hearing on January 4, 2022 on Draft Maps and Election Sequence/Timeline

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    On December 28, 2021, the atlas of Draft Maps of Monterey City Councilmember Districts were published online at www.haveyoursaymonterey.org/districting and physically posted at the agenda posting board outside the City Council Chamber (580 Pacific Street), as well as the windows to the front entrances of the Monterey Public Library (625 Pacific Street), El Estero Park Center (777 Pearl Street), Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center (735 Ramona Street), and Scholze Park Center (280 Dickman Avenue). The full City Council agenda packet will be posted later in the day on December 28, 2021.

    At this third public hearing on January 4, 2022, the City Council will receive public feedback on the draft maps and discuss the potential sequence of elections for staggered terms of office.

    Draft Maps
    The City’s public engagement process encouraged community members to provide feedback on their Communities of Interest and potential councilmember district boundaries. The City received proposed district map submissions using the Community Mapping Tool (“placemats”) and completed Communities of Interest Forms. All submitted feedback, including correspondence from the public, can be viewed and downloaded at www.haveyoursaymonterey.org/districting.

    The City’s demographer, Redistricting Partners, used the information from the publicly-submitted Communities of Interest Forms and councilmember district maps from the public to develop four (4) draft maps. Each draft map shows four (4) potential councilmember districts. All draft maps developed by the City’s demographer are in compliance with criteria mandated by State and Federal law, including population equality across districts (no greater than a 10% deviation).

    On December 28, 2021, the draft maps were published online and physically posted at the City Council Chamber, Monterey Public Library, El Estero Park Center, Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center, and Scholze Park Center.

    At the 3rd Public Hearing on January 4, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., the City Council will be asked to receive public feedback on the four (4) draft maps and choose one map to move forward in the process. Modifications or changes to the map could be directed to Redistricting Partners for consideration, as long as it meets legal requirements.

    Potential Sequence of Elections

    During the public hearing process, in addition to selecting a final councilmember district map, the City Council will also identify which two districts will hold district-based elections in 2022 and which two will hold district-based elections in 2024 (the “sequencing schedule”). The map and sequencing schedule will be included in the districting ordinance, and presented for public input and consideration at first and second readings as reflected in the public hearing timeline (details in Attachment 1).

    Legal requirements

    Pursuant to Elections Code section 10010(b), in determining the final sequencing schedule, the City Council shall give special consideration to the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (protecting the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice) and it shall take into account the preferences expressed by members of the districts.

    How are the new district areas phased in?

    Councilmembers whose terms expire in 2022 will continue to serve the City at-large for their elected terms, and will have the opportunity to run for district-based seats in November 2022, provided they reside in one of the two districts scheduled for that election.

    Councilmembers whose terms do not expire until 2024 will continue to serve the City at-large for their elected terms, and will have the opportunity to run for district-based seats in November 2024, provided they reside in one of the two districts scheduled for that election.

    What happens if multiple current councilmembers live in the same district?

    If multiple incumbents live in the same councilmember district, and an election is held in that district in 2022, the incumbents are eligible to run for election in that district along with any other candidates. The person who receives the most votes will win the seat for that district (and the four-year term that goes with it), while any losing incumbent will drop off the City Council, either immediately if their elected term expires in 2022, or in 2024 if their elected term expires in 2024. In other words, even if a current councilmember whose elected term ends in 2024 is defeated in a bid to win a district-based seat in 2022, he will continue to serve on the City Council as an at-large councilmember until his elected term expires. If a current councilmember whose elected term ends in 2024 wins a district-based seat in 2022, then he would resign his at-large seat. The vacancy would be filled pursuant to Charter section 2.5 which provides in part that “[a] vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by appointment by the Council, such appointee to hold office until the next General Municipal Election and until a successor is elected and installed.”

    What happens if no councilmember resides in a district?

    After the sequencing schedule is adopted, if no councilmember resides in a district scheduled for the November 2022 election, then only non-incumbents will be qualified to run for election in that district. If no councilmember resides in a district scheduled for the November 2024 election, that district will continue to be represented by the remaining at-large councilmembers until 2024 when its first district-based election will be held.

    Once one of the four draft maps is selected to move forward in the process (with potential modifications), Council will provide feedback on the sequencing schedule. Two (2) districts will be selected to hold elections in 2022 and the remaining two (2) districts will be selected to hold elections in 2024.


    The draft maps can be downloaded here.

  • Video Playback, Public Hearing #2, Dec. 21 - What's Next

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    The City Council received public feedback on district map boundaries at the 2nd Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 21. You can watch the meeting playback on YouTube at https://youtu.be/gjVffQTklQM?t=11218

    Next, we will publish draft maps on December 28 that will be used at the 3rd Public Hearing coming up on January 4. We will send out a notice when the meeting agenda is published. In the meantime, please email suggest@monterey.org if you have any questions. Thank you for your interest and participation.

  • Public Hearing #2, Tuesday, December 21, 7 PM, City Council Meeting

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    First item at 7:00 PM:

    Second Public Hearing to Receive Public Input Regarding the Composition of City Councilmember Districts Before Drawing a Draft Map or Maps

    Segunda audiencia pública para recibir la opinión del público sobre la composición de los concejales municipales por distrito antes de elaborar un borrador de mapa o mapas

    View the meeting agenda | View the agenda report