REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 9, 2021
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Supervisorial Redistricting
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Conduct a public hearing to receive, file and provide comment on the attached draft maps recommended to the Board of Supervisors by the Advisory Redistricting Commission.
a. Commission Map #1
b. Commission Map #2
c. Commission Map #3
2. Receive and file the attached public testimony package containing all public comments and public submitted maps received through November 3, 2021.
3. Provide direction to County Staff about the Redistricting process.
(Presenter: Leonard X. Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, 387-5417)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretional General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Board of Supervisors (Board) must adopt boundaries for all of the supervisorial districts based on 2020 U.S. Census data so that the districts are substantially equal in population and comply with state and federal law setting the criteria used to redraw district boundaries.
The new County Charter, approved by the voters in the November 2020 election as Measure “J”, required the Board to adopt an ordinance establishing a redistricting commission for the supervisorial districts. On March 2, 2021 (Item No. 53), the Board adopted an ordinance establishing an Advisory Redistricting Commission (Commission). The ordinance requires the Commission to recommend to the Board a minimum of two possible maps containing the boundaries for all of the supervisorial districts within sufficient time for the Board to meet all State deadlines. On April 20, 2021, the Board appointed five primary and five alternate members to the Commission, nominated by each of the five members of the Board, and acknowledged the appointment of two retired Superior Court Judges by the Presiding Judge.
The Commission conducted 16 public meetings, four of them in the evening, in 14 locations throughout the county. All meetings were livestreamed for public viewing. The Commission publicly examined and discussed five proposed Board of Supervisors district maps submitted by the public, one map created by a Commission member, three created at the direction of the Commission, and the existing districts created in 2011 with the current 2020 Census information. The Commission referred three maps for recommendation to the Board.
The three maps recommended by the Advisory Redistricting Commission differ from the current Board of Supervisors districts in the following key areas:
Commission Map 1: The communities adjacent to Barstow, along with much of the southeast corner of the county, would be moved from the First District to the Third District. The Crestline-Lake Arrowhead-Running Springs regions would be moved from the Second District to the Third District. The portion of Fontana currently in the Fifth District would be moved into the Second and Fourth Districts. The portion of Upland currently in the Fourth District would be moved into the Second District. The Fourth District would be extended into southern Fontana and the unincorporated area around the Auto Club Speedway.
Commission Map 2: Much of the desert area, including Needles, would be moved from the First District to the Third District. The Crestline-Lake Arrowhead-Running Springs regions and Lytle Creek would be moved from the Second District to the Third District. The portion of Fontana currently in the Fifth District would be moved into the Second District. The Fourth District would be extended north to take in more of Upland.
Commission Map 3: This map would essentially leave the district boundaries as they have been since 2011, with very slight changes to reflect new adjustments to census tract boundaries, making the some of the district boundaries ragged.
The draft maps have been reviewed for compliance with Federal and State law including the Voting Rights Act and the Fair And Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities And Political Subdivisions (FAIR MAPS) Act.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Administrative Office (Pamela Williams, Chief of Administration, 387-4377) on November 3, 2021; County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 3, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on November 3, 2021.