REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
MINUTES
Tenderloin Community School
627 Turk Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Wednesday, November 19, 2011 – 10:00 AM
Special Meeting
Members: Eric McDonnell, Chair, Jenny Lam, Vice Chair,
Member Mike Alonso, Member Mylong Leigh, Member Sonia Melara, Member Marily Mondejar. Member David Pilpel, Member Mark Schreiber, Member Melissa Tidwell
1. Call to Order and Roll Call (10:10 a.m. - 10:11 a.m.)
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. On the call of the roll, Member Mondejar was noted absent.
2. Introduction to Redistricting (10:12 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.)
Karin Mac Donald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant for Q2 Data & Research, presented a slide presentation of the redistricting process. Chair McDonnell asked the public for questions relating to clarification of the redistricting process.
Public Comment:
Paul Hogarth, Tenderloin Housing Clinic, raised questions relating to the legality of moving Treasure Island from District 6 to District 3 as it relates to water boundaries and contiguity. Deputy City Attorney Mollie Lee responded that this is a legal question that the City Attorney’s office is reviewing and will provide an opinion to the Task Force.
John Bardis inquired how the criteria for compactness and contiguity were met in the previous mapping of District 5. He requested the Task Force to specifically look at the compactness of District 5 during the redistricting process.
Patrick Earl, Diamond Heights Association, inquired whether or not the gay community is considered a minority in the context of the Voting Acts Rights definitions of a minority. Karin Mac Donald, Consultant, responded that in the context of the Voting Rights Act that they are not considered a minority but could be considered as a Community of Interest. Mr. Earl also requested that Diamond Heights remain whole in the redistricting process.
Kathleen Courtney, Russian Hill Neighborhood Association, urged that neighborhood associations and organizations registered with the Planning Department be informed in order to participate in the redistricting process. Ms. Courtney inquired as to what was the selection process for the consultant for the 2011 redistricting.
Olga Milan-Howells, College Hill Association, informed the Task Force about the process of registering with the Planning Department and the criteria for the waiving of fees applied by the Planning Department. She asked what will the mapping look like and how does the Task Force arrive at the percentage information being utilized in the redistricting process.
Chris Bowman, member of the 1995 Task Force, raised questions relating to language that neighborhoods are recognized and defined by the City and County of San Francisco. He asked where this language could be found in the San Francisco Charter or other legal text. He also inquired whether or not there is legal text which relates to using man made or natural boundaries in determining contiguity.
Paul Hogarth, Tenderloin Housing Clinic, strongly advocated to keep the Uptown Neighborhood District a Community of Interest. The Tenderloin Uptown Neighborhood District has become a Historic District and is closely aligned with the North of Market Community Benefit District. He asked the Task Force when redistricting District 6 not to go south of Geary Street or east of Van Ness Avenue. He will submit the official boundaries for the Tenderloin Uptown Neighborhood Historic District and the North of Market Community Benefit District.
3. Presentation by Past Task Force Members (11:21 a.m. to 11:22 a.m.)
There were no presentations made by past task force members.
Public Comment: None
4. Task Force Work Assignments (12:01p.m. to 12:05 p.m.)
The Chair assigned the following Task Force members to work on particular matters. These work assignments may include, but are not limited to, Outreach, Media/Communication, Data/Mapping, Budgeting, Board of Supervisors, and Communities of Interest.
Member Mondejar was assigned to be in charge of communications, specifically, outreach to ethnic media.
Member Alonso was assigned to outreach and engage with neighborhood groups outside of the meetings.
Member Pilpel was assigned to work with the consultant in reviewing any data submitted by City Departments.
Member Schreiber was assigned to social media outreach Twitter and Facebook and neighborhood blogs.
Member Lam was assigned to track expenditures associated with the Task Force and the consultant’s contract.
Member Tidwell was assigned to provide a schedule of future Task Force meeting dates.
Chair McDonnell will take the lead as the ambassador but will request other members to make presentations to organizations outside of the Task Force meetings.
Member Pilpel requested that the Task Force receive regular updates on budget expenditures.
(Note: The following item was heard out of order.)
5. Mapping (11:23 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Karin Mac Donald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant for Q2 Data & Research and Jaime Clark provided an overview and examples of the mapping software to look at maps, learn the impact of moving lines, and begin to explore possible new district lines.
Public Comment:
John Bardis requested to view the entire map to see District 5 and how it currently relates to compactness as compared to other districts. He was very impressed in the software being used in the redistricting process.
Paul Hogarth, Tenderloin Housing Clinic, indicated that in order to get meaningful public participation in the redistricting process the public should have access to the software being used.
Olga Milan-Howells, College Hill Association, requested information relating to the progression and analysis to be used during the redistricting process in order to have a fair and democratic outcome.
Chris Bowman, past Task Force member, asked whether a 5-year sliding average was used and is that down to the census block or tract level? Karin Mac Donald, consultant, indicated that the statewide database computed it down to the block level.
Mr. Bowman reviewed with the Task Force members how the districts were defined and created in the 1995 redistricting process.
RECESS
The Task Force recessed at 12:05 p.m. and reconvened at 12:12 p.m.
6. Community Outreach (12:12 p.m. to 12:25 p.m.)
The Task Force discussed community meetings and other outreach activities.
Chair McDonnell explained that member Tidwell will be providing a calendar of future meeting dates to include outreach in the community and asked if other members had any information to consider in the scheduling of off site meetings.
Member Pilpel reviewed the current schedule of Task Force meetings and requested that a schedule be prepared for Task Force members and the public.
Member Melara expressed concern relating to Board of Supervisors outreach in the redistricting process.
Member Lam requested that the Board of Supervisors provide a list of their community groups to assist Member Alonso with outreach.
Public Comment:
Chris Bowman requested that broader outreach be provided to those neighborhoods which were most affected by the previous mapping in 2000 including the Portola District, North Inner Mission, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Potrero Hill, Sea Cliff, and Russian Hill.
7. Task Force Member Reports (12:25 p.m. to 12:28 p.m.)
Members reported on discussions with the public or public officials concerning the Task Force's future work.
Member Pilpel reported that the BART Board would be reviewing draft of district maps on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
Member Schreiber reported that he was preparing a list of neighborhood blogs.
Chair McDonnell reported that City Departments had received correspondence requesting that data relating to redistricting be provided to Task Force members. The Chamber of Commerce has requested that a presentation be made to them.
Kay Gulbengay, Clerk, informed Task Force members that the Task Force Overview, a schedule of meetings through of 12/7/11, and with a cover letter had been sent to the Department of Elections outreach list by the Department of Elections.
Public Comment: None
8. Public Comment: (12:29 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
None
9. Future Agenda Items (12:30 p.m. to 12:34 p.m.)
Member Melara requested that the City Attorney provide an answer to the legality of moving Treasure Island. from District 6 to District 3.
10. Adjournment
There being no further business, the Task Force adjourned at the hour of 12:35 p.m.
