MINUTES
REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE
SPECIAL MEETING
August 16, 2011, 7:00 PM
City Hall Room 400
I. Swearing in of Members by Madeleine Licavoli, Deputy Director, Clerk of the Board’s Office
Members of the Task Force were sworn in by Madeleine Licavoli, Deputy Director, Clerk of the Board’s Office.
II. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
III. Brief remarks on purpose of the Task Force (John Arntz, Director of Elections).
John Arntz, Director of Elections, made opening remarks regarding the purpose of the Task Force.
Public Comment: None.
IV. Roll Call and Introductions
Mike Alonso
Jenny Lam
Myong Leigh
Eric McDonnell
Sonia Melara
Marily Mondejar
David Pilpel
Mark Schreiber
Melissa Tidwell
All members were present and made brief introductory remarks.
Public Comment: None.
VI. Discussion and action to designate a member of the Task Force as Chair, and possible election of Vice-Chair, including possible decision to postpone election of officers to the next meeting.
Member Alonso nominated Member Schreiber for Chair. Member Leigh nominated Member McDonnell for Chair.
Members Lam, Leigh, McDonnell, Melara, Mondejar, and Tidwell voted for Member McDonnell as Chair. Members Alonso, Pilpel, and Schreiber voted for Member Schreiber as Chair.
Member McDonnell was elected Chair by a 6-3 vote.
Member Alonso nominated Member Schreiber for Vice-Chair. Members Lam and Mondejar nominated themselves for Vice-Chair.
Members Alonso, Pilpel, Schreiber, and Tidwell voted for Member Schreiber as Vice-Chair. Members Lam, Leigh, and Melara voted for Member Lam as Vice-Chair. Members McDonnell and Mondejar voted for Member Mondejar as Vice-Chair. Since none of the nominees received a majority vote, no member was elected as Vice-Chair in the first round of voting.
Member Mondejar withdrew as a nominee for Vice-Chair.
Members Alonso, Pilpel, Schreiber, and Tidwell voted for Member Schreiber as Vice-Chair. Members Lam, Leigh, McDonnell, Melara, and Mondejar voted for Member Lam as Vice-Chair.
Member Lam was elected Vice-Chair by a 5-4 vote.
Public Comment: Chris Bowman stated that he thought Member Melara would be an excellent candidate. Ace Washington spoke on the matter. Neither speaker otherwise supported or opposed members elected as Chair and Vice-Chair.
VII. Discussion and possible action to set regular meeting times and location.
Member Pilpel, seconded by Member Alonso, moved to set City Hall, Room 400, as the regular meeting location for the Task Force. The motion passed without objection.
Public Comment: None.
VIII. Discussion of governmental ethics laws and public meeting and open records requirements that apply to the Task Force (Deputy City Attorneys Mollie Lee and Andrew Shen).
Deputy City Attorney Mollie Lee made a presentation concerning public meeting requirements that applied to the Task Force and answered questions raised by Task Force members.
Deputy City Attorney Andrew Shen made a presentation concerning governmental ethics laws and open records requirements that applied to the Task Force and answered questions raised by Task Force members. Deputy City Attorney Shen also advised Task Force members that they would need to file their Form 700s, Statements of Economic Interests, within 30 days.
Public Comment: None.
IX. Introduction of consultant, Q2 Data and Research, and overview of services (Karin Mac Donald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant).
Karin MacDonald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant, Q2 Data and Research, presented an overview of the services her firm will be providing to the Task Force regarding redistricting and answered questions raised by Task Force members.
Tamina Alon, Q2 Data and Research, and Deputy City Attorney Mollie Lee presented information concerning the matter and/or answered questions raised during the discussion of this agenda item.
Public Comment: Ace Washington stated that he intended to document the redistricting process. Chris Bowman mentioned that he served on the Elections Task Force in 1995, and discussed material that could assist Task Force members with the redistricting process.
X. Discussion regarding future agenda items.
Task Force members discussed possible future agenda items, including:
Future Meetings and Locations
Criteria for Redistricting
Voting Rights Act
Outreach and Communications
Data and Maps
Clerical and Administrative
Work Plan
Bylaws
Public Comment: None.
XI. Public Comment.
Chris Bowman commented on the redistricting process. Anthony Vapor stated that he would want access to mapping software.
XII. Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
The Minutes of the Redistricting Task Force for August 16, 2011, were approved on August 29, 2011.
