After shelving the idea until completion of the 2010 census,
city officials are reviving talks about prospects for redistricting
in order to facilitate the election of an at-large mayor.
After shelving the idea until completion of the 2010 census, city officials are reviving talks about prospects for redistricting in order to facilitate the election of an at-large mayor.
City Attorney Stephanie Atigh at Monday’s city council meeting mentioned how census information is expected back at the end of the year, after which officials “immediately” could begin using the data for redistricting purposes.
Redistricting would be necessary with an at-large mayor. There are five districts now. It could change to four or six districts with an at-large mayor.
The idea of moving to an at-large mayor elected by the entire city’s citizenry is to give the city a central voice. As of now, council members each year vote to appoint a new mayor. Traditionally, they have followed a given order, but do sometimes break from that routine.
The first step would be hiring a demographer to draw out districts with an ethnic background makeup that aligns with that of the city. Council members directed Atigh to survey statewide demographers on estimated costs in what she called a “pretty limited group,” despite how she noted it is not required by law because it is a personal services contract.
That demographer would draw separate maps with four, five and six districts. She estimated it would cost $20,000 and she said it was in the city attorney’s office budget for the year.
Atigh suggested using a Santa Clara County demographer the city has employed in 2000 and again in 2007 to examine the city’s districting. Council members, though, preferred getting other cost estimates as well.
“She clearly knows the city, has a sense of the districts as they are now,” she said.
