2021 Redistricting

Every ten years, local governments use new census data to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. Assembly Bill 849 (2019) requires cities and counties to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and/or workshops, and doing public outreach, including to non-English-speaking community members.

What is redistricting?

Every ten years, districts must be redrawn so that each district is substantially equal in population. This process, called redistricting, is important in ensuring that each city councilmember represents about the same number of constituents. In Pasadena, the City Charter Section 1201 (DISTRICTS) designates the City Council to establish the seven Council Districts of the City, which states, “The City Council shall, by ordinance, establish seven districts which shall be used for all elections of Councilmembers. Said districts shall be as nearly equal in population as practicable and such redistricting shall be in compliance with applicable laws.”

To assist with this process, the City Council has appointed a Redistricting Task Force to examine changes in population and recommend a redistricting plan to the City Council for its consideration.

Redistricting is done using U.S. Census data, which is normally released around March 31st following each decennial census. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 U.S. Census and the resulting data was significantly delayed. The redistricting data that the City will use to consider changes to the seven City Council districts will not be available until around September 30, 2021. For the City of Pasadena, the redistricting process must be completed by December 15, 2021, so this redistricting cycle will be extremely impacted by the resulting short timeframe to complete the full process.

Why does redistricting matter to me?

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a councilmember. The Redistricting Task Force and the City Council will seek input in considering district boundary adjustments and adopting the next district map for Pasadena’s City Council. Members of the public will have an opportunity to share with the Task Force and the City Council opinions on how district boundaries should be drawn to best represent the community and communities of interest in the City. You can email the City Clerk at cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net or call (626) 744-4124 to find out more about how the process works.

What do the existing council districts look like?

You can find a map of the City’s current council districts here: City of Pasadena Council District Boundary Map

What criteria will our City Council use when drawing district lines?

To the extent practicable, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria: (1) geographically contiguous districts, (2) the geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, (3) geographic integrity of a city shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, (4) easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.), and (5) lines shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness. In addition, boundaries shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party.

How will the Redistricting Task Force and City Council notify the public about redistricting?

The Redistricting Task Force and the City Council will reach out to local media to publicize the redistricting process. Also, the City staff will make good faith efforts to notify community groups, neighborhood associations, and local non-profits of various kinds about the redistricting process. Public hearings and several community workshops will be held, with language assistance provided if residents submit a request in advance. City staff will notify the public about redistricting public hearings and community workshops, and post maps online before adoption. Information regarding the redistricting process can be found on the City’s redistricting website: www.cityofpasadena.net/redistricting, which contains relevant and historical information about the redistricting process.

How can I get involved?

The Redistricting Task Force and the City Council will be holding public hearings and several community workshops to receive public input on suggested adjustments to district lines. Dates, times, and meeting format/locations are provided on the City’s redistricting webpage.

Members of the public can also submit public comments, including suggested draft maps, by emailing: cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net

Where can I find out more?

The City maintains a webpage on the city’s redistricting process here: www.cityofpasadena.net/redistricting

Mapping Tools

This mapping tool can be used to map Redistricting plans and submit user’s “community of interest” online.

This more complex and robust mapping tool allows users to apply multiple layers of data for community of interest and redistricting considerations.

This simple informational mapping tool provides single-layer information to help users identify “communities of interest”

Download, complete, and submit information regarding your community of interest for the Redistricting Task Force and City Council consideration.

Correspondence and Information

Redistricting Task Force Final Report and Recommended Redistricting Plan

PUBLIC HEARING: SUBMITTAL OF REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDED REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION; RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT AND TESTIMONY ON THE REDISTRICTING PLAN AND THE COMPOSITION OF ONE OR MORE COUNCIL DISTRICTS; AND CONCEPTUALLY APPROVE OR MODIFY THE RECOMMENDED REDISTRICTING PLAN


Recommendation of Redistricting Task Force:
  It is recommended that the City Council, as part of a public hearing process in compliance with California Elections Code Section 21627.1, take the following actions:
(1)    Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3), the Common Sense Exemption that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment;
(2)    Receive and review the Redistricting Task Force’s recommended redistricting plan (“Redistricting Plan”), map, and related demographic data sheet (Attachment A - “Recommended Redistricting Plan approved October 30, 2021 by the Redistricting Task Force”);
(3)    Receive public comment on the Redistricting Plan, and any public input/testimony regarding the composition of one or more council districts;
(4)    Conceptually approve the Redistricting Plan as submitted; or provide direction on requested modifications to the plan for further consideration; and
(5)    Continue the public hearing to each subsequent meeting of the City Council until December 6, 2021, or such other date as the City Council may determine, at which time the City Council will be asked to close the public hearing and conduct first reading of  “An Ordinance of the City of Pasadena Amending Chapter 1.20 (“Election Districts”) of the Pasadena Municipal Code” codifying the Recommended Plan as submitted, or a modified Redistricting Plan as directed by the City Council.  

STAFF REPORT

ATTACHMENT A - RECOMMENDED REDISTRICTING PLAN AND DATA SHEET

ATTACHMENT B - CURRENT COUNCIL DISTRICT MAP WITH CENSUS DATA SHEET

ATTACHMENT C - REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE ROSTER

ATTACHMENT D - REDISTRICTING SCHEDULE

ATTACHMENT E - CONCEPTUAL PLANS

ATTACHMENT F - AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT AND DOWNTOWN DISTRICT C OPTION

ATTACHMENT G - CITY'S FINAL OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SUMMARY REPORTS

ATTACHMENT H - METRICS SHEET AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAP

ATTACHMENT I - TASK FORCE MINUTES

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE PART 1

CORRESPONDENCE PART 2

CORRESPONDENCE PART 3

CORRESPONDENCE PART 4

CORRESPONDENCE PART 5

CORRESPONDENCE PART 6

CORRESPONDENCE PART 7

CORRESPONDENCE PART 8

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL RECEIVED AFTER POSTING OF AGENDA

CORRESPONDENCE PART 1

CORRESPONDENCE PART 2

CORRESPONDENCE PART 3

Contact Information

Phone: 626-744-4124
Mailing Address:  Redistricting Task Force
c/o City Clerk
P. O. Box 7115
Pasadena, CA 91109
Email: cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Staff Rep: Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
Theresa Fuentes, Assistant City Attorney

 

Task Force Member Roster

Name Nominating Authority Email
Vince Farhat (Chair) Mayoral cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Rita Moreno (Vice Chair) At Large Mayoral cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Adriana Lim At Large Mayoral cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Patrice Marshall McKenzie At Large Mayoral cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Delano Yarbrough At Large Mayoral cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
David Coher District 1 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Margaret McAustin District 2 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Terry Tornek District 3 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Donald C. Nanney District 4 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Jordan Vannini District 5 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Geoffrey L. Baum District 6 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net
Francis Chen District 7 cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net

Past Agendas

2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force Item 4
2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force Item 3
2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force Correspondence- Part 3
2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force Correspondence- Part 2
2021-10-30-Redistricting-Task-Force Correspondence
2021-10-23-RTF Meeting Handout
2021-10-23-RTF Meeting Correspondence - Part 3
2021-10-23-RTF Meeting Correspondence - Part 2
2021-10-23-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-10-23-Redistricting-Task-Force-Correspondence
2021-10-23-Redistricting-Task-Force Item 3-Minimal Change Map with 10% Deviation
2021-10-16-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-10-16-Redistricting Correspondence
2021-10-16-Redisticting Correspondence
2021-10-16-NDC-Demographic-Changes-and-Downtown-District-Option-C
2021-10-16- Redisticting Task Force AD HOC Report
2021-10-16 RTF Description of Changes
2021-10-09-RTF-Minimal Change Map with 5% Deviation
2021-10-09-RTF-Minimal Change Map with 10% Deviation
2021-10-09-RTF-Minimal Change Map with 1% Deviation
2021-10-09-RTF-Map-Downtown District Option B
2021-10-09-RTF-Map-Downtown District Option A
2021-10-09-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-10-02-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-09-18-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-09-18-Redistricting-Task-Force-Agenda Report 3
2021-09-18-Redistricting Task Force - Agenda Report 4
2021-08-19-Redistricting-Task-Force-Meeting-Agenda
2021-06-16-Redistricting-Task-Force-Metting Agenda
2021-06-02-Redistricting-Task-Force-Metting Agenda
2021-05-19-Redistricting-Task-Force-Metting Agenda
2021-05-05-Redistricting-Task-Force-Metting Agenda

Archived Meeting Recordings

Interested in being considered for appointment to the Redistricting Task Force?

Download the City’s advisory body/commission application here and submit to cityclerk@cityofpasadena.net, or call (626) 744-4124 for more information:

Commission/Advisory Body Application (PDF Version)
Commission/Advisory Body Application (Word Version)