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Resolution No. 6953 455 RESOLUTION NO. 6953 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS, AND ACTING AS EX-OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CYPRESS RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE TO DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS WHEREAS, the members of the City Council of the City of Cypress ("City") are currently elected in "at-large" elections, in which each Council Member is elected by the registered voters of the entire City; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 34886 gives the City the authority to change via ordinance from "at-large" to "district-based" elections, where each member of the City Council is elected only by the voters in the district in which the candidate for City Council resides; and WHEREAS, on January 10, 2024, City entered into an agreement ("Agreement") with Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, Kathryn Shapiro, and Malini Nagpal to resolve allegations ("the Lawsuit") that the City's at-large electoral system does not comply with the California Voting Rights Act ("CVRA"); and WHEREAS, by entering into the Agreement, the City does not admit its election system does not comply with the CVRA or any other provision of law and further denies any wrongdoing whatsoever in connection with the manner in which it has conducted its City Council elections, but nevertheless settles the Lawsuit due to the uncertainty of litigation and to avoid further expenditures in litigating the Lawsuit; and WHEREAS, the Agreement requires the City to begin the process of transitioning from at-large to by-district elections; and WHEREAS, prior to adopting an ordinance establishing by-district elections, the City will comply with Elections Code section 10010, which requires all of the following: A. Prior to drawing any proposed district boundary maps, the City Council must hold at least two public hearings over a period of no more than 30 days, at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. Before those hearings, the City may conduct outreach to the public, including to non-English-speaking communities, to explain the districting process and to encourage public participation. B. After all draft maps are drawn, the City shall publish and make available for release at least one draft map and, if members of the City Council will be elected in their districts at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the potential sequence of the elections. C. The City Council shall also hold at least two additional hearings over a period of not more than 45 days, at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft map or maps and the proposed sequence of elections. The first version of a draft map must be published at least seven days before consideration at a hearing. If a draft map is revised at or following a hearing, it must be published and made available to the public for at least seven days before being adopted. WHEREAS, the next City election of Council Members will take place in November of 2024, and the by-district map will be filed with the County in sufficient time for use in the 2024 election. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 456 Section 1. That the above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2. The City Council declares its intent to transition to by-district elections. The City Council will consider adoption of an ordinance to institute a by-district election system, and the City Council will consider adoption of that ordinance no later than the last date possible to allow by-district elections to be in place for the next regular City Council election that takes place after the effective date of this resolution. Section 3. The City Council hereby approves the timeline attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution, which describes the specific steps the City intends to undertake to facilitate the transition from at-large to by-district elections. The timeline described in Exhibit A of this Resolution is subject to adjustment by the City Council in its sole discretion and as it deems necessary. Any such adjustments shall also ensure compliance with the statutory requirements of Elections Code section 10010. Section 4. The City Manager and the City Attorney are hereby directed to take the steps necessary to implement this Resolution. Section 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. Section 6. This Resolution is effective on the day of its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cypress, and acting as ex- officio governing Board of Directors of the Cypress Recreation and Park District, at a regular meeting held on the 10th day of January, 2024. 427 YOR OF THt CIT •* ATTEST: S(PiCil2-1"11( CITYut'ERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS I, ALISHA FARNELL, City Clerk of the City of Cypress, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the said City Council held on the 10th day of January, 2024, by the following roll call vote: AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Burke, Mallari, Marquez and Peat NOES: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Minikus ABSENT: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None r'Aji4U9-2 CITY CLERK OF THE CI Y OF CYPRESS 457 EXHIBIT A TENTATIVE TIMELINE FOR ADOPTION OF DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS DATE EVENT COMMENT January 8, 2024 Adopt Resolution of Intent effective January 8, 2024 January , 2024— , 2024 Public Outreach Regarding Process •■w Hearing regarding composition of January 22, 2024 First Public hearing maps and public input, but no draft •+f' maps are drawn January 29, 2024 (would require Hearing regarding composition of special City Council meeting) Second Public Hearing maps and public input, but no draft maps are drawn Draft maps and proposed sequence February 5, 2024 Post Draft Map(s) and Potential of elections must be posted publicly Sequence of Elections at least seven days prior to the public hearing February 12, 2024 Third Public Hearing re Draft Maps City Council considers the draft maps, with input from the public Post New or Modified Draft Map(s) if Draft map(s)and proposed sequence February 19, 2024 any and Potential Sequence of of elections must be posted publicly Elections at least seven days prior to the public hearing City Council considers the draft February 26, 2024 Fourth Pubic Hearing Re Draft Maps; maps, with input from the public; City Select Map and Introduce Ordinance Council selects a map and introduces the ordinance March 11, 2024 Fifth Public Hearing: Second Ordinance is adopted. Reading of Ordinance November 5, 2024 First District Elections 3 wi.