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Redistricting Report • Page 2 <br />Under California Election Code Division 21, Chapter 7, Article 2, new wards established generally <br />may not be changed until after the next decennial census in 2031. However, Riverside City <br />Charter states that ward boundary adjustments may occur more frequently as determined <br />necessary upon receipt of official census data. The City must adopt its ward boundaries no later <br />than August 2023. <br />The substantive requirements of the Fair Maps Act for drawing ward boundaries are outlined in <br />the California Elections Code §21621. To the greatest extent practicable, the City is required to <br />adopt district boundaries using the criteria in the following order of priority: <br />1. Equal population of residents (+/- 10%) in each ward based on census data. <br />2. Comply with the United States and California Constitutions, including the Federal and <br />California Voting Rights Acts (FVRA and CVRA). <br />3. Council wards shall be geographically contiguous. <br />4. The geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest should <br />be respected and included within a single ward for its effective and fair representation in <br />a manner that minimizes its division. <br />5. Council wards should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents. <br />6. Council wards shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that <br />nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations. <br />7. Council ward boundaries shall not be established for the purpose of favoring or <br />discriminating against a political party. <br />Riverside City Charter Section 402 sets forth an additional criterion that Council ward boundary <br />adjustments during a Councilmember's term shall not result in disqualification for membership on <br />the Council during such term. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />On July 19, 2022, the City Council approved a professional consultant services agreement with <br />Redistricting Partners, LLC for demographic consulting services to assist staff with a coordinated <br />effort to implement the City's redistricting plan in three phases. <br />Redistricting Partners will present on various topics to provide background information on the <br />redistricting process, census data and timeline. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: <br />The City's Redistricting Plan contributes to the City Council's Envision 2025 Strategic Plan Priority <br />and Goals: <br />Community Well -Being — Ensuring safe and inclusive neighborhoods where everyone can thrive <br />with the following goal: <br />Goal 2.4 Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage <br />neighborhood engagement, and build public trust: and, <br />High Performing Government— Providing world-class public service that is efficient, accessible, <br />and responsible to all, with the following goals: <br />