ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

7.

Consider Expenditure of Budgeted Funds to Contract with Lapkoff & Gobalet Demographic Research to Provide Demographic Redistricting Services

 

Meeting Date:

December 6, 2010

Budgeted:

Yes

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

General Manager

Program/

N/A

 

 

Line Item No.:

N/A

 

 

 

Prepared by:

Arlene Tavani

Cost Estimate:

$28,000

 

General Counsel Review:   N/A

Committee Recommendations:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on December 6, 2010 and recommended ___________

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  Public agencies that elect board members by voter division must review the division boundaries and make adjustments, if necessary, after each decennial census.  Results of the 2010 Census will be available by March 2011.  The District must contract with a demographic consulting firm to analyze the census data, and determine if the existing voter division boundaries continue to meet legal requirements that include:  (1) population equality, (2) minority group voting power, and (3) communities of interest.  If the consultant determines that division boundaries do not meet legal requirements, the next phase of the project will be to work with the consultant and members of the public to develop new division boundaries.

 

In 1991, the consulting firm of Lapkoff & Gobalet Demographic Research, Inc. (LGDR) assisted the District in establishment of five voter divisions.  Prior to that time, directors were elected at-large.  In 2001, LGDR assisted with development of the District’s current districting plan.  Attached as Exhibit 7-A is a proposal from LGDR to complete the first phase of the post-2010 Census redistricting effort, analysis of the census data, by the end of May 2011 at a cost of $25,000, with an additional $3,000 if the consultant attends a Board meeting to present the findings.  

 

RECOMMENDATION:  District staff recommends that the Board authorize an expenditure not-to-exceed $28,000 to contract with LGDR for demographic consulting services to prepare a report that provides an objective demographic evaluation of existing voter divisions using Census 2010 data. 

 

BACKGROUND:  The firm of LGDR has extensive experience providing redistricting services in Monterey County, please refer to the Statement of Qualifications included in Exhibit 7-A.

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES:  The Fiscal Year 2010-2011 MPWMD Budget includes $25,000 to hire a demographic consulting firm to analyze the 2010 Census data and document the findings.  If the consultant attends a Board meeting to present the findings, the additional $3,000 fee could be taken from Contingencies, or transferred from another fund that will be determined at that time.

 

EXHIBITS

7-A      Proposal to Provide Demographic Redistricting Services to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

           

 

 

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