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7.B. - Page 2 of 83 based elections. This allows the City to retain its ability to determine and adopt an appropriate district map instead of having the risk of a court doing so. The City has established a timeline for conducting a public process to solicit public input and testimony on proposed district -based electoral maps (Attachment A). The timeline includes the dates for the five required public hearings. The City must complete the transition process by March 31, 2019 to cap the prospective plaintiff's attorneys' fees at $30,000. Pursuant to Elections Code section 10010, regarding the transition to district elections, the City Council held public hearings on October 22, 2018, and November 19, 2018, to receive public input regarding the composition of the district maps. Public Outreach Since the November 19, 2018 meeting, City staff has conducted significant public outreach to seek community feedback. This feedback has been provided through comments at community forums, written comments, and submitted draft district maps. Most comments and questions received were related to the City's district election transition process and how to use the mapping tools. The City created a website accessible in English, Spanish and Chinese that provides information to the public along with options for creating district maps in paper form and using an online districting software tool. In addition to the website and mapping kits, staff published a blog post on the topic, hosted five community forums in January and February, met with the newly formed Latino Leadership Group, conducted an interview with the local Spanish radio station (Casa Circulo Cultural), and provided paper mapping kits to Neighborhood Associations and community partners. Mapping kits were also made available at City facilities and on the City's website, and placed as ads in the San Mateo Daily Journal, the Redwood Shores Pilot newsletter, in the EI Reportero (Spanish), and in the World Journal (Chinese). Furthermore, a dedicated email address (Districtelections@redwoodcity.org) was created to receive community feedback and for the public to submit scans and pictures of their completed mapping kits. For each map submitted, the City's demographic consultants professionally produced the map graphic and generated the map's population and other demographic details. Submitted maps were also posted on the City's District Election webpage. As of January 25, the City received 29 maps and comments (Attachment B) and engaged over 125 residents. ANALYSIS In addition to the public input received during the public hearings on the composition of the City's yet -to - be -formed voting districts, the City must ensure compliance with the following state and federally - mandated criteria: Legal Requirements: • Each council district shall contain a nearly equal population as required by law; and • Each council district shall be drawn in a manner that complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act. No council district shall be drawn with race as the predominant factor in violation of the principles City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 146