Folsom City Council holds first redistrict hearing

The Folsom City Council held the first of five required public hearings Tuesday for redistricting the city into five voting wards. The Folsom City Charter currently allows council members to be elected "at large" to represent all citizens throughout the city. Under the at-large method, Folsom residents vote for council members regardless of where they live in the city. Under pressure from the state, the city is now transitioning into a by-district election, whereby council members are elected by voters within each council member's district. To establish these districts, five public hearings are required, according to state law. The 2002 California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) prohibits at-large elections that impair the ability of a protected class (race, color or language minority group) to elect candidates of their choice or their ability to influence the election's outcome. The city received a demand letter from the state last year challenging its at-large election system, according to staff reports. After the council's Jan. 12 decision to table the matter, the city was served with a California Voting Rights Act lawsuit Jan. 20. Folsom city attorney Steven Wang said Gov. Gavin Newsom's suspension of the California Voting Rights Act timelines during 2020 resulted in the city getting the lawsuit dismissed March 17. Wang said the move to a by-district election system is based primarily on financial consideration to protect taxpayers' resources, safeguard the city's financial future and retain local control on how districts will be drawn. The city is moving to a by-district election system where council members are elected by voters residing within a council member's district. To establish districts, five public hearings are required. The next public hearing for further public input about council districts is scheduled for Oct. 12. Two additional public hearings with proposed district maps are scheduled for November and December. A final public hearing to introduce an actual ordinance is set for January 2022. "We have four subsequent meetings that are essentially workshops," said Mayor Mike Kozlowski.Hundreds of jurisdictions are going through the same redistricting process that Folsom is, according to Doug Yoakam of National Demographics Corporation, the city's redistricting consultant.State and federal law requires that each district must have substantially equal population, as determined by the Census. "Once you start redistricting, you must redistrict every 10 years with the Census," Yoakam said.To increase public awareness of the transition, the city has activated a variety of public communication channels to engage the Folsom community. Districting information is featured on the city's website and City newsletters. Yoakum said Folsom residents will soon be able to submit draft maps by either drawing on a paper map or through an electronic mapping software made available to the public. The Folsom public members are encouraged to provide input via emails to attydept@folsom.ca.us. Input can also be dropped off at City Hall, officials said. Mangini Ranch Trails update In other business, the Council approved a $180,239 contract to design the Mangini Ranch Trails Project. Out of four applicants, the council chose Kimley-Horn Associates for design and engineering services. With over 30 miles of planned trails, The Mangini Ranch Trails Project area is bounded by Alder Creek Parkway to the north, Old Placerville Road to the east, East Bidwell Street to the west, and White Rock Road to the South. Five miles of trails have already been built. The city budget of the entire trails project is estimated at $920,000, officials said. The Council also approved the "Large Lot Final Map" for the Mangini Ranch Phase Three subdivision, creating 14 large lots. Large Lots I-4 and 6-9 will later be subdivided into smaller single-family residential lots, according to staff. The remaining large lots include a future elementary school site, a middle school site, a future park site and three open space parcels. Meanwhile, the Council also voted to raise fees at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval Aug. 3 of a fee increase from $5 to $7 for ages two and older, effective Oct. 1.