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background informational January 4 hearing. He reported he will draft at least three maps for the <br /> February 3 hearing, along with the submission of any publicly-drawn draft maps. The February 3 <br /> hearing is the time for the City Council to start narrowing down options. <br /> Mr. Wagaman briefly reviewed the six criteria required by state law for drawing the districts. He <br /> emphasized the primary goal is to have four equally-sized districts to represent the City's 79,894 <br /> residents according to the 2020 United States census. He noted the City is ethnically diverse but his <br /> preliminary analysis shows it would not be possible to draw a district where a protected class is a <br /> majority, most likely leaving the federal Voting Rights Act out of Pleasanton's process aside from <br /> identifying communities of interest. He reported he is not from Pleasanton. <br /> Mayor Brown opened the public hearing. <br /> Ms. Jensen advised she does not support Mr. Pegeron's comment about allowing for maximum density <br /> due to pollution and traffic concerns. <br /> In response to Ms. Jensen, Mayor Brown clarified the City is looking for large natural dividing lines such <br /> as everything west of Interstate 680. Mr. Wagaman advised there are prescribed criteria under both <br /> state and federal law with the latter stating race cannot be the predominant factor. Mayor Brown <br /> directed the public to the City's website where residents can draw maps. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown, Mr. Wagaman clarified the public has been given several options because <br /> different tools work better for different people, including a paper tool where residents can draw their <br /> proposed lines by hand. He advised the timeline is short due to state law and not a City Council <br /> decision. <br /> Andre Pegeron endorsed centering a district surrounding the downtown area to ensure his district is <br /> like-minded. <br /> Bryan Tor expressed uncertainty over what constitutes a community of interest. <br /> Mr. Wagaman clarified determining communities of interest is part of the purpose of the meeting. He <br /> noted he has already received three different definitions of what constitutes the downtown area. <br /> Mr. Tor advised the City Council needs to provide direction on the boundaries of downtown, and <br /> considerations of a neighborhood, a Homeowners' Association (HOA), or school enrollment zone. <br /> In response to Mr. Tor, Mr. Wagaman advised the City Council can provide broad direction such as <br /> treating every HOA as a community of interest or just certain HOAs. He stated there are no limitations <br /> in the law here and advised this is part of why all discussions are public. <br /> In response to Mr. Tor, Mayor Brown confirmed they have not yet provided any direction and noted the <br /> City Council is there now to listen. She explained the City Council will guide the City's consultants after <br /> the public hearing and will continue to gather public feedback until the approval of a final map. <br /> Sandy Yamaota advised Ruby Hill should be moved to a different part of the City instead of the one to <br /> its immediate north for reasons of economic equity. <br /> Mayor Brown closed the public hearing. <br /> Councilmember Arkin would like school boundaries to be considered towards defining communities of <br /> interest. She agreed defined neighborhoods like Birdland and Ruby Hill should not be divided. She <br /> noted public maps she has seen feature jagged lines making contiguous but not compact districts. She <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 17 January 18,2022 <br />