Addl Issues

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters

Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition

In The City of West Covina

(California Elections Code § 9202)

To the Honorable City Clerk of the City of West Covina:

Dated: Monday, November 24, 2008
Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their intention to circulate a petition within the City of West Covina for the purpose of submitting an initiative measure to a vote of the electorate of the City of West Covina. The purpose of this initiative measure is to change the way in which West Covina’s voters elect the five members of the City Council. A statement of the reasons for the proposed action is as follows:
The City of West Covina has outgrown the way it elects its City Council and must change that system to stay faithful to its founding purpose: to give residents a voice in their governance. Back in 1923, 507 residents banded together to incorporate West Covina as a city in order to prevent an adjacent city (Covina) from establishing a sewage farm within West Covina’s boundaries. With such a small population, West Covina’s founders were comfortable voting for their five-member City Council in “at-large” Citywide elections.
Much has changed since then. The latest U.S. census (2000) found 105,080 residents in West Covina, and the City’s website lists the current population as 111,400. That website also shows the City’s trend toward increasing cultural diversity since 1980. Since its founding, West Covina has become so populous and diverse that the old system of electing City Council members – a system that allows most (or even all) of the Council members to come from just one part of the City’s 17 square miles – no longer makes sense.
This initiative measure will change the way West Covina’s voters elect members of the City Council. The present “at-large” election of City Council members will be replaced by an election process that divides the City into five geographically compact and contiguous districts, with each one having one-fifth of the City’s population. The voters in each district will vote for a candidate that must also reside within their district to represent their interests on the City Council, and all five members of the City Council will collectively represent the City. This small but significant change will achieve the following:

Give residents better access to the City Council and a stronger voice in the political process by reducing the distance between residents and their Council member. Experience shows that the closer an elected official is to his/her constituents, the better the representation.
Give residents of each district equal representation for their diverse situations and interests as provided for in State law (California Government Code § 34871).
Ensure that the City of West Covina is in compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act (Title 42, U.S. Code, § 1973).
Encourage candidates familiar with their neighborhood’s challenges and idiosyncrasies to run and bring progressive ideas to the City Council.
Reduce the amount of money spent by City Council candidates since they will only need to obtain the votes of one-fifth of the electorate.

Provide an orderly transition from the old system to the new system.

Allow the City Council to reapportion the five districts so that as West Covina grows each Council member continues to serve the same number of constituents.

Finally, adoption of this initiative measure doesn’t have to cost anything! If enough voters sign it, then State law actually requires the City Council to consider adopting it in order to obviate the expense of conducting an election on it. (California Elections Code §§ 9214 & 9215.) The undersigned ask for your support for improving representation and accountability for all residents of West Covina by signing this petition.
Alfred L. Williams Fredrick Sykes
West Covina, CA West Covina, CA.
BALLOT TITLE AND SUMMARY

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters

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The City Attorney has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO CHANGE THE METHOD BYWHICH CITY VOTERS ELECT MEMBERS
TO THE CITYCOUNCIL FROM AN “AT-LARGE’ PROCESS TO A “BY-DISTRICT” SYSTEM

The purpose of this initiative is to amend the West Covina Municipal Code to change the method by which City voters elect members to the City Council from an “at-large” process to a “by-district” system.

The City of West Covina currently elects its City Council members with an “at-large” method of election. This means that all qualified residents in the City are eligible to seek an open seat on the City Council and, in turn, all registered voters in the City may vote for City Council members, without regard to where in the City the voters reside.

The initiative proposes that the City be divided into five (5) separate districts, with each district containing approximately one-fifth (1/5) of the City’s population. The voters in each district will vote for one (1) candidate that must reside within the district. The candidate who receives the highest vote in the district will then fill the seat designated for that district on the City Council. This initiative would change the election structure of the City of West Covina by allowing each voter to elect one (1) council member from the specific district and would eliminate the current method which permits the voters to elect all five (5) council members citywide.

This initiative defines the five (5) districts and sets forth the maps of each district. The initiative requires the City Council to adjust the boundaries of each district if a district’s population changes by more than two percent (2%) following a decennial federal census. The City Council must consider specific factors in adjusting the boundaries, and the City Council must hold at least one (1) public hearing before adopting an ordinance adjusting the boundaries.

The Initiative also requires the City Council to change the boundaries in the event the City annexes territory with a population of more than
2,000 persons.

If adopted, the initiative will not affect current council members whose terms have not yet expired, but will take effect at the first election for an open seat.

This ballot Title and Summary has been prepared pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9203.

Respectfully submitted,
Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman
City Attorney

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters

TO THE HONORABLE CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA:
Councilmanic Districts
Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9201, we the undersigned, registered qualified voters of the City of West Covina, County of Los Angeles, California, hereby propose the following initiative ordinance and petition you to submit it to the City Council of the City of West Covina for adoption without change, or for submission to the voters of the City at a general election, unless signatures equal to or in excess of 15% of the registered voters of the City are submitted, in which case if the City Council does not immediately adopt this ordinance without change, we petition you to submit this ordinance to the voters at a special election called according to law.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE IS AS FOLLOWS:
The people of the City of West Covina do hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION I. PURPOSE AND FINDINGS
The purpose and intent of this ordinance is to amend the City of West Covina Municipal Code by the adoption of this ordinance establishing five councilmanic districts in the City of West Covina and enabling West Covina’s voters to elect the members of West Covina’s City Council “by district” in accordance with California Government Code Section 34871.
This ordinance will change the way West Covina’s voters elect members of the City Council. The present “at-large” election of five City Council members will be replaced by an election process that divides the City into five geographically compact and contiguous districts, with each one having one-fifth of the City’s population. The voters in each district will vote for a candidate that must also reside within their district to represent their interests on the City Council, and all five members of the City Council will collectively represent the City.
This ordinance provides residents better access to the City Council and a stronger voice in the political process by reducing the distance between residents and their Council member. Experience shows that the closer an elected official is to his/her constituents, the better the representation.
This ordinance gives residents of each district equal representation for their diverse situations and interests as provided for in State law (California Government Code § 34871).
This ordinance ensures that the City of West Covina is in compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act (Title 42, U.S. Code, § 1973).
This ordinance encourages candidates familiar with their neighborhood’s challenges and idiosyncrasies to run and bring progressive ideas to the City Council.
This ordinance reduces the amount of money spent by City Council candidates since they will only need to obtain the votes of one-fifth of the City’s electorate.
SECTION II. SUBSTANTIVE MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT
To achieve the purpose of this ordinance, the City of West Covina Municipal Code is hereby amended by the addition of Division 3 to Article II, Chapter 2 thereto, reading in its entirety as follows:
“Division 3: ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL
Sec. 2-60. Definitions.
The term “by districts” as used in this Division 3 shall mean election of members of the legislative body by voters of the district alone, and the term “geographical area making up the district” shall mean the district.
Sec. 2-61. Number of Districts.
Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 34871, the city is divided into five (5) councilmanic districts.
Sec. 2-62. Boundaries and Numbering of Each District.
Descriptions of the boundaries of each district and their numbering are as follows (the boundaries of each district are shown on a map entitled “City of West Covina District Map,” a copy of which shall be on file in the city clerk’s office):
The geographical area making up the district numbered “DISTRICT 1” [yellow] is as follows:
All that portion of the City lying within the boundaries of the following line: Beginning at the intersection of Azusa and Puente; thence easterly along Puente Avenue to the intersection with the City boundaries; thence southerly along the City boundary to the intersection with census tract 4080.01/block 1028; thence westerly along the boundary of census tract 4080.01/block 1028 to the intersection with an imaginary line running from the southern end of Green Ridge Terrace to the intersection of Nanette Avenue and Ridgewood Drive; thence northerly along this imaginary line to the intersection with Green Ridge Terrace; thence northerly along Green Ridge Terrace to the intersection with Hillside Drive; thence westerly along Hillside Drive to the intersection with Westridge Road; thence northerly along Westridge Road to the intersection with Galster Way; thence westerly along Galster Way to the intersection with Aroma Drive; thence westerly along Aroma Drive to the intersection with Azusa Avenue; thence northerly along Azusa Avenue to the intersection with Cameron Avenue; thence westerly along Cameron Avenue to the intersection with Lark Ellen Avenue; thence northerly along Lark Ellen Avenue to the intersection with Stuart Avenue; thence easterly along Stuart Avenue to the intersection with Butterfield Road; thence northerly along Butterfield Road to the intersection with Garvey Avenue South; thence north on an imaginary line from Butterfield Road to the intersection with Interstate 10; thence easterly along Interstate 10 to the intersection with Azusa Avenue; thence northerly along Azusa Avenue to the point of beginning.
The geographical area making up the district numbered “DISTRICT 2” [purple] is as follows:
All that portion of the City lying northerly of the Interstate 10 from the westerly City boundary to Azusa Avenue and lying within the following described line: Beginning at the Intersection of Interstate 10 and the westerly City boundary line; thence in a northerly direction along City boundaries to the intersection with Azusa Avenue; thence northerly along Azusa Avenue to the intersection with Badillo Street; thence easterly along Badillo Street to the intersection with the City boundary; thence southerly along the City boundary to the intersection with Puente Avenue; thence westerly along Puente Avenue to the intersection with Azusa Avenue; thence southerly along Azusa Avenue to the intersection with Interstate 10; thence westerly along Interstate 10 to the point of beginning.
The geographical area making up the district numbered “DISTRICT 3” [green] is as follows:
All that portion of the City lying within the boundaries of the following described line: All that portion lying southerly of the Interstate 10 and beginning at the intersection of Interstate 10 and the westerly City boundary line; thence easterly along Interstate 10 to the intersection of an imaginary line with Robin Road; thence southerly to the intersection with Garvey Avenue South; thence easterly along Garvey Avenue to the intersection with Butterfield Road; thence southerly along Butterfield Road to the intersection with Stuart Avenue; thence westerly along Stuart Avenue to the intersection with Lark Ellen Avenue; thence southerly along Lark Ellen Avenue to the intersection with Cameron Avenue; thence westerly along Cameron Avenue to the intersection with Dawley Avenue; thence northerly along Dawley Avenue to the intersection with Larkwood Street; thence westerly along Larkwood Street to the intersection with Gaybar Avenue; thence southerly along Gaybar Avenue to the intersection with Charlinda Street; thence westerly along Charlinda Street to the intersection with Valinda Avenue; thence northerly along Valinda Avenue to the intersection with Mobeck Street; thence westerly along Mobeck Street to the intersection with Holly Place; thence southerly along Holly Place to the intersection with Cameron Avenue; thence westerly along Cameron Avenue to the intersection with Glendora Avenue; thence southerly along Glendora Avenue to the intersection with the distal City boundary and Glendora Avenue; thence northerly along City boundaries to the point of beginning.
The geographical area making up the district numbered “DISTRICT 4” [red] is as follows:
All that portion of the City lying within the boundaries of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of Azusa Avenue and the southern City boundary; thence easterly along the City boundary to the intersection with Temple Avenue; thence northerly along Temple Avenue to the intersection with Amar Road; thence easterly along Amar Road to the intersection with Woodlane Drive; thence along Woodlane Drive to the intersection with Ridgewood Drive thence northerly along Ridgewood Drive to the intersection with Nanette Avenue; thence northerly along an imaginary line extending from the intersection of Nanette Avenue and Ridgewood Drive to an intersection with Green Ridge Terrace; thence northerly along Green Ridge Terrace to the intersection with Hillside Drive; thence westerly along Hillside Drive to the intersection with Westridge Road; thence northerly along Westridge Road to the intersection with Galster Way; thence westerly along Galster Way to the intersection with Aroma Drive; thence westerly along Aroma Drive to the intersection with Azusa Avenue; thence northerly along Azusa Avenue to the intersection with Cameron Avenue; thence westerly along Cameron Avenue to the intersection with Dawley Avenue; thence northerly on Dawley Avenue to the intersection with Larkwood Street; thence westerly along Larkwood Street to the intersection with Gaybar Avenue; thence southerly along Gaybar Avenue to the intersection with Charlinda Street; thence westerly along Charlinda Street to the intersection with Valinda Avenue; thence northerly along Valinda Avenue to the intersection with Mobeck Street; thence westerly along Mobeck Street to the intersection with Holly Place; thence southerly along Holly Place to the intersection with Cameron Avenue; thence westerly along Cameron Avenue to the intersection with Glendora Avenue; thence southwesterly along Glendora Avenue to the first intersection with the City boundary; thence easterly along the City boundaries to the point of beginning.
The geographical area making up the district numbered “DISTRICT 5” [blue] is as follows:
All that portion of the City lying within the City boundaries of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of Temple Avenue and Amar Road; thence easterly along Amar Road to the intersection with Woodlane Drive; thence along Woodlane Drive to the intersection with Ridgewood Drive; thence northerly along Ridgewood Drive to the intersection with Nanette Avenue; thence northerly along an imaginary line extending from the intersection on Nanette Avenue and Ridgewood Drive to an intersection with Green Ridge Terrace to the intersection of this imaginary line with the boundary line of census tract 4080.01/block 1028; thence easterly along the boundary of census tract 4080.01/block 1028 to the intersection with the City boundary; thence southerly along the City boundaries to the intersection with Amar Road; thence westerly along City boundaries to the intersection with Temple Avenue; thence northerly on Temple Avenue to the point of beginning.
Sec. 2-63. Election of City Council.
Members of the city council shall be elected “by districts” as provided in California Government Code Sections 34881-34883.
Sec. 2-64. Amendment of District Boundaries.
Following each decennial federal census, and using that census as a basis, the council shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the districts of the city so that the districts shall be as nearly equal in population as practicable and in compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 1973 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended; provided, however, that no adjustment of any district shall be necessary unless that district varies in population by more than two percent from the number that is equal to one-fifth of the total city population as determined by the current federal census.
If adjustment of any district boundaries is necessary, the council shall give consideration to the following factors: (a) topography, (b) geography, (c) cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity, and compactness of territory, and (d) community of interests of the districts. Any adjustment of district boundaries shall be made by ordinance adopted by the council at a public hearing before the first day of November of the year following the year in which each decennial federal census is taken. Prior to the public hearing at which the council considers an ordinance adjusting the boundaries of a district, the council shall hold at least one public hearing on that proposal.
At the time of any annexation of territory to the city, the council shall designate, by resolution adopted by a vote of not less than a majority of the council, the contiguous district to which the annexed territory shall be a part; provided, however, that if any territory annexed to or detached from the city shall contain in excess of 2,000 persons as determined by the current federal census, the council shall, within 60 days after that annexation or detachment, redistrict the city in the manner prescribed in this section.
The term of office of any Council member who has been elected and whose term of office has not expired shall not be affected by any change in the boundaries of the district from which he or she was elected, whether or not that Council member is a resident within the boundaries of the district as adjusted. At the first election for council following adjustment of the boundaries of districts, a person meeting the requirements of California Government Code Section 34882 shall be elected to the council for each district under the readjusted district plan that has the same district number as a district whose incumbent’s term on the council is due to expire. A change in the boundaries of a district shall not be made within 45 days before the first day for circulating nomination papers for an election to the council.”
SECTION III. IMPLEMENTATION
A. On the effective date of this initiative measure as provided by California law (the “Effective Date”), all provisions of the foregoing ordinance set forth in Section II of this initiative measure are inserted into and become part of the City of West Covina Municipal Code.
B. No provision of the City of West Covina Municipal Code that is inconsistent with this initiative measure shall be enforced after the Effective Date.
SECTION IV. AMENDMENT AND REPEAL
In accordance with California Elections Code Section 9217, this ordinance and all of its provisions may be amended or repealed only by a majority vote of the electorate; provided, however, that, by this ordinance’s inclusion of Sec. 2-64 in Division 3 of Article II, Chapter 2 of the City of West Covina Municipal Code, it makes specific provision for the City Council to amend the initial boundaries established for the five councilmanic districts
SECTION V. SEVERABILITY
If any portion of this ordinance is hereafter determined to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, all remaining portions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. Each section, subsection, sentence, phrase, part or portion of this ordinance would have been adopted and passed irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, phrases, parts or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION VI. INTERPRETATION
In interpreting this ordinance or resolving any ambiguity thereof, the City Council and all other City of West Covina entities charged with implementing or enforcing this ordinance or any part of it, as well as any reviewing court, shall interpret this ordinance in the manner which most vigorously and effectively accomplishes its purposes and operative provisions.

BALLOT TITLE AND SUMMARY

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters

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The City Attorney has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO CHANGE THE METHOD BYWHICH CITY VOTERS ELECT MEMBERS
TO THE CITYCOUNCIL FROM AN “AT-LARGE’ PROCESS TO A “BY-DISTRICT” SYSTEM

The Initiative also requires the City Council to change the boundaries in the event the City annexes territory with a population of more than 2,000 persons.

If adopted, the initiative will not affect current council members whose terms have not yet expired, but will take effect at the first election for an open seat.

This ballot Title and Summary has been prepared pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9203.

Respectfully submitted,
Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman
City Attorney

Notice to the public: This petition may be circulated by a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer. You have the right to ask (Ca. Elections Code § 101., §104. and § 9020).

Signer must personally affix his/her own printed name, signature, resident address and city.

NAME (AS REGISTERED)

RESIDENT ADDRESS (ONLY)

WITH CITY & ZIP

OFFICIAL USE (ONLY)

EXAMPLE › Print: John Smith

100 N. City Hall St.

     Sign: John Smith

West Covina, Ca. 91790

1 Print

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                              BALLOT TITLE AND SUMMARY

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters. The City Attorney has prepared the following title and summary
of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO CHANGE THE METHOD BY
WHICH CITY VOTERS ELECT MEMBERS TO THE CITY

COUNCIL FROM AN “AT-LARGE’ PROCESS TO A “BY- DISTRICT” SYSTEM

The Initiative also requires the City Council to change the boundaries in the event the City annexes territory with a population of more than 2,000 persons.

If adopted, the initiative will not affect current council members whose terms have not yet expired, but will take effect at the first election for an open seat.

This ballot Title and Summary has been prepared pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9203.

Respectfully submitted
Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman
City Attorney

Notice to the public: This petition may be circulated by a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer. You have the right to ask (Ca. Elections Code § 101.,§ 104. and § 9020.).

Signer must personally affix his/her own printed name, signature, resident address and city.

NAME (AS REGISTERED)

RESIDENT ADDRESS (ONLY)

WITH CITY & ZIP

OFFICIAL USE(ONLY)

EXAMPLE › Print: John Smith

100 N. City Hall St.

Sign: John Smith

West Covina, Ca. 91790

16 Print

Sign

17 Print

Sign

18 Print

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19 Print

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20 Print

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21 Print

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22 Print

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BALLOT TITLE AND SUMMARY

Initiative Measure to be Submitted Directly to the Voters

The City Attorney has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO CHANGE THE METHOD BY WHICH CITY VOTERS ELECT MEMBERS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM AN “AT-LARGE’ PROCESS TO A “BY DISTRICT” SYSTEM

The Initiative also requires the City Council to change the boundaries in the event the City annexes territory with a population of more than 2,000 persons.

If adopted, the initiative will not affect current council members whose terms have not yet expired, but will take effect at the first election for an open seat.

This ballot Title and Summary has been prepared pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9203.

Respectfully submitted:
Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman
City Attorney

DistrictMapRev1_3

DECLARATION OF CIRCULATOR (to be completed after the above Signatures have been obtained
Ca. Elections Code § 9209)

(Must be in circulators handwriting)

I, _________________________________________________________Declare:

(Print name)

My residence address is ______________________________,______________in L.A. Co., Ca._________

I am a registered voter in the City of______________________________________; (Zip Code)

(Print name of City)

I personally circulated the attached petition for signing. I witnessed the appended signatures being written and to my best information and belief each signature is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.

The signatures were obtained between __________________ and _____________________

(Month, Day, Year) (Month, Day, Year)

I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on ___________________________ at_____________________________________, California.

(Date) (Print name of City)

__________________________________________________________