The Huntington Park City Council on a 4-0-1 vote authorized staff to hire a consultant to analyze whether the city should transition from at-large to district-based council elections, council members said during a study-session item.

The vote authorizes the city manager to publish a request for qualifications and retain a demographer and legal analysis to evaluate districting options and compliance with state law; the staff report lists the fiscal impact as “to be determined.”

The item is intended to start a formal review, not to adopt a change. "Any city under 100,000 residents can by decision of the council go to a by district election system or the council could also vote to, to go to the voters, via a ballot measure," the city attorney told the council, summarizing legal options and required steps. The attorney outlined the typical sequence: a resolution of intent, hiring a demographer, four required public hearings (two to gather community input on demographics and “communities of interest,” two on draft maps), and analysis for compliance with the California Voter Rights Act (CVRA). Public map submissions would also be analyzed.

Council members said they supported analysis and community input rather than an immediate decision. Council member Sanabria moved to "start the process ... to hire the consultants to provide an analysis, to see what a process would be like to move from an at large to a by district," and the motion carried after a roll call. Council member Macias recorded an abstention; Council members Martis, Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez and Mayor Maria Flores voted yes.

Legal counsel warned the council that the CVRA differs from the federal Voting Rights Act and that a city can receive litigation prompting a change unless it follows a careful process; the attorney noted that adopting a resolution of intent can create a 90-day “safe harbor” during which no CVRA demand letter may be filed. The staff report did not list a final fiscal estimate for the consultant work; the council instructed staff to develop a scope of work and bring procurement documents back for implementation steps or additional approvals as required.

The council did not adopt any map or resolution tonight; the analysis and required public hearings would occur later if the city proceeds. The item’s proponents said the study would produce data and options for the council and public to consider before any formal decision or ballot measure.

City staff and legal counsel emphasized the public-hearing steps and possible technical work the demographer would perform; council members urged broad outreach and cautioned that any future action must be transparent and community-driven.

The council’s action authorizes staff to begin the procurement process for a consultant and to return with contract details and recommended timelines.