A. The Commission shall operate under the provisions of the Commissioners’ Manual, as adopted by resolution of the City Council, except when superseded by the City Charter or the provisions of this Chapter.

B. After selection of the five (5) At-Large Commissioners pursuant to Charter Section 9.5(b)(6)(iii), the Commission shall elect one (1) of its members to serve as Chair and one (1) to serve as the Vice-Chair. The term of the Chair and Vice-Chair is the term of their service on the Commission as defined in Charter Section 9.5(b)(2), unless the Chair or Vice-Chair resign the position or is removed from the position by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Commission. The Commissioner selected by the body to fill a vacancy in the position of Chair or Vice-Chair shall serve the remainder of the term.

C. Once all commissioners and alternate commissioners have completed training related to their service on the Commission, the Commission shall convene for the purpose of drawing City Council district boundaries.

D. For the purpose of selecting the At-Large Commissioners and At-Large Alternates, a quorum of the eight (8) District Commissioners is always five (5), and five (5) affirmative votes are always needed to take action unless otherwise specified by statute.

E. A quorum of the full thirteen (13) member Commission is always seven (7), and seven (7) affirmative votes are always needed to take action unless otherwise specified by statute.

F. Commissioners may make a request for a Leave of Absence from a Commission meeting, or for a period of time not to exceed three (3) months, by submitting a written request to the City Clerk by 5:00pm on the business day prior to the Commission meeting. The temporary vacancy will be filled as specified in Charter Section 9.5(e)(3).

G. The Commission shall comply with all relevant provisions of the Open Government Ordinance (Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 2.06).

H. The Commission shall hold at least three (3) public hearings, each at a different location, to solicit public input on redistricting priorities and allow for submission of redistricting proposals by members of the public and public review of and input on any map proposed to be adopted by the Commission. The Commission shall display draft redistricting maps for public comment in a manner designed to achieve the widest public access reasonably possible and shall provide ample opportunity for public input.

I. Commissioners are strictly prohibited from communicating with or initiating or receiving communications about redistricting matters from anyone outside of a public meeting or hearing; however, communications outside of a meeting between Commissioners, staff, legal counsel, and consultants retained by the City, that are otherwise permitted by the Brown Act (California Government Code Section 54950 et seq.) or its successor, are not prohibited. The receipt of written communications (whether through paper or electronic format) from the public submitted at a public meeting of the Commission or submitted prior to a Citizens Redistricting Commission meeting to the Secretary and made part of the public record are not prohibited. Any communication received by a Commissioner inconsistent with this subsection shall be promptly disclosed to the Secretary for the public record. Failure to disclose received communications or a Commissioner’s response to such communications may be considered gross misconduct and grounds for removal from the Commission.

J. Alternate commissioners may attend Commission meetings, other than closed session meetings under the Brown Act, and may give public comment to the Commission. Unless appointed to serve on the Commission, Alternate Commissioners may not vote in Commission meetings or hearings.

K. Upon the expiration of thirty (30) days after the Council’s final approval by ordinance of the Commission’s redistricting plan, the City Clerk shall submit the new district boundaries to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters for implementation starting with the next General Municipal Election. (Ord. 7699-NS § 1 (part), 2020)