RIVERSIDE – Western Municipal Water District’s (Western) Board of Directors approved new division boundaries following a continued public hearing held on Wednesday, Feb. 16. This was the third public meeting in Western’s redistricting process. After reviewing the final map options and additional public input during the second public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 2, this final meeting was designed for the Board to formally adopt a new division map that will go into effect beginning with the November 2022 election. The final map is now available at wmwd.com/Redistricting.
“Redistricting is an important democratic process, as it is meant to protect voter’s rights to fair and equal representation, while still respecting communities of interest,” said General Manager Craig Miller. “We’re very pleased the new map option approved by our Board of Directors does not require major changes to Western’s current division boundaries.”
Recap of the public hearing
During Wednesday’s meeting, the Board moved to unanimously approve a final map option that reinforces their commitment to maximizing voters’ rights to fair and equal representation while ensuring neighborhoods and communities remained whole. The option selected achieves the following:
- Preserves a relatively equal resident population per division;
- Demonstrates that each division is connected geographically;
- Minimizes dividing existing neighborhoods and communities;
- Maintains Western’s majority-minority divisions; and
- Ensures neighborhoods and communities remained whole.
How this will affect Western customers
For most residents that fall within Western’s divisions, there will not be significant change. However, a small percentage of customers will now reside within a new division where their vote will now be counted during the November 2022 election.
Now that Western’s Board of Directors has approved the division map, it must be submitted to the Registrar of Voters for final approval. Access to the approved division map can be found on Western’s website at wmwd.com/Redistricting.
What happens next?
Beginning with the 2022 election, the new division boundaries will be in effect for 10 years, until the next U.S. Census takes place, and Western will follow California law and undertake the redistricting process again.
With Western’s updated divisions approved, an election will be held in November to select members for the Board of Directors. To ensure customers know how their vote is being counted, reference Western’s updated division map.
About the redistricting process
Redistricting is the process of adjusting the boundaries of election districts for cities, counties, school boards and water agencies, following population shifts based on federal census data once every ten years. Western started the redistricting process in Fall 2021 by holding a public hearing to introduce the process and receive community input on proposed mapping options and accepting additional public comments by mail or email.
Residents with questions can call Western at 951.571.7100 or send an email to outreach@wmwd.com. For Western’s adopted division map, FAQs and list of trusted websites with more information about redistricting in California, visit wmwd.com/Redistricting.
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Western Municipal Water District is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water and wastewater (sewer) services to nearly a million people, both retail and wholesale customers who live, work and play within 527 square miles in one of California’s most populous regions. Learn more: wmwd.com.