RIVERSIDE - During a public hearing held the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 15, the Western Municipal Water District (Western) Board of Directors received an update on the agency’s redistricting efforts. Westerns’ Board moved to set a second public hearing to review final draft division maps for Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 at 6 p.m.

The public hearing was designed to introduce the redistricting process, receive community input, and share proposed mapping options that could reflect Western’s updated division boundaries.

Recap of the public hearing

Wednesday’s meeting allowed for public input on three map options reflecting possible changes to Western’s boundaries. The options presented: 

• Showed a relatively equal resident population per division; 
• Demonstrated that each division is connected geographically; 
• Minimized dividing existing neighborhoods and communities; and
• Maintained Western’s majority-minority divisions.

Western is not allowed to draw divisions to favor or disfavor political incumbents, candidates, or political parties.

“We are proud to put forward thoughtful options to both educate and engage the public in a process that only comes around once every ten years. Western is committed to working with the public to update its divisional boundaries in a way that provides fair and effective representation for everyone,” said Western General Manager Craig Miller. 

“When considering changes to Western’s division boundaries, we know how important it is to maintain the connections within existing communities and neighborhoods throughout our service area. Each of the map options presented were developed with this in mind, along with the criteria provided by the state of California. We’re very pleased that none of the options presented require substantial changes to our current division boundaries,” said Miller. 

Next steps

Western is committed to consistent and transparent communications with customers throughout the redistricting process. There are several ways to get involved:  

• Learn about the redistricting process by visiting, wmwd.com/Redistricting. 
• Attend the second public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 at 6 p.m. at Western’s Board Room, 14205 Meridian Pkwy, Riverside, CA 92518. Attendees can also participate via Zoom, link available at wmwd.com/BoardMeeting. Community members can submit a formal public comment during the public hearing.
• Send your input, draft maps and ideas about division boundaries by visiting wmwd.com/PublicComment no later than Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. 
• All formal written public comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing date on Tuesday. Feb. 1, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.
   

What is redistricting? 

Redistricting is the process of adjusting the boundaries of election districts for cities, counties, school boards, and water agencies. Local governments must redistrict following population shifts based on federal census data once every ten years to ensure communities have equal access to political representation. This process is important in ensuring each elected board member represents about the same number of constituents and in determining which neighborhoods and communities are grouped into divisions to elect Western board members.

To view proposed maps, to get more information about Western’s redistricting process, or to stay informed and offer input, 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.