Redistricting 2024-2025
Adopted Legal Description of District November 20,2024
EMWD Board Member Map as of December 12, 2024
Background
Under the provisions of the Municipal Water District Law of 1911, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is required to adjust the boundaries of its five Directors’ divisions such that each division will have as near to equal population as practicable based on the results of the most recent federal decennial census. The requirement for this adjustment, which was most recently completed in February 2022 using data from the 2020 Census, is outlined in Division 20, Part 4, Chapter 6 of the California Water Code, and Division 21, Chapter 8, Section 22000 of the California Elections Code. This process will not impact the term of current directors.
Why does EMWD need to redistrict again?
Under California law, the boundaries for EMWD’s five divisions are typically redrawn every 10 years following the U.S. Census, so that each division is similarly equal in population. This process, called redistricting, is important in ensuring each elected board member represents about the same number of constituents.
After the results of the 2020 Census were released in August 2021, EMWD updated its division boundaries via the redistricting process to account for a population increase of over 115,000 people within its service area since the 2010 Census. This process was completed in February 2022, and resulted in acceptably balanced divisions, with an approximate 9% spread between EMWD’s largest and smallest divisions (Divisions 3 and 4, respectively).
Subsequently, in 2024, a reorganization process allowing Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) and Rainbow Municipal Water District (RMWD) to detach from the San Diego County Water Authority and instead receive wholesale water supply service from EMWD was completed.
Together, FPUD and RMWD (which are located in northern San Diego County), added approximately 60,000 customers to EMWD’s service area and created a spread of nearly 37% between Division 2 (which became EMWD’s largest division) and Division 4. In response to this increase, EMWD’s Board of Directors initiated a new redistricting process to adjust its division boundaries.
What is Redistricting?
Redistricting determines what neighborhoods and communities are grouped into an EMWD division to elect their respective board members. With the addition of FPUD and RMWD, EMWD, a government-authorized Special District, now provides service to nearly 950,000 customers across a 682-square mile service area that stretches from Moreno Valley to northern San Diego County, and from the San Jacinto Valley to the Mead Valley area. Each division should represent approximately 186,000 people.
Adjustments to division boundaries should help create divisions that are equal in population as far as practicable and may also factor in topography and geography; keeping communities of interest together; and cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity, and compactness of territory.
Your input is important in creating a redistricting plan that provides fair and effective representation for everyone. EMWD will be holding a public workshop on December 19th, 2024, to provide an overview of the redistricting process. This will be followed by two public hearings (anticipated to occur during the first quarter of 2025) prior to the adoption of revised division boundaries by EMWD’s Board of Directors. There will be opportunities for public comment at all three events.
Why should I get involved?
You know your community and neighborhood. Your voice is important to help us make informed decisions about where to draw district lines. Keeping communities of interest together in the same district can help achieve more responsive representation.
How can I get involved?
Redistricting Schedule
Notice of Public Workshop Adjustments to the Eastern Municipal Water District’s Division Boundaries
Notice of Public Hearing:
The first public hearing will be held February 19, 2025.
The second public hearing will be held March 19, 2025.
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Eastern Municipal Water District will conduct a public hearing on February 19, 2025 at 2270 Trumble Road, Perris, California, at which time the Board of Directors will receive a report and allow public comment on the process by which EMWD’s division boundaries will be adjusted pursuant to the Municipal Water District Law of 1911. Comments received from the Board of Directors and the public will be considered and the adoption of the revised division boundaries will occur at a subsequent public hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date.
The Board anticipates acting at the close of the second public hearing on March 19, 2025 to select a preferred director division plan for final adoption by the Board.