Desert Water Agency will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 at the Henry V. Lozano Community Center, 12800 W. Arroyo Drive, Desert Hot Springs, to share information and gather input on the proposed transition from at-large to district elections.
DWA currently has an at-large system that allows customers to elect all five members of the Board of Directors. Elections by division will break the service area into five divisions with customers voting only for candidates from within their own division.
The move to voting by division avoids a potentially costly lawsuit. Various Coachella Valley cities and school districts have moved to district elections in recent years for similar reasons.
To assist in the process, DWA has hired National Demographics Corporation, the firm that did work for Palm Springs and Cathedral City in their districting efforts.
The upcoming meeting is an opportunity for customers to learn more about the process and provide feedback on what should be considered as division maps are drafted.
Next steps include drafting map options, more public hearings to review those maps and then a final public hearing to adopt a map in May.
For more information on the upcoming meeting or the transition to elections by divisions, contact Ashley Metzger, Desert Water Agency Outreach & Conservation Manager at Ashley@dwa.org or (760) 323-4971 ext. 184.