What is the best way to carve up Joshua Tree? Vertical stripes? By neighborhood? Or based on land use as in commercial, rural residential or in-town living? These were the issues on the table at last night’s public hearing and meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District Board. Reporter Mike Lipsitz files this report…
At last night’s public hearing at the Joshua Basin Water District, the board was aided by guidance from the outside contractor helping to usher along the process of moving from at-large to district-based elections. The hearing was largely about how best to carve up the district into five areas of roughly equal population, all within criteria mandated by the California Voter Rights Act. From the few members of the public who commented, the board heard concerns that Joshua Tree could be losing a sense of community, as well as questions about how district boundaries might impact representation of various voter blocks, and issues that could emerge after dividing up the district. Ultimately, the board settled on a preferred map option and voted to move along the process toward its ultimate adoption. The public will have another opportunity to weigh in on the proposed boundaries at the next hearing which set for April 10.
