Transition to By-Division Electoral System

The Santa Margarita Water District is transitioning to a by-division electoral system for its governing board, a procedural change intended to restructure how board members are elected by geographic division rather than at-large. This administrative action, documented through a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Exemption filed on February 24, 2023, and publicly noticed on December 17, 2025, is classified as exempt under CEQA categories 15268 and 15320, as it constitutes an internal governance adjustment with no physical construction, environmental impact, or public funding component. The transition involves defining electoral boundaries within the district’s jurisdictional area, which includes Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Talega, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and Coto de Caza, and adopting a formal board resolution to implement division-based elections. The project does not involve procurement, contracting, or vendor selection; there is no contract value, pricing structure, delivery schedule, or any federal acquisition regulation (FAR) clauses applicable. The district operates under state law, with all filings submitted physically to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder and accompanied by a small environmental filing fee paid to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Contact for the initiative is Tricia Butler, Chief Engineer, with administrative oversight provided by General Manager Daniel Ferons. No contracting officer, technical representative, or procurement role is designated, as this is a regulatory and internal governance change rather than a competitive solicitation or service contract.