NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS / LADWP
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Soledad Garcia Chair
CLARIFICATION OF DWP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES
Saturday, June 7, 2008
DWP Auditorium, 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you, to the 42 attending Neighborhood Council members, for your patience and understanding on Saturday's shortened and rushed Agenda which was done in lieu of the DWP 08-09 Budget presentation by Greg Black.
I have been asked to clarify a statement made at the Saturday meeting concerning DWP oversight committees. Below is my description and explanation of their "function":
The Neighborhood Councils/LADWP Memorandum of Understanding Oversight Committee. (NC/LADWP MOU OSC)
NC/DWP OSC is the only City wide MOU between 75 certified Neighborhood Councils and the largest City Department. The first MOU was signed in 2005 for two years and has since had a second renewal for five years to terminate in 2012.
The basis of the MOU is transparency and understanding of the operations of DWP. Therefore, the responsibility of the OSC and DWP is to "monitor adherence to the MOU, to designate issues as significant for purposes of DWP's notification obligation" and to implement the process within a specific timeline.
The DWP Board of Commissioners
The Mayor appointed two lawyers, a businessman, a former legislator, and a community service person. The members serve on Committees, they review and approve the budgets, significant projects and set policy for the General Manager to implement. The Board is scheduled to meet on a regular basis on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Special meetings may be called with 24 hours advance notice. All meeting, except for closed sessions, are open to the public. The public may address the Board on agenda or non agenda items.
The DWP Citizens' Committee
During the 2008 Rate Action City Council presentations, the DWP Board President recommended the formation of the Infrastructure Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Committee was to include two DWP Board members, business representatives, and community representatives. The function of the Infrastructure OSC was to assess the progress of the Water and Power infrastructure implementation. It is unknown at this time whether it is yet in the formative stages or has been activated.
The City Council DWP Oversight Committee
It would appear, that in lieu of the Neighborhood Councils' recommended Rate Payers' Advocate, the City Council moved to establish a DWP OSC composed of an appointment by each of the 15 Councilmembers. City Council and DWP are meeting to structure the oversight committee.
City Council Adjunct Oversight Committees
City Council also moved to establish two additional Council committees: a Council administrative oversight and a low income/lifeline Council appointed DWP oversight committee. They are in the formative stages.
State Regulatory Agencies
Since LADWP is a Utility entity, there are State regulatory agencies that become involved. As DWP is a Municipal organization, the PUC with its 200 agents, is not directly committed to audit and assess DWP rates as it did with Edison . ( Edison 's rate increases were cut by 50 %.)
As the descriptions indicate, only NC/LADWP MOU OSC is alive and functioning under an agreement between DWP and 75 Neighborhood Councils. The DWP Board deals directly with the function of DWP. If there is interest in any Council/NC membership oversight committee, contact your Councilperson or be endorsed by NC Boards. No one would be better to serve than members of the DWP MOU OSC.
By virtue of NCs' flexibility in allowing DWP to present the 08-09 Budget Saturday, NCs may provide budget input before the final Board approval on June 17th.
Look forward to having time for discussions and comments at the next OSC meeting in August. I have a question in this regard: do you feel the OSC should meet on a different day than LANCC? Or, should OSC meet a half hour earlier on the same day for LANCC attendees?
Soledad