City of Los Angeles

Measure RRR - Majority Approval Required

THE ISSUE: Shall the Charter be amended to: (1) add qualification requirements, stipends and removal protections for the DWP Board; (2) expand the Board to seven members; (3) require DWP to prepare four-year Strategic Plans for Council and Mayoral approval; (4) modify DWP’s contracting, rate-setting and other authority; (5) permit future alternatives to existing civil service standards for DWP employees through collective bargaining; and (6) require monthly billing?

THE SITUATION: DWP is a City-owned utility. DWP is governed by a Board appointed by the Mayor, and approved by the City Council. The Board sets rates with Council and Mayoral approval. DWP bills residential customers every two months. The City has identified the need for improvements regarding oversight, transparency and operations of DWP.

This measure would amend the Charter to:

·         Expand the Board from five to seven members, add qualification requirements, authorize stipends, and establish a process to appeal removal;

·         Modify the General Manager appointment process;

·         Double the minimum budget of the Office of Public Accountability (OPA);

·         Allow the Council and Mayor to reappoint the OPA Executive Director (Ratepayer Advocate) for an additional term;

·         Establish a DWP Analyst Office to provide policy/fiscal analysis to the Board;

·         Require DWP to prepare four-year Strategic Plans for Council and Mayoral approval, consisting of projects, programs, and revenue requirements;

·         Allow the Board to set rates, consistent with the Strategic Plan;

·         Expand the Board’s contracting authority and modify Council’s contracting oversight;

·         Allow Council to:

•        approve an alternative to civil service standards for DWP employees (developed through collective bargaining)

•        shift salary setting authority for DWP employees to the Board;

• Require monthly billing by July 1, 2020.