[0:01] Regular basis. Understanding,
[0:08] his dedication to protecting the
[0:11] water system in general is
[0:13] admirable. I can tell you I
[0:17] spend many hours traveling with
[0:19] dave up-and-down owens valley
[0:27] recruiting efforts, and he was
[0:31] instrumental in drafting,
[0:34] policy, and also the work under
[0:41] the water agreement. Not only
[0:43] is he a really good attorney,
[0:45] who is also a great person too.
[0:47] I think that's very important to
[0:48] all of us. You know? He is a
[0:51] friend. I hate to see him go,
[0:54] but I know he is going to a
[0:56] great organization. I know the
[0:58] manager over there, and know
[1:01] they're very happy to have him
[1:03] come over. Our loss is their
[1:05] gain.
[1:06] a couple of things, I don't want
[1:11] you to forget where you came
[1:13] from, and you wearing the water
[1:18] and power hat, hopefully it fits
[1:20] your head --
[1:21] [laughter]
[1:23] all right. And the last thing I
[1:26] want to do, this is something
[1:27] that was prepared by the water
[1:33] division and aqueduct, where he
[1:35] spent time working with them,
[1:39] and for those of who you have
[1:40] been on owens lake, you know
[1:42] there are salt crystals that
[1:45] form on the lake, it comes from
[1:47] the mountains, it dissolves,
[1:49] runs down with the water when it
[1:51] rains, deposits and forms
[1:57] crystals. So, dave edwards, you
[2:01] have been worth your salt --
[2:02] [laughter]
[2:06] [indiscernible] personality --
[2:08] congratulations, from the water
[2:11] and aqueduct division in
[2:16] september of 2020 -- 2022.
[2:17] [applause]
[2:35] >>speaker: it's hard to know
[2:36] where to start. I came to la to
[2:48] work here. I have had the
[2:52] distinct honor to have been
[2:54] given incredible opportunities
[2:56] by julie riley, whose leadership
[3:01] is unmatched, as you all know.
[3:06] by marty adams, my first
[3:11] assignment was from marty in the
[3:13] great basin in 2011. And the
[3:16] thing that makes this job great
[3:18] and easy and exciting and
[3:22] challenging and all of that, is
[3:23] the staff that's here. I'm --
[3:28] you know -- I come to work, I
[3:31] just absorb the work that is
[3:33] being done by all of you, and
[3:35] the talent, the knowledge, the
[3:47] work ethic is unbelievable to
[3:50] me. I'm humbled. It's been the
[3:52] joy of my life at this point to
[3:54] have served the city and the
[3:56] department. I appreciate this.
[4:00] all of you at the aqueduct. I
[4:03] could start naming names, but
[4:07] you know who you are. I love
[4:09] the place. I'm going to miss
[4:10] it. Thank you, president
[4:13] mcclain-hill, for all the kind
[4:15] words, and all of on you board.
[4:17] I truly appreciate it. I'm
[4:19] especially proud of the work we
[4:20] did on the tribal engagement
[4:22] policy, and not to remiss, the
[4:28] meeting with manly,
[4:34] [indiscernible] the salt has
[4:36] certain -- [indiscernible] that,
[4:38] sort of, thing. Anyway. Thank
[4:43] you. Thanks michelle, my
[4:45] partner, for coming. You know,
[4:48] I love you all. And I'll be
[4:50] around.
[4:50] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[4:52] thank you.
[4:53] [applause]
[5:11] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[5:12] thank you. And with that, we
[5:13] will move to public comment.
[5:15] >>board secretary: we have 22,
[5:17] madam president. You will have
[5:25] two minutes for public comment.
[5:27] first speaker is dominique
[5:30] estevan, followed by laura
[5:34] guarana.
[5:41] >>speaker: good morning. My
[5:42] name is dominic eastman, I am
[5:44] the regional manager of
[5:46] operations at the health
[5:52] foundation, the affordable
[5:54] housing 1179 units that we have
[5:58] acquired at our own cost without
[6:02] assistance without any outside
[6:04] source. The median unit size is
[6:10] less than 200 square foot per
[6:16] unit we do not cause for utility
[6:20] costs. The buildings are old,
[6:22] some of them are historical.
[6:24] we're unable to meter each
[6:27] individual unit, and we really
[6:28] don't want to. [indiscernible]
[6:35] demographic. We continue to
[6:46] provide affordable housing to
[6:47] resident who is may not qualify
[6:49] for the project base or subsidy
[6:51] base housing. Thank you.
[7:03] >>board secretary: next speaker
[7:04] is laura garana followed by ann
[7:09] kim. I'm sorry. Laura garcia.
[7:13] please excuse me.
[7:25] >>speaker: hi everyone. Good
[7:26] morning. My name is laura
[7:28] garcia, I'm with communities for
[7:29] a better environment. We're an
[7:31] environmental justice
[7:32] organization to build people in
[7:35] power in low-income communities
[7:37] of color. We part of the la
[7:40] coalition [indiscernible] so,
[7:44] what I do at cbe is work with
[7:47] communities across the state
[7:48] around climate resilience and
[7:51] adaptation. Why is that so
[7:52] important for us to talk about
[7:53] here? A lot of our members are
[7:55] going to be speaking about how
[7:57] power shutoffs, water shutoffs
[8:00] really impact their daily lives
[8:01] and while of that is so true,
[8:04] and that is what needs to lead
[8:06] this decision, ultimately power
[8:08] shutoffs are -- do inhibit
[8:12] people's ability to be resilient
[8:15] during an extreme heat event
[8:17] during -- especially if you are
[8:19] living in an environmental
[8:21] justice community near oil
[8:23] drilling or refineries, they're
[8:25] actual flaring events if someone
[8:28] has an air purifier, and the
[8:31] power shuts off, they're not
[8:33] able to use that air purifier,
[8:36] if they are on disability, and
[8:39] don't have access to back up
[8:41] storage, it's essential for
[8:46] ladwp to stop water and power
[8:48] shut-off. It's the climate
[8:50] solution to make sure that
[8:53] low-income and frontline
[8:56] communities have the ability to
[8:58] adapt during a climate event.
[9:00] in 2020 we started an emergency
[9:02] fund and that was the least we
[9:05] could do during a time of loss,
[9:06] during a time of confusion. It
[9:08] was just way overwhelming, and
[9:10] so many folks came to us. And
[9:15] they were scared rent was an
[9:17] issue, food was an issue, and
[9:19] people lost relationships,
[9:21] people lost their jobs, as well,
[9:23] this was a way to put a band-aid
[9:26] over that and support them.
[9:28] this is something you can do to
[9:31] support people daily. Because a
[9:33] lot of people are still living
[9:34] in that situation. It's been
[9:36] two years later, but people are
[9:38] still facing a lot of the same
[9:40] issues. Please stop water and
[9:43] power shutoffs. Thank you.
[9:46] >>board secretary: next speaker
[9:47] is ann kim, followed by maria
[9:51] montez.
[10:05] >>speaker: hi. I spoke two
[10:08] weeks ago. My name is ann kim.
[10:13] I am with aids health care
[10:17] foundation. You heard from
[10:18] dominique a little bit ago. And
[10:21] I want to reiterate points I
[10:23] made last time. We're trying to
[10:29] do our best to do our part. You
[10:31] know, we're charging, as you
[10:33] said, we're charging $550 for
[10:37] rent which is unheard of in los
[10:40] angeles. Our dwp bill, for
[10:42] june, for one month was $20,000
[10:45] for -- [indiscernible] I nits.
[10:51] that's $100 a unit for units
[10:55] that we charge $550 for it's
[10:59] unsustainable for affordable
[11:05] housing. 22% of it is going
[11:10] ladwp, $100 a month we have to
[11:14] pay for, close to $100. Please
[11:20] work with us to put a program
[11:21] together for our clients, our
[11:23] tenants, as well. These are the
[11:25] very people that you are trying
[11:26] to help, and you want to help,
[11:29] we need to work together to do
[11:31] it. And like I said, your off
[11:33] the shelf programs aren't going
[11:37] to work because we need
[11:39] individual leaders. If you need
[11:41] information from tenants they're
[11:44] readily available for anyone who
[11:46] wants to work with us. These
[11:48] are people on ssi, fixed income,
[11:51] that we're trying to help stay
[11:55] off the streets. We have been
[11:57] there a couple of times, via
[11:59] phone, we have been here in
[12:00] person. But we haven't heard
[12:02] back. We want to hear from you.
[12:04] you want you to reach back out
[12:05] to us. We're reaching out to
[12:08] you. Please reach back out to
[12:12] us. Thank you.
[12:14] >>board secretary: next speaker
[12:15] is maria montez, who will be
[12:18] followed by dulce altamarino.
[12:30] >>speaker: yes, maria montez
[12:35] [speaking in native language].
[12:36] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[12:38] excuse me. Do we have
[12:40] translation?
[13:03] thank you.
[13:06] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[13:06] language].
[13:07] >>interpreter: good morning my
[13:08] name is marie owe montez a
[13:11] resident from san pedro. All
[13:15] the areas in los angeles,
[13:18] wilmington, carson.
[13:24] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[13:25] language].
[13:28] >>interpreter: and I'm just
[13:29] scared to ask you if you can
[13:32] bring down the cost of the,
[13:35] especially the light, the
[13:38] energy, lower, make it more
[13:41] affordable especially for people
[13:42] with low-income.
[13:47] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[13:47] language].
[13:49] >>interpreter: today,
[13:50] especially in this time that it
[13:51] is so hot.
[13:54] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[13:55] language].
[13:58] >>interpreter: and we really
[13:58] need more energy, and we have --
[14:00] if we have many devices
[14:03] connected at the same time, they
[14:04] are shut off.
[14:07] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[14:08] language].
[14:13] >>interpreter: and I know that
[14:14] we are all trying to support
[14:15] each other. Because we're
[14:17] having problems with water, and
[14:19] with the light.
[14:23] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[14:23] language].
[14:30] >>interpreter: also there are
[14:31] some problems -- there are many
[14:34] problems with people that need
[14:36] medicines that need to be
[14:38] refrigerator.
[14:41] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[14:41] language].
[14:42] >>interpreter: or some people
[14:43] that may have illness that may
[14:45] depend on an electric device.
[14:48] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[14:49] language].
[14:57] >>interpreter: so then when
[14:58] they are shut off, many times,
[15:00] there is not enough energy, then
[15:03] the fridge gets ruined or
[15:08] devices don't work anymore.
[15:10] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[15:11] language].
[15:11] >>interpreter: and then all the
[15:13] medicines that are in the fridge
[15:15] get spoiled, and that's, like, a
[15:19] waste of money for them.
[15:21] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[15:23] language].
[15:30] >>interpreter: and also, the
[15:33] person said, like, the
[15:36] applications for low-income.
[15:43] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[15:44] language].
[15:44] >>interpreter: because our
[15:45] elders --
[15:48] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[15:48] language].
[15:49] >>interpreter: it is difficult
[15:50] for them to fill in all the
[15:51] applications.
[15:53] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[15:54] language].
[15:56] >>interpreter: because, if they
[15:58] can have, like, better access to
[16:00] these kind of applications,
[16:01] because technologies move
[16:04] forward, but they stay behind.
[16:08] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[16:09] language].
[16:09] >>interpreter: and I want to
[16:10] say thank you to all of you for
[16:11] listening to me.
[16:16] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[16:17] gracias.
[16:18] >>board secretary: the next
[16:19] speaker is dolce altamarino,
[16:26] followed by robin line.
[16:42] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[16:43] language].
[16:43] >>interpreter: good morning
[16:44] everybody my name is dolce.
[16:49] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[16:50] language].
[16:55] >>interpreter: for earth,
[16:56] water, and more clean
[16:58] electricity.
[17:06] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[17:07] language].
[17:07] >>interpreter: I can advocate
[17:08] not only for my family, but for
[17:11] the whole community.
[17:13] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[17:14] language].
[17:31] >>interpreter: the water is
[17:33] power is impacting our health
[17:34] and our community.
[17:37] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[17:37] language].
[17:42] >>interpreter: I know as a
[17:44] certainty electricity is not a
[17:47] luxury, but it's a necessity.
[17:51] it is essential for our
[17:52] families, for our children, and
[17:54] for our community.
[17:58] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[17:59] language].
[18:04] >>interpreter: it's a necessity
[18:08] to me. It's a human right that
[18:11] we have.
[18:14] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[18:15] language].
[18:25] >>interpreter: so this is the
[18:27] lack of energy and electricity,
[18:31] impacting our health especially
[18:32] those who suffer from cancer,
[18:34] diabetes, emphysema, and many
[18:39] more illnesses that are impacted
[18:42] by this problem.
[18:43] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[18:44] language].
[18:59] >>interpreter: so each time we
[19:00] have a shadow on the
[19:02] electricity, it's going to be
[19:03] panic mode, because we have no
[19:05] idea when it's going to come
[19:06] back, when it's going to happen,
[19:08] so it's not only physically,
[19:10] it's psychologically, this is
[19:12] impacting us, because we don't
[19:14] know what's going to happen with
[19:15] our medicines that are in the
[19:17] refrigerator.
[19:22] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[19:23] language].
[19:39] >>interpreter: yeah, so,
[19:39] please, I beg you that you take
[19:41] into account what I'm saying,
[19:43] because this is, when there is a
[19:46] necessity, this is a human right
[19:48] this, is something that's really
[19:50] so important for our health, for
[19:52] our family, for our children,
[19:55] for our communities.
[19:58] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[20:04] language]
[20:07] >>interpreter: I'm here to
[20:08] advocate for my family and the
[20:10] community and to ask for your
[20:13] noble heart.
[20:21] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[20:22] language].
[20:25] >>interpreter: and thank you
[20:26] for hearing us about our
[20:29] necessities, and I want to end
[20:30] with this statement.
[20:36] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[20:37] language].
[20:38] >>interpreter: so, we have to
[20:39] do good, no matter who is there,
[20:41] for everybody. So, I want more,
[20:48] I beg to your noble hearts.
[20:50] thank you.
[20:54] >>board secretary: the next
[20:54] speaker is robin line, who will
[20:59] be followed by andrea.
[21:16] >>speaker: good morning. My
[21:19] name is robin, and I am a member
[21:21] of scope, and repower la
[21:24] coalition. Repower coalition,
[21:27] we're represent a diverse group
[21:31] of environmental justice, labor,
[21:34] and community-based
[21:36] organizations. I'm here today
[21:37] for a personal story. For two
[21:40] and a half days, our water was
[21:42] shut off, and we live if a 51
[21:44] unit building, and no proper
[21:46] notice from our management of
[21:51] dwp was received. And we were
[21:53] in the middle of a three digit
[21:59] heatwave. So there was no water
[22:01] for us for personal hygiene. I
[22:05] came home to my residence and no
[22:08] water at all. And I use filter
[22:11] water to take my medication. I
[22:16] take medication three times a
[22:17] day, so I had no water to drink,
[22:19] and also to flush our toilets.
[22:21] I couldn't prepare our meals for
[22:25] dinner. Our families, four or
[22:29] more in there, so the added
[22:31] expense of having to go out and
[22:33] buy meals, and especially with
[22:34] the skyrocketing price of gas
[22:37] was really phenomenal. And it's
[22:44] important that ladwp, you make a
[22:50] policy to stop the water and
[22:51] power shutoffs for low-income
[22:53] and life residents, all
[22:59] residents, seniors, everybody.
[23:01] our rent is too high. We need
[23:06] debt relief, affordable rates,
[23:09] we want a permanent solution to
[23:12] utilities, shutoffs, that don't
[23:13] put a burden on already
[23:15] struggling communities. Shut
[23:18] offs are inhumane and criminal,
[23:21] and we have nowhere else to go
[23:23] for service. So, I want to
[23:24] thank you for your time and your
[23:27] listening, and I'm asking again
[23:29] on behalf of everyone to stop
[23:32] utility shutoffs. Thank you
[23:34] very much.
[23:46] >>board secretary: the next
[23:47] speaker is andrea, followed by
[23:49] jasmine vargas.
[23:53] >>speaker: hello. Good morning
[23:54] everybody my name is andrea, and
[23:59] I work with repower campaign,
[24:07] representing diverse groups and
[24:09] individuals including
[24:11] environmental justice labor and
[24:12] community-based organizations I
[24:13] do outreach specifically for
[24:16] ladwp programs, some of these
[24:18] programs include shared solar as
[24:20] well as commercial
[24:23] installations, I go street by
[24:25] street week by week talking with
[24:28] business owners, employees, and
[24:30] landlords, tenants, some of the
[24:34] lowest income tenants I have
[24:36] ever experienced. When I see
[24:38] these experiences I see
[24:39] community members making
[24:41] challenging decisions every day
[24:43] about the bills they have to
[24:44] pay. I have been in the living
[24:45] rooms of people who are fearful
[24:48] of their power getting shut off
[24:50] and how that impacts their
[24:51] children and experiencing life
[24:53] in la. Additionally climate
[24:55] change has impacted la this
[24:59] summer and it's going to get
[25:01] worse. People are making
[25:03] decisions about whether to spend
[25:04] this money on bills, versus food
[25:06] for households and now dealing
[25:07] with the problem of food or
[25:09] medicine spoiling and that money
[25:11] going wasted. So, for me, as my
[25:14] personal experience as an
[25:15] outreach special, I feel it's
[25:20] important for ladwp to stop
[25:23] water and power shutoffs for
[25:25] low-income and life line
[25:27] residential customers. Thank
[25:29] you very much for your time
[25:29] today.
[25:35] >>board secretary: next speaker
[25:36] is jasmine vargas, followed by
[25:40] malcolm johnson.
[25:42] >>speaker: good morning
[25:43] esteemed board of commissioners.
[25:44] I am very grateful for the
[25:47] opportunity to speak with you
[25:48] today, especially being here,
[25:50] standing in solidarity with our
[25:53] repower la coalition members my
[25:56] name is jasmine, organized food
[26:00] and water watch. I fight
[26:02] climate change fight for
[26:04] community justice and energy
[26:05] justice something I have heard a
[26:07] lot from specifically president
[26:10] mcclain-hill and others on you
[26:14] this is a huge equitable
[26:16] challenge for all of us I would
[26:18] like for you to think about how
[26:20] important this is as we
[26:22] transition to clean energy and
[26:24] our future with climate change
[26:27] how are people going to do that
[26:29] when they're already saddled
[26:36] with debt those who are
[26:37] overburdened by bills, and this
[26:42] institution thinks of this as a
[26:44] luxury. How are we going to get
[26:46] people to pay their bills if
[26:48] we're threatening them with shut
[26:51] off. That's a bankrupt policy
[26:54] and that's not how justice is
[26:56] done. If you think about it, if
[26:58] we support people in our
[27:01] community, life line customers
[27:03] and discount customers, all the
[27:06] things we can talk about for
[27:08] people who use energy
[27:10] conservation programs f they
[27:12] have a program that their water
[27:14] is power won't go off, and the
[27:18] proportional burdens,
[27:23] transitioning into the future,
[27:26] we can start from a safe place
[27:28] I'm going to keep fighting for
[27:30] low-income communities,
[27:31] communities on the front lines
[27:33] of climate change the ones that
[27:36] have solutions and that are
[27:37] calling for you all to start
[27:41] envisioning that clean energy
[27:42] future that we're all fighting
[27:44] for. There really is no other
[27:46] choice. Thank you.
[27:52] >>board secretary: next speaker
[27:53] is malcolm john sol followed by
[27:56] lb gonzalez.
[28:04] >>speaker: good afternoon thank
[28:04] you for your time my name is
[28:06] mall malcolm johnson coming from
[28:11] the sierra club here with
[28:14] coalition power partners. I
[28:17] want to make it clear that
[28:19] access to utilities is a human
[28:20] right, and we really need to
[28:22] work together to find a way to
[28:26] make sure that we're not doing
[28:27] the inhumane thing, which is
[28:30] cutting off people's access to
[28:32] power, cut off people's access
[28:34] to water. I am a long-term
[28:37] resident of southern california,
[28:38] I have grown up in la, and, you
[28:40] know, things have happened,
[28:43] right, just in my short
[28:45] lifetime, we have had multiple
[28:47] recessions, multiple wars.
[28:49] people's finances can shift from
[28:52] day-to-day, moment to moment.
[28:53] we know so many people in this
[28:55] country, in this city, are
[28:58] paycheck to paycheck. So if
[29:00] people are living paycheck to
[29:02] paycheck, and something happens,
[29:03] and now they have a choice
[29:05] between literally putting food
[29:07] in their family's bellies, and
[29:09] keeping the lights on, and
[29:11] you're making them choose, you
[29:14] know, basically to starve
[29:16] themselves to death, to keep
[29:17] from having their power
[29:19] shut-off, that's just a horribly
[29:23] horrific inhumane thing to do.
[29:26] let's call it what it is and
[29:27] acknowledge it. And let's find
[29:30] a way to make sure this doesn't
[29:31] happen. And the difference
[29:33] between ladwp and a lot of other
[29:35] places is that this is an
[29:37] organization that's supposed to
[29:38] be for the residents of the
[29:40] city. First and foremost. So
[29:42] you all have a responsibility to
[29:43] protect those residents, even
[29:45] the ones who are falling on hard
[29:47] times. Let's think about it in
[29:49] that perspective. This is not a
[29:51] private utility. You guys are a
[29:53] public agency. You guys have a
[29:55] responsibility. So, that's all
[29:57] I really have to say. You know,
[30:00] it's a very clear thing.
[30:02] everybody here is grown. You
[30:03] guys have probably already had
[30:05] your own things that you have
[30:07] experienced when you have gone
[30:08] through your challenges, and
[30:09] imagine what you would do, if
[30:11] you could help somebody else
[30:12] that's in that situation. Thank
[30:14] you.
[30:24] >>board secretary: the next
[30:25] speaker is elbie gonzalez.
[30:34] >>speaker: good morning. I am
[30:34] with the sierra club and the
[30:36] repower la coalition. I am here
[30:39] today because it's very
[30:40] important for ladwp to make a
[30:42] policy to stop water and power
[30:44] shutoffs for low-income families
[30:46] and life-long residents -- life
[30:49] line residential customers we
[30:51] urge you to find a perm
[30:53] important that solution to
[30:55] utility shut off that doesn't
[30:57] put the burden on our struggling
[30:59] communities. As a child I
[31:01] experienced shutoffs and it was
[31:05] dehumanizing, very challenging
[31:07] for my parents to have their
[31:10] utilities shut off. I don't
[31:11] want my children to experience
[31:13] this, and I urge to you support
[31:15] for our life line communities.
[31:18] thank you for your time.
[31:24] >>board secretary: the next
[31:25] speaker is ashoke, followed by
[31:30] mark dyer.
[31:33] >>speaker: good morning
[31:33] commissioners, and president
[31:35] hill. I apologize if you can't
[31:37] see me l podiums and I have
[31:40] unresolved issues. You have
[31:42] heard from some of my colleagues
[31:45] at aids health care foundation
[31:47] where I am the deputy counsel
[31:49] for corporate affairs. I joined
[31:51] this exceptionally compassionate
[31:53] organization about six years ago
[31:56] and in the last five years we
[31:57] have proceeded to establish a
[31:59] program, purchase buildings,
[32:01] rehabilitated them, and house
[32:02] about 1200 of those 70,000
[32:05] people that my colleagues spoke
[32:11] about. It's almost impossible,
[32:16] cost prohibitive and sometimes
[32:18] not possible to meet the units
[32:22] individually. We talk about how
[32:25] individual finances can change
[32:26] and sometimes it puts people in
[32:28] this conflicting position of do
[32:30] I put food on the table or keep
[32:32] the lights on. We don't want
[32:34] our tenants to face that
[32:36] problem. So we don't make them.
[32:40] we include utilities all out of
[32:43] our own pockets, looking for an
[32:45] extraordinarily solution to an
[32:47] extraordinarily crisis. I see
[32:49] it every day in every corner, of
[32:53] every street. 20% of utilities,
[32:56] 20% of the total cost of
[32:57] housing, going to utilities is
[32:59] not a sustainable program.
[33:01] we're asking for an
[33:03] extraordinarily sustainable
[33:04] program that can actually work.
[33:07] we ask you to come talk to us.
[33:09] we have been here probably three
[33:11] or four times before, and we'll
[33:12] probably be here again. We ask
[33:14] for a dialogue, because our goal
[33:16] is that we're hoping that you
[33:19] are going to be able to
[33:21] establish a program where
[33:22] residents are paying, or
[33:24] landlords who are taking care of
[33:26] residents like us, are paying no
[33:29] more than 5% per unit cost in
[33:33] utilities and we hope that this
[33:34] is a sustainable program. We
[33:36] believe this will is going to be
[33:36] a sustainable program because
[33:39] 20% of the cost simply is not.
[33:41] I thank you for your time, and
[33:42] hope that you will reach out to
[33:44] us.
[33:50] >>board secretary: next speaker
[33:51] is mark dyer, followed by jeremy
[33:55] foster.
[33:58] >>speaker: good morning
[33:59] everyone my name is mark dyer
[34:02] vice president of operations at
[34:04] the aids health care foundation
[34:06] here before you today to
[34:08] reiterate what my colleagues
[34:09] have said we're looking for a
[34:11] program that will assist us and
[34:13] our tenants. We made contact
[34:16] here back in march, and a
[34:18] colleague of yours joseph coe
[34:21] reached out to us and had a
[34:23] discussion with us. I
[34:24] interacted with several
[34:25] decisions and have made
[34:27] recommendations which we have
[34:28] done, la24, l.e.d. Lighting and
[34:33] things of that nature. We had
[34:34] michael bust monti who spoke
[34:38] with president mccain hill and
[34:41] we had conversation looking for
[34:44] someone to reach out to us and
[34:45] work with us to help with what
[34:48] we're trying to do. As my
[34:50] colleagues have said 20% is not
[34:52] sustainable, over $150 per room
[34:55] per month for cost of
[34:57] electricity when these rooms
[34:59] don't have air conditioning and
[35:01] there is not a lot of things
[35:02] they operate. If we could make
[35:04] some dialogue, reach out, have
[35:05] some communication and try to
[35:07] move forward, I would greatly
[35:10] appreciate it. Thank you.
[35:12] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[35:13] just -- although we don't
[35:15] typically have a lot of response
[35:16] to public comment, I do want to
[35:18] acknowledge that the aids health
[35:22] foundation has been here
[35:23] multiple times. You have been
[35:25] incredibly respectful, and,
[35:27] also, have conveyed, with
[35:29] increasing clarity, the urgency,
[35:33] and the dilemma that your
[35:35] organization faces. I do look
[35:37] forward to spending some time
[35:39] thinking about how we address
[35:41] this, maybe with you, maybe not,
[35:47] I don't know how many other
[35:49] entities that are in your
[35:50] position, but clearly, I
[35:52] appreciate the degree to which
[35:53] our typical programs and
[35:57] individuals don't work in this
[35:58] circumstance. And marty would
[36:00] like to follow up in an
[36:03] appropriate way, so that we can
[36:05] better understand how we might
[36:06] be more accommodating with the
[36:13] service providers of this kind.
[36:16] so, thank you. And I appreciate
[36:18] you all. Thank you.
[36:26] >>board secretary: next speaker
[36:27] is jeremy.
[36:29] >>speaker: good morning. I am
[36:31] jeremy with climate justice
[36:34] committee and repower la
[36:36] speaking for repower la today I
[36:39] was down here for city hall for
[36:42] the youth climate strike and I
[36:44] was talking about a bunch of
[36:46] people about the heatwave we
[36:47] just went through, and one was
[36:51] spoke was to in high school in
[36:54] la and he talked about during
[36:56] the heatwave he and his family
[36:59] tried to spend time outside of
[37:01] their apartment at libraries,
[37:03] grocery stores, cooling centers,
[37:05] because at their apartment, they
[37:08] have two acs, and the air
[37:11] doesn't flow through their
[37:13] apartment approximate they're
[37:14] trying to make every dollar
[37:16] count right now with rising cost
[37:17] of food, gas, et cetera, they're
[37:20] trying to make every single
[37:22] there go as far as possible they
[37:25] haven't had shut off yet but
[37:28] trying to save money on
[37:31] utilities and as inflation
[37:33] continues to rise these are
[37:35] things that people are thinking
[37:36] about. A lot of the ratepayers
[37:41] are struggling with trying to
[37:42] make end meet and they shouldn't
[37:44] have to choose between putting
[37:46] food on the table is having to
[37:48] worry about these shut off
[37:50] notices. Climate justice
[37:51] committee is supporting repower
[37:53] la in this initiative. We hope
[37:55] you will listen to their
[37:56] presentation today and hope you
[37:58] will do everything you can to
[38:00] take the burden off of the
[38:03] ratepayers who can least afford
[38:06] to deal with these shutoffs.
[38:07] thank you for your time.
[38:12] >>board secretary: the next
[38:13] speaker is cameron hurt, who
[38:15] will be followed by theodore.
[38:22] >>speaker: good morning my name
[38:23] is cameron hurt. I have lived
[38:25] in los angeles department of
[38:26] water and power for several
[38:27] years, I am an ladwp ratepayer,
[38:31] and I want to thank those who
[38:33] have been speaking passionately
[38:35] about the permanent need for
[38:39] solutions to shutoffs and the
[38:42] growing crisis. It's been made
[38:45] clear by all speakers it's
[38:50] necessary that the future
[38:53] includes low-income people at
[38:55] risk for shut off, and I feel
[38:58] confident saying that the
[38:59] majority of people, whether in
[39:00] los angeles or across the
[39:01] country, are in support of
[39:03] something that stops shutoffs
[39:05] permanently. Any time that
[39:06] someone's water or power is shut
[39:09] off, it's an inhumane situation.
[39:12] it's something that can ruin a
[39:15] day, a lifetime, and anything
[39:17] that can be done to make this a
[39:20] thing of the past must be done.
[39:21] I truly want to say that when we
[39:24] hear stories of people who have
[39:27] gone through shutoffs because
[39:29] they can't pay it's something
[39:30] that can shock and leave
[39:32] permanent damage. So the only
[39:33] way to move forward and solve
[39:35] this is to make sure there is a
[39:38] policy that stops water and
[39:40] power shutoffs and I look
[39:41] forward to hearing the
[39:43] recommendations that are going
[39:43] to come out. Immediate action
[39:46] is clearly needed. Shutoffs is
[39:49] inhumane it's a tragedy when it
[39:51] happens water and power are a
[39:53] human right and we must continue
[39:54] to fight and do everything in
[39:56] our power to continue to fight
[39:58] for those human rights whether
[39:59] here or anywhere else. The
[40:02] power is definitely in the hands
[40:04] of folks in this room. And I
[40:06] want to say that all the diverse
[40:08] speakers who have come out to
[40:11] represent, are the majority of
[40:13] people, and it would be
[40:16] excellent for something power to
[40:17] come out of today's meeting and
[40:19] future meetings. Thank you.
[40:25] >>board secretary: the next
[40:26] speaker is theodore reyes
[40:30] followed by melissa walking.
[40:31] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[40:36] board secretary how many
[40:39] speakers do we have?
[40:41] >>board secretary: I am on
[40:42] number 15 of 23.
[40:42] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[40:43] of 23?
[40:44] >>board secretary: yes.
[40:45] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[40:46] thank you.
[40:50] >>speaker: good morning ladwp
[40:52] board I am with pacoima
[40:57] beautiful and repower la
[40:58] coalition. The coalition
[41:01] represents a diverse
[41:06] environmental justice group and
[41:09] community-based organizations.
[41:10] families and angelenos should
[41:12] not have to choose between a
[41:14] meal and utilities and their
[41:16] human right to access water and
[41:18] power. Especially our most
[41:20] vulnerable angelenos who
[41:21] continue to live paycheck to
[41:24] paycheck in the aftermath of the
[41:25] covid-19 pandemic. Water,
[41:27] energy, and utilities are a
[41:29] human right yet bipoc
[41:33] communities often go without due
[41:36] to long-standing historic
[41:39] injustice. The ladwp has shut
[41:42] off water and power after the
[41:45] moratorium, and during that time
[41:47] working families faced
[41:48] increasing lost of living
[41:50] expenses, as well as access to
[41:51] their water and power. And in
[41:54] the midst of the pandemic it's
[41:56] become a personal element, the
[41:58] basic needs and safe quality of
[42:00] life for angelenos. So, we all
[42:03] know that our basic needs are
[42:05] very important to us, and many
[42:07] here today have spoken upon the
[42:09] realities of having to choose
[42:11] between their medicine, uses,
[42:15] their right to, you know, this
[42:18] heatwave, for example, caused a
[42:20] lot of our families to have to
[42:21] choose to sleep outside. And a
[42:23] lot of our members, and even
[42:25] yourselves would not want to
[42:26] have to sleep outside because of
[42:28] how hot it is in your home.
[42:30] many of our families have more
[42:32] than just one -- in one
[42:36] household, there is more than
[42:37] one family, and many bodies in a
[42:40] house, it can get really hot.
[42:42] we're here today to ask for a no
[42:44] shut off policy that will help
[42:47] benefit our communities instead
[42:48] of having to deal with the cost
[42:50] of choosing between their
[42:52] housing or utilities. So, thank
[42:56] you so much for your time and
[42:57] all your efforts. And I hope we
[43:00] continue to look for
[43:01] recommendations and take into
[43:02] consideration what's going to be
[43:05] presented today. And we hope
[43:06] you have the good rest of your
[43:09] day.
[43:09] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[43:10] thank you.
[43:10] >>speaker: thank you.
[43:15] >>board secretary: the next
[43:15] speaker is melissa wong who will
[43:19] be followed by anna karen
[43:23] ramirez.
[43:32] >>speaker: good morning ladwp
[43:33] board. My name is melissa, I am
[43:36] a member of pacoima beautiful,
[43:38] and also the repower la
[43:40] coalition. It is very important
[43:42] for ladwp to make a policy that
[43:44] stops water and power shutoffs
[43:46] for low-income and lifetime
[43:50] residential customers. We want
[43:51] a permanent solution to utility
[43:55] shutoffs that doesn't burden
[43:59] already struggling communities.
[44:01] thank you.
[44:01] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[44:02] thank you.
[44:05] >>board secretary: the next
[44:06] speaker is anna karen ramirez,
[44:09] followed by olivia walker.
[44:13] >>speaker: good morning ladwp
[44:17] board. My name is anna karen
[44:19] member of la beautiful coalition
[44:22] our organization supports
[44:23] community members applying for
[44:25] utility sadness program and I am
[44:28] here to urge ladwp to make a
[44:30] policy that stops water and
[44:32] power shutoffs for low-income
[44:34] and life line are the and
[44:36] residential customers. As one
[44:39] of the wealthiest cities in the
[44:42] world it's inhuman to disallow
[44:48] access to basic u at this times.
[44:54] neighborhoods are
[44:55] disproportionately impacted by
[44:56] covid-19 and ladwp needs to come
[45:00] up with permanent solutions to
[45:02] protect vulnerable customers.
[45:05] ladwp should invest resources in
[45:07] improving access to programs and
[45:09] addressing things like language
[45:10] and technical barriers for their
[45:12] customers rather than threaten
[45:16] shut off services. We need a
[45:19] solution that doesn't continue
[45:20] to place a burden on our already
[45:23] vulnerable communities. Thank
[45:24] you.
[45:24] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[45:25] thank you.
[45:30] >>board secretary: the next
[45:31] speaker is olivia walker, who
[45:33] will followed by mari tovar.
[45:41] >>speaker: good morning members
[45:42] of the board my name is olivia
[45:44] walker, and I am with nrdc,
[45:46] natural resources defense
[45:47] council. I also have had the
[45:49] pleasure of working with the
[45:50] repower la coalition, and I am
[45:52] here as a los angeles resident.
[45:54] I'm here today in support of
[45:55] policies and programs that will
[45:56] be recommended by the repower
[45:59] coalition to ease utility debt
[46:04] burden and stop shut off for
[46:08] low-income and life line
[46:11] residences, with the escalating
[46:14] affordability crisis faced by
[46:15] residents across the city and
[46:18] the compound burdens faced by
[46:20] residents for shut offs, and
[46:23] many speakers expressed many
[46:29] stories sharing their
[46:31] experience. The answer to the
[46:35] crisis is not cutting off
[46:36] resident from essential
[46:37] resources it's creating
[46:40] long-term solutions to guarantee
[46:41] energy justice to those who need
[46:44] it the most, ensuring long-term
[46:47] energy affordability for all
[46:49] angelenos. Thank you for your
[46:50] time.
[47:03] >>board secretary: next speaker
[47:04] is mari followed by ara vazquez.
[47:10] >>speaker: good morning. My
[47:11] name is mari, with pacoima
[47:16] beautiful and empowerment
[47:18] program I urge to you stop the
[47:20] shutoffs and work with community
[47:21] members who are victims of the
[47:23] pandemic. This is a necessity.
[47:27] the financial hardship they face
[47:31] is something they have never
[47:33] encountered before, living
[47:35] paycheck to paycheck and without
[47:37] income for months or years they
[47:39] face the hardship and choice of
[47:44] deciding to buy food or paying
[47:46] down utility bills. These are
[47:52] willing community members who
[47:54] have a specific circumstances.
[47:57] I ask that you have a unit
[48:00] dedicated to special
[48:01] circumstances. Because even if
[48:03] we have a program, those are
[48:12] worthless to those without a
[48:14] social security number. I have
[48:16] helped many members apply
[48:19] however when I check back with
[48:20] them they don't see much of a
[48:22] difference due to the extreme
[48:24] temperatures. Angelenos don't
[48:27] have luxury of shopping for
[48:29] cheaper rates. You're the only
[48:31] option they have. Please work
[48:32] with the communities that depend
[48:37] on you. Thank you.
[48:51] >>speaker: hi everyone. Good
[48:52] morning. I'm ara vazquez a
[48:57] former commissioner for ladwp
[48:59] great to see everyone here. I'm
[49:01] here to ask you to develop a
[49:03] policy that will allow an
[49:06] avoiding shed of water and power
[49:11] for angelenos struggling
[49:13] especially after the pandemic.
[49:14] I know firsthand what it's like
[49:16] to have to choose between paying
[49:18] for groceries and paying for
[49:20] your bill. My story is not
[49:22] unique. While I was a
[49:23] commissioner here, in my office
[49:25] hours, I learn about so many
[49:27] families, that are actually
[49:30] living today with no water and
[49:31] power. In a city as rich as
[49:34] hours with some of the
[49:36] wealthiest zip codes with
[49:38] probably the largest utility in
[49:40] the country, this shouldn't be
[49:41] the case, and I trust that you
[49:42] all are working towards a common
[49:45] goal where we can have a policy
[49:47] to help those angelenos that are
[49:49] struggling today. I want to
[49:53] take a moment to show my
[49:56] gratitude for the enormous
[49:59] leadership that commissioner
[50:02] mcclain-hill has shown in this
[50:03] issue. I trust that all of you
[50:08] will take this on, at heart,
[50:10] just like so many others are
[50:12] taking it today, especially with
[50:15] the repower well. A coalition
[50:17] and with so many organizations
[50:18] that are here. I cannot stress
[50:20] enough that maybe some of you
[50:21] might not have direct experience
[50:22] with this, but there are
[50:25] hundreds of people out there
[50:26] that need your support, and your
[50:28] help today. Thank you very much
[50:30] for your consideration. And I
[50:32] hope next time we can come here
[50:33] and celebrate a policy that will
[50:35] help angelenos in need right
[50:37] now. Thank you so much.
[50:37] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[50:39] commissioner, it's very good to
[50:41] see you. Thank you very much
[50:42] for coming.
[50:44] >>speaker: thank you. It's
[50:45] good to see everyone. So many
[50:46] new faces. It's great to see
[50:48] everyone here. Thank you.
[50:50] >>board secretary: the next
[50:50] speaker will be andrea ramirez
[50:54] followed by maria.
[51:03] >>speaker: hello my name is
[51:05] andrea ramirez. I am a resident
[51:08] of los angeles. And I came to
[51:10] implore you to please take our
[51:12] communities into account,
[51:13] provide a permanent solution.
[51:18] all of the members of my
[51:20] community are feeling the
[51:22] effects of the pandemic. I lost
[51:24] a lot of members of my family,
[51:25] because of the pandemic, and it
[51:27] was very unjust for my family to
[51:29] have to decide to help our own
[51:33] families or pay our bills. Just
[51:34] because we're seeing the life
[51:39] line in the packet doesn't mean
[51:42] our families aren't
[51:43] disappearing. My nam still has
[51:48] very high electricity bills, and
[51:51] we lost nine individuals in our
[51:53] family. Imagine that impact, in
[51:55] our family, for us to be able to
[51:57] think about the bills. It just
[51:59] became very inhumane. I
[52:01] graduated this year, and for me,
[52:03] it didn't feel like a
[52:04] celebration, it felt like a
[52:06] burden for myself, I feel like,
[52:08] see how much my family was still
[52:10] actively trying to put together
[52:12] money for my vacation, trying to
[52:16] look for money for our family
[52:18] members that we lost and at the
[52:20] same time thinking about the
[52:21] bills that we have to pay. I
[52:23] beg to you look at the community
[52:25] members, we have people who
[52:31] aren't high income, we have
[52:33] people, even when we work every
[52:35] day we cannot come up with,
[52:37] like, the bills that we're
[52:40] getting every day. Please come
[52:43] up with a solution for the water
[52:44] and bills. Thank you.
[52:45] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[52:47] thank you.
[52:56] >>board secretary: the next
[52:58] speaker is maria, followed by
[53:03] ignacio gutierrez.
[53:08] >>speaker: [indiscernible].
[53:09] >>board secretary: thank you.
[53:10] the next speaker is ignacio
[53:13] gutierrez.
[53:16] >>speaker: [indiscernible].
[53:24] [background - off mic comments)
[53:26] >>board secretary: I can please
[53:27] take guadeloupe rivas?
[53:38] I can please take anthony
[53:40] ballesteros?
[53:49] >>speaker: good morning. My
[53:51] name is ignacio gut terries, and
[53:54] I am a member of the rescope and
[53:59] repower la coalition. This has
[54:01] affected me in a way that my
[54:03] water and power was shut off,
[54:06] and I am afraid of my food going
[54:09] rotten. Not washing my dishes,
[54:12] not being able to wash my
[54:14] dishes, and I have to eat
[54:16] outside. Please consider this.
[54:19] during the pandemic, my work
[54:23] almost got cut off, and I
[54:25] started owing money, and didn't
[54:28] have enough to pay my bill, so
[54:30] my power got shut off. Please
[54:33] pardon us during the pandemic,
[54:35] and lower our bills, because we
[54:38] low-income families don't have
[54:39] enough money to pay, if we go --
[54:41] because we live check by check.
[54:43] thank you so much, and are have
[54:44] a great day.
[54:46] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[54:47] thank you.
[54:59] >>board secretary: guadeloupe
[55:02] rivas?
[55:05] anthony ballasteros?
[55:24] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[55:25] language].
[55:47] >>interpreter: good morning.
[55:48] my name is antonio, and I am a
[55:51] resident of the south of los
[55:53] angeles, and I am -- I am not --
[55:57] I don't agree with the crisis of
[56:00] the water and power. They're
[56:01] very high, and it's a burden for
[56:03] my economy. Not only my
[56:05] economy, but all the people that
[56:07] live in my area.
[56:11] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[56:12] language].
[56:16] >>interpreter: another
[56:17] important thing -- and I have
[56:19] called the department to say
[56:21] that the water is very dirty,
[56:22] the water is coming out very
[56:25] dirty out of faucet.
[56:28] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[56:29] language].
[56:43] >>interpreter: in south
[56:45] central, most of the families
[56:47] are low-income and we don't have
[56:48] the money to pay the high prices
[56:50] that we get from ladwp.
[56:53] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[56:54] language].
[57:20] >>interpreter: he says he
[57:22] already made, like, four -- he
[57:24] tell me, already like four
[57:27] applications and he tells me he
[57:29] has not got any reduction in the
[57:31] bills so he's asking that you
[57:33] pay attention to these high
[57:35] prices for all the people, the
[57:37] community.
[57:39] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[57:40] language].
[57:55] >>interpreter: so, this one
[57:57] person that was sent to scope,
[57:59] to help them infill the
[58:01] application, and they did, they
[58:03] filled in like four applications
[58:05] and they didn't put in response,
[58:09] like even saying yes you
[58:10] qualify, or you're not
[58:12] qualified, and this is not going
[58:16] to work out. Just didn't get
[58:19] any response.
[58:21] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[58:22] language].
[58:23] >>interpreter: thank you to all
[58:24] of you for paying attention.
[58:27] thank you.
[58:30] >>board secretary: guadeloupe
[58:35] rivas in.
[58:43] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[58:44] language].
[59:03] >>interpreter: good afternoon,
[59:04] and commissioners of the ladwp
[59:06] board. My name is guadeloupe
[59:10] rivas, and I am a member of
[59:12] scope, and then the organization
[59:14] of repower, repower la, and
[59:19] repower coalition, represents
[59:20] differently groups of justice,
[59:22] labor, and communities based in
[59:24] different organizations.
[59:27] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[59:28] language].
[59:45] >>interpreter: okay. So, I am
[59:47] here because I represent the
[59:49] persons of low-income, and due
[59:51] to the inflation, and the higher
[59:54] prices, it's -- the cost of our
[59:57] lives, and of our groceries, and
[1:00:00] for life, in general, all of the
[1:00:03] expenses that we have with our
[1:00:05] children, and with the rent, all
[1:00:07] these minimum costs, it is,
[1:00:10] like, really difficult to
[1:00:11] afford.
[1:00:14] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[1:00:14] language].
[1:00:40] >>interpreter: also, the price
[1:00:42] of the energy went up so much,
[1:00:44] it went from 150 to 300. It
[1:00:47] doubled because it's been so
[1:00:50] hot. And we can -- some of us,
[1:00:53] we need to turn on the air
[1:00:54] conditioning, we cannot afford
[1:01:00] it, we can't turn on the air
[1:01:04] conditioning because we don't
[1:01:06] want to spend so much money.
[1:01:09] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[1:01:10] language].
[1:01:21] >>interpreter: so my daughter
[1:01:22] has two babies, and they really
[1:01:24] need to have the air
[1:01:26] conditioning on. But, instead,
[1:01:28] we have to take them to the
[1:01:29] park, because we really cannot
[1:01:31] afford to leave the air
[1:01:33] conditioning on the whole day.
[1:02:00] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[1:02:02] language].
[1:02:09] >>interpreter: she says that
[1:02:10] it's not fair the lack of
[1:02:13] equality that, for people that
[1:02:15] have, like, they spend the same,
[1:02:22] them, they're low-income, the
[1:02:24] bills are the same as those who
[1:02:28] are high income, so she find
[1:02:30] it's not fair, because for them
[1:02:32] it's a lot hard to pay these
[1:02:35] bills.
[1:02:44] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[1:02:44] language].
[1:02:45] >>interpreter: so, they're
[1:02:46] begging, that, please, do not
[1:02:48] shut off the energy or the
[1:02:49] water. And if you can take in
[1:02:52] consideration, to make, like,
[1:02:55] more to help those people who
[1:03:02] have low-income.
[1:03:04] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[1:03:05] language].
[1:03:05] >>interpreter: thank you for
[1:03:06] your attention.
[1:03:08] >>speaker: gracias.
[1:03:10] >>board secretary: believe it
[1:03:11] comment is now closed.
[1:03:11] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:03:13] thank you.
[1:03:19] before we proceed to the rest of
[1:03:21] the meeting, I want to just
[1:03:23] acknowledge the time and effort
[1:03:24] it takes for people to come and
[1:03:26] address our board meeting. For
[1:03:28] us, it's an hour of listening
[1:03:33] patiently, but for them, it's
[1:03:35] getting up, and getting -- you
[1:03:36] know, traveling long distances,
[1:03:39] for simply two minutes to speak.
[1:03:45] and I appreciate their
[1:03:48] participation.
[1:03:49] as you know, we will have a
[1:03:50] workshop on debt relief, are
[1:03:53] joined by a number of outside
[1:03:56] presenters. I think I'm going
[1:03:58] to move that, advance that on
[1:04:02] the agenda. So, marty, if we
[1:04:05] could briefly go through the
[1:04:07] general manager and achieve
[1:04:10] engineer reports, that would be
[1:04:11] great. And, I think, from
[1:04:14] there, we will jump down to the
[1:04:23] item I, and then we'll go to
[1:04:26] item j, to management reports.
[1:04:29] we have -- I would just like to
[1:04:32] point out that, we have, in
[1:04:34] addition to the agenda, and to
[1:04:37] the dais, that's our inspector
[1:04:40] general, that he will be making
[1:04:42] a presentation today, as well,
[1:04:44] but that will follow our
[1:04:45] management report presentation.
[1:04:46] so, that will be the order.
[1:04:49] marty?
[1:04:50] >>gm martin l. Adams: thank you
[1:04:51] all. I'll be brief. First I
[1:04:53] want to highlight, and it's
[1:04:55] pertinent to discussions we
[1:04:56] heard this morning we launched
[1:04:58] cool la program two fridays ago,
[1:05:05] president mcclain-hill, myself,
[1:05:07] and mayor garcia, were there for
[1:05:12] the power la, at valley center
[1:05:18] in pan ram on city, gather
[1:05:21] together under one large
[1:05:23] umbrella highlighted by our air
[1:05:26] conditioning rebate program for
[1:05:29] portable air conditioners for
[1:05:32] eligible customers based on
[1:05:35] income other and situations.
[1:05:38] since last two weeks we have had
[1:05:41] 500 families taken advantage of
[1:05:43] this that have received $68,000
[1:05:45] in rebates. We have had the
[1:05:49] online place become active as
[1:05:50] well as well as the rebate on
[1:05:53] point of sale you don't have to
[1:05:55] put the money out up front you
[1:05:56] can get the rebate out of pocket
[1:06:00] less. And next is the level
[1:06:02] bill pay option levelizing
[1:06:05] payments over the course of the
[1:06:06] year we heard so many speakers
[1:06:08] talk about concern about turning
[1:06:10] on air conditioning because of
[1:06:12] impact on the bill look at the
[1:06:14] levelize billing history so
[1:06:17] there is no ups and downs. We
[1:06:19] have the dwp clean air day
[1:06:32] coming up.
[1:06:34] >>nancy sutley: ladwp will be
[1:06:35] sponsoring california's fifth
[1:06:37] annual clean air day october 5th
[1:06:40] our way around our continuing
[1:06:43] air pollution problems we're
[1:06:45] inviting our employees to take a
[1:06:46] clean air pledge to raise
[1:06:49] awareness and to do any of the
[1:06:52] things that we can to support
[1:06:54] clean air day. Such as walking
[1:06:58] or biking, to school, or to the
[1:07:01] store, and helping our kids with
[1:07:04] reports and classes on the
[1:07:05] environment, and then we'll also
[1:07:08] be hosting a resource fair here
[1:07:10] at jfb, so people can learn more
[1:07:14] about things we can do to help
[1:07:16] clean the air. There is a
[1:07:19] little bit of competition going
[1:07:21] on among the utilities in
[1:07:22] california and we have been told
[1:07:24] that we're doing okay, but a
[1:07:26] little behind some of the others
[1:07:28] so we encourage everybody to
[1:07:30] participate. Thank you.
[1:07:34] >>gm martin l. Adams: and I'll
[1:07:35] close my report by saying we got
[1:07:37] word from the mayor's office
[1:07:39] today that this should be our
[1:07:40] last meeting that we have to
[1:07:42] wear masks. Mask mandates will
[1:07:44] be removed citywide on monday
[1:07:48] and we'll be putting out an
[1:07:50] employee video and guidance on
[1:07:52] that. But relief is close at
[1:07:54] hand. That closes my report.
[1:07:58] thank you.
[1:07:58] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:07:59] any questions from members of
[1:08:00] the board?
[1:08:04] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:08:05] quick question. Did you say
[1:08:06] this is the fifth clean air day?
[1:08:09] >>nancy sutley: this is an
[1:08:10] annual event put on by the
[1:08:12] coalition for clean air. So
[1:08:15] they're really encouraging
[1:08:16] people to take steps that they
[1:08:18] can take to help clean the air
[1:08:20] and raise awareness.
[1:08:24] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:08:25] okay. Seeing no other questions
[1:08:27] or comments at this time, I
[1:08:28] would like to go to item I on
[1:08:33] our agenda. Items recommended
[1:08:37] for approval. And, let me look
[1:08:40] at my notes in that regard. I
[1:08:42] know that items m3, and m4 have
[1:08:48] been deferred. Item m2 is being
[1:08:53] called special by vice president
[1:09:00] ruiz.
[1:09:02] I'll make the motion to approve
[1:09:04] items m1, m5, and m6.
[1:09:05] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:09:14] second.
[1:09:14] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:09:16] call the roll.
[1:09:18] >>board secretary: president
[1:09:19] mcclain-hill?
[1:09:20] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:09:21] aye.
[1:09:21] >>board secretary: neeman
[1:09:22] brady?
[1:09:22] >>com. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:09:23] aye.
[1:09:23] >>board secretary: vice
[1:09:24] president ruiz?
[1:09:25] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: aye.
[1:09:26] >>board secretary: four ayes
[1:09:27] adopted.
[1:09:29] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill: I
[1:09:30] --
[1:09:30] >>board secretary: three ayes
[1:09:31] motion adopted, ma'am.
[1:09:31] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:09:34] commissioner lehrer, do you
[1:09:36] intend to vote?
[1:09:38] >>com. Mia lehrer: yes. Thank
[1:09:38] you.
[1:09:39] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:09:39] you vote aye?
[1:09:41] >>board secretary: four ayes.
[1:09:42] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:09:43] yes. Thank you. Thank you for
[1:09:44] that. We'll move to management
[1:09:46] reports, starting with our debt
[1:09:50] relief workshop. And the first
[1:09:53] presenters are from ucla, luskin
[1:10:04] school, rachel and greg.
[1:10:04] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:10:26] they're representing luskin and
[1:10:29] I believe they're presenting on
[1:10:32] the equity strategies project
[1:10:34] and some of this information was
[1:10:35] presented to our equity strategy
[1:10:37] steering committee. But we
[1:10:39] thought it would be important,
[1:10:40] as foundational information for
[1:10:43] the board, as we continue to
[1:10:44] look at debt, debt management,
[1:10:49] and issues related to debt
[1:10:51] burden. With that, I appreciate
[1:10:53] your being here. Thank you.
[1:10:56] >>speaker: thank you to the
[1:10:56] board. You can all hear me?
[1:10:57] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:10:58] yes.
[1:11:00] >>speaker: I'm greg pierce
[1:11:01] director of ucla, luskin center
[1:11:06] for innovation joined by rachel.
[1:11:10] we'll briefly cover topics
[1:11:12] broadly on customer utility,
[1:11:14] affordability, our experience
[1:11:17] working with la 100 equity
[1:11:19] strategies and much broader work
[1:11:21] in the space and focusing in on
[1:11:23] customer debt and shut off
[1:11:25] policy in particular.
[1:11:28] briefly, la 100 equity
[1:11:31] strategies is a commission
[1:11:34] effort by ladwp and involving
[1:11:38] both national renewable energy,
[1:11:41] and ucla putting ourselves to
[1:11:44] help the community come up with
[1:11:47] strategies to help transition to
[1:11:49] 100% renewable energy. Our work
[1:11:53] is focused on affordable but
[1:11:54] there is a number of elements to
[1:11:56] that project, happy to discuss
[1:11:58] that later if we have time.
[1:12:00] just on get on the same page
[1:12:01] about some of the terms I'll be
[1:12:03] using here. I know this is too
[1:12:05] many words and I know if there
[1:12:07] is an economist in the room, you
[1:12:09] may object to the terms. But I
[1:12:11] want to say first of all, that
[1:12:14] customer affordability, utility
[1:12:16] affordability is among the most
[1:12:18] key considerations that we raise
[1:12:21] around equity and ladwp
[1:12:23] certainly is key, if not the key
[1:12:26] consideration in the la 100
[1:12:29] equity strategies. Transition
[1:12:30] cost toward 100% renewable
[1:12:32] energy only makes it more urgent
[1:12:34] in discussing this issue because
[1:12:36] cost is considerable as it
[1:12:40] generates additional utility
[1:12:42] revenue primarily almost
[1:12:44] exclusively for ladwp recovered
[1:12:47] by rates paid by customers which
[1:12:50] are not just residential
[1:12:51] customers which we'll talk about
[1:12:52] later but there are few external
[1:12:55] sources of subsidy for ladwp as
[1:12:57] a public utility.
[1:12:59] affordability, key term I'll be
[1:13:02] using over and over here, I'm
[1:13:04] referring to customers ability
[1:13:06] to pay their bill bulk of which
[1:13:10] reflects rates. We know there
[1:13:13] is cost moving to 100% renewable
[1:13:17] energy reflected on bills, but
[1:13:19] also cost for natural gas and
[1:13:22] gasoline will be foaled into the
[1:13:23] ladwp bill as we are successful
[1:13:25] in moving to full building and
[1:13:28] transport electrification. So a
[1:13:30] lot more what people pay is
[1:13:31] going to be through the ladwp
[1:13:34] power portion of their bill,
[1:13:36] inherently, and thus heightens
[1:13:39] the need to address
[1:13:41] affordability holistically.
[1:13:42] I'm going to run through a few
[1:13:45] highlights of why affordability
[1:13:48] matters and the particular ways
[1:13:49] it matters for ladwp. But first
[1:13:52] I want to note that for
[1:13:53] customers, really, it's the
[1:13:55] whole ladwp bill that matters,
[1:13:57] and ladwp has the unique
[1:13:59] challenge, which I had know,
[1:14:01] also, brings a lot of
[1:14:03] efficiencies, and is very
[1:14:05] convenient for a lot of
[1:14:06] customers but has a unique
[1:14:08] challenge for low-income
[1:14:09] customers that there are up to
[1:14:11] four services they have to pay
[1:14:12] on their bill. They can't
[1:14:14] choose which of those services
[1:14:16] they're going to pay for. It's
[1:14:17] a higher burden, unless measures
[1:14:19] are taken, which I know some are
[1:14:20] being taken, especially when the
[1:14:22] bill is traditionally bimonthly
[1:14:25] to pay for all four services at
[1:14:27] the same time, as opposed to
[1:14:28] having that separated and having
[1:14:31] options like life line la as
[1:14:39] mentioned being ruled out.
[1:14:40] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:14:44] question. The different
[1:14:47] customer discount programs, and
[1:14:49] whether they qualify for these
[1:14:55] discounts in these buckets, is
[1:14:56] that what's going on? I'm not
[1:14:58] sure I -- you can explain the
[1:15:00] chart?
[1:15:01] >>speaker: yeah, sure. It's
[1:15:02] showing you for different types
[1:15:03] of discount for assistance
[1:15:06] programs that ladwp operates,
[1:15:08] those being ez save, life line,
[1:15:13] life line plus, life support, of
[1:15:16] which those services, those
[1:15:20] customers pay on their bill, and
[1:15:22] I should note that it's most
[1:15:24] common -- but, again, there are
[1:15:26] 15 different combinations,
[1:15:28] depending on the customer you
[1:15:30] are, which services you're going
[1:15:31] to pay on a bill. But it's very
[1:15:34] common for low-income customers
[1:15:37] to not pay for water, as well
[1:15:39] as, to some extent, especially
[1:15:42] sewer, and to some extent,
[1:15:44] trash, because those services
[1:15:45] are master metered. But this
[1:15:48] chart is showing you a lot of
[1:15:50] information about which services
[1:15:51] those customers who are enrolled
[1:15:53] in these programs have to pay
[1:15:56] directly on their bill.
[1:15:57] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:15:59] what's take away on this slide?
[1:16:00] what am I supposed to derive
[1:16:02] from it?
[1:16:04] >>speaker: for customer who is
[1:16:04] have to pay their own bill,
[1:16:07] traditionally, and not shut off,
[1:16:10] having four services on their
[1:16:11] bill, potentially, and having to
[1:16:13] pay that bill bimonthly is more
[1:16:16] of a burden as low-income
[1:16:19] households struggle to pay a
[1:16:20] larger bill as opposed to
[1:16:23] smaller bills that come in at
[1:16:25] different times.
[1:16:25] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:16:26] okay.
[1:16:31] >>speaker: all right. This is
[1:16:32] the second point. In context
[1:16:35] it's not unique to ladwp but
[1:16:38] drawing on data that ladwp
[1:16:39] publicly released six months
[1:16:44] into the covid pandemic around
[1:16:46] utility debt burden due to
[1:16:48] residential utility debt burden.
[1:16:52] and customer debt that was not
[1:16:54] paid on bills, and effectively,
[1:16:56] again, there is a lot going on
[1:16:57] in this graphic, we can talk
[1:16:59] about the slide for a long time.
[1:17:00] but this is showing that
[1:17:02] low-income communities in los
[1:17:04] angeles city, tend to have
[1:17:05] higher residential debt burdens
[1:17:09] than higher income communities
[1:17:12] and particularly there is a
[1:17:14] higher debt burden for
[1:17:17] low-income. Shown early on in
[1:17:20] this data as well as with
[1:17:22] additional data analysis done in
[1:17:24] the city of la, and in the
[1:17:25] context this is a universal
[1:17:32] finding during the pandemic
[1:17:35] especially highlighted for
[1:17:37] low-income communities,
[1:17:39] communities of color.
[1:17:44] I want to highlight, and this is
[1:17:47] using data made available from
[1:17:49] ladwp that low-income -- those
[1:17:51] who are enrolled in the major
[1:17:53] two assistance programs for
[1:17:56] income or otherwise households
[1:18:06] of life line programs,
[1:18:08] relatively little revenue
[1:18:16] derived from residential
[1:18:18] customers and 7% in 2021 and
[1:18:20] residential revenue represents
[1:18:22] around a third of revenue on the
[1:18:24] power side for ladwp so as a
[1:18:30] whole, when you see further
[1:18:34] assisting potentially around
[1:18:37] payment for those customers it
[1:18:38] does not appear at the highest
[1:18:41] level to impose a large revenue
[1:18:44] impact on the utility. I'll
[1:18:46] return to this point later and
[1:18:48] discuss more down the line.
[1:18:51] there has been a lot of
[1:18:52] discussion around programs and
[1:18:54] policies that are necessary.
[1:18:58] that besides rate structure and
[1:19:00] lowering the bill up front,
[1:19:03] programs and policies are
[1:19:04] necessary to support
[1:19:05] affordability, and program and
[1:19:07] policy design is very important
[1:19:09] but what's equally necessary is
[1:19:12] helping folks enroll in those
[1:19:14] programs. Even if the best
[1:19:15] program is set up that provides
[1:19:17] holistic support but people
[1:19:19] aren't aware of it, people don't
[1:19:21] trust t people aren't able to
[1:19:23] enroll in it. People aren't
[1:19:26] able to sustain t it's not
[1:19:30] effective supporting
[1:19:31] affordability, the effort in
[1:19:36] utility has to undertake and
[1:19:38] ensure high enrollment in the
[1:19:40] programs.
[1:19:42] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady: is
[1:19:42] there discount programs for high
[1:19:45] earners with high income? I
[1:19:46] would never argue that these are
[1:19:51] high income?
[1:19:55] >>speaker: what's that?
[1:19:56] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:19:57] there appear to be some high
[1:20:00] income on here?
[1:20:03] >>speaker: uh-huh.
[1:20:03] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:20:04] and are you suggesting there are
[1:20:05] programs that high income
[1:20:07] earners are eligible for?
[1:20:10] >>speaker: yes. I mean, this
[1:20:12] is a survey question asked by
[1:20:16] loyola mary mount university to
[1:20:20] the city of la commissioned by
[1:20:24] ladwp and asking generically a
[1:20:26] broader suite of discount
[1:20:29] programs some of which high
[1:20:31] income households would be
[1:20:34] eligible for, within the
[1:20:36] parameters would be, low-income
[1:20:39] customers tend to not be aware
[1:20:40] of those programs, trust them,
[1:20:42] or enroll in them.
[1:20:43] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:20:44] you're saying irrespective of
[1:20:47] item?
[1:20:49] >>speaker: customers would be
[1:20:50] eligible for.
[1:20:51] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill: I
[1:20:52] was going to it's a way around
[1:20:56] communications relative to folks
[1:20:58] in the low-income bucket.
[1:21:05] >>speaker: I'm going to breeze
[1:21:07] through this because I want to
[1:21:08] get to the debt and shut off
[1:21:10] issue. But this is a way of
[1:21:13] categorizing a means of support
[1:21:18] to utility affordability and a
[1:21:20] continuum. With shut off relief
[1:21:31] being in some ways the least
[1:21:33] holistic or less triaged
[1:21:36] measure, I would maintain that
[1:21:38] even if you do all of the above
[1:21:40] and address the first five
[1:21:42] categories which in many ways
[1:21:44] ladwp is making an effort to do
[1:21:46] on both the water -- well,
[1:21:47] especially on the power, but
[1:21:49] also on the water side, that you
[1:21:50] still need to have a program.
[1:21:52] you're still going to have folks
[1:21:53] who are going to have debt and
[1:21:55] are not going to be able to pay
[1:21:57] their bill you're still going to
[1:21:58] have to address the issue of
[1:22:00] shut off. And maintaining yes
[1:22:03] you have to deploy multiple of
[1:22:05] these measures you can't just
[1:22:06] choose one or probably not
[1:22:08] evenly, I'm not sure you will
[1:22:10] need to do all six, but you're
[1:22:12] going to have to employ a
[1:22:14] package of three or four to be
[1:22:16] effective. And I won't belabor
[1:22:19] this, because I want to allow
[1:22:20] others to talk, but affordable,
[1:22:22] and the issue, particularly, of
[1:22:24] debt and shut off has been
[1:22:27] emphasized as a priority by the
[1:22:28] steering committee of la 100
[1:22:30] equity strategies, as a topic
[1:22:33] for us to do further analysis
[1:22:35] on, and further research. So,
[1:22:36] we did a first stage analysis of
[1:22:39] eight different affordability
[1:22:42] metrics, and eight different
[1:22:43] affordability policy category,
[1:22:45] and shutoffs, and crisis relief
[1:22:48] rose to the top in the
[1:22:49] priorities of that effort.
[1:22:53] coming to the topic of direct
[1:22:55] focus here. I want to emphasize
[1:22:59] that covid, the pandemic,
[1:23:02] changed the shut off policy
[1:23:04] discussion if a way I haven't
[1:23:06] seen an equity policy discussion
[1:23:08] change in such a short period of
[1:23:09] time, and in any other sphere.
[1:23:14] there was very little talk,
[1:23:16] especially shut off moratorium,
[1:23:19] for utility services before the
[1:23:22] pandemic, very quickly after
[1:23:23] that, many states and many
[1:23:25] individual utilities posed shut
[1:23:27] off moratorium then for
[1:23:33] sometime, whether a moratorium,
[1:23:37] at an early stage of the
[1:23:40] pandemic, of course ladwp had a
[1:23:43] moratorium of both water and
[1:23:45] power shutoffs for a longer
[1:23:48] period than most utilities
[1:23:50] especially around the country
[1:23:52] even within the state, and I
[1:23:53] want to emphasize ladwp has done
[1:23:56] a lot on debt relief and on shut
[1:23:58] off policies but as we have
[1:24:00] heard the public expectation, or
[1:24:02] really the policy expectation
[1:24:04] has changed dramatically. The
[1:24:06] line has shifted in terms of
[1:24:08] what is expected for debt relief
[1:24:10] and shut off policy due to the
[1:24:12] covid pandemic, due to an
[1:24:14] underlining of something that
[1:24:15] was always there, but was
[1:24:18] explicitly put into law and
[1:24:20] regulation around water and
[1:24:22] power being essential services
[1:24:23] that are mandatory for public
[1:24:25] health.
[1:24:29] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: under
[1:24:30] the category of voluntary, how
[1:24:32] is that differentiated between
[1:24:34] the others?
[1:24:35] >>speaker: these are state
[1:24:36] policies for power, passed on.
[1:24:41] voluntary would be utilities can
[1:24:43] choose to participate. I
[1:24:45] believe it's state moratorium.
[1:24:47] I believe there is so much
[1:24:49] variation they can show you on a
[1:24:50] map, at the utility level, but,
[1:24:53] yeah, these are state
[1:24:55] moratorium.
[1:24:58] and I would also maintain that
[1:25:01] debt and low-income residential
[1:25:04] debt, if particular, is a
[1:25:07] manageable problem for
[1:25:08] utilities. Large utilities.
[1:25:11] I would maintain basically on
[1:25:14] the evidence that we have seen,
[1:25:15] speaking beyond what I have
[1:25:18] introduced here, is based on a
[1:25:20] larger portfolio of recent
[1:25:22] engagement that arguments
[1:25:23] against debt and shut off
[1:25:26] leniency for low-income
[1:25:27] customers are not about revenue
[1:25:30] recovery. I have yet to see
[1:25:32] evidence that it's a revenue
[1:25:33] piece for shutting off
[1:25:35] low-income residential
[1:25:36] customers. I think the burden
[1:25:37] of proof is on utilities to show
[1:25:40] that. I would be interested in
[1:25:41] seeing evidence if that's the
[1:25:43] case, but I have, yet, again, to
[1:25:46] see it. I think there are some
[1:25:48] unanswered questions if
[1:25:50] moratorium are extended for some
[1:25:53] classes, but especially for
[1:25:55] moratorium financials of large
[1:25:58] utilities, including the reports
[1:26:00] of their -- the credit agencies,
[1:26:02] to me, suggests that, again,
[1:26:04] from a revenue perspective,
[1:26:06] shutoffs are not necessarily for
[1:26:09] low-income, and otherwise in
[1:26:10] need customers.
[1:26:13] otherwise, besides legal
[1:26:14] arguments, especially for public
[1:26:18] utilities such as ladwp, I don't
[1:26:20] see arguments being valid. In
[1:26:25] many cases, the arguments for
[1:26:29] reinstating shutoffs, on
[1:26:30] low-income or otherwise
[1:26:32] residential customers are
[1:26:34] anecdotal and bias, in this case
[1:26:38] classes and races, not speaking
[1:26:41] about utility arguments out in
[1:26:44] the public. And of course there
[1:26:46] will be cases of abuse, there
[1:26:47] will be anecdotes of folks
[1:26:51] misusing any protections and any
[1:26:53] social programs, both exist, but
[1:26:55] they don't represent majority,
[1:27:00] but with welcome evidence,
[1:27:06] otherwise low-income customers
[1:27:08] are just as likely or not much
[1:27:11] less likely to pay their bills
[1:27:16] including around moratorium.
[1:27:19] last but not least, limiting
[1:27:22] shutoffs ladwp is doing a lot on
[1:27:24] this front to reduce bill
[1:27:27] liability up front, it's
[1:27:29] following procedure, including
[1:27:30] sb 998 and other state regulars
[1:27:33] it's extending repayment and
[1:27:36] introducing levelling plans,
[1:27:37] it's increasing or making it
[1:27:39] easier to enroll in the ez save
[1:27:43] program, but I think you should
[1:27:46] consider expanding or new
[1:27:48] approaches including keeping a
[1:27:50] shut off moratorium all the way
[1:27:52] from just related to climate
[1:27:54] events, to all customers
[1:27:57] although likely somewhere in
[1:27:58] between that, again focused on
[1:28:00] low-income, otherwise in need
[1:28:02] residential customers that can
[1:28:04] be paired with audits and, sort
[1:28:07] of, aggressive messaging,
[1:28:08] especially to higher income
[1:28:11] customers and non-residential
[1:28:12] customers to pay their bills
[1:28:13] that can lead to at least
[1:28:15] sufficient revenue for the
[1:28:17] utility. There are other
[1:28:19] options and informal approaches
[1:28:22] that require discretion when I
[1:28:23] call, sort of, quiet moratorium
[1:28:27] where there aren't explicit or
[1:28:30] formal policies but working with
[1:28:33] customers and imposing a
[1:28:36] moratorium without silly
[1:28:38] announcing it on all types of in
[1:28:43] need customers and potentially
[1:28:44] for ongoing debt relief funds,
[1:28:48] federal and state, one off debt
[1:28:50] relief funds distributed by
[1:28:55] ladwp but again the issue of
[1:28:57] debt and shutoffs will not be
[1:29:00] going away post-pandemic or
[1:29:03] relieving over time either from
[1:29:04] utility or the state level.
[1:29:06] with that I'm going pass it to
[1:29:08] my colleague rachel sand berg.
[1:29:11] >>speaker: I'm going to pivot
[1:29:13] from a lot of things we have
[1:29:15] been discussing today all
[1:29:17] arguing this is relevant and I
[1:29:18] think we all agree. My name is
[1:29:21] rachel, researcher at ucla
[1:29:25] department of environment is
[1:29:26] sustainability as well as with
[1:29:28] ucla school of law as part of
[1:29:31] the la 100 equity strategy
[1:29:34] project I'm working in
[1:29:36] collaboration with greg and
[1:29:38] team, specifically work
[1:29:40] including documenting rate
[1:29:42] making assistance programs and
[1:29:45] other utilities across the
[1:29:47] country, and looking into legal
[1:29:48] and regulatory constraints the
[1:29:52] legal department faces in making
[1:29:55] decisions. The goal of the
[1:29:57] slide is to emphasize there are
[1:29:58] many agencies and governing
[1:29:59] documents that constrain how
[1:30:02] ladwp sets electricity rates.
[1:30:04] these exist at the municipal,
[1:30:06] state, and to a lesser extent
[1:30:08] federal levels. So dwp must
[1:30:10] comply with california's
[1:30:12] constitution, including
[1:30:13] proposition 13, 218, and 26, as
[1:30:16] well as with laws set by
[1:30:18] california congress, and
[1:30:19] regulatory bodies such as the
[1:30:21] california energy commission.
[1:30:22] at the los angeles level, the
[1:30:24] board and department actions
[1:30:27] must comply with the city
[1:30:29] charter municipal and
[1:30:30] administrative code, council
[1:30:31] city ordinances and executive
[1:30:34] directives and feasible for
[1:30:36] issues involving transmission or
[1:30:40] purchases of power across the
[1:30:41] state lines department beholden
[1:30:45] to the federal energy regulatory
[1:30:47] commission so there is a lot of
[1:30:49] things going on.
[1:30:50] so when discussing affordability
[1:30:52] and rate making for municipal
[1:30:56] utilities in california
[1:30:56] questions about proposition 26
[1:30:58] and 218 inevitably come up. For
[1:31:00] that reason, I think it's
[1:31:02] important to look at the
[1:31:03] historical trajectory of these
[1:31:05] relevant tax related
[1:31:07] propositions. Starting with
[1:31:08] proposition 13, in 1978, which
[1:31:11] cut property taxes to 1% of
[1:31:13] property value.
[1:31:16] proposition 218, in 1996, which
[1:31:18] limited visibility of municipal
[1:31:20] governments to levy non-property
[1:31:23] taxes water voter consent and
[1:31:25] finally proposition 26, adopted
[1:31:27] in 2010 which expanded the
[1:31:30] definition of taxes to cover
[1:31:31] many potential fees and costs
[1:31:33] imposed by municipal governments
[1:31:36] and municipal utilities. These
[1:31:39] propositions along with a slew
[1:31:40] of other local state and federal
[1:31:42] regulations clearly present the
[1:31:43] department with challenges,
[1:31:44] especially when it comes to
[1:31:46] implementing targeted
[1:31:47] affordability programs and more
[1:31:49] complex rate designs that can
[1:31:51] benefit both the grid and the
[1:31:53] most vulnerable customers. My
[1:31:56] goal with this research and this
[1:32:00] presentation is to begin the
[1:32:02] process of breaking down
[1:32:03] challenges so that ladwp and the
[1:32:05] residents of los angeles can
[1:32:06] understand and work to surmount
[1:32:09] them thus ensuring that the
[1:32:10] city's goal of reaching 100%
[1:32:13] renewable energy is achieved in
[1:32:14] an equitable way. Thank you.
[1:32:20] >>speaker: that concludes our
[1:32:21] presentation.
[1:32:22] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:32:23] thank you. Are there any
[1:32:24] questions before we move to the
[1:32:27] next presentation?
[1:32:29] no.
[1:32:30] okay. Thank you very much. I
[1:32:32] appreciate it.
[1:32:35] >>speaker: thank you.
[1:32:35] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:32:36] and appreciate your work with la
[1:32:38] equity strategy. The next
[1:32:41] presentation is followed by one
[1:32:43] by george rafael.
[1:32:49] >>nancy sutley: while george is
[1:32:50] coming up to the table, I just
[1:32:53] wanted to make a couple of
[1:32:55] comments. He's going to go
[1:32:57] through some of what we have
[1:32:58] been doing around customer
[1:33:02] assistance, and as the previous
[1:33:04] presenter noted, we are doing a
[1:33:06] lot. I think a lot compared to
[1:33:08] other utilities. And I just
[1:33:14] wanted to, before we start, I
[1:33:16] want to clarify we have not shut
[1:33:18] anybody off for non-payment for
[1:33:20] the last two and-a-half years.
[1:33:22] we have not purposely blacked
[1:33:25] anyone out or cut service and we
[1:33:26] continue to not charge late fees
[1:33:28] or report people to credit
[1:33:31] bureaus. So just wanted to
[1:33:32] introduce george, and there will
[1:33:34] be a couple of other presenters
[1:33:36] with him.
[1:33:37] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:33:38] water, as well. You said power.
[1:33:44] >>nancy sutley: that's correct.
[1:33:48] >>speaker: good morning
[1:33:48] commissioners. Hopeful you can
[1:33:50] hear me. Thank you for time to
[1:33:53] provide this presentation on
[1:33:54] customer bill efforts and
[1:33:58] director of legislative affairs
[1:34:00] and intergovernmental affairs
[1:34:01] will provide legislative
[1:34:03] updates, and senior gm for
[1:34:06] corporate strategy and
[1:34:07] communications will provide a
[1:34:10] presentation on outreach
[1:34:11] efforts.
[1:34:12] the pandemic impacted our
[1:34:14] customers in a number of
[1:34:15] significant ways, one of which
[1:34:17] is with utility bills causing
[1:34:19] many to fall behind with their
[1:34:21] bills impact was felt by
[1:34:26] segments from residential to
[1:34:28] commercial industrial and
[1:34:30] low-income customers. Recognize
[1:34:33] the work, and especially for
[1:34:35] customers to manage water and
[1:34:37] power bills and avoiding
[1:34:39] collections. Recovery doesn't
[1:34:41] mean going back to how we
[1:34:43] previously operated which is why
[1:34:45] we have not collected shutoffs
[1:34:50] even though the moratorium ended
[1:34:53] april 1st. We want to ensure
[1:34:55] every customer has equitable
[1:34:57] access to water and power
[1:34:59] understanding the needs of
[1:35:00] customers in communities and
[1:35:01] industries and understanding
[1:35:04] challenges that they face and
[1:35:06] utilizing billable services.
[1:35:08] this requires us to invest in
[1:35:20] understanding customer needs,
[1:35:22] providing tools and information
[1:35:23] and implementing new programs
[1:35:24] and services. We are doing this
[1:35:26] by providing customer feedback
[1:35:29] and input from community and
[1:35:31] labor partners and collaborating
[1:35:33] with local federal and state
[1:35:35] agencies to identify and define
[1:35:37] changes we have compiled ann sis
[1:35:41] to share today including
[1:35:43] customer service related
[1:35:45] information insights from
[1:35:47] surveys and interactions
[1:35:48] information from partners and
[1:35:50] community-based organizations
[1:35:51] research institutes and sister
[1:35:54] agencies, and u.s. Water line
[1:35:58] study that was recently
[1:36:00] completed preventing shutoffs
[1:36:02] for water customers and elements
[1:36:05] that helped shape our
[1:36:07] understanding of challenges
[1:36:10] customers are facing and our
[1:36:12] priorities.
[1:36:13] the ability for customers to
[1:36:15] manage the water and power bills
[1:36:16] was significantly disrupted by
[1:36:18] the pandemic prior to the
[1:36:20] pandemic our overall residential
[1:36:22] water and power arrears were at
[1:36:26] $85 million down from 150
[1:36:28] million right after billing
[1:36:29] system issues occurred however
[1:36:32] 50% higher before the new system
[1:36:36] was put in. The bills jumped to
[1:36:39] $380 million in december 2021
[1:36:40] and dropped to 170 million in
[1:36:46] the early part of this year
[1:36:47] however climbed back to over 225
[1:36:50] million highlighting customer's
[1:36:52] need for further assistance and
[1:36:54] support.
[1:36:56] the bill relief funds that we
[1:36:58] were able to get from the state
[1:37:00] earlier this year were a
[1:37:01] tremendous help for customers.
[1:37:03] totaling over $330 million for
[1:37:06] water, electric, and sewer bills
[1:37:08] and were primarily applied to
[1:37:10] nearly 300,000 residential
[1:37:11] accounts through the california
[1:37:14] arrears payment program or cap,
[1:37:15] and the california water and
[1:37:18] wastewater arrearage payment
[1:37:20] program, or what's called
[1:37:24] cwwapp. The state along with
[1:37:26] other relief efforts were
[1:37:28] significant however didn't
[1:37:30] address the long-standing
[1:37:31] disparity in arrears across
[1:37:33] communities that we serve.
[1:37:34] before the pandemic areas such
[1:37:36] as south los angeles and harbor
[1:37:37] had 20 to 30% of residents if
[1:37:40] arrears and this continued post
[1:37:43] state relief highlighting the
[1:37:46] numbers of communities that have
[1:37:48] significant need for assistance.
[1:37:53] 75% of low-income customers were
[1:37:55] able to stay current with their
[1:37:57] water and power bills but with
[1:38:00] the pandemic dropping to 65% for
[1:38:03] life line customers for
[1:38:06] customers older than 60 at about
[1:38:09] 80%. There are 20 to 35% who
[1:38:13] need further assistance.
[1:38:16] even though this segment
[1:38:18] represents approximately 15% of
[1:38:19] all residential customers, they
[1:38:21] do represent a smaller portion
[1:38:22] in terms of energy and water
[1:38:25] consumption, approximately 10%
[1:38:27] on the power side and 5% on the
[1:38:29] water side.
[1:38:32] so this, water side, which is a
[1:38:36] lower ratio than the power,
[1:38:38] primarily due to multi-family
[1:38:40] water services are mass meters
[1:38:46] and billed through landlord.
[1:38:49] understanding our customers need
[1:38:51] further support and we need to
[1:38:56] update services and programs
[1:38:57] focusing on three areas
[1:38:58] additional relief, affordability
[1:39:00] programs, and support and
[1:39:02] accessible, and I'll review
[1:39:03] these focus areas in the next
[1:39:05] few slides.
[1:39:07] so, in addition to the cap and
[1:39:10] the cwwapp programs we have
[1:39:13] worked with state, local, and
[1:39:15] community organizations and
[1:39:16] other third parties to
[1:39:18] facilitate further relief to
[1:39:21] customers. To date $20 million
[1:39:24] primarily through the cares
[1:39:26] program implemented early in the
[1:39:28] pandemic housing is key state
[1:39:32] programs and low-income
[1:39:34] household energy and water
[1:39:35] assistance programs which can
[1:39:37] provide up to $3,000 for power
[1:39:38] bills and $2,000 for water
[1:39:41] bills. With our outreach
[1:39:43] engagement efforts which joel
[1:39:45] the discuss we're trying to get
[1:39:48] well I heap and web applications
[1:39:51] to significant increase we
[1:39:53] launched our customer sections
[1:39:55] survey program earlier this year
[1:39:58] over 50,000 targeted and
[1:40:00] incentive thousand customers
[1:40:02] participated, and we received
[1:40:05] approximately seven and a half
[1:40:07] comments, and budgeted into a
[1:40:11] research panel focused on life
[1:40:13] line customers. We're working
[1:40:16] with the information technology
[1:40:18] and financial service teams to
[1:40:20] implement further programs that
[1:40:21] can provide up to another
[1:40:24] $114 million in customer relief.
[1:40:25] these are the items in the
[1:40:27] works, but we're pursuing
[1:40:30] further relief funds at the
[1:40:31] state and federal levels which
[1:40:33] matt will discuss later.
[1:40:37] to supplement these relief
[1:40:38] efforts, we have and are working
[1:40:41] on programs to further help
[1:40:43] customers manage their water and
[1:40:45] power bills streamlining the
[1:40:47] application process for ez save,
[1:40:50] formerly low income life
[1:40:52] discount program led to a 25
[1:40:58] improvement in application
[1:41:00] acceptance rate and 21,000
[1:41:03] customers being rolled over from
[1:41:05] the past year. In addition
[1:41:08] we're also the first utility to
[1:41:10] incorporate arrears into level
[1:41:13] pay which allows customers to
[1:41:14] address last bills while
[1:41:17] managing future bills we expect
[1:41:21] this to be great help to
[1:41:24] customers, doubled our payment
[1:41:28] arrangement options to discount
[1:41:29] customers also working to
[1:41:30] provide additional flexibility
[1:41:32] and ability for online sign ups
[1:41:34] for these.
[1:41:36] so, we recognize that customer
[1:41:38] support is strongly dependent on
[1:41:40] customer access to sable
[1:41:45] available programs to services,
[1:41:48] through languages, entities and
[1:41:51] channels they feel comfortable
[1:41:52] with. The one of the challenges
[1:41:53] we have identified is that
[1:41:54] customers are often getting
[1:41:56] information piecemeal whether
[1:41:58] based on outreach or based on
[1:42:00] inquiry focus. In january this
[1:42:02] year we piloted the customer
[1:42:05] consultations program to conduct
[1:42:06] one-on-one assessment of
[1:42:07] customer needs, identifying
[1:42:09] applicable programs and walking
[1:42:10] through the enrollment process.
[1:42:12] we scheduled these sessions with
[1:42:14] customers, and we do our account
[1:42:18] research ahead of time and
[1:42:20] prepare for the session and
[1:42:21] spend an hour and a half with
[1:42:24] each of these customers. Pilot
[1:42:26] with limited service based on
[1:42:28] positive feedback and
[1:42:31] participation, we are working on
[1:42:32] expanding the service with
[1:42:33] initial focus on low-income
[1:42:35] customers and expanding to all
[1:42:36] residential customers and
[1:42:37] eventual to small and micro
[1:42:39] businesses.
[1:42:41] we just completed an rfp process
[1:42:44] to establish four pilot grants
[1:42:46] for community outreach in
[1:42:48] disadvantaged communities,
[1:42:52] through deployment of community
[1:42:55] outreach workers and anticipate
[1:42:58] engagement in feedback. We also
[1:43:05] established mous with the cbos
[1:43:07] who administered the well I heap
[1:43:11] programs to ensure customer data
[1:43:15] facilitation and enrollment for
[1:43:18] potential help to customers
[1:43:20] we're working on additional
[1:43:22] initiatives to newspaper
[1:43:23] customer support and accessible
[1:43:27] an important one is customer
[1:43:29] segmentation and predictive
[1:43:31] analytics critical for us to
[1:43:33] understand customer needs to
[1:43:35] better align support efforts
[1:43:37] with each service in programs,
[1:43:42] rather than just being
[1:43:43] responsive. We're working on
[1:43:45] assistance with defining
[1:43:48] segmentation strategies and
[1:43:50] implementation approach it was
[1:43:51] scheduled to be presented at
[1:43:53] this meeting but we'll be
[1:43:55] bringing it back at the next
[1:43:56] meeting. We're releasing rfp
[1:44:02] october 5th to replace our
[1:44:03] customer engagement platform and
[1:44:06] facilitate engagement and the
[1:44:08] contact center to provide team
[1:44:10] members with a view of customer
[1:44:19] call response.
[1:44:20] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:44:21] when a customer calls into the
[1:44:23] contact center it's the database
[1:44:25] that the employee is working --
[1:44:27] could you just explain?
[1:44:29] >>speaker: sure. There's a
[1:44:30] couple of components one is the
[1:44:32] automated call tree, like, when
[1:44:34] you call, it helps route and
[1:44:36] identify, and there is some
[1:44:38] self-service capabilities but
[1:44:43] we're not going to force route
[1:44:47] into that, then the other is
[1:44:52] support our customers will be
[1:44:55] able to access customer
[1:44:57] information rather than toggling
[1:44:59] between 12 different ones
[1:45:01] they're able to access
[1:45:03] information through which is
[1:45:05] then pulling information from
[1:45:06] the background.
[1:45:07] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:45:08] that wonderful.
[1:45:27] >>speaker: a key part of our
[1:45:28] customer engagement efforts is
[1:45:30] our 14 centers we have
[1:45:32] throughout the cities, and in
[1:45:34] communities that have high
[1:45:36] densities of customers in
[1:45:37] arrears we have been upgrading
[1:45:40] these centers to be conducive
[1:45:42] for customer engagement support
[1:45:44] and are fully reopening centers
[1:45:46] for walk I knows and ensuring
[1:45:49] safety concerns are addressed.
[1:45:51] customer service is establishing
[1:45:53] an accessible team that will be
[1:45:54] in place by the end of this year
[1:45:56] focussed on identifying and
[1:45:58] addressing barriers and issues
[1:45:59] that customers face while
[1:46:01] engaging with us using our
[1:46:02] services or participating in
[1:46:04] available programs.
[1:46:05] we're also expanding our
[1:46:07] customer research efforts and
[1:46:08] establishing a customer panel
[1:46:10] specific to low-income customers
[1:46:11] and those in disadvantaged
[1:46:13] communities, which will further
[1:46:14] help us in understanding the
[1:46:16] needs and to get feedback on
[1:46:18] current and future programs and
[1:46:20] services. And lastly we're
[1:46:23] expanding language support
[1:46:24] across all customer touch
[1:46:27] points.
[1:46:29] so these efforts, and others,
[1:46:32] are key to ladwp near-term,
[1:46:34] long-term commitments these
[1:46:37] commitments involve factors and
[1:46:38] considerations such as equity
[1:46:41] center reach and research
[1:46:43] focussed on the discussion we'll
[1:46:45] focus on management
[1:46:45] consideration and there is data
[1:46:47] and insight on collections.
[1:46:50] so, we have not collected any --
[1:46:52] we have not conducted any
[1:46:54] collection activities or
[1:46:55] specifically any shut off since
[1:46:57] march of 2020. However looking
[1:47:00] at the thee years prior 77,000
[1:47:04] residential customers were shut
[1:47:06] off for non-payment, 50,000 for
[1:47:08] power, nearly 12 for water and
[1:47:10] another 12,000 for water and
[1:47:12] power. These beings nearly 40%
[1:47:15] were shut off more than once.
[1:47:18] for the same period, comparing
[1:47:19] us to other nearby large
[1:47:22] utilities our shut off rate of
[1:47:24] 2.7% was at the bottom of the
[1:47:27] range with only socalgas being
[1:47:30] lower than 2% however we were
[1:47:32] far less than sce around 9% and
[1:47:37] pg&e around 4 to 5%. Even
[1:47:40] though our shut off rates are
[1:47:42] historic's lower we are striving
[1:47:46] for shut off as I last resort is
[1:47:52] minimizing impact. In 2019 a
[1:47:56] highlighted correlation of
[1:47:59] disconnections in demographic
[1:48:01] and socio-economic factors
[1:48:04] in-house holds in latino and
[1:48:06] plaque residential, focusing
[1:48:09] support and engagement efforts.
[1:48:11] from a median income view we're
[1:48:14] seeing lowest income households
[1:48:16] making less than $50,000
[1:48:18] annually are nearly twice more
[1:48:21] likely to shut off than those
[1:48:24] households making over $100,000.
[1:48:30] from an ethnicity or race
[1:48:33] perspective, communities primary
[1:48:35] black or african american shut
[1:48:37] off rate of 8% and hispanic
[1:48:39] communities 7% compared to other
[1:48:42] communities that range from 5 to
[1:48:43] 3, to 3 and a half%.
[1:48:47] in addition to the number of
[1:48:49] shutoffs it's important to look
[1:48:51] at the duration of shut offs
[1:48:53] it's pretty granular but a
[1:48:56] couple of key points almost half
[1:48:58] were able to restore service
[1:49:00] within a day but a third took
[1:49:03] more than a day, quarter
[1:49:07] restored within three days but
[1:49:09] 4% taking longer than two months
[1:49:12] and about 20% who did not
[1:49:13] restore and just abandoned
[1:49:18] service.
[1:49:19] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[1:49:20] you can tell us the total
[1:49:22] population?
[1:49:23] >>speaker: based on the 77,000
[1:49:26] of residential shutoffs that
[1:49:28] were done during that period.
[1:49:33] looking at the community level,
[1:49:36] we see disadvantaged communities
[1:49:37] based on calenviroscreen where
[1:49:40] the higher the score the more
[1:49:42] disadvantaged the community
[1:49:43] based on shutoffs between 2017
[1:49:45] through 2020 highest values
[1:49:48] correlated to restoration time
[1:49:50] to nearly a full day. Looking
[1:49:51] at this from a household income
[1:49:55] view those making less than
[1:49:58] 50,000 had restoration times
[1:50:00] that were nearly three times to
[1:50:02] those making over $50,000. From
[1:50:04] 22 hours to around 7 to 8.
[1:50:08] we also saw that predominantly
[1:50:10] black, hispanic, and asian
[1:50:13] communities had 3 to 4 times
[1:50:15] longer shutoffs than other
[1:50:17] areas.
[1:50:20] another finding that we feel is
[1:50:21] personality to look at is that
[1:50:23] of the nearly 50,000 customers
[1:50:25] for shut off, looking at a short
[1:50:27] period than before, 2018 to
[1:50:32] 2019, only 1700 had taken
[1:50:35] advantage of low cost efficiency
[1:50:37] programs and only quarter or
[1:50:39] less had signed up for some
[1:50:40] payment program or gotten well I
[1:50:43] heap relief available. This is
[1:50:46] a snapshot but is indicative of
[1:50:51] engagement levels where
[1:50:53] customers were struggling to pay
[1:50:54] their bills, would not have
[1:50:58] presented shut off but would
[1:51:00] have help in the short-term and
[1:51:03] long-term to better manage.
[1:51:07] since the end of the moratorium
[1:51:09] six months ago we have not shut
[1:51:11] off any customers but we have
[1:51:13] been focusing on addressing
[1:51:15] customer impacts and helping
[1:51:17] vulnerable customers to manage
[1:51:18] past bills carefully
[1:51:20] constructing programs tools and
[1:51:23] mechanisms to help manage future
[1:51:25] bills in addition to those we
[1:51:26] have managed a number of
[1:51:29] immediate policy and process
[1:51:31] changes that we're implementing
[1:51:33] to facilitate restorations and
[1:51:34] minimize impacts of shutoffs
[1:51:36] based on data analysis, feedback
[1:51:38] we have received from customers
[1:51:39] directly and community partners
[1:51:41] and seen in studies such as the
[1:51:44] u.s. Water line study. We have
[1:51:46] historically suspended shutoffs
[1:51:48] when temperatures rose higher
[1:51:50] than 100 degrees. However we're
[1:51:52] aligning better with the
[1:51:55] excessive heat warnings and
[1:51:57] based on those rather than just
[1:51:59] the 100 degrees. This may help
[1:52:01] minimize impacts. Suspending
[1:52:05] reconnection fees on shutoffs,
[1:52:13] to make sure customers have time
[1:52:19] during extended outages, and
[1:52:23] once we're on-site and have
[1:52:25] completed shut off we required
[1:52:27] full payment. We're also
[1:52:30] applying the multi-language
[1:52:32] notification requirements for
[1:52:33] water service shutoffs to all
[1:52:35] services which will help in
[1:52:37] increasing engagement.
[1:52:41] to ensure shutoffs are last
[1:52:44] resort we're ramping up outreach
[1:52:47] efforts, continuing to develop
[1:52:51] communication and outreach and
[1:52:51] partnering to increase awareness
[1:52:53] in the programs and being
[1:52:55] proactive with customers who are
[1:52:57] past due to identify engagement
[1:52:58] and identify options available.
[1:53:00] and implement changes to
[1:53:02] minimize restoration periods.
[1:53:06] since moratorium implemented
[1:53:10] april 1st, we have not conducted
[1:53:11] any shutoffs but did initiate a
[1:53:15] gradual ramp up of collects from
[1:53:17] april until now we have
[1:53:20] conducted outreach to ensure
[1:53:22] customers are aware that the
[1:53:24] moratorium has ended. We have
[1:53:25] put in past due notices, back
[1:53:28] into -- which replaced the
[1:53:31] payment reminders that were used
[1:53:34] during the moratorium. Next
[1:53:35] looking at three phases to
[1:53:38] gradually start recollections,
[1:53:40] with large commercial industrial
[1:53:42] customers and then eventually
[1:53:44] residential and low-income
[1:53:45] residential next year. With
[1:53:47] outreach efforts starting in
[1:53:48] april and engagement efforts
[1:53:50] underway, collections will start
[1:53:53] for large commercial and
[1:53:54] industrial segments in november
[1:53:56] with a gradual phase in of other
[1:53:59] segments leading to residential
[1:54:00] collections starting in around
[1:54:02] april of next year. Discount
[1:54:06] residential collections will
[1:54:07] start in may of 2023 however we
[1:54:11] understand and recognize these
[1:54:13] customers need extra time to
[1:54:15] address bills long-term and
[1:54:17] we're pursuing relief funds for
[1:54:19] customers that make take
[1:54:22] sometime to get. We will work
[1:54:24] with customers and help through
[1:54:26] collection activities through
[1:54:27] september of 2023.
[1:54:28] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:54:31] when you say collection
[1:54:33] activities, is that a euphemism
[1:54:37] for moratoriums or is that just
[1:54:42] collection activity short of
[1:54:43] shut off?
[1:54:46] >>speaker: collection activity
[1:54:47] short of shut off.
[1:54:50] [indiscernible] reminders. For
[1:54:51] customers who sign up for a
[1:54:53] payment arrangement or level
[1:54:55] pay, receiving well I heap or li
[1:55:00] pledge participating customers
[1:55:05] since the end of moratorium
[1:55:10] april 1st to september 2023 with
[1:55:15] outreach ramping up, and will
[1:55:20] continually reassess.
[1:55:21] I'll turn it over to matt to
[1:55:23] provide an update on the
[1:55:23] legislative efforts.
[1:55:35] >>speaker: I have a number of
[1:55:36] updates as to what has
[1:55:39] transpired to address the
[1:55:40] concerns about arrearages for
[1:55:42] our customers in the 2021 state
[1:55:44] budget thanks to a coalition of
[1:55:46] state utilities that came
[1:55:48] together to make this a priority
[1:55:50] for the legislature the cap and
[1:55:54] programs were initiated using
[1:55:56] federal funds and state
[1:56:00] receiving, at the federal level
[1:56:05] in 2021 we consolidated
[1:56:07] appropriations act accredited
[1:56:09] the programs covering federally
[1:56:15] funded supplements to comfort
[1:56:17] cost of water bills as well I
[1:56:19] heap does for water bills but
[1:56:21] does require repayment through
[1:56:24] cbos in this year's state budget
[1:56:26] the cap program was extended to
[1:56:28] include debts through june of
[1:56:31] 2021 through december of 2021
[1:56:33] and legislature added another
[1:56:35] 1.2 billion to the program to
[1:56:37] cover cost of that expansion.
[1:56:38] we, last month, tried with our
[1:56:42] partners, particularly led by
[1:56:45] ffpuc to have the program
[1:56:48] similarly modified using
[1:56:50] existing fun that remained at
[1:56:51] the water board to cover the
[1:56:53] june to december 2021 debts.
[1:56:56] ultimately the legislature, in
[1:56:57] the end of session chose not to
[1:57:00] make changes to the program but
[1:57:01] that money still remains at the
[1:57:04] state water board so there is
[1:57:06] $300 million of potential
[1:57:08] funding relief available to us
[1:57:10] which brings us to our next
[1:57:11] steps, which will be to try to
[1:57:13] get to -- get the legislature to
[1:57:17] adopt it, 2.0, to cover those
[1:57:22] june 2021, to december 2021
[1:57:24] debts.
[1:57:25] we preferred the cwwapp program
[1:57:30] for a few reasons, it does not
[1:57:35] require customers to apply for
[1:57:37] relief, cbo, filling out
[1:57:40] applications, their debts are
[1:57:41] covered by our data being sent
[1:57:43] up to the state water resources
[1:57:45] control board and they cut us a
[1:57:48] check, a physical check in the
[1:57:49] case of water resources control
[1:57:51] board. It erases debts from our
[1:57:54] books and erases the debt from
[1:57:56] customers books and forced all
[1:57:58] shutoffs is future rate
[1:58:00] increases. Because one of the
[1:58:02] things we're looking@the
[1:58:04] legislative team what's going to
[1:58:07] drive rate adjustments moving
[1:58:08] forward and we're trying to get
[1:58:10] hold of those by reducing
[1:58:12] utility cost wherever we can
[1:58:14] fine aid from other government
[1:58:16] agencies in addition to ccwapp
[1:58:21] 2.0 we're pursuing direct
[1:58:24] subsidies for low-income
[1:58:26] ratepayers funding from other
[1:58:29] government agencies. We're in
[1:58:31] the federal government providing
[1:58:33] for more funding than they ever
[1:58:36] have and trying to position
[1:58:37] ourselves take advantage of that
[1:58:39] largess, and particularly
[1:58:40] helping our low-income
[1:58:42] ratepayers because we know
[1:58:43] they're all trying to dig
[1:58:45] themselves out of a hole the
[1:58:46] more we can offer them on the
[1:58:48] front end, the better off we are
[1:58:57] for growth. We're in the middle
[1:58:58] of engaging multiple water and
[1:59:01] power systems on developing a
[1:59:03] robust set of legislative
[1:59:05] proposals for the next year
[1:59:06] those are the ones we know we're
[1:59:08] going to be pursuing on customer
[1:59:12] debt and affordability for our
[1:59:13] services. Rev
[1:59:21] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[1:59:22] while joe is coming up, I'll add
[1:59:24] the following. We know that our
[1:59:26] legislative agenda is pretty
[1:59:27] much controlled by the city
[1:59:29] council. We don't have an
[1:59:31] independent agenda, dependent of
[1:59:33] the city of la, so it's going to
[1:59:36] be critically important from my
[1:59:37] perspective, that we continue to
[1:59:38] cause our friends at the council
[1:59:40] to appreciate the relationship
[1:59:43] between debt burden and utility
[1:59:46] debt, and la 100, a topic that
[1:59:51] is referenced quite a lot, but,
[1:59:54] without addressing in a very
[1:59:57] meaningful way, debt burden. La
[2:00:02] 100 simply will not pencil in
[2:00:04] with a lot of challenges to la
[2:00:07] 100, but not the least of which
[2:00:09] is our customers able to
[2:00:12] actually pay their utility bills
[2:00:14] and to the extent that debt
[2:00:17] burden increases, and becomes
[2:00:19] more unaffordable, that will
[2:00:22] create, in my view, a backlash
[2:00:24] that threatens to undermine many
[2:00:27] of our other more grandiose and,
[2:00:30] you know, more heavily promoted
[2:00:33] goals. So, I would say that it
[2:00:36] is -- it would behoove the
[2:00:39] department to take the lead in
[2:00:42] driving that message, and
[2:00:45] working with many of our
[2:00:48] community-based partners to
[2:00:50] cause people to appreciate how
[2:00:53] critical that -- this component
[2:00:55] is to energy and water equity.
[2:01:03] >>speaker: we did -- we were
[2:01:04] able to get a resolution to
[2:01:06] council covering this
[2:01:07] legislative session for any
[2:01:09] relief. And, so, we'll pursue
[2:01:11] that up for the next legislative
[2:01:14] session, as well as looking at
[2:01:15] what else we might add into that
[2:01:18] to ensure that it covers
[2:01:20] everything that we could pursue
[2:01:21] at both the state and federal
[2:01:23] level.
[2:01:23] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:01:24] thank you.
[2:01:26] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: I do
[2:01:27] have a question before we move
[2:01:28] on to communication. As you
[2:01:30] started your presentation, we
[2:01:32] all know that it's not just
[2:01:33] water and power on the bill.
[2:01:35] it's trash and sewer. And so, I
[2:01:37] just wanted to know how is all
[2:01:39] this integrated and how does it
[2:01:41] all work together? Because,
[2:01:43] obviously, we have no control
[2:01:44] over the trash and the sewer,
[2:01:47] but it's all on our bill, so I'm
[2:01:49] trying to make sure we're all
[2:01:51] working together, city, family,
[2:01:53] to make sure it's all on the
[2:01:56] same page. So how does that
[2:01:58] work?
[2:01:58] >>speaker: we are actively
[2:01:59] working with la, and from normal
[2:02:04] integrations. Building, and
[2:02:06] integration of their service and
[2:02:08] service charges on our bills and
[2:02:10] our planning efforts we're
[2:02:12] currently working, we just
[2:02:14] finished the application of
[2:02:16] sewer fund, wastewater funds for
[2:02:18] that, we're work with them on
[2:02:23] issues the council is sponsoring
[2:02:25] about address arrears. As we're
[2:02:28] developing these programs,
[2:02:30] engagement efforts with
[2:02:32] customers so they can all access
[2:02:34] the same program, we're sharing
[2:02:37] information trying to ensure
[2:02:38] we're consistent and referring
[2:02:41] customers to these programs.
[2:02:43] and then with the prioritization
[2:02:44] of these, we do factor in the
[2:02:47] sewer and the trash charges,
[2:02:49] into how we, which customers
[2:02:52] we're prioritizing, based on
[2:02:54] thresholds and so on.
[2:03:05] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: when I
[2:03:05] look at my bill, my sanitation
[2:03:07] side is higher than water and
[2:03:09] power. I want to make sure
[2:03:10] we're looking at this
[2:03:11] holistically and when we're
[2:03:13] talking about giving debt relief
[2:03:15] to our customers that it's done
[2:03:19] holistically.
[2:03:21] >>nancy sutley: as matt
[2:03:23] mentions there continues to be
[2:03:28] funding available throughout
[2:03:29] state water resources control
[2:03:31] board program. When we are
[2:03:34] pursuing that next year to see
[2:03:35] if we can get some additional
[2:03:37] coverage there, we will make
[2:03:38] sure that it includes
[2:03:40] wastewater, as well.
[2:03:43] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: thank
[2:03:43] you.
[2:03:44] >>speaker: goods afternoon
[2:03:45] commissioners. I wanted to
[2:03:47] provide a brief overview of
[2:03:49] communications and outreach
[2:03:50] activities around three
[2:03:51] different aspects you have heard
[2:03:55] of today. Specifically the
[2:03:57] [indiscernible] campaign. We
[2:04:00] began a campaign in november of
[2:04:02] 2021 through march of 2020, to
[2:04:04] enroll more customers in our
[2:04:06] low-income and life line
[2:04:08] program. This is targeted to
[2:04:10] disadvantaged communities and
[2:04:12] multi-lingual, and it's coupled
[2:04:15] together with the streamline
[2:04:16] applications process that george
[2:04:18] mentioned, as well.
[2:04:20] in addition to that, with the
[2:04:21] state assistance from the
[2:04:23] federal government on the way,
[2:04:25] we ramped up another awareness
[2:04:28] campaign to make sure our
[2:04:29] customers new of the assistance
[2:04:31] that was coming, that was called
[2:04:33] help is on the way. That's the
[2:04:35] time frame there, and that time
[2:04:37] was extended because it included
[2:04:39] arrears credits that were then
[2:04:41] applied. So there was actually
[2:04:42] a pause, and then we continued
[2:04:44] to ensure that customers knew
[2:04:46] that their bills that had
[2:04:49] accumulated were going to be in
[2:04:50] many cases significantly
[2:04:52] reduced. That campaign was
[2:04:53] underway and then we
[2:04:55] transitioned it after that, and
[2:04:57] in anticipation for the
[2:04:59] potential of resuming
[2:05:01] collections activities and
[2:05:03] transitioning late bills which
[2:05:05] is we're here to help campaign
[2:05:09] basically contact us if you're
[2:05:10] behind, enroll in any extended
[2:05:13] repayment program promoting
[2:05:15] extended repayment plans,
[2:05:18] overarching ez save campaign,
[2:05:22] enrollment in our discount
[2:05:23] programs, and low-income life
[2:05:25] line, and financial assistance,
[2:05:29] payment plans that are going to
[2:05:30] help you spread out payments
[2:05:33] over multiple years in the case
[2:05:35] of those program participates
[2:05:38] focus on low-income
[2:05:39] disadvantaged communities
[2:05:41] advertising is multi-media
[2:05:43] campaign multi-lingual, english,
[2:05:45] spanish, tagalog, and
[2:05:47] vietnamese, mandarin armenian
[2:05:50] and farsi, I'll share with you
[2:05:55] visuals, included what's on our
[2:06:01] web site, targeted under
[2:06:04] $300,000, customers in
[2:06:06] communities where we know there
[2:06:07] was high incidence of customers
[2:06:09] falling behind on their bills.
[2:06:12] tactics include earned media,
[2:06:15] very pleased to do with
[2:06:18] technical launch throughout
[2:06:20] radio, print, and direct
[2:06:22] mailers, and postcards to
[2:06:26] customers for help is on the
[2:06:28] way. Every customer that was
[2:06:30] going to receive a credit
[2:06:31] received a notification that was
[2:06:32] coming and going to be applied
[2:06:33] to their bills, there was
[2:06:35] digital, social, outdoor, and
[2:06:37] then additional webinars other
[2:06:39] and things with community and
[2:06:41] city family departments is
[2:06:44] staff, along with council staff.
[2:06:47] just to give you an idea of the
[2:06:51] performance of the campaigns
[2:06:52] they were visible is
[2:06:55] well-received. I'll give you a
[2:06:57] moment to show what we have done
[2:07:01] in addition to what has been
[2:07:02] done already. In e-mails our
[2:07:06] percentage open rate is
[2:07:10] extraordinarily compared, with
[2:07:13] 3%, we get 45% customer read
[2:07:17] e-mail. Our direct e-mail
[2:07:21] supports our initiatives
[2:07:23] including cool la, community
[2:07:26] newspaper ads, radio, digital
[2:07:29] ads, billboards, social media
[2:07:33] almost 9 million on social
[2:07:35] media, focusing right now, cool
[2:07:40] la campaign is beneficial to
[2:07:42] those customers enrolled in life
[2:07:44] line a 200 $50 rebate for those
[2:07:48] customers that together with the
[2:07:51] low-income household water and
[2:07:52] energy assistance programs that
[2:07:55] will be a $400,000 effort in
[2:07:57] terms of advertising that's
[2:07:59] ramping up right now as we
[2:08:00] speak.
[2:08:01] I did want to mention that the
[2:08:02] ez pay program, one of the
[2:08:07] challenges is that during the
[2:08:09] pandemic a lot of folks for one
[2:08:11] reason or another, were not
[2:08:13] longer enrolled in life line. I
[2:08:15] think you have seen the stats.
[2:08:18] during this time of focus on
[2:08:21] outreach and awareness, we have
[2:08:26] a low of 133,000 participants as
[2:08:30] of may 2020 and as of
[2:08:34] september 14, 3000, the
[2:08:37] difference has been significant,
[2:08:39] and the goal is to extend beyond
[2:08:43] the level we reached in
[2:08:45] september additional efforts.
[2:08:53] we had the highest monthly
[2:08:55] enrollment for low-income and
[2:08:56] that was 8,000 new enrollees
[2:08:58] that months previous low
[2:09:00] experienced in july of 2021 of
[2:09:04] 109 million. The advertising
[2:09:07] works, to a point and for only
[2:09:09] so long because there will be
[2:09:11] message fatigue there. That's
[2:09:12] why it's important to run
[2:09:14] campaigns, let them sunset and
[2:09:17] ramp back up. In the case of
[2:09:19] cool la, and what's upcoming,
[2:09:25] cool la on the web site
[2:09:29] advertising is clear that you
[2:09:30] need to be a life line recipient
[2:09:33] there is cross benefit there to
[2:09:35] the low-income ez save program
[2:09:37] by participating through
[2:09:38] advertising for cool la.
[2:09:41] what I would recommend is that
[2:09:44] we continue and do a more
[2:09:46] significant buy on paid
[2:09:49] advertising around ez save,
[2:09:51] specifically. We were in a
[2:09:52] period of time where we want to
[2:09:54] the focus on ez save and getting
[2:09:57] enrollments but we also had a
[2:09:59] lot to communicate to our
[2:10:02] customers in that we wanted them
[2:10:04] to enroll in an extended payment
[2:10:06] program. If we want to focus
[2:10:08] just on low-income, we can run
[2:10:09] that campaign more heavily and
[2:10:12] specify and figure out exactly a
[2:10:14] timing for that and put behind
[2:10:17] drivers of numbers we want to
[2:10:23] highlight that program allows
[2:10:25] you to be eligible for more
[2:10:29] programs that can help like life
[2:10:35] line la, director customers
[2:10:38] through direct mail and direct
[2:10:40] contact. Challenges happening
[2:10:42] in customer service will allow
[2:10:44] us to do a lot more segments to
[2:10:47] our customers to target them for
[2:10:49] programs they need. When we do
[2:10:52] that now it will be more robust
[2:10:54] more effective with a better
[2:10:56] customer information system that
[2:10:58] we can draw from. And
[2:11:02] collaboration with cbos to
[2:11:04] extend outreach. Part of the
[2:11:06] cbo program that george
[2:11:11] mentioned but we have developed
[2:11:13] tool kits, sharing with cbos,
[2:11:18] george approximate his team
[2:11:19] shard with city council staff,
[2:11:21] as well. We just want to keep
[2:11:23] putting that effort behind each
[2:11:24] of these, as we go, in order to
[2:11:28] see the results. I would be
[2:11:30] happy to answer questions around
[2:11:32] outreach and advertising.
[2:11:35] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:11:35] there are any questions? I just
[2:11:39] have a couple of observations, I
[2:11:41] guess. We do a very effective
[2:11:47] job of building campaigns, but
[2:11:48] it's really clear both by virtue
[2:11:51] of the people that we hear from
[2:11:52] and some of the work that's done
[2:11:54] in communities, that when you
[2:11:56] start to get to low-income
[2:11:58] residents, you know, we're not
[2:12:04] necessarily penetrating and all
[2:12:06] of the programs in the world
[2:12:07] don't matter if the people for
[2:12:09] whom they're being developed and
[2:12:11] designed don't know about them.
[2:12:12] so I think we're going to have
[2:12:15] to take a much more critical
[2:12:17] look at the results that we're
[2:12:20] getting and how we are actually
[2:12:22] reaching individuals. I also
[2:12:25] believe that we are going to
[2:12:26] need to rethink how we work with
[2:12:30] cbos. Right now, they're
[2:12:33] touching the department, all
[2:12:35] over the department, it
[2:12:36] continues to be -- and the
[2:12:37] department doesn't talk to each
[2:12:39] other. So, you know, you have
[2:12:42] got whatever is happening in
[2:12:44] customer service, whatever is
[2:12:47] happening in equity strategies,
[2:12:49] whatever's happening in our
[2:12:53] resiliency space, is then, you
[2:12:55] know, what may be happening, at
[2:12:59] some point, in nde and I, and we
[2:13:05] have got to really determine, as
[2:13:07] a department, how we're going to
[2:13:09] center our engagement with cbos,
[2:13:12] and what the return is on that
[2:13:14] investment. Because it's hugely
[2:13:17] problematic. You know, for the
[2:13:19] people on the ground, that are
[2:13:20] talking to our customers most
[2:13:24] intensely, to not have a good
[2:13:26] sense of what is available is
[2:13:27] how to navigate our various
[2:13:30] systems. That continues to be,
[2:13:33] as you know, interested in
[2:13:38] seeing a significant change in
[2:13:39] our web site, mark. Because --
[2:13:46] and george -- because every
[2:13:48] single time we do something --
[2:13:50] and cool la, is a good example,
[2:13:53] it is -- you know, that becomes
[2:13:55] the point at which we drop the
[2:13:57] ball, because we don't have an
[2:14:01] easy place to refer to people,
[2:14:03] and we have lots of different
[2:14:05] work-arounds one page may be
[2:14:07] easy to navigate and it's not
[2:14:08] going to take you to a place
[2:14:10] that's quite as simple or
[2:14:11] efficient. Again we can do all
[2:14:13] this work, but if we make it
[2:14:15] difficult for people to access
[2:14:16] or walk through or to get what
[2:14:18] they need to get to, that just
[2:14:21] defeats the purpose. We need
[2:14:22] to, very, very significantly,
[2:14:24] increase our outreach around
[2:14:26] level pay. And around ez save,
[2:14:29] for the reasons, joe, that you
[2:14:31] mentioned. I would be
[2:14:32] interested in understanding what
[2:14:34] the rate of return is on radio,
[2:14:36] what the rate of return is on
[2:14:39] cable tv. I know they do a lot
[2:14:42] of, you know, that's a less
[2:14:45] expensive buy, and may be a good
[2:14:48] supplement to some of the print
[2:14:50] work that we're doing, but it
[2:14:51] really is, how do we make sure
[2:14:53] that the customers that we're
[2:14:55] most interested in targeting are
[2:14:56] being targeted. So, that's,
[2:15:00] sort of, my feedback on that
[2:15:03] piece of the presentation. In
[2:15:04] terms of the overall issue of
[2:15:10] debt burden, I do I have
[2:15:12] question. There was a slide
[2:15:13] that came up, and we went
[2:15:15] through it rather quickly. And
[2:15:17] this goes to greg regarding the
[2:15:22] overall debt burden by income.
[2:15:26] you had a slide that basically
[2:15:28] looked at the entire city of la,
[2:15:30] and you basically said we have
[2:15:32] spent a lot of time on this
[2:15:34] slide, that increasingly or just
[2:15:40] generally is true, that debt
[2:15:41] burden weighs more heavily on
[2:15:45] the poor. You can tell me more
[2:15:47] about that by percentage of
[2:15:49] income or do you have additional
[2:15:52] details around utility burden
[2:15:53] that you can discuss right now?
[2:15:55] >>speaker: sure. I guess --
[2:15:57] you're referring to
[2:15:58] [indiscernible]
[2:16:03] [background - off mic comments)
[2:16:04] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:16:04] yes. Yes. You're going to have
[2:16:06] to go to the mic. Thank you.
[2:16:12] >>speaker: so, what I meant by
[2:16:14] that was it specifically a focus
[2:16:17] where studies are done on
[2:16:20] residential customers, of
[2:16:22] utilities, and there, like -- I
[2:16:27] mean, I guess I can't name --
[2:16:29] every study I have seen, and
[2:16:31] there is at least a dozen
[2:16:33] studies I have seen, in
[2:16:34] different context, outside of
[2:16:36] la, shows low-income customers,
[2:16:40] I mean, variously defined, but
[2:16:42] usually using a standard
[2:16:44] threshold, like 100% of the
[2:16:46] federal poverty level, 200% of
[2:16:51] the federal poverty level,
[2:16:55] eligibility for discount
[2:16:56] programs, or more likely to
[2:16:58] carry higher debt burdens
[2:17:00] despite having -- consuming less
[2:17:03] than higher income customers,
[2:17:06] and also that when you do, sort
[2:17:08] of, complicated and statistical
[2:17:11] regression analysis, that
[2:17:15] households of color tend to
[2:17:16] carry more debt, even after
[2:17:19] accounting for income. Does
[2:17:20] that answer your question?
[2:17:20] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:17:22] yeah. I'll be interested in
[2:17:24] your additional work during
[2:17:26] equity strategies. I'm very
[2:17:28] interested in both the debt
[2:17:32] burden related questions, and,
[2:17:35] also, very much in the other
[2:17:39] issue that you touched upon
[2:17:42] related to the revenue side and
[2:17:43] the degree to which those
[2:17:47] households account for both
[2:17:52] utilization of utility services
[2:17:53] and also the revenue that's
[2:17:55] generated by that utility, by
[2:17:58] that revenue generated by the
[2:18:03] utility service I believe that
[2:18:06] factors directly into cost
[2:18:08] benefit of shut off as a means
[2:18:10] of ensuring payment for utility
[2:18:12] services. So I'm very
[2:18:13] interested in those issues. I'm
[2:18:15] going to be checking in on that
[2:18:17] work.
[2:18:20] are there other questions?
[2:18:30] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: I have
[2:18:31] a question. Many people who
[2:18:32] were testifying today talked
[2:18:33] about how they had to go to the
[2:18:35] park.
[2:18:37] >>com. Mia lehrer: I'm glad
[2:18:37] that it seemed to be there are a
[2:18:39] lot of parks to go to. The
[2:18:41] question is how much better
[2:18:42] could we do in those parks, is
[2:18:45] schools which is, there is a big
[2:18:47] vote today about greening
[2:18:50] schools, and how are we engaged.
[2:18:53] so, I don't know that there is
[2:18:54] an answer here, but I know that
[2:18:56] the school, that the parks tried
[2:18:59] really hard, over this, the, you
[2:19:04] know, during the pandemic, to
[2:19:06] service the community, as best
[2:19:08] they could, is it would be
[2:19:09] great, and, also, there is no
[2:19:11] cooling centers. They're, sort
[2:19:14] of, getting built, and built up,
[2:19:15] whether it's in separate
[2:19:19] buildings, or otherwise, so, to
[2:19:21] a degree, that sense ever
[2:19:23] community that can happen, the
[2:19:26] support that you can get when
[2:19:27] you are in a cooling center, or
[2:19:29] in a park, is something that's
[2:19:31] important to value. So, you
[2:19:33] know, I don't know what the
[2:19:35] cost, you know, who pay -- you
[2:19:38] know, how the park system pays
[2:19:41] for their bills, you know, how
[2:19:44] the county and the city park
[2:19:46] system, the libraries. But I'm
[2:19:48] just hoping that all of that
[2:19:51] gets, you know, balanced,
[2:19:53] obviously, with that relief.
[2:19:56] you know, basically, the basic
[2:19:58] and important needs of the
[2:20:00] residents, in the city of los
[2:20:04] angeles, getting, you know,
[2:20:06] being able to stay cool and get
[2:20:08] water and debt relief. But,
[2:20:13] just curious. Because I know
[2:20:15] that those public places have
[2:20:23] borne a burden and need to be
[2:20:25] attended to, also.
[2:20:29] >>nancy sutley: so we have had,
[2:20:30] for at least a dozen years, mou,
[2:20:34] with lausd on energy efficiency
[2:20:37] and water conservation for
[2:20:38] schools. So it's committed a
[2:20:41] significant amount of funding
[2:20:42] and activity around improving
[2:20:44] the, both improving the comfort
[2:20:47] level in schools, as well as
[2:20:49] helping, helping the school
[2:20:51] system save money on their
[2:20:53] energy water bills. Similar to
[2:20:57] with rec and parks we work with
[2:21:00] them particularly on community
[2:21:02] centers, recreation centers, on
[2:21:05] providing, you know, them as
[2:21:08] much assistance as we can around
[2:21:10] energy efficiency, water
[2:21:12] conservation efforts and comfort
[2:21:14] around saving money for their
[2:21:16] bills. We don't, and we can't,
[2:21:19] as I understand t offer special
[2:21:21] rates for government facilities
[2:21:23] that kind of went by the way
[2:21:24] side with some of the
[2:21:27] restrictions that exist on our
[2:21:28] rates.
[2:21:29] prefer
[2:21:30] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:21:34] so thank you for that. I do
[2:21:35] want to under score in one of
[2:21:38] the things that I'm a little sad
[2:21:42] about, but happy for next year,
[2:21:44] is we had a late --
[2:21:48] [indiscernible] cool la, because
[2:21:50] we don't want residents to have
[2:21:52] to flee their homes in order to
[2:21:54] deal with the extreme
[2:21:55] temperatures, and I'm very proud
[2:21:57] of the department for having
[2:21:59] stepped up with the cool la
[2:22:02] initiative in order to
[2:22:03] facilitate that.
[2:22:06] nancy, thank you for mentioning,
[2:22:08] you know, certain limitations
[2:22:10] based on legal and other
[2:22:12] constraints related to rates. I
[2:22:15] know that we are actively
[2:22:17] looking at a rate case, and
[2:22:21] we'll continue to be talking to
[2:22:25] other policy makers about the
[2:22:27] need to gain some relief from
[2:22:33] rate constraints. Because, as
[2:22:35] was noted here today, among the
[2:22:37] tools that needs to be in the
[2:22:38] tool belt is the flexibility to
[2:22:42] engage in rate design that would
[2:22:46] also achieve greater, you know,
[2:22:51] a greater, and fairer, more
[2:22:53] equitable distribution of
[2:22:54] payment for these services that
[2:22:56] we provide. That's not
[2:22:58] something that this board
[2:22:59] controls. But something, again,
[2:23:02] that the department has got to
[2:23:04] take an increasingly -- an
[2:23:07] increasing role in advocating
[2:23:08] for. Because it is the only way
[2:23:10] that we're going to get through
[2:23:14] where we -- from where we are,
[2:23:16] to where we want to be that
[2:23:20] promotes a regard for equity.
[2:23:23] are there any additional
[2:23:25] questions in the context of this
[2:23:26] workshop?
[2:23:28] if not, then my final
[2:23:30] observations are as follows: I
[2:23:32] know that we have not shut off
[2:23:34] anyone, and I would be loathe to
[2:23:37] see that occurring, certainly
[2:23:43] with respect to our low-income,
[2:23:45] and our life line customers. We
[2:23:47] have got an awful lot to do as
[2:23:50] it relates to engagement and
[2:23:52] building out the systems of
[2:23:53] support that will allow us to
[2:23:57] ensure that we are able to
[2:23:59] provide services and that our
[2:24:01] customers are able to avail
[2:24:04] themselves of those services,
[2:24:06] and maintain their economic
[2:24:10] viability. So, I'm encouraged
[2:24:13] that so much is underway.
[2:24:17] I really, really appreciate the
[2:24:19] clarity with which you have laid
[2:24:20] out the path forward, and the
[2:24:23] department has been thinking
[2:24:26] deeply about these issues. It
[2:24:28] is important that our community
[2:24:31] know that we remain here for
[2:24:35] them, and that we will work with
[2:24:38] them to ensure that we are
[2:24:41] together building a stronger la,
[2:24:44] and whether that is working with
[2:24:47] low-income housing providers in
[2:24:50] order to ensure their ability to
[2:24:53] continue to do what they do, or
[2:24:57] working with, just, a scared mom
[2:25:00] in san pedro. And it doesn't
[2:25:03] matter that we have not shut
[2:25:05] anybody off. If you're afraid
[2:25:08] that could happen to you, that
[2:25:10] anxiety is palpable. And we
[2:25:12] need to be really, really
[2:25:14] mindful of people's experience,
[2:25:16] and if you come from a place
[2:25:18] where you have experienced that,
[2:25:19] or you know someone has
[2:25:21] experienced that, you know,
[2:25:23] we're a long way away from that
[2:25:25] place. And they have no idea
[2:25:27] what we do or say in this room.
[2:25:29] so we have got to get a whole
[2:25:31] lot better about providing a
[2:25:33] level of security to folks that
[2:25:39] they can count on being able to
[2:25:41] turn the lights on and that
[2:25:43] water will continue to flow from
[2:25:45] the taps. I appreciate
[2:25:46] everybody's work here today.
[2:25:48] and with that, this workshop is
[2:25:49] closed.
[2:25:52] and we will go back to our
[2:25:54] regular agenda. Thank you
[2:26:05] gentle men.
[2:26:09] we have one more presentation.
[2:26:10] we have a presentation from
[2:26:16] gloria medina, tiffany wong,
[2:26:21] alicia morales, and gloria. I
[2:26:29] was caught up in our
[2:26:31] presentation. I know it's
[2:26:34] getting late. If we could go to
[2:26:36] the final item?
[2:26:39] david, are they here?
[2:27:08] thank you ladies. I'm sorry.
[2:27:10] >>speaker: trying to figure out
[2:27:11] the lay out.
[2:27:13] I had drafted good morning, but
[2:27:18] it's not afternoon. Good
[2:27:20] morning commissioners and
[2:27:21] members of the public. My name
[2:27:22] is alicia morales research and
[2:27:25] policy analyst with lean. I am
[2:27:27] here in this presentation with
[2:27:29] my colleague tiffany wong who is
[2:27:31] also research associate with
[2:27:34] scope, and gloria salinas, a
[2:27:37] community member, south la
[2:27:39] resident, business owner and
[2:27:41] member of scope as well. In
[2:27:43] closing out today's
[2:27:44] presentation, we appreciate you
[2:27:46] for focusing on the topic of
[2:27:48] utility debt, of shutoffs, and
[2:27:51] ultimately affordability
[2:27:52] especially for low-income
[2:27:53] ratepayers. We're here today
[2:27:55] with our community members not
[2:27:56] just in these chambers, but in
[2:27:59] the overflow rooms to share
[2:28:01] light on the real life impacts
[2:28:02] of shutoffs on angelinos. As we
[2:28:05] saw today thousands of angelenos
[2:28:08] were affected in shutoffs prior
[2:28:10] to the pandemic accumulating
[2:28:13] high levels of debt, over
[2:28:16] $85 million. Forcing tradeoffs
[2:28:20] in order to pay their bills
[2:28:23] ultimately putting them in
[2:28:24] dangerous positions choosing
[2:28:26] between shelters, utilities,
[2:28:29] food, transportation, is more.
[2:28:30] we also note from the pandemic
[2:28:32] that when members were able to
[2:28:34] pay their bills they did. In
[2:28:39] the city where there is cost of
[2:28:42] living increasing especially
[2:28:45] keeping water running and lights
[2:28:47] on. As we continue to recover
[2:28:49] from the socio-economic impacts
[2:28:51] of the pandemic addressing
[2:28:53] shutoffs it's an important issue
[2:28:55] to our members and these are
[2:28:57] solutions that we have been
[2:28:58] looking forward to for a long
[2:29:00] time. As part of repower la
[2:29:02] coalition, we have been fighting
[2:29:04] for affordable utilities
[2:29:07] equitable programs and pathways
[2:29:08] to union jobs for many years.
[2:29:10] we commend the work of the board
[2:29:11] and of the utility to provide
[2:29:14] utility debt relief to thousands
[2:29:19] of millions of dollars to help
[2:29:22] over the past years, and with
[2:29:25] the shut off moratorium that
[2:29:27] began in april 2020. While
[2:29:36] pathways keeping rates
[2:29:37] affordable and sustainable, and
[2:29:39] work of la 100, communities need
[2:29:45] protections now. It was jarring
[2:29:49] to see shutoffs happening in
[2:29:51] september of 2023 and especially
[2:29:53] for residential customers and
[2:29:55] even earlier as we experienced
[2:29:57] over a week long heatwave and as
[2:29:59] the city moved to a clean
[2:30:02] renewable energy economy we need
[2:30:04] to ensure there are baseline and
[2:30:08] safety nets for low-income
[2:30:11] ratepayers in the city. Rent
[2:30:14] income are strong indicators for
[2:30:17] who gets utilities shut off and
[2:30:20] how long they are disconnected.
[2:30:23] with experience in moratorium
[2:30:25] and living without access to
[2:30:27] water and power as climate
[2:30:29] impacts worsen, power shutoffs
[2:30:35] disconnecting more than once,
[2:30:37] with 40% getting disconnected
[2:30:40] again. We're asking dwp to
[2:30:43] enact a policy to stop water and
[2:30:44] power shutoffs for low-income
[2:30:46] residential customers to protect
[2:30:47] communities from the inhumane
[2:30:50] life-threatening situations of
[2:30:51] living without water and power.
[2:30:54] the shut off moratorium saved
[2:30:58] lives. The next best step is
[2:31:02] implement a permanent solution
[2:31:06] to shut off and we'll share
[2:31:08] recommendation with us today.
[2:31:09] I'll ask tiffany wong to speak
[2:31:11] on some specific policy
[2:31:13] recommendations.
[2:31:17] >>speaker: thank you alisia for
[2:31:20] setting the stage.
[2:31:28] on why we're here, and our
[2:31:31] demands.
[2:31:32] much of dwp's analysis and our
[2:31:37] recommendations come out of the
[2:31:40] preventing shutoffs pilot
[2:31:43] convened by the alliance and
[2:31:45] done in partnership with scope.
[2:31:47] in today's presentation say
[2:31:49] snapshot of the existing
[2:31:50] analysis that shows how much
[2:31:51] shut offs are a racial justice
[2:31:54] issue, and are meant onus on
[2:32:02] ladwp to right these inequities.
[2:32:09] on behalf of repower la
[2:32:12] coalition and frontline
[2:32:13] communities, we are demanding an
[2:32:16] to end water and power shutoffs
[2:32:18] for all low-income residential
[2:32:20] customers while past relief has
[2:32:23] focused on customers on discount
[2:32:24] programs we are urging a broad
[2:32:26] safety net that covers who still
[2:32:30] face barriers in accessing these
[2:32:32] programs, with enrollment on
[2:32:36] other public assistance programs
[2:32:38] and including those making 50%
[2:32:43] medium income or less shut off
[2:32:46] policy should be extended to all
[2:32:48] customers during extreme weather
[2:32:50] so no angeleno goes without
[2:32:52] water and power during coal
[2:32:55] snaps or worsening storms. We
[2:32:58] urge protections for small
[2:33:00] commercial customers and
[2:33:01] communities and frontline
[2:33:04] communities in recognition the
[2:33:18] socio-economic impacts. Without
[2:33:20] further action our most
[2:33:22] vulnerable communities will
[2:33:22] continue to struggle. This no
[2:33:24] shut off policy must be tied
[2:33:27] with efforts to provide utility
[2:33:28] debt relief and affordability
[2:33:31] measures to pursue ecologic
[2:33:38] decarbonization is improve
[2:33:40] customer service is outreach and
[2:33:42] increase access and pathways.
[2:33:46] we want to start with making
[2:33:48] sure that ladwp is working with
[2:33:50] us and impacted community
[2:33:52] members on these needed visions
[2:33:55] and policy change. At the end
[2:33:57] of the today, yes there is at
[2:33:59] that evidence and, but more
[2:34:00] importantly, this is really
[2:34:01] about people. I want to you
[2:34:03] recall many of the stories that
[2:34:05] were shared during public
[2:34:07] comment, and understand that
[2:34:08] these reflect many others
[2:34:11] unheard stories across our tea.
[2:34:13] and to close we want to, again,
[2:34:16] center the voices of our
[2:34:17] community members. So, I want
[2:34:19] -- it's with deep appreciation
[2:34:21] they invite gloria sal I know
[2:34:25] as, south la resident, is
[2:34:28] grassroots community member to
[2:34:31] share with you.
[2:35:05] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:35:05] language].
[2:35:08] >>interpreter: I am a leader of
[2:35:09] scope and I am a resident of
[2:35:11] south la. I am the owner of a
[2:35:15] small business. [speaking in
[2:35:16] native language].
[2:35:22] >>interpreter: I'm a customer
[2:35:23] of ladwp for a long time.
[2:35:27] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:35:28] language].
[2:35:34] >>interpreter: and I'm
[2:35:35] representing those of low-income
[2:35:36] who are here, and those who are
[2:35:37] not here, because they couldn't
[2:35:42] come today.
[2:35:44] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:35:45] language].
[2:35:52] >>interpreter: and I want to
[2:35:52] say thank you for focusing on
[2:35:54] the shutoffs, and the debts, and
[2:35:57] it is my wish that we can do a
[2:36:00] lot.
[2:36:01] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:36:02] language].
[2:36:12] >>interpreter: in our
[2:36:13] community, we have been
[2:36:14] struggling and advocating for
[2:36:17] the utilities, affordability.
[2:36:24] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:36:25] language].
[2:36:31] >>interpreter: for programs,
[2:36:32] there are more inequities and
[2:36:39] for more unions for many years.
[2:36:44] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:36:45] language].
[2:36:48] >>interpreter: and today we are
[2:36:50] requesting that you promote a
[2:36:52] policy to stop the shutoffs of
[2:36:55] energy and water.
[2:37:03] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:37:04] language].
[2:37:08] >>interpreter: because it is
[2:37:09] inhuman, and potentially deadly
[2:37:12] for our communities to be in a
[2:37:14] situation without water and
[2:37:15] energy.
[2:37:17] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:37:18] language].
[2:37:25] >>interpreter: I want to say a
[2:37:26] little bit about my experience
[2:37:28] with the shutoffs, and having to
[2:37:30] pay bills that were really high.
[2:37:35] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:37:36] language].
[2:37:41] >>interpreter: I have always
[2:37:43] lived in south los angeles, and
[2:37:46] with a lot of effort, I started
[2:37:48] with a really small business.
[2:37:53] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:37:53] language].
[2:37:55] >>interpreter: which is, like,
[2:37:56] ice cream, and shaved ice.
[2:38:01] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:01] language].
[2:38:02] >>interpreter: and I have had
[2:38:03] this small business for seven
[2:38:05] years.
[2:38:16] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:16] language].
[2:38:17] >>interpreter: it takes a lot
[2:38:18] of effort to build it up because
[2:38:20] there are a lot of regulations
[2:38:21] and laws to have this kind of
[2:38:22] business.
[2:38:24] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:25] language].
[2:38:31] >>interpreter: and it also is
[2:38:32] very difficult in our community
[2:38:34] to build up clientele.
[2:38:41] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:42] language].
[2:38:42] >>interpreter: so that was my
[2:38:43] goal, and I am proud that I did
[2:38:44] it.
[2:38:46] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:47] language].
[2:38:47] >>interpreter: but I also feel
[2:38:48] very frustrated, because the
[2:38:50] energy bills are still very
[2:38:52] high.
[2:38:54] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:38:55] language].
[2:38:56] >>interpreter: and I want to
[2:38:56] tell you about my own
[2:38:58] experience.
[2:39:02] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:39:05] language].
[2:39:06] >>interpreter: it is very
[2:39:07] frustrating.
[2:39:08] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:39:09] language].
[2:39:14] >>interpreter: it didn't happen
[2:39:16] now in the pandemic, but it
[2:39:18] happened when I first started my
[2:39:20] business they came over to shut
[2:39:22] off the energy, the electricity.
[2:39:24] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:39:25] language].
[2:39:26] >>interpreter: as I was
[2:39:27] starting, I didn't have enough
[2:39:28] to pay the -- for the energy,
[2:39:31] for the electricity.
[2:39:43] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:39:43] language].
[2:39:44] >>interpreter: I felt it was
[2:39:45] not too much, but that little
[2:39:48] bit of money, I didn't have it.
[2:39:50] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:39:51] language].
[2:40:00] >>interpreter: so this person
[2:40:01] came over, and I asked him,
[2:40:03] please don't do it, and I was
[2:40:04] able to gather $100 to give to
[2:40:07] this person so they would stop
[2:40:10] the shut off.
[2:40:12] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:40:13] language].
[2:40:32] >>interpreter: so, I have
[2:40:33] always been active in my
[2:40:34] community, I have continued to
[2:40:36] work, and I would be active
[2:40:38] gathering signatures from
[2:40:40] community members, helping at
[2:40:41] the school of my kids, when
[2:40:43] there was any problems, and, now
[2:40:47] they're starting to graduate.
[2:40:49] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:40:50] language].
[2:41:21] >>interpreter: I will continue
[2:41:23] now, like, in this struggle, and
[2:41:27] being active, and I'm really
[2:41:30] grateful with the community
[2:41:32] organizations that help the
[2:41:33] low-income communities, such as
[2:41:35] scope, which they -- I know,
[2:41:39] have done big work, but it's not
[2:41:42] still reflected because
[2:41:45] [indiscernible] so high.
[2:41:48] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:41:48] language].
[2:42:16] >>interpreter: so I'm giving
[2:42:21] back because it is a matter of
[2:42:23] awareness and conscious, like
[2:42:24] there is some people for them
[2:42:26] it's not difficult to pay, but I
[2:42:28] have this experience, we live
[2:42:30] this every day, and it is, like,
[2:42:32] really hard to pay this bill.
[2:42:36] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:42:37] language].
[2:42:52] >>interpreter: and I will
[2:42:52] continue with my business. I
[2:42:54] will continue with this
[2:42:55] organization in order to really
[2:42:57] achieve something. I know that
[2:42:58] we can do it.
[2:43:08] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:43:09] language].
[2:43:12] >>interpreter: and I hope this
[2:43:13] we can continue these
[2:43:14] discussions, and within the
[2:43:18] department of water and power.
[2:43:19] and thank you very much for
[2:43:20] listening.
[2:43:20] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:43:25] gracias.
[2:43:26] [applause]
[2:43:30] thank you very much. I still
[2:43:32] want to highlight one of the
[2:43:33] things that was said by the cbo
[2:43:37] presenters, and that is that our
[2:43:39] data does demonstrate that when
[2:43:42] low-income communities can't
[2:43:43] pay, they do. So, we should
[2:43:45] just bear that in mind, there is
[2:43:48] no significant -- there is no
[2:43:53] evidence that people, even if
[2:43:58] given opportunity with the
[2:44:00] pandemic, with the moratorium in
[2:44:02] place, that when they could pay,
[2:44:05] that they refused to do so. So,
[2:44:09] again, continue to look forward
[2:44:10] to this discussion. This is not
[2:44:12] a one-off. And, also, I do
[2:44:16] believe that clarity is really
[2:44:18] important that we don't want
[2:44:20] people wondering if, you know,
[2:44:24] they're going to wake up one day
[2:44:25] and see a shut off notice in
[2:44:28] their mailbox. So, just, you
[2:44:30] know, if necessary, I'm happy to
[2:44:32] bring a motion to instruct the
[2:44:41] department not to shut off any
[2:44:43] low-income or life line customer
[2:44:45] without first coming to this
[2:44:47] board. If that is required.
[2:44:50] marty, if that is your
[2:44:51] commitment, then I will accept
[2:44:53] that, but if that is required,
[2:44:55] I'm happy to bring that motion
[2:44:56] forward.
[2:44:58] >>gm martin l. Adams: certainly
[2:44:59] if the board wants to make that
[2:45:00] motion, that would be fine. I
[2:45:02] do believe that we have a very
[2:45:03] deliberate measure planned going
[2:45:05] forward, and we would continue
[2:45:06] to bring that to the board to
[2:45:08] make sure that it meets your
[2:45:09] goals and objectives. And,
[2:45:11] again, we have no -- the idea is
[2:45:15] to try to do everything we can
[2:45:17] to avoid getting people into a
[2:45:19] situation where they can't pay
[2:45:21] their bill. And we do have a
[2:45:23] lot of months ahead to deliver
[2:45:25] on that before we ever get to
[2:45:27] the point of making that
[2:45:28] decision about a shut off. So,
[2:45:30] if that's acceptable, I would
[2:45:32] ask, let us work the plan, if
[2:45:34] you are comfortable with that,
[2:45:35] and bring it back to make sure
[2:45:37] that we're on the path that we
[2:45:39] should be on, in your eyes.
[2:45:40] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:45:41] I'm very interested. I
[2:45:44] understand plans, but what's
[2:45:46] clear and important is execution
[2:45:49] of the plan. We have had plans
[2:45:51] in the past, and we have
[2:45:53] demonstrated a real challenge,
[2:45:54] or real struggle, with, again,
[2:45:57] communicating with, coordinating
[2:45:58] with, and actually delivering to
[2:46:01] our lowest income residents.
[2:46:04] and, so, I think we'll --
[2:46:09] ensuring that we do that, as a
[2:46:12] predicate to anything that would
[2:46:14] be close to a shut off. And
[2:46:17] that's assuming we ever
[2:46:19] reinstitute shutoffs for poor
[2:46:21] people. And I just want to say
[2:46:22] that from my perspective, it's
[2:46:24] -- that would not be the
[2:46:29] direction they would move. I am
[2:46:32] simply not proposing this as an
[2:46:37] absolute action at this
[2:46:40] juncture, because I haven't had
[2:46:42] time to go to the department
[2:46:45] around that level of policy
[2:46:47] making but at this juncture I am
[2:46:51] interested in making sure there
[2:46:53] will be no change in status quo
[2:46:55] until we have had further time
[2:46:57] to look at what the department
[2:46:58] is doing, and assess and
[2:47:00] increase our engagement with the
[2:47:02] community, and come up with a
[2:47:04] way to move forward that ensures
[2:47:06] service to everyone. And, then,
[2:47:08] also, to see how effective we
[2:47:11] can be on the legislative side,
[2:47:14] as it relates to securing funds
[2:47:15] that are available to meet that
[2:47:17] debt burden.
[2:47:19] >>gm martin l. Adams: you're
[2:47:20] correct. No change in the
[2:47:22] status quo.
[2:47:22] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:47:23] all right. Any other comments?
[2:47:28] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: I just
[2:47:29] want to thank everybody that
[2:47:31] came to give public comment. As
[2:47:33] president mcclain-hill commented
[2:47:36] to it's not easy to make your
[2:47:38] way down here and make public
[2:47:40] comment. I just want folks to
[2:47:42] know we hear you, and we
[2:47:45] appreciate the comments.
[2:47:47] >>com. Mia lehrer: I second
[2:47:47] that. And I don't know what the
[2:47:49] protocol would be to, sort of,
[2:47:51] request some kind of update. Is
[2:47:53] it three months?
[2:47:54] is it -- you know, just to make
[2:47:57] sure we're moving toward those
[2:47:59] targeted goals that president
[2:48:01] mcclain-hill was talking about?
[2:48:02] so we know every 60 days, or 90
[2:48:07] days, or so, if everything is
[2:48:10] moving forward.
[2:48:10] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:48:13] this september we'll put a
[2:48:14] presentation back from the
[2:48:16] department on for december and
[2:48:19] we'll keep an eye on it.
[2:48:21] >>gm martin l. Adams: we'll try
[2:48:22] to create some metrics to
[2:48:23] measure the programs, and
[2:48:25] metrics that we know we're
[2:48:27] reaching people and be able to
[2:48:29] keep track of those and be able
[2:48:30] to bring them to you as often as
[2:48:35] possible something to measure
[2:48:36] your point we all recognize.
[2:48:42] >>speaker: [speaking in native
[2:48:56] language].
[2:48:56] [laughter]
[2:49:00] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:49:01] thank you for that. Also,
[2:49:03] moving forward, I think we're
[2:49:06] going to have significant public
[2:49:08] participation, we're going to
[2:49:09] want to think about how we have
[2:49:14] translation services so people
[2:49:15] in realtime will know what we're
[2:49:17] saying in addition to
[2:49:18] translation for us at the board.
[2:49:20] we want to make sure we have
[2:49:22] translation services available
[2:49:23] for the audience, as well. I'm
[2:49:25] not exactly sure what you're
[2:49:27] going to do to figure that out,
[2:49:29] but we do need to figure that
[2:49:32] out.
[2:49:33] okay. I think we'll move back
[2:49:35] into our agenda. I think -- I
[2:49:37] know a couple of things. I know
[2:49:39] we have a hard out by one of our
[2:49:42] commissioners at 1:45 today. I
[2:49:45] would like to ask our inspector
[2:49:47] general how long has
[2:49:48] presentation will be, so I can
[2:49:50] decide if that's going to go
[2:49:52] next, or if we're going to go
[2:49:54] next with the presentation from
[2:49:57] shift?
[2:49:59] >>speaker: president
[2:50:00] mcclain-hill, there is one thing
[2:50:01] you learn as a young attorney
[2:50:03] when first starting out which is
[2:50:05] don't get to up from front of
[2:50:06] any decision makers when they're
[2:50:09] hungry and tired after a long
[2:50:10] meeting. So I'm happy to yield
[2:50:12] this lot to the society of
[2:50:14] hispanic professional engineers
[2:50:16] and have my presentation shifted
[2:50:17] to an upcoming meeting, or at
[2:50:20] the discretion of the board.
[2:50:20] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[2:50:23] you know what, that is very
[2:50:25] gracious of you. And I
[2:50:27] appreciate it. Your
[2:50:28] presentation will take place at
[2:50:29] our next board meeting. As I do
[2:50:31] believe that everyone should be
[2:50:32] present for it, and I know
[2:50:34] everyone wants to be so instead
[2:50:40] we'll move to the presentation
[2:50:42] from the society of hispanic
[2:50:49] professional engineers.
[2:50:51] >>gm martin l. Adams: as
[2:50:51] president mcclain-hill noted in
[2:50:58] remarks, this month is hispanic
[2:51:00] heritage month and inclusivity
[2:51:04] for a stronger nation. Chapter
[2:51:09] event has been sponsored and
[2:51:11] they it will be hosting a
[2:51:13] webinar on october 12th it's a
[2:51:16] virtual employee panel, and
[2:51:20] beginning tomorrow our own
[2:51:22] evelynn cortez davis director of
[2:51:25] water and technical services is
[2:51:28] going to be featuring a podcast
[2:51:34] and that will be done in spanish
[2:51:37] by the society of women
[2:51:39] engineers latino affinity group.
[2:51:43] we have marcelo, gonzalez, and
[2:51:51] lopez here from our own local
[2:51:56] ship chapter.
[2:52:01] >>speaker: happy national
[2:52:05] heritage month. I'm the hiring
[2:52:09] manager in power engineer
[2:52:11] technical services and president
[2:52:12] of your ladwp chapter of society
[2:52:16] of hispanic engineers. Today
[2:52:18] we're proud to be here today
[2:52:21] marking our second anniversary
[2:52:23] of the board's approval to
[2:52:24] launch an ladwp chapter. The
[2:52:27] board action made ladwp the
[2:52:29] first public averages that --
[2:52:36] [indiscernible] we are provide
[2:52:39] to give an update on the
[2:52:43] progress of our chapter. The
[2:52:47] hispanic heritage month
[2:52:50] recognizes countless
[2:52:51] contributions in history, the
[2:52:54] professional engineers was
[2:52:56] launched 50 year ago in la by
[2:53:00] those who want to advance
[2:53:03] representation to latinos in
[2:53:05] stem careers, and carrying
[2:53:09] forward legacy of the division
[2:53:11] in support of the board and
[2:53:14] amplified voices of ladwp. In
[2:53:17] los angeles nearly 50% of the
[2:53:19] hispanic population is hispanic.
[2:53:23] representation matters. We
[2:53:25] thank the board, and general
[2:53:32] manager marty adams, and the
[2:53:35] office of equity and inclusion
[2:53:37] for your vision and support.
[2:53:39] today we'll begin by introducing
[2:53:42] you to our recently elected ship
[2:53:44] board and give a recap over our
[2:53:46] past year. Look at exciting
[2:53:49] activities we have planned in
[2:53:50] the come weeks and close with a
[2:53:53] hook ahead. We are pleased to
[2:53:58] report that we completed our
[2:54:00] chapters first election in april
[2:54:02] of this year. Our 12 newly
[2:54:06] installed officers are
[2:54:07] president, ofelio rubio, vice
[2:54:15] president of operation, marcelo,
[2:54:20] vice president operations,
[2:54:22] jesus, water works engineer
[2:54:26] water system, vice president
[2:54:28] wilfredo, treasurer hosy mora,
[2:54:40] secretary liuvia, communication
[2:54:44] chair jocelyn, chair brionna,
[2:54:52] civil engineering associate
[2:54:55] jahayra, membership chair
[2:55:01] andres, and cultural development
[2:55:05] chair, itzel, and professional
[2:55:08] development chair, samuel
[2:55:11] alvarado.
[2:55:13] >>speaker: happy to see 50%
[2:55:15] women. Good job.
[2:55:17] >>speaker: we would like to
[2:55:19] recognize the previous
[2:55:23] internship board, from our
[2:55:26] chapter in 2020, through 2022,
[2:55:29] we have luis martinez, we have
[2:55:32] power system rubio, marvin,
[2:55:38] fabiola, brionna, jesus, and
[2:55:44] castro. We have currently 90
[2:55:46] members and are focused on
[2:55:47] expanding membership and
[2:55:48] participation. We had elections
[2:55:50] and elected our first board,
[2:55:52] over the past year or so, we had
[2:55:55] the following activities, social
[2:55:58] activities shpe la chapter
[2:56:01] networking nights we have had
[2:56:03] volunteer opportunities, with uc
[2:56:13] irvine, robotics championship at
[2:56:19] lausd, hosted at elementary
[2:56:24] schools, at our recent board
[2:56:27] meeting we announced election
[2:56:31] results and gave an award of
[2:56:39] certification of appreciation,
[2:56:41] and we hosted at jp we had
[2:56:47] cookies and coffey. We had
[2:56:49] general board meetings and more
[2:56:51] importantly recently we issued
[2:56:53] our first issue of nexo our
[2:56:58] chapter news letter. Next is
[2:57:00] central link we're going to be
[2:57:03] releasing a quarterly news
[2:57:05] letter that provides updates
[2:57:06] about upcoming events and
[2:57:08] developments and activities that
[2:57:10] different members can
[2:57:11] participate in. And last week
[2:57:15] we're in the process of getting
[2:57:17] bylaws recognized by shpe
[2:57:20] national so we can be a
[2:57:22] recognized prg.
[2:57:24] >>speaker: thank you marcelo.
[2:57:25] my name is juliette, I am a
[2:57:29] civil engineering associate in
[2:57:30] water and resources division and
[2:57:32] this year am elected ladwp shpe
[2:57:36] secretary I would like to say
[2:57:38] thank you to president
[2:57:40] mcclain-hill and general manager
[2:57:43] marty adams for recognizing the
[2:57:45] importance of hispanic heritage
[2:57:47] month. We truly appreciate the
[2:57:49] board's support for our chapter.
[2:57:52] this month we planned five
[2:57:53] cultural socio and professional
[2:57:57] activities if community to help
[2:58:00] uplift and celebrate one
[2:58:03] another. For our first activity
[2:58:05] we kickoff hispanic heritage
[2:58:09] month by a cultural visit to
[2:58:12] historical el pueblo street we
[2:58:16] had opportunity to explore and
[2:58:18] support color stands and local
[2:58:20] venues we had members enjoying
[2:58:24] even out with colleagues while
[2:58:33] savoring delicious food. We got
[2:58:36] to enjoy a ball game while
[2:58:38] celebrating with our city. For
[2:58:40] our third activity we're
[2:58:43] especially excited as our own
[2:58:46] director of water and
[2:58:47] engineering technical services
[2:58:49] evelynn will be the host of the
[2:58:53] casitas stem podcast provided by
[2:58:55] the society of women engineer
[2:58:58] affinity group a latino affinity
[2:59:01] group the pod cast will be
[2:59:04] entirely spanish and released
[2:59:06] tomorrow september 29th and will
[2:59:08] delve into achievements of
[2:59:10] influential engineering industry
[2:59:15] participants. Look for it on
[2:59:16] under the name diverse on
[2:59:18] spotify sound cloud and apple
[2:59:20] music and that will be released
[2:59:22] tomorrow, september 28th.
[2:59:23] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[2:59:23] you can send us the link?
[2:59:26] >>speaker: absolutely.
[2:59:26] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[2:59:27] will there be transcription in
[2:59:31] english?
[2:59:32] >>speaker: not sure about that.
[2:59:33] [laughter]
[2:59:35] we will focus on professional
[2:59:37] development and this new
[2:59:39] emerging era of virtual meetings
[2:59:41] we want to give members
[2:59:44] confidence and opportunity to
[2:59:45] elevate their virtual experience
[2:59:47] with professional head shots by
[2:59:52] our photography team. We are
[2:59:56] proud to offer our vice
[3:00:01] president opening speak
[3:00:02] opportunity, and are ladwp
[3:00:03] employees will have opportunity
[3:00:04] to share what it means to be
[3:00:06] hispanic in the u.s. We are
[3:00:07] grateful to have our senior
[3:00:11] assistant gm anselmo collins
[3:00:15] offer closing remarks at the
[3:00:17] panel discussion held
[3:00:18] october 12th that concludes
[3:00:20] activities planned for hispanic
[3:00:22] heritage month and we hope to
[3:00:24] see you at our upcoming events.
[3:00:27] I'll hand it over to jesus
[3:00:29] gonzales vice president of
[3:00:30] operations.
[3:00:34] >>speaker: jesus gonzales, head
[3:00:34] of operations, and due to the
[3:00:36] fact that it's lunchtime, I'll
[3:00:39] let you know that at our events
[3:00:41] we have the best tasting mexican
[3:00:45] food in all of la. We excited
[3:00:47] about events planned this year
[3:00:49] not just at hispanic heritage
[3:00:52] month but throughout the entire
[3:00:54] year focus on the employees and
[3:00:56] community we want to make sure
[3:00:58] we assist all employers with
[3:01:01] professional development
[3:01:02] opportunities, and with
[3:01:03] membership many membership are
[3:01:06] going to be attending the
[3:01:08] national conference next month
[3:01:10] in north carolina and we're
[3:01:13] going to be concerted in focus
[3:01:15] in collaborating with other
[3:01:16] prgs, specifically in support of
[3:01:23] the office with creating a
[3:01:25] tighter knit amongst the
[3:01:30] department. Our focus is to
[3:01:31] highlight hispanic heritage
[3:01:33] month and stop to support your
[3:01:36] leadership, your vision, we are
[3:01:38] confident that this chapter is
[3:01:40] going to leave a positive
[3:01:42] defines in our employees. We're
[3:01:43] excited about the fantastic that
[3:01:44] we have been a chapter for two
[3:01:46] years. You heard marcella
[3:01:48] mention the fact that we were
[3:01:50] just under 100 members that
[3:01:53] number is expected to grow based
[3:01:55] on activity at our most recent
[3:01:58] event. Thank you for the
[3:01:59] support. We look forward to
[3:02:00] seeing you at our upcoming
[3:02:02] events and by all means, if the
[3:02:05] food isn't as good as I said it
[3:02:07] would be, come talk to me.
[3:02:09] we'll make it work.
[3:02:09] [laughter]
[3:02:12] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady: do
[3:02:12] you get any financial support --
[3:02:14] I do not recall -- do you get
[3:02:16] financial support from ladwp for
[3:02:20] the organization?
[3:02:23] >>speaker: not see far, we are
[3:02:25] working on member dues, and
[3:02:27] there is collaboration with the
[3:02:30] office for available funding and
[3:02:31] we're excited about that.
[3:02:35] >>gm martin l. Adams: I was at
[3:02:36] a meeting early o and I was
[3:02:38] impressed by the number of
[3:02:39] people engaged and those who
[3:02:42] were running committees. And a
[3:03:00] did a financial report, and I
[3:03:01] listen to the employees, and I
[3:03:03] said time out. Last year, we
[3:03:05] set-aside enough money for, to
[3:03:08] have some decency money for all
[3:03:10] of the affinity groups and we'll
[3:03:12] continue that, because they were
[3:03:14] living off a small dues
[3:03:17] collection which doesn't do
[3:03:18] justice to the programs that
[3:03:19] they're putting together that's
[3:03:21] so valuable. So we are
[3:03:22] supporting them and will
[3:03:24] continue to do that.
[3:03:26] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady: in
[3:03:27] particular, I heard they were
[3:03:28] going to the conversion, and I
[3:03:30] want sure if that was being --
[3:03:31] and they were going to be
[3:03:33] representing ladwp.
[3:03:35] >>gm martin l. Adams: we were
[3:03:35] supporting a number of employees
[3:03:37] going to different conventions,
[3:03:40] and also the recruiting tools as
[3:03:42] well and representing the
[3:03:44] organization we have been doing
[3:03:45] that as well since the group has
[3:03:47] formed up and started this.
[3:03:48] >>comm. Nicole neeman brady:
[3:03:49] glad to hear it.
[3:03:52] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: thank
[3:03:53] you so much. I have been a
[3:03:54] supporter of shpe for many
[3:03:56] years. I know the founder, rod
[3:04:00] garcia passed away. And I think
[3:04:02] he would be so proud. You
[3:04:05] indicated he started in los
[3:04:06] angeles, and went national, and
[3:04:08] you know, as we celebrate
[3:04:10] hispanic heritage month, I think
[3:04:12] it was indicated earlier that
[3:04:15] 50% of the residents of la, are
[3:04:18] latino, hispanic, latinx,
[3:04:22] chicano, whatever term you want
[3:04:23] to use. But what people forget
[3:04:25] is if you look at the hispanic
[3:04:27] buying power in the united
[3:04:29] states right now, it's at
[3:04:32] $2.5 trillion so I think people
[3:04:41] are starting to pay attention to
[3:04:46] us. And I think see the pink
[3:04:48] memo, and I am excited for the
[3:04:51] group to be up and running, and
[3:04:53] thank you for everything that
[3:04:54] you do.
[3:04:58] >>com. Mia lehrer: I echo the
[3:04:59] comments in how important it is.
[3:05:01] I think that working with the
[3:05:09] youth through stem and letting
[3:05:10] them see what kind of jobs are
[3:05:12] out there for people in, you
[3:05:15] know, in community colleges,
[3:05:18] it's sometimes hard to navigate.
[3:05:21] so, I urge us, and I know -- I
[3:05:23] think we have worked in the past
[3:05:25] with marcelo from la trade tech,
[3:05:31] and if you haven't, you should
[3:05:33] because this's what she does,
[3:05:35] she teaches architecture
[3:05:37] engineering and planning, and
[3:05:39] there is a lot of people coming
[3:05:42] through the program that when
[3:05:43] they first come in they do not
[3:05:45] know what they're going to do,
[3:05:47] choosing the exact path, and the
[3:05:49] nuance of the path. Clearly
[3:05:51] when you look at the group from
[3:05:53] dwp, there is so many different
[3:05:54] focus areas within the type of
[3:05:58] work you can do at dwp, I think
[3:06:01] it would be really excellent to
[3:06:02] be able to share, whether it's
[3:06:05] quarterly visits, or by a group,
[3:06:10] or them coming here, how do you
[3:06:11] plan that is making it regular,
[3:06:14] it will be great. They can walk
[3:06:15] here, almost.
[3:06:22] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:06:23] anything else. Thank you for
[3:06:24] being here. I really appreciate
[3:06:25] the presentation. It was quite
[3:06:28] excellent. I'm also looking
[3:06:29] forward to -- although I haven't
[3:06:32] checked by access, I show up in
[3:06:40] webinars all the time. I don't
[3:06:42] want to miss yours. And in
[3:06:44] particular, since I'm a foodie,
[3:06:45] any place you are serving food.
[3:06:49] make sure that I know it's quite
[3:06:56] extraordinary to see our
[3:06:57] employees in these various
[3:06:58] employee resource groups and I
[3:07:01] also appreciate the work that
[3:07:02] dei is doing that support them
[3:07:14] and I want to make sure it's
[3:07:22] community access at-large are
[3:07:25] assisted as much as they can be.
[3:07:30] thank you very much for being
[3:07:30] here today.
[3:07:31] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz:
[3:07:33] appreciate you.
[3:07:33] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:07:35] ms. Cortez, does the side bar --
[3:07:36] >>gm martin l. Adams:
[3:07:46] [indiscernible].
[3:07:46] [laughter]
[3:07:53] >>anselmo collins: if you don't
[3:07:55] mind. I was asked to add
[3:07:57] something to what was provided
[3:07:58] by the leadership. We're proud
[3:08:01] to announce that shpe la, a
[3:08:06] professional chapter, with our
[3:08:08] own members here, past
[3:08:10] president, rubio, she is going
[3:08:15] to be a panelist along with the
[3:08:17] commissioner, and al sander,
[3:08:25] this is going to be an in-person
[3:08:27] event held thursday
[3:08:29] september 29th at the avila a
[3:08:32] adoba on alvaro street.
[3:08:33] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:08:37] thank you all for being
[3:08:38] outstanding and representing dwp
[3:08:40] on that particular panel.
[3:08:41] appreciate you very much. Thank
[3:08:43] you all.
[3:08:44] and we will move to the next
[3:08:45] item.
[3:08:47] >>speaker: thank you.
[3:08:56] we're going to need a vote for
[3:08:58] the approval of the minutes.
[3:09:02] >>speaker: motion.
[3:09:04] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill: a
[3:09:05] second? Roll call.
[3:09:06] >>board secretary: commissioner
[3:09:07] lehrer?
[3:09:15] >>board secretary: president
[3:09:16] mcclain-hill?
[3:09:17] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:09:17] aye.
[3:09:18] >>board secretary: neeman
[3:09:19] brady?
[3:09:19] >>com. Nicole neeman brady:
[3:09:20] aye.
[3:09:21] >>board secretary: ruiz?
[3:09:22] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: aye.
[3:09:23] >>board secretary: adopted.
[3:09:27] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill: I
[3:09:27] have a note to ratepayer
[3:09:29] advocate and neighborhood
[3:09:31] council. I would like to
[3:09:33] proceed first to item m two.
[3:09:36] which commissioner ruiz called
[3:09:38] special. You indicated that you
[3:09:40] didn't --
[3:09:42] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: I
[3:09:43] don't need a presentation. I
[3:09:44] just wanted to make a comment on
[3:09:45] this. Because as I was
[3:09:47] reviewing my board packet, I am
[3:09:49] in full a great, this is for a
[3:09:51] translation services to extend
[3:09:53] this contract. But the reason I
[3:09:54] questioned it, because I looked
[3:09:56] at the languages that it were
[3:09:58] being translate and out of the
[3:09:59] top six languages, it did not
[3:10:01] include spanish. However, I was
[3:10:04] -- I got a clarification. The
[3:10:07] reason it didn't include spanish
[3:10:08] in this translation is because
[3:10:10] we do that in-house. And that
[3:10:12] the translation is done in-house
[3:10:17] with our employees which makes
[3:10:21] me happy. So I got the answers
[3:10:24] to my questions, and I move
[3:10:26] approval.
[3:10:26] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:10:27] I'll second. Call the roll.
[3:10:29] >>board secretary: commissioner
[3:10:30] lehrer?
[3:10:31] >>com. Mia lehrer: aye.
[3:10:31] >>board secretary: commissioner
[3:10:32] mcclain-hill?
[3:10:33] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:10:34] aye.
[3:10:35] >>board secretary: neeman
[3:10:36] brady?
[3:10:36] >>com. Nicole neeman brady:
[3:10:37] aye.
[3:10:38] >>board secretary: ruiz?
[3:10:38] >>v. Pres, cynthia ruiz: aye.
[3:10:39] >>board secretary: motion
[3:10:40] passes.
[3:10:40] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:10:41] we'll go back to where we left
[3:10:43] off in the agenda. There no
[3:10:46] introduction of motions.
[3:10:49] comments from ratepayer
[3:10:51] advocate?
[3:10:51] >>fred pickel, ratepayer adv.:
[3:10:56] comments on items m3, and m4,
[3:11:00] which were deferred.
[3:11:01] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:11:02] thank you. That worked out
[3:11:04] really well. Do we have any
[3:11:05] neighborhood impact reports?
[3:11:06] >>board secretary: no community
[3:11:07] impact statements or formal
[3:11:08] positions were filed by any
[3:11:08] neighborhood councils on the
[3:11:09] items on today's agenda.
[3:11:10] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:11:11] okay. So if I confused myself,
[3:11:17] that means that we are now ready
[3:11:19] to move things to closed
[3:11:20] session. Is that correct?
[3:11:26] >>gm martin l. Adams: by my
[3:11:28] calculations. Yes.
[3:11:29] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:11:43] and julie, are there any special
[3:11:45] words that you need to utter
[3:11:46] before we adjourn to closed
[3:11:48] session.
[3:11:48] >>gen. Counsel, julie riley:
[3:11:49] yes. The board shall recess
[3:11:51] into closed session with
[3:11:53] conference with legal counsel
[3:11:54] regarding the items listed on
[3:11:56] the last page of the agenda.
[3:11:58] the board shall publicly
[3:12:00] report-out any action taken in
[3:12:02] closed session and the vote or
[3:12:04] abstention of any member there
[3:12:11] on, in accordance with
[3:12:13] government code 54956.9(d)(1)
[3:12:23] >>pres. Cynthia mcclain-hill:
[3:12:23] if everyone would leave, we
[3:12:28] could take five or 15. Up to
[3:12:36] the board members leaving.
[3:12:39] we're taking a five minute
[3:12:40] break. Okay. Thank you.
[3:12:44] [ closed session ]