>>board secretary, chante
mitchell:
good morning and welcome to the
regular meeting of the board of
water and power commissioners.
today is tuesday november 18,
2025. This meeting is being
broadcast on channel 35.
the exact broadcast times can be
found by contacting channel 35.
board of water and power
commissioners please say present
for roll call.
commissioner nurit katz?
>>com. Nurit katz: present.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: president richard
katz?
>>pres. Richard katz: present.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: commissioner pinder?
>>com. Wilma pinder: present.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: three board members,
a quorum is present. Mr.
president?
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>com. Wilma pinder: wow. Has
it come to this?
[laughter]
>>pres. Richard katz:
[laughter]
don't start wilma. It's going
to be a long day. Couple
things.
[off-mic indiscernible]
>>pres. Richard katz: they have
already sent me out. So you
know, it's, first thing that
goes to the mic. We have two
items that are being deferred
number n6 and n 24. Okay.
I want to --
>>com. Wilma pinder: do you
want to take the n24 so then I
can be --
>>pres. Richard katz: we can't.
>>com. Nurit katz: we have to
wait.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
for the offer. Welcome to this
meeting, this is a relatively
long agenda, because people were
trying to as much in as
possible, not before the end of
the year but before quorums got
questionable. So, we got a lot
of stuff at the last moment.
and thank you to chante and her
staff for getting it all ready
for us. And we will go ahead.
I'll make my comments later.
so, let's just go to the agenda.
any comments by other
commissioners?
>>com. Nurit katz: not at this
time, I will save for a specific
period.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay.
>>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.
the same.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay
thank you wilma. Public
comment?
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: public comment is
open. Public comment is open at
this time. We have
approximately ten public
commenters. The first public
commenter is lilly freidland,
who will be followed by connor
everts.
>>speaker: hello. And I want
to thank the board for being
willing to hear a really serious
issue that I think you need to
address. I'm lilly freidland, I
may not be able to express all
as well as I would want to.
before I start two quick things,
first we spoke with a woman
named clarissa rubio, she is
lovely. We have been trying to
get ahold of someone who is
truly listening to the situation
that my mom is going through
she's the only person that we
have connected with that heard
us here. Second my mom has a
disability placard she was
unable to find parking. That's
something -- mr. Chapman should
be aware of this she was unable
to park in a district parking
spot. We are normal citizens my
mom lives alone she about a year
ago, her account number first
and foremost is 99,461,000. She
got a bill in excess of $6,000.
she called and said what is this
bill about, and she said oh, the
water meter has not been working
for over five years, even though
she has been paying regularly
850 plus dollars a month, or
whatever, the billing cycle,
every two months, whatever that
situation is. And they said
sorry, there was something wrong
on our end, but you're still
required to pay that entire
bill. Who has that kind of
money available like this? But
more so, it's not her
responsibility. There was a
problem with the water meter
that she had no idea about.
there was no way that she would
have been able to rectify the
situation, and after constant
going back and forth, they did
reduce it to -- do we have a
time limit?
>>com. Wilma pinder: yes. But
more so importantly, and those
things do happen. Who should
she speak to so that they can
take it personally while you're
here on the premises and talk to
you.
>>speaker: thank you because
she just got another bill for
$3,500.
>>com. Wilma pinder: she and I
must be linked to the same water
meter.
>>speaker: I pay my bill every
month it's usually a thousand
dollars.
>>speaker: I have christian
estrada who is the manager of
customer relations who can get
to the bottom of it I understand
your situation I'm sorry you had
to come here to get the
attention that you need.
>>speaker: I appreciate that.
I know the time is up. I'll
respect that. But when we have
called they have said oh we see
you have called and the
situation should be rectified
and I'm like, no.
>>com. Wilma pinder: but you do
have it madam, today.
>>speaker: we have the
capability to come down here
today. Many people probably
don't.
>>com. Wilma pinder: and we
appreciate it. And you're so
good to stand with your mom. I
wish one of my daughters would
stand with me on my water bill.
[laughter]
thank you. And I really mean
that.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
joe for taking care of that.
let us know how --
>>joseph m. Ramallo: I will.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you. Connor, you're up.
>>speaker: thank you richard.
>>speaker: welcome back.
>>speaker: I have to say that's
deja vu all over again when our
family put in a landscape meter
they were adding instead of
subtracting and unresolved for
two years. Things are now much
better. I'm here today for two
reasons, one to thank richard
katz for his service, now we
have only one katz as
commissioner. I want to thank
you for addressing me
personally. I appreciate that.
we have known each other for a
long time. I also want to say
again because I have been coming
fairly regularly that, what we
really felt was an agreement and
the expansion of the tillman
plant which I worked promoting
for many, many, many years, with
that -- the expansion would
allow water as required by the
state water resource control
board to go back to the levels
for mono lake. So, I want to
remind that. And without
richard here, we hope others
will carry on and thank you very
much I'm sorry I can't stay. I
actually had to take 30-empty
parking because I had the same
problem the handicapped spots
were filled there is a couple of
people there who don't belong as
well. Thank you for the time I
look forward to the future.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
richard for your consistency and
advocacy I know it will
continue.
>>speaker: just to show up.
>>pres. Richard katz: that's
half the game at least, right?
>>com. Nurit katz: richard I
will continue the communication
with you on mono lake.
>>speaker: I appreciate that
and you also being on the inyo
standing committee representing
tribal issues.
>>com. Wilma pinder: take care
in this damp weather.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: the next speaker will
be mark gold who will followed
by setting jacobson. You will
have two minutes to speak.
>>speaker: good morning
everybody I'm mark gold here
today to -- I thought it was
going to be a roast, richard,
that would be a lot more fun.
>>pres. Richard katz: it still
may.
[laughter]
>>speaker: thank you for your
leadership and service here at
ladwp and to echo what connor
just said, the leadership on
tillman has been so important.
it's just way too long
happening. And now this
happened, you can just feel the
difference in momentum on
recycled water in los angeles,
and that's just so critical.
and, really, the commitment to
move towards climate resilience
and local water supply and
tillman has been a critical part
of that. And speaking of
resilience, leadership on
machine owe lake, the more we're
learning about mono lake the
more we realize the impacts of
climate change on mono lake have
been pretty substantial. And so
your statement of potential
policy moving forward on mono
lake, is greatly appreciated,
because that's obviously such an
incredible resource for the
state of california. And the
reality is, with climate change,
it's not because ladwp hasn't
been doing, you know, what they
can to better protect mono lake,
at the same time, the lake
levels just haven't been met.
so, you know, obviously a lot
more needs to be done and
climate change wasn't taken into
account in that original
agreement. But bottom line,
thank you, richard, for your
leadership here. I don't know
what the hell you're going do
with all your time now. But,
anyways.
[laughter]
>>speaker: great seeing you
man.
>>pres. Richard katz:
basketball games and bruin
games.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you, mark. Welcome.
>>speaker: thank you I'm hoping
I can get more than two minutes
because I want to talk about an
agendaized item and also want to
congratulate you number 33.
maybe you will give me a few
minutes. I'm here representing
mono lake committee jeff
mcquillan here last meeting for
a variety of reasons, machine
owe lake committee first of all
congratulate and support dwp on
its october 28th decision to
expand the tillman reclamation
facility we think that's a major
step in the right direction to
get mono lake as said at the
last meeting 66392 which would
obviously be an incredible
opportunity we believe the
opportunity here for this
commission to communicate that
to the state water board and
communicate the biodiversity the
need for air pollution controls
and others would be tremendous
it's time to think based on
comments at the last hearing to
work together collaboratively
with anselmo and his team to
come up with a letter we're
happy to work collaboratively
and find a way to communicate to
the state water board the
opportunity for local water
sources as both mark and connor
mentioned, ultimately, as
commissioner mcgraw who used to
sit here said that we urgently
need to reduce the dependence on
local water and then
commissioner katz your eloquent
exemplifies the best of what we
can do in this city the
commission discussion around
machine owe lake replenishment
and water plan has been noticed
by so many people since the
meeting and we are really
hopeful that we can come to an
opportunity to work together
collaboratively and maybe come
up with that lastly I personally
want to say I have known you
since the day we were two,
[laughter]
we both had more hair, the
tremendous work that you have
done, your public service is
tremendous and you're going to
be well missed in the short time
you have been here you have
managed to do a lot and I know I
speak from the 1400 members of
the mono lake committee among
other things and thank you for
your help and time.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
very much. I appreciate it.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: the next speaker will
be tracy quinn followed by
melanie torres.
>>speaker: good morning
commissioners.
>>com. Wilma pinder: good
morning.
>>speaker: my name is tracy
quinn I'm the ceo of heal the
bay. I really want to applaud
our commissioners and ladwp for
your commitment to climate
resilience, especially with
local water supplies, seeing the
expansion of tillman, moving
forward, is something that we
have all been rooting for, for a
very long time. Like many of
the speakers before me, I'm
really hopeful that this can be
part of the solution that helps
us to address the crisis that's
happening at mono lake. Climate
change is hitting us harder and
faster than any of us could have
expected and it calls on all of
us to do more. And, you know,
this commission, you know, with
some of the former commissioners
as well, show tremendous
environmental leadership
commitment to resilience not
only here in los angeles but in
all the places that we touch
with the work we do and with our
infrastructure. So, hoping that
we can continue the work that
president richard katz has led
with trying to be able to invest
in projects here that will help
restore mono lake to levels that
are needed now and in the
future. And to president katz,
you know, your leadership here
at ladwp has been incredible,
like, some of the former
commenters just -- like, what
you have been able to accomplish
in such a short time has given
are us a lot of hope for what
ladwp can be in the future.
we're really hopeful that the
folks who come in after you and
to replace the empty seats here
share your commitment to caring
deeply for our community and for
the environment. So, thank you
so much for your public service,
and we will miss you dearly.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you, tracy, appreciate it. And
also thank heal the bay for
their ongoing stewardship of our
ocean waters and beaches and
streams throughout la. It's the
gold standard for organizations
that I have been really pleased
to be part of for a long time.
so.
>>speaker: good morning.
>>pres. Richard katz: hi.
>>speaker: good morning. My
name is melanie, I'm a community
organizer with pacoima beautiful
we're an environmental justice
non-profit in the northeast san
fernando valley. I want to
congratulate the board, and want
to congratulate the board of
water and power commission for
both the decision to expand the
tillman water reclamation plant
and to refresh 40,000 acre feet
of groundwater per year and the
commission's recognition that
this new water supply will
enable ladwp deposit mono bake
water diversions so that mono
lake can restore its healthy
6392 feet of surface elevation
through proclaim beautiful I
have had the privilege to take
community members up to mono
lake and for them it's the first
time they see birds and such an
ecological beauty, mono lake is
more than just a body of water
it's a living classroom source
of inspiration for our
community. When they're out
there they truly see what's at
stake and they return home with
a deeper understanding of
environmental justice and
urgency to take care of shared
resources we strongly urge to
convey this plan to the state
water board and request that the
board move expeditiously to
implement the common sense win
plan and also want to thank
president katz for his
leadership we appreciate all
he's done for los angeles and
for mono lake. Thank you all
for listening.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: next speaker will be
john farside. Followed by
alejandra garcia.
>>speaker: good morning
commissioners. My name is john,
policy director for crop swap
la, we're a south los angeles
non-profit focused on resilient
community-based water and food
systems I'm going to join the
chorus here and thank president
katz for your leadership and
service during your tenure here
your long history of public
service longer than I have been
arrived and it heartens me to
hear commissioner katz say we're
ready to carry the torch for
mono lake here. Recent la times
coverage noted we're entering a
new era of local water
resilience built on wastewater
recycling expanded stormwater
capture and decentralized green
infrastructure, investments
strengthen their own reliability
also give la flexibility to
reduce pressure on the fragile
ecosystems mono basin and
sensitive areas that have borne
the impacts of these historic
diversions. The proposal to
allocate water is a clear win.
using the portion of this new
tillman supply to support the
local habitat restoration allows
for improved ecological
conditions mono basin comes at
no cost ladwp water rights does
not diminish the city's ability
to meet demand pairing increased
recycling with continued
upgrades on stormwater capture
saves money in the long run for
la. I heard at the last meeting
president katz said the next
step would be a letter writing
the state water board we have a
robust coalition that's happy to
continue the advocacy. We want
to acknowledge and thank you for
that idea and commitment I urge
the commission to advance that
communication to the state board
and act promptly on this. La
has the chance to lead. Thank
you very much for your time.
appreciate it.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: alejandra garcia.
>>speaker: hello my name is
alejandra garcia, van nuys,
ladwp ratepayer I'm a youth
organizer here at pacoima
beautiful our mission is to
educate advocate for local
policy change celebrate arts,
and culture to create a
healthier more sustainable san
fernando valley a acquiring
support the solution is simple
doable and ensures los angeles
has the water it needs while
allowing mono lake to raise it
to its 6,392 protection level.
we ask the full commission to
support this plan and to
communicate the support to the
state water board. Mono lake
needs our help and this proposal
offers a clear path forward.
let's make this plan happen. We
also want to thank president
katz for his leadership we
appreciate all he has done for
los angeles and for mono
headache, thank you,
commissioners for listening.
>>com. Nurit katz: if I may,
alejandra, thank you for being
here we really need the youth
voices thank you for taking the
time to come here and speak in
public we appreciate it. I grew
up in van nuys it's good to hear
of your leadership in the
community, thank you for
speaking forward local water
support. I'll reiterate my
commitment to try and continue
the work of president katz.
>>speaker: thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: the next speaker is
william funderburg followed by
kim chakins.
>>speaker: good morning
president katz. I want to begin
by recognizing you, and not
leaving you an as afterthought.
on what I understand is your
final meeting. Over the years I
have crossed paths with richard
in multiple civic and strategic
contexts from transportation
manning, to environment, to
infrastructure equity. And I
have relied on his sage council
counsel more than once his
advice was never performative it
was grounded generous and always
calibrated to the complexity of
the moment. His legacy at ladwp
is not just institutional. It's
personal to those of us who
benefitted from his wisdom.
when jules radcliffe introduced
me to you, back when kenny hahn
was still alive, and jimmy hahn
had just been elected city
attorney after being controller,
rick tutle was controller, yada,
yada, yada, I didn't know that
my life would change as much as
it did from having known and
benefitted from your wisdom.
that's not to say that I needed
more time
[laughter]
but I may need -- I wanted to
comment on every single one of
the agenda procurement items,
for this reason. That seems to
be a misunderstand -- and staff
have worked tirelessly since I
was on the board with mel, more
than ten years ago, to implement
equity metrics. And general
manager quiñones, gracias, I
really appreciate how you have
embraced it and continued to
imbue it in your culture. I'm
concerned though that there is a
disconnect with the staff. The
white paper that commissioner
katz I know has, I think
everybody should have a copy of
the white paper have you read
it? The white paper and its
intent and regs losings that
followed in 2016 and 2018t
wasn't intended to create an
administrative burden on dwp it
was intended to create
transparency and generate
efficiency and increase our bond
rating, miss santilli, through
the increase in efficiency, and
so I did put a comment for every
one of the items because I have
some suggestions and what I was
think suggest maybe what I'll do
is send these suggestions to
staff. President katz, who
should I send those to? Because
equity metrics --
>>com. Nurit katz: let's focus
on supply chain and procurement.
>>speaker: would that be
kendall.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: it
depends on what the suggestions
are if based on procurement
process, john, if equity metrics
kendall.
>>speaker: but equity metrics
incorporate 50 metrics several
of which are procurement one
scppa at least one of which is
pension fund which nobody wants
to talk about because it's kind
of off limits and the union
seems to have little control of
it.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
there's a board for the
retirement fund.
>>speaker: I understand that
but it should be made public
where the money is going.
>>com. Nurit katz: I would send
the comments to kendall and john
to start with and they can help
route to areas that are not
within the purview.
>>speaker: I'll close my
comments out.
>>pres. Richard katz: I think
that's a good suggestion, nurit,
but also just make sure other
commissioners are copied on it
so they're aware of it as well.
>>speaker: are there any
commissioners that left?
>>pres. Richard katz: it's a
smaller list than it would have
been but there are commissioners
and I understand there is a new
one on the way.
>>com. Nurit katz: pending
council confirmation we'll have
quorum.
>>speaker: let me just skip
through, last time I testified,
I talked about the paucity of
mexican american commissioners
this century, I think there have
been two or three the last one
was in 2013, and I don't like to
focus on race for a number of
reasons, equity metrics, I like
to focus on gender, class
geographic area I like to focus
on things that are not racial I
think mexican american isn't a
race but I think that because
the city is 40% mexican american
I know you have no appointment
power but I want to note for the
record that was requested
several names andrea leon
grossman, veronica padilla,
carlos poras, delia aybara,
richard amador, regular salinas
and these names were vetted by
both irma munoz and tom soda,
and I would like to make sure
that the mayor's appointment
person has those names and they
are being considered.
>>com. Wilma pinder: I do want
to add to that we do not tell
the mayor's appointment person I
want to be clear.
>>speaker: I'm familiar with
the rules.
>>com. Nurit katz: do you have
the right contact info I would
be happy to send you the contact
info.
>>com. Wilma pinder: he knows
the process very well.
>>speaker: maybe I should just
send that to the mayor's office.
>>com. Nurit katz: yes, please.
>>speaker: and finally I would
like to highlight the perma city
foundation where I have been a
board member and senior advisor,
commissioner katz we welcome as
a board member of perma city
foundation you collaborate with
us as you go into whatever the
next stage of your life is we're
building two data centers that
are powered by, exclusively by
renewable energy, in the los
angeles basin, and aiming to
reduce emissions of carbon by
10%. That's pretty much --
let's see, pretty much about it.
commissioner katz leaves a
legacy of service, I urge this
board to ensure his successor
reflects the equity
representation los angeles
deserves thank you commissioner
pinder, commissioner katz, and
commissioner richard katz,
graciously.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: we'll
make sure the names get passed
on to the mayor's office, as
well.
>>speaker: good morning
president katz and members of
the commission, and staff. At
the risk of getting this so
richard won't get out of here,
because his head will be this
big, a couple of comments.
politics is relatively easy.
governance is really hard. What
you all are trying to do to
govern is really hard. And the
way I see leadership is trying
to put those two things together
to make things happen. And to
do that, you need to be able to
see things and you need to be
able to hear things. My sense
is, president katz, being able
to see the connectivity, see the
countries where you saw tillman,
you saw -- you saw mono lake a
long time ago, but you're
putting it, and to be able to
see that countries, and say we
can make something happen, and
not let the perfect be the
unintentional of the good, try
and move something forward and
make it happen, you also need to
be able to hear and/or read. I
know there is 800 plus letters
that have been submitted on
public record on behalf of what
we're all talking about here,
connecting tillman and the
40,000 acre feet to the
situation in mono lake, which
has been happening far too long.
in my mind that's what
leadership is about, is being
able to see that, meld the
politics with the governance,
make some decisions and get
stuff done. So, I would
encourage you all to follow the
leadership, see the countries,
go after it and make the
decision to make stuff happen.
so, rich afford, thank you for
your service, and your
leadership.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you, ken. Much appreciated.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: the last speaker will
be tony wilkinson.
>>speaker: tony wilkinson, I
chair the dwp neighborhood
council memorandum of
understanding committee. But
I'm here as an individual, and
president katz I have personal
thanks and some remembrances
under item 33. But right now as
long as commissioner funderburg
mentioned the equity strategy I
would like to say, the equity
strategies for la 100 it was
ended before work was finished
and there is a lot more public
discussion that needs to go on,
on equity strategies. I would
like to see that. I also want
to thank all of you guys for
expanding tillman. Hopefully
also some phased recycling from
hyperion, which is a giant
project. With all respect to
the folks who are coming here
with their heart out on mono
lake, I personally do not think
there is any logical connection
between the additional water
from tillman recycling and mono
lake. It is the most expensive
water we will have, it's for
disaster protection in case we
have salt water intrusion
somewhere, we're going to put it
in our aquifer in east valley to
use it when we desperately need
it. But if you look at the
three terminal lakes famous ones
in the west, salt on lake,
salton sea, mono lake, salt on
lake and salton sea are starts,
ecological disasters mono lake
is the only healthy one of the
three, because of its care and
streams and environments and
ladwp know it is needs it water
when we can't get it anyone else
even if we recycle everybody
from tillman and hyperion we
would still be dependent as a
city we couldn't live without it
there is no alternative to the
water we have in mono, and I
respectfully think it should not
be connected. Thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
okay?
>>com. Nurit katz: I think
that's everybody.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: public comment is now
closed.
>>com. Nurit katz: may I make a
comment, richard?
>>pres. Richard katz: sure.
>>com. Nurit katz: so, I'll
save my richard comments for
later, president richard katz
comments for later. I did want
to thank all commenters today
who even with differing
perspectives we just heard all
recognize the importance of
local water sources near la this
is a deep commitment of this
board and the mayor's office to
push towards our servant% local
water. So, thank you to mono
lake committee, pacoima
beautiful, crop swap well. A,
heal the bay, commissioner
funderberg, mark gold and others
who spoke today, tony wilkinson.
but a number of you also spoke
to equity strategies which is
something that we are also
deeply committed to on this
board. The equity strategies
work for la 100 continues and
we're actually expanding the
equity work to the water side
stay tuned to that with the
equity and environmental focus
in comments today I want to take
a moment to recognize the
passing of a very important
environmental justice leader in
the community, jesse marquez,
who was the founder of coalition
for a safe environment and
advocated tirelessly for the
community of wilmington in
reducing diesel emissions. We
don't get to where we're going
on our own, as government, and
the activists and advocates who
are out there on the front lines
and supporting our communities
have an incredibly important
role to play as we transition to
local water, as we transition to
renewable energy. So, just
wanted to take a moment to honor
his passing. Then I also wanted
to take a moment, because it is
november, and november is native
american her at that time month,
and I have now stepped up at the
tribal engagement committee
member. And I want to recognize
an important milestone that just
happened in the city where the
los angeles city council adopted
a citywide land acknowledgment
for the city of los angeles
focused on our area here this
was the work of la civil rights,
the civil human rights equity
department and went through a
number of committees I want to
while we're still at the start
of our meeting just read the new
acknowledgment that's been
approved.
so, the county of los angeles
recognizes that we occupy land
originally and still inhabited
and cared for by the tongva,
tataviam, serrano, kizh, and
chumash peoples. We honor and
pay respect to their elders and
descendants - past, present, and
emerging - as they continue
their stewardship of these lands
and waters. Resulted in land
seizure, disease, subjugation,
slavery, relocation, broken
promises, genocide, and
multigenerational trauma. This
acknowledgment demonstrates our
responsibility and commitment to
truth, healing, and
reconciliation and to elevating
the stories, culture, and
community of the original
inhabitants of los angeles
county. We are grateful for the
opportunity to live and work on
these ancestral lands.
we also honor the
self-attestation of the current
mission based tribes confirming
their connection to the
ancestral lands which we live
and work today the gabrieleno
san gabriel band of mission
indians led by the gabrieleno
tongva tribal council, the
gabrieleno band of mission
indians kizh nation, the
fernandeno tataviam band of
mission indians and the northern
chumash tribal council. I want
to say that a land
acknowledgment is the beginning,
not the end of this work. That
a land acknowledgment is the
beginning and not the end of
this work we have much work
ahead of us to continue to
repair and build these
relationships this tribal
acknowledgment was developed for
the land here in the city of los
angeles but especially as we
talk about mono lake in indio
county I want to acknowledge
that our use of water here in
los angeles has impacts *north,
as well, so, I want to
acknowledge that we will
continue to build and develop
relationships and reciprocity
with the tribes in the owens
valley and in payahunados. So
this is the beginning, not the
end of this journey. But want
to take a moment to recognize
native american heritage month.
thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
nurit. Other comments? Comment
by commissioners. If not we'll
go to janisse.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
thank you. I want to
acknowledge native american
heritage month november is the
month to recognize our tribes
and partners in la a time to
reflect, learn and honor the
enduring legacies and cultures
and contributions of native
american peoples across the
united states. This month
invites us to recognize the
profound and lasting impact
native community have had on
shaping the lands values and
histories of this country, since
time immemorial and continuing
to this day we work hard on
building the relationships with
the tribes in owens valley and
here in la we're grateful for
the partnership. I want to
acknowledge veterans day which
happened november 11th we have
an event today around 12:30
celebrating our veterans very
important day to celebrate the
sacrifices of our service
members and how they support the
freedoms and values of this
country and now more than ever
this day represents a lot for
our employees that continue to
serve the communities as
employees of the department, and
the city of la. With that, I'm
going to pass to dave hanson to
talk about the power system. We
have a couple of events that
happened in navajo and the
lineman's rodeo in kansas also
update on the storms that we
just had, and more rain coming
through. Dave.
>>dave hanson: as usual the ceo
covered it all I'll pass it to
anselmo.
[laughter]
we're going to talk about the
lineman's rodeo last board
meeting we went long so we're
carrying it forward if this
meeting. This occurred
october 15th through 18th this
kansas city our international
line workers rodeo that we
participate in every year dwp
had a showing with multiple
individuals working across the
stage to receive awards we're
very proud of them. Apprentice
category mr. Pierce placed first
in the municipal division and
5th overall, mr. Brian gabelli
second in the municipal division
overall 14th overall in the
journeyman category dustin rose
tom crevier and george jiminez
placed third in the municipal
division 19th overall mr. Marco
jimenez efrain bularrn, jr. And
martine rivera placed 5th in
senior division.
congratulations to them all very
proud. Power transmission
distribution crews along with
power construction and
maintenance crews recently
completed a successful mutual
aid training exercise with
navajo nation approximately 63
employees worked 12 hour shifts
six days a week four weeks
during the effort the team
installed 547 poles strung 44
miles of conductor and placed 16
transformers 11 homes were
energized for the first time in
history many generations of
family living in those
structures they assisted
rewiring several other houses to
ensure they passed inspection
this highlights the dedication
and expertise of our crews and
commitment to mutual training
that will support underserved
communities. This weekend we
saw the rain hit us in an
unprecedented the manner this
weekend infer 14th to 17th we
experienced a significant rain
storm overall we fared well we
had a total of 76 outages
affecting 59,000 customers not
all at once, the largest impact
of the storm was are yesterday
at distribution station two we
had a roof leak that intruded
inside the station and caused
some equipment to flash over
that resulted in peak outage
just over 23,000 customers
average ever 40 crews working
tirelessly throughout the four
days restoring customer power we
completed 773 trouble calls
majority of outages were short
in duration. Restoration of
service. November 8th we did
have a large area outage when we
lost an entire receiving station
mid-city receiving station delta
it was unplanned outage due to
an issue on the 138,000 volt
side root cause under
investigation we're finding out
exactly what happened there.
that's all I have. Actually,
also, we did have an injury
during the storm. One of our
line patrol mechanics out there
working in the rain fell 12 feet
from a ladder he was transported
to a local hospital treated and
releases and we expect him to
make a full recovery. That's it
for my report.
[off-mic indiscernible]
will do. Thank you, sir.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
I'll add that mutual aid is an
important component of our
training and last year -- this
year, actually -- it's been a
long year, this year, navajo
nation came to support us during
the wildfires so we were in
navajo nation this time, but the
relationship that crews have
built creates a lot of trust so
when they come in to help us in
our territory, are already
established it's a role both
teams play to support each
other.
>>dave hanson: when we were in
the middle of the palisades
during the emergency navarro
called us and said we're on the
way; we didn't even ask.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
first time with mutual aid it
was a big step in the right
direction.
>>pres. Richard katz: it was
impressive they came and brought
their own instructions.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
also dwp supporting the event we
learned a lot through that I the
to highlight during the storm
preparations we had our
emergency management department
working with power to get ahead
of the storm and communications
to ensure that we were able to
talk to our customers about our
preparations and keep them
updated as we fared pretty well.
every time it rains in la it's a
major event.
I'm going to pass it to dan
aeschleman to talk about our
campaigns.
>>dan aeschleman: thank you
janisse first I want to
highlight the annual flu vaccine
event at ladwp we do every year
we had it at the building
training facility to make it
accessible for all employees.
we had almost 350 employees
participate in that event an
uptick from each year since the
pandemic happened which we're
excited about. The disease
control prevention indicates
getting the flu vaccine is
important during the flu season
to protect yourself. Ladwp is
proud to make this preventative
carefree and accessible each
year. We had our annual ladwp
safety week which was a huge
success we had tremendous
unprecedented the participation
in that event. We had 4,069
employees take a pledge to
safety during that week. And we
also had almost 9500
interactions and participants in
the events 9500 participations
in those individual events
during that week. That was a
really exciting response and we
want to take time to acknowledge
and thank all those who
participated not only those that
planned this event to make this
a success this week. Looking
forward to report-out next year
it's an ongoing event for us.
>>pres. Richard katz: great.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: we
saw the navajo teams during
stand down during safety we they
took their time to participate
in the safety week. It was
widespread across the department
and well-received by our
employees. I'm going to pass it
off to joe for the briefing
update and a couple of awards
that comms teams have received.
>>speaker: good morning
commissioners I want to
highlight we have completed the
2024, 2025 briefing book this is
a compilation from across the
department in terms of policies
programs and initiatives that
really encapsulates in one place
a resource book for stakeholders
policy makers as well as the
public it can be found online at
ladwp.com forward slash reports
if anyone would like to read it
one of the key parts of what we
focus on working to educate our
customers public and policy
makers about our operations. We
do that well we invite to you
take a look at it we have extra
copies I want to thank are the
communications team graphics
team our print shop for pulling
it together. A significant
effort one we have been
undertaking now since 2013 a
publication initiated back then
and we have published every
since. The department was
recognized by the american
public power association during
the excellence and public power
communications awards that's for
ladwp intake, intake has been
published for over 100 years by
the department's public affairs
and communications team we took
it online a couple of years ago
it's a beautiful publication
encapsulates day-to-day week to
week month to month work here at
the department initiatives
employees really telling their
story. The intake took the
award of excellence in print and
digital category this year and I
want to thank the team and
congratulate the team for their
work on that some of the members
are here with us now. And
before we recognize them, I also
want to highlight a really proud
award that we received, regan
communications is a national
organization comprised of
communications and marketing
profiles, and this year we took
home the zenith ward of
distinction in the platforms
technology category for the
water quality dashboard web site
that was created during response
to the palisades fire while
working to restore water quality
to over 8,000 customers who were
impacted this was built on arc
gis story maps it was the first
of its kind set the bar for how
community respond and shares in
a transparent manner the
information that customers now
expect they want to see water
quality results, the dashboard
and all the work our team did to
compile and present was
recognized by a national
organization. I want to thank
the sometimes led by water
quality, together with it and
communication, tremendous team
effort. Norma started her job a
few weeks before justin sarris,
sun chung water quality jonathon
leong casal, rachael,
communications really core team
congratulations award well
deserved thank you all for your
work.
>>pres. Richard katz: let me
just add in addition to the
thanks to the commission and
everyone for the work joe and
the department's doing the
increased outreach with all the
publications beneficial to the
mission of dwp all employees and
folks that are trying to get
done the more they get the word
out, when you drill down and see
how it all fits together it
makes a lot more sense because
we're all interdependent on each
other particularly in this
department getting the story out
and successes is huge and joe
thank you for expanding that.
>>com. Wilma pinder: in-house
saves quite a bit of money.
appreciate that.
>>com. Nurit katz: yeah I'll
echo that and say
congratulations to you and the
team on these awards. You know,
having had friends and family
impacted by the palisades fire I
know that water quality
dashboard really was important
to the community and really made
a difference. So,
congratulations on that. Also
great to hear about the safety
efforts. In terms of the storm,
you know, our crews do amazing
work every day but I'm
particularly grateful when there
is conditions like this and to
the 40 crews that were out there
working in the heavy rain, we
definitely are grateful for your
service as well as the emergency
management group. And I'll echo
president katz in wishing a
smooth recovery to the employee
who was injured. Also want to
just passed thank you to ceo
quiñones for her service and
also dave you were reality
highlighted as part of the 250th
anniversary of the navy for your
position as electricians first
class subservice.
>>pres. Richard katz: at the
start.
>>dave hanson: yes.
>>pres. Richard katz: been
doing this for a while.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
for your service both for the
work you did to make sure that
our valor group got established
and that we support veterans
every day in this organization.
>>dave hanson: thank you.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
I'll add, the dashboard has
become the standard of the
industry and so people are
expecting this. Do you want to
add?
>>anselmo collins: sure. Can I
tell you that every year we meet
with the division of drinking
water and we have our meeting
maybe a month and a half ago and
I made that comment and just
having several members of the
commission drinking water there,
and I did talk about the fact
that we were able to do a really
good job with the dashboard and
basically a story map. And they
all agreed that this kind of
sets a new bar for the
expectation on transparency when
we have these incidents. And I
took the opportunity to
highlight to them that when we
were finally able to remove the
do not drink notice, there was a
lot of media attention on that
day. And the media went around
and was talking to some of the
customers, they went up and
talked to a gentleman and asked
do you trust the water is safe
to drink and the gentleman said
I have been looking at the web
site I see all results they
posted and I am comfortable the
water is safe to drink. Right
there, it demonstrated that the
work joe's team and water
quality staff jonathon did as
well was worth it because it
demonstrated transparency we
brought a lot of information in
an easy way to search one of the
challenges we had was
communication pressure zones
that the average person doesn't
know what that is so putting
that information in a way that
was easy to search and
understand makes a big
difference so the division of
drinking water is appreciative
they didn't say that and it's
going to become the standard but
I did get the wink and nod.
>>pres. Richard katz: we're
more than happy to lead that
parade. Congratulations to your
team and joe's as well and
everybody who makes that happen.
one of the great things is we
have an opportunity to show it's
just not theory, not just on
paper, but in realtime how it
makes a difference in people's
lives that's what dwp does day
in and day out sometimes it
takes a crisis or emergency for
people to understand it but also
an opportunities to tell stories
and stories that need to be
told.
>>com. Nurit katz: it is and I
think it also points back to
commissioner funderburg's
comments earlier about the
importance of transparency. I
think those comments you just
shared illustrate the power of
transparency and really sharing
the hard work that this
department is doing and really,
including the public in
everything that we do. It just
creates stronger trust. It just
creates a purpose relationship
so that a fantastic example with
of that. Thank you.
>>anselmo collins: when it
rains we're concerned about the
system and challenges but on the
other hand the hand opportunity
to do capture of stormwater I
want to hospital that first of
all this november is probably
one of the wettest novembers we
have had in the last 40 years in
los angeles we typically get in
the whole season 15 inches 15
inches of rain. In this water
year we started october 1st we
already got in downtown la 3.7
inches over 3% of normal. In
the san fernando valley around
5.7 inches of water.
>>pres. Richard katz:
yesterday, I think.
[laughter]
>>anselmo collins: yeah and
more to come which is great.
what it means, we have been able
to capture a little over 3
billion gallons of water. So,
all efforts we have made and
investments we have made in
stormwater capture are paying
off for us. I can tell you as
of november 1st, once again, we
captured 13 thousand hundred 27
acre feet of water. Water used
to recharge the san fernando
basin collaboration between us,
la county, and I'm going to
continue to report on our water
supply conditions moving forward
hopefully every meeting, in
addition precipitation here in
la and eastern sierras as well.
november 12th we did host a
games water council executive
meeting the games are quickly
approaching. We're 969 days
away from the olympic games here
in la and for the first time
ever we actually have a games
water council. The meeting was
well attended at the lacrosse
innovation center we had over 20
agencies that participated
including commissioner katz that
was there, the mayor's office
and many other folks that were
there, the office of public
accountability was there as
well. It was opportunity for us
to collaborate and coordinate
efforts. As you know the
olympic games are not only in
the city of la, also in cities
adjacent we need to collaborate
to make sure everybody is
prepared we have developed
several committees procured by
different agencies and
everything with the effort to
make sure that from a water
perspective the games go out
without a hitch. So, I wanted
to pass that along. Because the
state of la, dwp, is taking a
leadership role when it comes to
olympic games, energy council
and games water council.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you. A lot of hard work. The
one city, oklahoma
[laughter]
we're going to get them in there
too.
>>anselmo collins: also they
participated in a hybrid
meeting.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
that leadership, we have never
had a games water council in the
history of olympics. It's a
very important commodity for the
games and having that
collaboration between all the
agencies is really critical,
especially during emergency
response. And.
>>com. Nurit katz: and I
especially appreciated the
efforts of the water council to
the heat and climate resilience
aspects which are being tackled
and which water will play a key
role in. Thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: my
last comment I want to
acknowledge in the mono headache
committee members report and
comments have high respect for
your emission. I know more
about mono lake than I would
ever know about mono lake like I
never knew mono lake and now I
know mono lake that speaks to
your commitment of educating
stakeholders and the public and
I think that's really important
and commendable. I would say my
position in the department's
position is that we're open to
an updated state water board
study. It's been over 20 years
since the last study happened,
and as mentioned climate change
has impacted many things but
also our workplan has increased
significant he and what we had
20 years ago is not what we're
having today and what we will
have in 20 years. Right? So
our water plan, infrastructure
plans continue to increase, our
investment in local water
continues to increase. And
really understanding what that
looks like for the next 25 years
will be important to educate us
on what's the best approach. We
continue to operate based on our
annual operating man, which
involves all the stakeholders,
including mono lake committee,
and we maintain that position to
stay in the context of that
plan. And I will be remiss to
not mention that we have
invested over $50 million to
restore mono lake since the
study was done, 20 years ago and
we continue to be committed to
that mission. So, thank you.
that's it.
>>pres. Richard katz: if I was
going to be cynical I would say
it's the least we can do at mono
lake considering.
[laughter]
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
yeah but one of the things -- it
might sound simple, just don't
take water.
>>pres. Richard katz: it's not
simple.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: for
me mono lake is very concerned
about mono lake for me as ceo of
dwp I have to be concerned about
mono lake, owens valley, la
operations, environmental
impacts not just to mono lake
but also endangered species
across the aqueduct
affordability equity and many
other issues. It's not as easy
as people think stop taking
water at mono lake there is a
lot that goes into it that's why
we're supportive of a
comprehensive study. It's not
an easy solution.
>>pres. Richard katz:
[laughter]
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
that's it.
>>pres. Richard katz: all
right. Moving along. N1.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: ratepayer advocate.
>>pres. Richard katz: tim. I'm
sorry.
>>tim o'connor: thank you
president katz.
>>pres. Richard katz: you were
so quiet this morning. Welcome.
tim o'connor.
>>com. Wilma pinder: waiting to
strike.
[laughter]
>>tim o'connor: I appreciate
the opportunity to provide
comment today. Office of
accountability has had
substantive conversations with
the staff on a range of items
before the board today,
including items 9 through 11, 19
through 21, 27, and 31 through
33, of course, number 33, and
item 18, which we provided
written comments about.
opa's review and discussion of
these items focus on the
relevance. Individual items for
supporting the utility
effectiveness as well as the
reasonableness of the
assumptions and calculations
upon which they're based in
reviewing the items we found
each one of them we reviewed
were reasonable and we offer no
written comments other than
those provided on item number
eight. Item eight focuses on
the approval of a contract, two
contracts, before the board
regarding marginal cost studies
and rate consulting services.
we offer comments on these
because these two items and what
they portend future rate making
activities by the department are
critical for supporting
long-term affordability for
reasonableness of rates and
department effectiveness and
maintaining a strong financial
position. We look forward to
participating in those
processes. We have heard
already done speaking with the
fso team and indicated that opa
will have an active role going
forward and how item 18 in the
contract are executed and we
look forward to that dialogue.
as it relates to, of course,
item 33, we very much appreciate
the guidance that the board has
given opa to take an active role
in looking at the calculations,
the assumptions, and each of the
individual items that have come
before the board. And with your
guidance, president katz, we
have leaned in on that role, and
we appreciate your willingness
and openness to receive our
comments as we have gone forward
and look forward to continue to
do that with the commission, you
know, going forward. One item I
do want to put out there is that
we have had an active agenda
over the last month at the
office of public accountability,
visiting many of the critical
infrastructure sites of the
utility. In the last month, we
have visited the la aqueduct
filtration plant, the energy
control center, valley
generating station, the
truesdale training facility, the
castaic pumped hydra facility on
top of the past visited at the e
land solar plus storage facility
as well as tillman site. And
with the help of the secretary
of the commission miss mitchell
and the help of staff from the
water and powers is we got to
see not only the critical
infrastructure but the people
behind making this critical
infrastructure work and the
department has been so welcoming
and open in those dialogues and
has really helped our office
understand the operations as
well as the kind of puts and
takes challenges and
opportunities at each that helps
us look at what's coming down
the pike of which we know that
there is pretty big items that
the department is going to face
in terms of investments and
infrastructure upgrades going
forward and we look forward to
that ongoing dialogue. I'll
close with saying that when we
look at all items before the
board today there is a number of
individual expenditures and a
raft of things before the board,
going forward, you know, it's
challenging, of course, for this
board to look at these in a
process of evaluating each of
these. So, we would recommend
that as this board continues to
staff up and to replace the
commissioners, that it be done
so with ongoing enhancements in
the level of support that are
provided to the commissioners
themselves. This is a
significant undertaking. And
with the staff's support, the
staff at the department there is
a lot of really important
information that's considered
but we do recommend in the
reconstitution of the board
additional support and
opportunities for opa and for
analysis to be given to the
board as it continues to think
through all important endeavors
and investments that are coming
before the board
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you.
we really appreciate that
recommendation and always
appreciate all support and
insights from opa.
>>com. Wilma pinder: and as I
have said, too, the general
audience today, when -- when the
comment was made about the --
who comes on to this board, you
have connect -- you have a
direct line to the mayor and
other people who -- and the
council, who make these
decisions. We really don't, as
you know, have our hands on
those reins at all. And I can
certainly say as a person now
who has served for over a year
and a half, that it's a great
demand on our time and interest.
we're fortunate that even the
public who comes before us, and
even if they're shaking their
fingers at us, they have a right
to do that, and I respect that.
and they want this board to do
all the things it's supposed to
do. So, anything that you, as
our ratepayer advocate can do to
make sure that the people who
come to this board understand
the great demand, I don't think
the general public -- I know my
acquaintances are always shocked
when I say this is not a paying
board. And then they say, you
know, you couldn't pay me to be
on that board.
[laughter]
so, this is a no-win situation,
pay or no pay, people realize
that -- I don't want to say the
buck stops here, but many do
think that it does. So that, is
why you will always see me very
quick to respond with a smile or
not a smile, to the audience,
because I want the public to
understand we are extremely
conscientious here there is no
other reason to be here than to
be contentious. We get a bill
too. And I wasn't just being
fun we that lady when I said,
who the heck is sending out
these bills. I mean, seriously.
that is why the city of la draws
from its own city people because
we feel the pain of things as
well, or if something is not
right, or if a power line behind
our house falls down or
whatever, or there is a
landslide, we're not divorced
from these things, whatever
influence you have I know we, as
a body, would appreciate that.
>>tim o'connor: thank you
commissioner pinder, and we have
been making those
recommendations, and we support
-- we support that, and also
just support -- the level of
support that this body has given
to opa and our role to be active
in this process, as well. So,
we do what we can to support
your decision-making going
forward.
>>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.
>>com. Nurit katz: 12:40. Oh.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
okay yeah. The one that's here.
>>pres. Richard katz: want to
turn for a special presentation
and before the ceremony
downstairs.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
okay. So, patrick, are you
doing the presentation?
>>speaker: yes, ma'am it will
be three of us.
>>pres. Richard katz: mic them.
these are your colleagues, also,
that would be helpful.
>>speaker: good morning
honorable commissioners,
distinguish management and
guests we're honored to be here
on behalf of valor to present
our presentation to the board
and audience on our one year
anniversary. I'm patrick of
valor joined by roman morales
vice president and gonzalez,
secretary of valor. Here are
pictures of us and some in our
former glory in uniform.
[laughter]
we want to thank our ceo and
general -- and general manager
janisse, and chief engineer,
janisse quiñones, for her
stalwart support to valor, to
veteran dwp employees, as well
as to those currently serving
military service, and we note
with pride that she came from
among these ranks very served 20
years in the coast guard also.
and our agenda includes updates
on the following items. Valor's
mission and objectives, our
first formation forming our
executive board and committees,
membership status events
highlights and future plans.
these glasses don't do distance.
that was quite a feat right
there. In another year I may
not be able to do that.
[laughter]
our valor mission was created
shortly after valor's inception.
ladwp valor will serve, promote,
and advocate for a supportive
workplace environment by
offering networking
opportunities, mentorship
volunteering and fostering
culture that values and respects
contributions of all employees.
our objectives flow from that
mission to foster camaraderie,
develop mentor, and empower
employees support veterans with
support and advocacy with
special efforts to recruit and
retain veteran talent through
employment in the department and
the city at-large and finally to
actively engage and serve the
broader los angeles community
and our affiliates.
in november of last year, a
small group of veterans met on
the invitation of mr. Greg reed,
who I think is in the audience,
and is in that group photo in
the middle. Among others, and
greg joined us, and it marked
the inception of valor, which
would later be given a name we
now know as valor that stands
for veterans alliance for
leadership, outreach, and
recognition, hence of acronym
valor. We were then honored as
we are now, to present to the
ladwp board, and now -- and at
that time, presented with carrie
mccorkle, now retired from
legislative intergovernmental
affairs, and eric yoshida, vice
president, still serving, and
myself. We have been supported
throughout this valor endeavor
by mr. Dave hanson, our valor
executive sponsor and navy
submarine veterans who
fortuitously was also a
recruiter in the navy and who
has shared his strategies that
valor has successfully leveraged
in our ongoing veteran employee
recruiting efforts and more to
come in this briefing on that.
valor executive board and
committees, over the course of
the last year, valor has formed
a volunteer executive board and
committees who have been
indispensable in the roles and
strategic leadership,
governance, and operational
oversight, ensuring valor's
long-term success and stability.
the executive board handles
broad scope planning decisions
and goal setting while our valor
committees have ably provided
focused expertise and efforts to
help execute the valor
strategies and manage day-to-day
operations, spanning the
gentleman us of our mission.
and here you can see some of our
committees are communications,
operations, education, outreach,
social, and membership.
here are some of our valor
members. And that is just a
small fraction of them. We are
now at about 200 members and
growing. That equates to about
1.3% of the dwp employee body.
and now I'll turn it over to
secretary gonzalez.
>>speaker: the letter o in
valor stands for outreach. In
less than 365 days valor has
participated in over 30 events
throughout the city this gives
veterans opportunity to give
back. I would like to share
with you photographs of the
wonderful event that is our
veterans have engaged with
throughout the year. These are
the list of the events. The
first photograph we have is the
-- following the fires in the
palisades, valor was invited by
post 283 to set up flags out in
central park. This symbolized
patriotism, resiliency, and
just, the rebuild.
we were also a part of fleet
week. This was at the end of
may. It was an incredible
opportunity for the veterans of
valor to set up a booth
alongside with recruitment, as
well as well as the speakers
bureau to get information and to
engage with other organizations
in the community. Over the
course of fleet week, the
veterans of valor and members
spoke with over 100 veterans on
the careers at the department,
as well as their military
experience and how it translates
over to the civilian workforce.
>>speaker: you can see in this
photo valor is not just for
veterans. We welcome veteran
supporters like andres gar ses
who is second to the right as
well as family members who
joined us on memorial day clean
up of head stones as well as
placement of flags on grave
sites. The young man in the
bright blue shirt is actually my
son and sharing a moment with
him was incredibly moving.
being side by side with him
honoring the fallen and passing
on the meaning of sacrifice and
remembrance.
>>speaker: the letter r in
valor stands for recognition.
on june 5th, ladwp was presented
with the 2025 veteran employer
of the year. And this was by
the california employer advisory
council. Our chief engineer
janisse quiñones was there
present to accept the award on
behalf of ladwp.
>>speaker: on july 2nd, we
hosted our first independence
day barbecue at jfb serving
around 100 employees and
creating a fun afternoon of food
and camaraderie.
>>speaker: and on july 27th, we
hosted another barbecue, valor's
first labor day barbecue, at the
truesdale training facility, we
had approximately 200 attendees
and valor had the chance to
honor the dwp workers who helped
in the emergency repairs during
the porter ranch, granada hills
water emergency.
>>speaker: and to commemorate
september 11th, and the attacks
of that hobble day, we held a
ceremony here at john for
ferraro building and we had
mr. Dave hanson as a speak,
mr. Lucero from security
services, albert rodriguez from
corporate communications as a
speaker since many of our cohort
in our era joined because of
this event you know many of us
global war on terror veterans
who have served over the last 25
years joined us because of this
seminole day. Ramalo behind me
was in high school looked out
for new jersey where he lived
and saw the burning buildings my
cousin I know was killed in the
trade center and high school
friend of mine was a green beret
and he perished within two weeks
in afghanistan so it's personal
and motivated a lot of us I was
honored and pleased that we at
dwp could remember this day and
have this event.
>>speaker: in addition to all
events we did lots of outreach
events partners with different
organizations in this paragraph
you have a couple of different
events going on we did a ruck
with some weight that's
basically a weight with a pack
from downtown to the palisades
with shepherdsmen on 911 that
was the morning of a group of
veterans from valor were with
the shepherds men they're
non-profit basically raise money
to raise awareness for veterans
that suffer from post traumatic
stress disorder and traumatic
brain injury we also got
tremendous support from local 18
we have a photograph
mr. Murruffo supporting the
event they provide period
hydration station for the event
and were very generous to do so
we have more photographs
pictures are worth 1,000 words
right. We have photographs at
different events we did a
baseball game we also did
numerous events in this lineman
rodeo down in the corner as well
as neo events a special event
that we had opportunity to take
part in was at ucla we went out
there also to clean tomb stones
recently and also provide
support to veterans providing
résumé workshop and just helping
them professionally build them
up. On this slide shows valor
has served as liaison with local
government officials on the top
left we have an event it was
california state senator
caroline mengevar she is also a
united states marine corp
veteran that was last year at
their san fernando valley
veterans day event valor was
there we were involved. At the
bottom of the photograph we have
valor until attendance at the
west it was west la, va hospital
for an event with new directions
that council member down there
with myself patrick and kerry to
the right of that we have a
photograph with council member
padilla from council district
six they were very generous. We
connected with them in the
photograph, next to that the
bottom one on the rights
presented valor with an award
for just the support and
actually brought that award
today just to show you, we were
presented with our first award
for outreach from council
district six.
[applause]
thank you very much. Again we
continued with more events just
photographs capturing moments of
our veterans events and outreach
in the community.
>>pres. Richard katz: great.
>>speaker: and on this slide
I'll be going over the challenge
coin. A challenge coin
represents recognition, respect,
and a sense of belonging it
honors a person's meaningful
contribution. Valor's challenge
coin was designed by daniel
bautista electrical engineering
social three and navy veterans
who served five years as a fire
control man on submarines and
he's actually to the right over
here up front.
[applause]
[laughter]
and then he previously designed
challenge coins in the navy and
now has applied that experience
to valor. Here is the based of
design, what each element
symbolizes. In front of the
coin, it shows the sunset or
sunrise, represents the closing
of a military career, or the
beginning of a new chapter in
civil service. The electricity
symbolizes the power that we
deliver to our customers. Valor
in the middle of the coin
symbolizes the -- and serving as
a bridge across all systems,
water, power, and joint. Water
represents the essential water
service provided to our
communities, and then the single
star located on the bottom
symbolizing hope, hope and
opportunities for continuing
serving their community whether
after active duty or while in
the reserve service on the back
of the coin honors all military
of the united states. At this
time we would like to present
challenge coins.
>>speaker: and I would hasten
to point out, the coin is like
valor and dwp at-large. It's a
fusion of effort. So, that
center blue bridge that ramalo
referred to was actually
designed by eric botero,
virginia candia and the team for
mr. Row mallow in corporate
communications and so we thank
them for helping in the design
that valor logo complements the
design that mr. Bautista made in
this challenge coin. Just a
manifestation of that fusion
effort.
>>speaker: so, at this time I
will present the challenge coins
to our valor members and turn it
over to read citations while
patrick begins presenting the
coins.
>>speaker: the challenge coins
are presented as recognition and
award as token of appreciation
members that have been doing
outstanding service for valor in
our community just overall
representing valor in a very
nice way.
>>speaker: valor is pleased to
present ralph sanchez for his
valor challenge coin for his
contributions as a cook during
the 4th of july barbecue and
labor day barbecue feeding more
than 400 ladwp employees, also
helped fill out critical
paperwork to expedite
procurement of the valor
challenge coins and lower the
american flag during the morning
of september 11th in honor of
that day.
valor is pleased to present leo
with valor challenge coin for
contributions as a cook during
the 4th of july barbecue and
labor day barbecue feeding more
than 400 ladwp employees, been
part of a community outreach
where he volunteered time
planting over 250 flags at last
year's memorial day ceremony at
forest lawn.
valor is pleased to present
andreas garces with the valor
challenge coin for contributions
as valors education and
recruitment chair, where he
organized recruitment of
professional development with
local universities which
included a resume workshop at
ucla veteran center and resource
fair for veterans at cal state
dominguez hills. Andreas has
volunteered his time and
planning with barbecues and
contributed to the success of
the group by creating flyers for
all of the events.
valor is pleased to present min
wen for contributions as valor
social chair organized and
delegated tasks to ensure
mission accomplishments. Min
has been instrumental in
planning of valor events and
responsibilities for beyond his
role, which include creating
valor's linkedin page and
monitoring valor's e-mail. Also
created design and shirts and
helped with procurement and
delivery of shirts.
valor is pleased to present
daniel bautista with the valor
challenge coin for contributions
at valor's outreach chair where
we organized and delegated tasks
to ensure mission accomplishment
also played an instrumental role
in creating the presentation for
valor's one year event and
helped create and design the
procurement of the valid
challenge coin. And last but
not least, pleased to present
pablo sento with challenge coin
for contributions as operations
chair where he executed tasks to
ensure mission accomplishments
and pablo volunteered his time
during fleet week both barbecues
as well as set up of and
planning of today's veterans day
event.
>>speaker: thank you, all.
[applause]
>>speaker: and we now know how
important the challenge coins
are, what they represent.
they're an honor, and we would
like to convey that honor to our
esteemed commissioners. George
is a marine veteran, and served
as an elite embassies guard
during his time in service,
supporting foreign embassies of
america. And with that, we
would like to have him, as
security, enter the well and
provide the commissioners a
challenge coin. Memorializing
their support, ongoing, and
past, and reflecting our thanks
for them.
>>com. Wilma pinder: may I say
this as he comes forward? When
I served as an attorney with the
city's attorney's office, this
gentleman and I, we have known
each other for many years, and I
felt very secure when I came
here last march 2024 to serve as
a commissioner. It's just a
great honor to shake your hand.
and thank you very much so much
for that. I have to hug you.
[applause]
>>speaker: we'll move on to the
next slide. I would like to
highlight bin win for leading
the design of the valor pole low
shirts in collaboration with
albert rodriguez corporate
communications who helped design
the valor logo as patrick
mentioned earlier to create
professional unified look for
our group when we attend events.
bin is navy who served four
years as sonar technician and
now contributes to department
systems analyst. I want to
thank jennifer shar from
recruitment for her support and
helping us procure the challenge
coins and apollo shirts.
>>speaker: that brings us to
the end of our 2025 valor
briefing to this ladwp board of
commissioners. Thank you for
the opportunity. I want to
point out that membership is
over 200 people so far and
growing. It continues to grow,
not least of which, from valor,
and an expanded effort in
recruiting. And, also, a
belated happy birthday to the
united states navy, at 250 years
in the united states marine
corp, at 250 years, big numbers
but in this room alone I did a
quick calculation and total
amount of years in service some
of us have over 20 years not
looking at janisse, but looking
at janisse and myself the gray
is real but in this room alone
we have over 100 years of
veteran military service just in
this room. So, thank you. And
we want to invite everyone first
of all to everyone, we want to
invite anyone and everyone it's
free to be a part of valor you
can send an e-mail to the e-mail
address or use the cr code and
express your interest and we'll
add you to the member roles we
love to have you, civilian or
veteran both are welcome.
equally welcome. Today we're
going to have a celebration of
veterans day in the lobby level
here of john ferraro building a
bit later today starting off
around 12 noon, 12:30. So all
are welcome.
>>speaker: thank you.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
very much for that presentation
but more important he for your
service previously in the
branches but also today as
employees here at dwp especially
those honored for all the time
you put in and leadership we're
really grateful having signed up
a while back even though I have
not served myself I have enjoyed
being part of the e-mails from
valor and seeing everything that
you're doing and I will work to
earn this challenge coin and
continue to support and be ally.
so, thank you very much.
>>speaker: thank you.
>>com. Nurit katz: and I
believe we'll have opportunity
to take break so people can go
to the event later. But first
if I may ask president's katz
permission that we take item 33.
there are some folks that have
been waiting to speak. Would
that be all right.
>>pres. Richard katz: yes. Get
it over with.
>>com. Nurit katz: I know it's
reluctant on your part but
important to let us honor you.
during this portion for item 33
I'll be reading the resolution
then we have different remarks
from commissioners from
leadership of the commission and
department and from a few
guests. Before I read the
resolution I want to take a
moment to say growing up here in
los angeles whenever I met
people they learned my last name
usually first thing out of their
mouth was are you related to
richard katz and I will say for
the record again no in rant not
in recent history that we're
aware of it's an honor to
finally have this opportunity to
get to know you and work with
you having heard so much so many
good things over decades here in
los angeles we're really going
to miss and you wish that you
were able to continue but we
wish you well in everything that
you do. I'll read the formal
resolution. Honoring the
service of richard katz whereas
mr. Richard katz was appointed
to the board of water and power
commissioners board by mayor
karen bass and confirmed by the
los angeles city council on
march 2024 and elected board
president on march 26th 2024 and
whereas mr. Katz is a long time
public servant and state policy
maker with specific expertise in
the areas of water,
transportation, and land use
whereas as board president
mr. Katz served in numerous
capacities during tenure
including the executive standing
committee, audit standing
committee, ad-hoc advisory
committee on power procurement
options, ad-hoc advisory
committee on scppa and finance
standing committee and whereas
mr. Katz has been instrumental
in advancing los angeles mayor
karen bass' visionary
initiatives to achieve the
city's ambitious climate goals
and address critical
infrastructure challenges
thereby ensuring reliability and
resilience for all residents.
and whereas led the board with
unwavering dedication fostering
a culture of enhanced
accountability transparency and
public trust in utility, setting
a benchmark of excellence.
whereas mr. Katz exemplary
leadership the board has
prioritized essential areas such
as housing stormwater capture
and integration of new
technologies, along with
implementing programs and
policies that equitably benefit
all city residents. And whereas
mr. Katz is passionate advocate
enthusiastic supporter of ladwp
workforce proudly refers to as
first responders, consistently
highlighting unparalleled
professionalism and dedication
to the city of los angeles and
significantly strengthened ladwp
collaboration with other city
departments celebrating joint
efforts as groundwater
replenishment project at donald
c tillman water reclamation
plant a testament to ongoing
partnership between ladwp and la
san championed ladwp pursuit of
100% of clean energy therefore
be it resolved on behalf of the
management of this department
its employees and residents of
the city of los angeles thank
mr. Katz for his dedicated
service and wish him good health
and continued success in all
endeavors. His presence and
leadership will be missed on
this commission. Be it further
resolved that the secretary be
instructed to place this
resolution in the minutes of
this board as permanent record
and that an engrossed copy of
this resolution will be
presented to mr. Katz in
recognition of his committed
dedication to the public service
of the city I hereby certify
that the foregoing is a full
certified copy of a adopted by
the board of water and power
commissioners of the city of los
angeles held november 18th, 2025
thank you. Before we present
the resolution I would like to
call on board secretary chante
mitchell first.
>>board secretary, chante
mitchell: thank you for giving
me the opportunity to speak. I
know it's not out of the norm of
business but richard, I don't
really understand -- but richard
the day I met you I met you
getting your opening counsel and
I had on tennis shoes and I knew
I was going to like you one
thing that I know but is
whenever I speak to you I'm
going to laugh or learn
something and it's usually both.
everybody knows about your
political career how much how
many things you have touched
that you have impacted things
that I didn't know about the
city of los angeles that you
helped forge that I and my
children get to take advantage
of being angelenos but more
importantly the person that you
are, I hope that I could be the
type of leader that you are
which makes people feel seen and
heard and acknowledged and you
have always asked myself and
david for our opinion and you
have always listened and I hope
one day I can be that kind of
person. So, thank you for the
way that you treat all of the
people that support you here
with love, kindness, we really,
all we want to do is bolster you
up because you know how good of
a person you are, and I just
want to say thank you from the
bottom of my heart for making
every day that I have been able
to work with you a wonderful
day. Thank you.
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you so
much chante, I was holding it
together. And now I'm crying.
>>com. Wilma pinder: I know,
are we going to be able to.
>>com. Nurit katz: with that
I'll call on commissioner wilma
pinder.
>>com. Wilma pinder: thank god
she stood up and spoke. Because
she really expressed the general
feeling that we all have had we
breathe in the air and we're
trying to live up to richard's
standard and chante is his right
arm in that regard. I so
appreciated your remarks.
because I do think they speak,
really, for all of us, that you
just can't improve on that.
there is no division as to who
this person is or that person.
the only thing that is, is the
person, meaning the greater city
that we're trying to work for.
I know I didn't count until
somebody called up and said, if
I can -- I have worked with
wilma pinder, she is a good
person, I hope she meets your
expectations. Seriously that's
the way we have all felt we're
trying to follow. The great
path that you have set long
before you came here has been a
great honor thank you richard.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
wilma. Next we have janisse
quiñones ceo.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
thanks richard. You started
like a week before I started
this job like ten years ago
probably
[laughter]
I have to -- I'm very thankful
for the friendship and the
relationship, your wisdom, your
values and your characters, your
dry humor that sometimes piss me
off and makes he laugh but every
time we got a place where I just
admire the heart that you have
for angelenos, for the people in
the department and just to do
the right thing. Right? And
there is a lot of that that has
to happen across this great
city. This job is not easy. I
think wilma said, no matter if
that I pay you or doesn't pay
you. Thank you for taking the
call and volunteering and doing
a phenomenal job and one of the
hardest times that the
department has faced in a
language time. It hasn't been
an easy year, but it's been
easier because you have been
there as my partner and sidekick
and a lot of challenging areas,
and your advisement and just
experiences invaluable. Thank
you. Have a lot of fun. I know
you and I are missing our boys,
and life is so much more, right,
when he comes home give him a
big kiss and make him as big as
you are. Thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
janisse.
>>com. Nurit katz: next I'll
turn to water system.
>>anselmo collins: I have got
to learn how to turn this thing
on. It's a power thing. Right?
button. You never miss an
opportunity.
[laughter]
president katz on behalf of the
water system I want to thank you
for all the support that you
provided to us. I will say that
to me it was especially
noticeable during the palisades
incident. And after. I heard
you speak at many events after,
and you have always made a point
to remind people of the high
school work that the water
system folks did to
re-established the system.
regardless of where you were
speaking you would always make
that point. To me that mental
health a lot. I'm grateful for
you doing that. Because me
saying it is very different than
the board president saying it.
the and I think people recognize
the great work that the men and
women in the water system did in
restoring the system. So, on
behalf the water system, I
wanted to provide you or give
you this gift, present you this
gift. This is a water meter,
and I'm going to stand up so
everybody can see it hopefully
won't throw my back. There you
go. Thank you, sir.
so one of our traditions we have
in the water system is to
provide a water meter to certain
people. Not everybody gets it
this particular meter that you
have here actually was in
service. So this is not just a
pretty meter, this actually
served the city of los angeles.
because of that, we actually
have a certificate of
authenticity to give you.
[laughter]
just roll with it, right? I'm
going to read what it says here.
>>pres. Richard katz:
[laughter]
>>anselmo collins: meter
4207110 has successfully
completed its career of service
in the department of water and
power water distribution system
serving as bypass aid to a four
inch hersy detector check valve
number 42007110 proudly served
at 303807 broadway place from
october 10th, 1963 until
retirement march 15, 2019. So
that means this meter was in
service for 56 years you have
been on the board for less than
two so I think you owe me 54
years. So we're going to make
sure you come back and serve the
rest time. Once again on behalf
of the water system, thank you
for your leadership thank you
for the support and for all the
kind words you said about my
staff.
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
very much. And we'll move now
to the power system.
>>speaker: thank you very much.
I'm realizing now, coming in the
wake of anselmo, as I always do,
we forgot to take the price tag
off of the --
[laughter]
but, really, president katz it's
been an honor to sit up here
with you for the last year.
it's very important that we have
a supportive board for us to be
able to accomplish the things
that our hardworking men and
women out in the field are
working towards just for
procurement, from contracts,
from major projects. None of
that happens without the support
of the board, and that's been
something that you have
spearheaded. I have felt
supported the entire time.
thank you very much for
everything that you have done.
like anselmo said, the way that
you speak about the hardworking
men and women out there in the
field, it's easy to forget, you
know, what the department
actually is, and it's the field
folks. You're either a field
person or you support a field
person. That's the way we look
at it, and that's the way it
seems to come off when you speak
about them as well. I know they
appreciate it. We're going to
miss you around here. So what
we like to do in the power
system is give you a meter that
we're slowly changing out one at
a time for automated metering,
right?
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: I
ask him if it's a smart meter.
[laughter].
>>dave hanson: nothing is ever
good enough for richard.
actually wired to turn when you
plug in the lamp and if your
wife lets you keep this in the
house, you will be the first.
everyone else has to put it in
the garage. Good luck to you
sir. Thank you very much for
the support you have given us in
the power system. It's been our
pleasure.
[applause]
that's why we need you.
>>com. Wilma pinder: I'm
telling you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
very much.
>>dave hanson: yes, sir. Thank
you.
thank you very much.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
very much.
>>com. Wilma pinder: it's
perfect.
>>com. Nurit katz: uh-huh.
neat looking.
all right. Thank you. And
thank you, wilma, for taking
care of that.
[laughter]
all right. Now we'll move to
communications.
>>speaker: thank you. Richard,
I have known and respected your
work and valued your friendship
for over 20 years now, longer
than both of our boys before
they were born. And I'm
grateful that we formally got to
work together because I have
admired you from a distance and
appreciated and saw the work
that you put in, the
thoughtfulness, the humility and
principles that you have adhered
to in all your positions through
the years whether at legislation
or metrorail other portions that
you served on with dedication on
behalf of the city, this area,
it's various mayors and it's a
testament really to your
leadership and really whatever
commented earlier today, your
ability to understand the
difference between politics and
governing. And that's what's
very hard to do. And we
appreciate all the
thoughtfulness you brought here
to the department. I only wish
it could have been longer. Just
your professionalism, your
kindness, your willingness to
listen, and to lead. And we
appreciate it on behalf of the
joint system. I want to thank
you. All of the divisions that
make up joint, really, as you
know, we exist to serve water
and power, but most importantly
to serve our customers and you
understood that, appreciated it,
and have put those votes, and
the money, that your money where
your mouth is there in
supporting all the work we have
brought forward that we're
trying to do to improve customer
experience thank you on behalf
of everyone in joint and behalf
of our customers. Thank you
thank you. Remarks from ann?
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: all right.
and remarks from ann santilli.
>>ann m. Santilli: thank you.
president katz, I can't thank
you enough for all of your
leadership, working with us on
helping us get all of our bond
sales done, our first joint
powers authority for rate
reduction bonds. So many
things. And I think chante said
it best, because you learn a lot
when we talk to you, as well as
laugh and all of us come out
with a win-win situation. So,
best of luck in your retirement.
and thank you, again for all
your leadership.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
ann for explaining things in
terms I can even understand.
I'm grateful for that as part of
it. So, thank you.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you.
all right. We have remarks from
labor partners. If there is
anybody here who would like to
speak?
all right. We'll come back if
needed. Remarks from hilary
norton. Oh there she is.
behind the podium.
>>speaker: well, I am supposed
to say, because it's true, that
I am here on behalf of many,
many, many other people who
wanted to be here to make
remarks today. So, consider me
being here for lots and lots of
people who wanted to honor you
today, president katz.
thank you so much for leading
this commission for the past 20
months. You, your colleagues,
and ceo quiñones issued in a new
era of ethics and it customers
in the city of los angeles and
for you we're deeply grateful of
you and mayor bass. You respect
people you serve with and
everything you do every time you
speak to the public your
commitment to mono lake and
environmental stewardship and 45
years of public service have led
to your unparalleled leadership
of the dwp commission thank you
for all that you have done for
the state of california and the
city of los angeles and your
friends like me just want to
thank you once again for putting
your pay, putting your time,
putting your personal life
behind public service and the
people of this state and the
city. Because it is your
dedication to all of us that has
made our lives better even
though your life has taken a
little bit of a hit so we're so
glad that you are going to
dedicate some time to you now.
thank you for your service.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
hilary.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you
next we have remarks from tony
wilkinson. Welcome back.
>>speaker: tony wilkinson,
making travel for the city
neighborhood council, dwp,
memorandum of understanding
committee. I'm actually here to
just -- to express my thanks
for, it's been 45 years. You
may not remember, but we met
each other in 1980. I happen to
be the marketing services
manager for save co title
insurance it was just after the
real estate crash in 1979 I was
going around putting billboards
all over the city to help our
real estate broker friends
saying with the pink panther buy
real estate today you will be in
the pink tomorrow and my
marketing director had moved me
and the team to a little
building in north hills because
he was having a fight with the
president and downstairs low and
behold our new assemblyman had
his first office in that little
tiny building, parthenia street
and that's where we actually met
I department know it's been 45
years you certainly have darker
hair than I do. I want to
because everything what everyone
has said it thank you for
representing a life of true
civic service whether it's an
elected official 16 years in the
assembly everything you have
done since it's something we
need to bring back in the city
and certainly too I really
appreciate the board secretary's
remarks because when you have a
good person around that makes
everything work borrowed, thank
you. Thank you very much for
the 45 years it's been a
language time and come full
circle but have a great years
ahead of you. Thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
so much.
>>com. Nurit katz: any other
speakers that we missed before
we move on? Please come up.
>>speaker: wendy mitchell I'm
the mother of mitchell katz that
the much lauded by his father
and I wanted to come and support
richard and thanks thank him for
all his public service, public
servants are much maligned these
days there are some good people
that do good work and richard is
at the top of that list. He has
not enriched himself by being in
public service, he's done the
hard work in difficult
situations and this is just the
last of man of services that
he's provided to the city and
the state and proud of him
congratulations on your
retirement much deserved and all
the applause today. Thank you.
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you to
everyone for your remarks. I
want to echo everything that's
been said as I was working on a
commencement speech this year to
inspire graduates I looked to
richard and ended up sharing
what he said what he tells
people who work with him which
is do the hard thing you have
had a career doing those things
that are hard and seem
impossible in public service
really grateful for your
leadership so now you have
opportunity to make some
remarks.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
I never served on a board with
another katz before it's been
interesting and fun. Thank you
nurit, janisse, and everybody
who had comments and said nice
things about me as hard as it
might have been for some I
greatly appreciate it all. This
has been of all the experiences
in public life roughly two years
here at the commission has been
some of the most interesting and
most challenging. The idea of
blending power and water
together in a way that doesn't
kill somebody how you keep the
city from going where it's
supposed to go but to do it for
public good is interesting and I
have always been impressed with
the men and women of dwp but I
was not prepared for how
impressed I would be as I got to
know them better over the last
two years as janisse said all of
us who get exposed to our
challenges we're more impressed
every day the men and women of
ladwp who respond take care of
business and get it done. The
there is a reason our safety
record is good, our satisfaction
records are good reason our
rates are lower than others and
these are the people that make
it happen. We get to sit up
here and make speeches and get
thank-yous. But it's really the
folks day in and day out
literally 24/7 who are out
there. I was thinking about it
yesterday, the -- the big river
in the sky when I first heard
about atmospheric rivers I said
there is as much water in an
atmospheric river as there is in
the mississippi river except
it's above you it makes you
notice. But you don't see the
people here not just the people
around the dais or audience but
the men and women who come in
every day, seven days a week
every day of the year make a
difference in people's lives,
don't hesitate we're so lucky.
people say don't you feel bad
when the wall street journal
criticizes california and city
the los angeles and I said no,
we take it as a badge of honor
if the wall street journal
starts saying nice things about
us we're going to have to
reexamine what we're doing
[laughter]
because we have our own style
and our own way of doing it and
dwp is an example of that and
the quality of people who work
here and it's a great city
because of the people not the
other way around, and too many
people forget that it's easy to
get wrapped up in all the pomp
and circumstance and moves and
bright lights and all of that
but what makes it special is the
people that work here day in and
day out take time away from
their families to make this a
really great place to live and
as much as we have accomplished
we have a lot more to do. I'll
look for finding ways to still
be of helpful and of use and I
look forward to continuing
relationships with the friends I
have made at the department.
ibew18 and our friends in labor,
there is a lot to be proud of
here, and that's -- I was very
happy to hear about the expanded
story telling, if you are, about
what takes place here. Because
people really need to know about
the heros here. And everybody
who works here whether working
in the building or out in the
field is a hero in my mind, and
makes this, you know, one of the
greatest cities in the world,
but despite all our charges. I
don't think we prefer to have
challenges, because we wouldn't
know what we would do if we
didn't have them. We could use
a few less from time to time.
but I'm really thankful to the
mayor for the appointment and
for the couple for approving me
and for all of you being here
today and being a part of this.
and just grateful to be part of
this city. And with that, I
think I'll stop with that. But
just say again, thank you, thank
you, thank you. My life is so
many richer for being able to
spend time all of you and I look
forward to whatever the next
chapter is and continuing.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you so
much.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: all right.
so --
[applause]
>>com. Nurit katz: so, I think
I defer to chante, do we need a
motion to approve the
resolution?
[laughter]
okay. I thereby make a motion
to approve the resolution
honoring the service of richard
katz. I think richard you're
going to have to vote on it.
>>pres. Richard katz: I'll
second that.
>>com. Nurit katz: all right.
seconded. Hearing no objection,
we'll count all of us as aye
votes. With that we'll present
you with this formal resolution
and folks can come join us fair
photo. Wilma, come to join us.
we'll hold it nicely.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you, all, again. We're going to
break this into two pieces.
consent items while we have
quorum. And we'll take I break
so people can go down and
participate in the valor event.
then we'll come back and finish
the rest of this agenda.
>>com. Nurit katz: all right.
>>pres. Richard katz: on the
consent items, I have n, 1, 4,
5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
through 18, 20 through 23, and
30 through 32.
>>com. Nurit katz: okay.
motion to approve those items.
>>pres. Richard katz: second by
miss pinder?
>>com. Wilma pinder: second.
>>pres. Richard katz: with all
those present as aye votes.
such will be the order. That's
part of it. Janisse the time
downstairs?
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
12:30.
>>com. Nurit katz: we have time
to finish any other items.
>>pres. Richard katz: let's try
to knockout a couple other
items. Give me five minutes
before we'll go down.
we had a couple of items that we
called out as special on the
agenda. Let's start with n2,
which is -- [indiscernible]
I believe. Is this yours?
>>speaker: it's mine.
>>pres. Richard katz: I'm
sorry, john.
>>speaker: do you just want the
presentation or you have
specific questions?
>>pres. Richard katz: a quick
summary, this is the dollars for
the next phase of tillman, of
the building.
>>speaker: ready mix.
>>pres. Richard katz: the
agreement. Okay.
>>speaker: we're asking for
additional funds.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay.
>>speaker: so with that, my
folks from supply chain
services.
>>pres. Richard katz: I got it.
all right.
>>speaker: so, this is hector
lucero, and lucero, and tui.
>>pres. Richard katz: good
morning.
>>com. Wilma pinder: people are
waiting.
>>pres. Richard katz: they're
bailing.
[laughter]
>>speaker: good morning. First
time here. Hector lucero,
assistant director supply chain
services material services
otherwise referred to as stores.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay.
>>speaker: good morning.
installment director procurement
services.
>>speaker: quick summary.
>>pres. Richard katz: some of
this was approved previously.
>>speaker: correct. So, what
you have here is the amendment
number one to this contract for
ready mix concrete and backfill
slurry. So, over the course of
the first year, we experienced
greater than average usage.
some projects that were not
forecasted as part of the
original estimate for the bid.
this year has proven to be very
challenging for the department
with a lot of emergencies. So,
we had greater usage. We did --
we're asking here for approval
of $3 million for the first
year, $5 million to add to the
first and second optional
renewal periods. And that comes
down to making sure that we have
sufficient funding for the first
year. And as we're looking at
some part of what we're looking
at is the rebuild of palisades
and other projects that weren't
accounted for originally. So we
want to make sure that we have
enough funding for those
projects in the future. For
this year, we did acknowledge
earl on that we need some
additional funding. So, we came
to ask for ensuring this we have
funding to carry us, for any
remaining invoices that we have
for this current year.
>>pres. Richard katz: this is
to what's already been invoiced
for.
>>speaker: part has been
invoiced at this point we have
95% of the invoicing handled we
want to make sure we have
sufficient funding.
>>pres. Richard katz: and --
>>speaker: richard key points
about this contract is it's one+
one contract so funding doesn't
carry over to the next fiscal
year.
>>speaker: this is why they're
asking for additional --
>>pres. Richard katz: got it.
>>speaker: that's where this is
different from a normal 36 month
contract where funding is
available.
>>pres. Richard katz: I
appreciate that. One thing to
be clear for people listening,
you're talking about this being
95% of what you already have in
that's not all we anticipate for
palisades going forward.
>>speaker: correct.
>>pres. Richard katz: I don't
want anybody to get impression
that we're getting off swell
from the palisades we're going
to have a lot more coming but
we'll pay those when requested.
>>speaker: yeah this is a wide
contract that supports both the
water and power system not only
for palisades but undergrounding
as well as trunk line but higher
usage we're at a deficit.
>>pres. Richard katz: all
right. Any more questions?
>>com. Nurit katz: none for me.
>>pres. Richard katz: motion
and second?
>>com. Wilma pinder: second.
>>pres. Richard katz: three
votes pass on that one.
>>com. Nurit katz: thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you. Item 13.
>>speaker: commissioners item
13 is a contract with four
firms. It's a cooperative
purchasing agreement with firms
that are currently utilized by
the city of l.a.'s department of
finance. It is a specific focus
on this contract only is for
collections related to closed or
inactive accounts. So customers
who currently do not have their
account active with us it's for
one year with one option to
renew. I want to -- as you
know, we're working closely on
an arrear's strategy for our
active customers that we're
collaborating on with finance
and we've have outreached to and
will be formally engaging ucla
in assisting us with developing
a strategy for low-income
lifeline customers specifically
really collections foreclosed
accounts is a foundational part
of our financial health miss
santilli has looked at this and
encouraged us to have it we have
had these firms on a contract or
firms like them in the past
there were some data sharing
issues that occurred just prior
to 2020 covid that prevented us
from continuing to use them this
contract seeks to bring them on
board also important I want to
make sure everyone understands
that accounts that remain unpaid
are paid by all the rest of our
customers because we're a
municipal utility and ensures
that those who have incurred
costs who is are no longer our
customers have opportunity to
pay and make us whole for those
charges and for the service that
they received. I ask for your
support.
>>pres. Richard katz: I know
the department goes to
extraordinary lengths to make
sure that people have different
ways opportunities different
avenues we don't want to shut
anybody off pretty fundamental
to basics but like you said the
debt gets spread out over those
who are paying and that's not
fair either so I know it's part
of what ucla involvement is
going to look at also how we can
do better on it maybe if we get
an expense itch survey we can
apply it to other city
departments that's us money
because there are some big
numbers over there.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
richard it could impact our
credit rating which in turn
turns into more cost for our
customers.
>>speaker: we also only have
four years to collect it's
important we have these services
for those closed accounts at
this time.
>>pres. Richard katz: got it.
>>speaker: thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: tim were
you looking to --
>>tim o'connor: yes thank you.
one question about this contract
-- actually a couple questions,
did we have an estimated
timeline for when these debt
collection services would begin
once these contracts are made to
be executed?
>>speaker: I have staff from
our customer service division to
answer that, tia montes whole
come forward to speak to that.
>>speaker: good morning.
credit management customer
service division. So we will as
soon as we get approval from
cities to proceed we're going to
on-board and agree. A lot of
terms how we are going to
proceed with our customers and
accounts really is to our option
-- discretion we're looking to
bring on board about six months
at worst-case scenario we
require that it be a manual
process we don't have it
implementation in place yet for
these specific contracts which
is a piggyback to the city we
hope to put all in place within
six months we have another rfp
coming through a permanent one
and that will have integration
with it so that will take a bit
longer to on-board this will be
interim until that happens.
>>tim o'connor: great given
that these accounts are
technically rate payers and each
of them for whatever reason in
some position of not being able
to pay or just not paying our
office may begin to receive --
we get calls, e-mails about
department actions, people
getting bills, calls from
collection agencies, would
probably start to engender
additional contacts it would be
great to make sure that you're
team as you're executing your
work with these individual firms
items that you identify to
identify common themes and
feedback you're getting if you
could alert our office and make
sure that we're well-positioned
to be able to respond. The
team, joe, you have been very
gracious in connecting us with
the folks in customer service to
make sure that as we're getting
incoming, we're able to route it
to the right people and have
issue resolution so we would
just appreciate the opportunity
to have a continuation of that
and maybe even an expanded level
of connectivity with the
ratepayer advocate offices as we
start this effort.
>>speaker: without a doubt tim
we'll be pro active with that
effort letting you know once we
proceed once we give those
accounts to those agencies
making sure you're aware without
a doubt be proactive with our
approach and communication.
>>tim o'connor: one final
question would this, sort of,
given the potential outsources
of this work to other firms by
which those firms may not have
the same care and feed and
training that great customer
service folks here at the
department have, what steps have
been taken to ensure that the
level of customer service and
professionalism and engagement
that occurs in terms of the
context that will continue
forward you know to these firms
is there guidance and structure
that's being given to these
firms and collection processes.
>>speaker: it will be extension
of the city we have our own csd
customer service division here
also in the department how we
interact with our customers as
part of onboarding we'll have
discussions with agencies again
for agencies we can determine
how we share the workload among
those four but before proceeding
giving any of those accounts to
agencies we'll have on-boarding
to make sure customer service is
on par.
>>pres. Richard katz: I was
going to ask once they get
started the attitude doesn't
change once they get part way in
or get tired of dealing with
folks that haven't paid it's a
touchy subject but there are
still people who live in la that
we are to care for and want to
care for but they're in a
horrible position. As joe has
and said tim has said, we don't
want to make it worse we want to
give them a chance to make it
better.
>>speaker: understood board
katz without a doubt we'll
communicate regularly with these
agencies, whoever we decide to
give the work to, that will be
part of our ongoing
conversations with them.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay.
any other questions? Comments?
>>com. Nurit katz: no. Motion
to approve.
>>pres. Richard katz: motion
and a second. All three of us
here.
>>com. Wilma pinder: and
second. Yeah.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you. All three of us in favor.
so, that motion is approved.
>>speaker: thank you, all.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank you
very much.
item 19.
>>ann m. Santilli: item 19 is
from financial services. At the
last board meeting, the board
approved 190 million extension
of the donald c tillman plant.
that is actually owned by bureau
of sanitation. However ladwp
finances it because our
customers will benefit from that
water when it's served to the
customers. So, we're requesting
a regulatory asset accounting
treatment for the board so we
can capitalize this asset and
amortize it over a period,
instead of expensing it all at
once which we would be required
to do if this was not approved.
>>pres. Richard katz: I thought
we just had a better credit
rating than sanitation did.
[laughter]
>>ann m. Santilli: actually
we're paying for it it's not our
asset. So the board --
>>pres. Richard katz: it's not
I money. Great. Got it.
[laughter]
go ahead.
>>com. Nurit katz: second.
>>pres. Richard katz: motion
and second. -- we'll go back.
motion and second. All members
present as aye votes. Item 19
has passed. Item 24 -- 24 has
been deferred.
>>speaker: yes deferred.
>>pres. Richard katz: nicely
handled.
27 we have a bench contract --
bench contracts. Anselmo?
>>anselmo collins: yeah for
that one we have greg director
of water, engineering and
technical services come up. And
commissioner if you have
specific questions or you want a
short presentation?
>>com. Wilma pinder: very
short.
>>pres. Richard katz: short
presentation.
>>speaker: about five minutes.
>>pres. Richard katz: yeah we
have got about five minutes
before we go down.
[laughter]
>>speaker: good morning
commissioners.
>>pres. Richard katz: good
morning. I do have one
question. To get on the bench
for those competitively bid?
>>speaker: they were. Yes.
>>pres. Richard katz: okay.
good.
>>com. Wilma pinder: that's
always kind of the bottom line.
>>speaker: in addition to the
task order, in addition to the
competitive process to get on to
the bench every task order will
be competitively bid as well.
>>pres. Richard katz:
outstanding.
>>speaker: I would like to
introduce our supervising civil
engineering associate ben
schwinn who is also the contract
administrator for this
particular contract.
>>pres. Richard katz: good of
the welcome back. Any
questions? Motion and second.
>>anselmo collins: thank you
very much.
>>speaker: I'll add my voice of
appreciation for your leadership
and wish you the best in your
next endeavors, board president.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you. I appreciate it.
>>com. Wilma pinder: we're all
taking a little bit of his blood
and inserting it into --
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>tim o'connor: president katz
if I may offer a point? On this
item it is of course a contract
expenditure item opa you have
looked at it feels appropriate
for us to comment that we'll be
looking at underlying
expenditures as opposed to the
budget and investment plan which
is the place where we would
evaluate this type and so
certainly recommend and support
the department having staff and
capability it needs to
accomplish this task and see
this as necessary and approval
of the expenditure of 120
million that goes to the
underlying approval of the
budget investment plan. Really
just supporting the staff
ability to execute on those
duties.
>>pres. Richard katz: good
point hopefully not doing this
every week. Do you have --
>>tim o'connor: just an
observation this is not
necessarily approval of the
expansion of the budget but it's
a way to add capacity to the
department to be able to execute
on its duties that be approved
by this board.
>>com. Nurit katz: great.
>>pres. Richard katz: thank
you.
>>com. Nurit katz: motion to
approve item 27.
>>wilma pinder: second.
>>pres. Richard katz: three
ayes without objection on item
27. We'll go to item 29.
>>anselmo collins: do you have
a particular question on this or
you want background?
>>pres. Richard katz: why are
we building it at berkley? Why
not building here ucla.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
yeah. I knew it.
[laughter]
I told him. It's the college.
>>anselmo collins: this
particular facility was --
>>pres. Richard katz: how many
years have I represented la?
never represented berkeley.
>>anselmo collins: this
facility was started in
cooperation collaboration with
east bay municipal water east
bay mud. Once started they
reached out to me other and
utilities in the region to
contribute towards the
development of this particular
center. I will say that it is
really geared towards some of
the larger utilities. So, east
bay mud, metropolitan water
district, sfpuc, or san
francisco public utilities
commission and ladwp are some of
the key members there were
others as well. Something
similar was being done in
cornell, which meant anytime we
had to send it all the way up
the east coast. So this
facility really is more
supporting the western united
states. Interesting part, it's
large-scale testing of trunk
lines few agencies install pipe
as big as we do and having
ability to test characteristics
of the other pipe are important
so it's very important asset to
us I have searched -- the
assistant director here and
randy hirata also west. If you
have other questions there are
folks that have been working on
this for a bit who can have
better than I can.
>>pres. Richard katz: should we
build another facility down
here?
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
president katz, we have ucla,
usc, we have all the community
college we spend a lot of money
in l.a.
>>pres. Richard katz: I know we
do.
>>anselmo collins: we do have
agreements with ucla and to do
other studies as well. Not the
large scale testing. Go bruins.
>>pres. Richard katz: any other
questions?
[laughter]
>>com. Wilma pinder: at
berkeley, that's a pretty good
institute.
>>com. Nurit katz: all in the
family.
>>pres. Richard katz: got it.
motion and second. You know, in
either order you want them and
the three zero votes to approve.
that is done.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
then it's 12:35.
>>com. Nurit katz: do you have
any more left.
>>pres. Richard katz: item 32?
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:
that would be the last one?
let's get that one.
>>anselmo collins: for that
one, greg either you or ophelia.
item 32, approval, amendment to
an existing contract we have
with web core, yiashi and lyles
folks that have been working on
the headworks projects two
buried tanks we have totaling
110 million gallons for contract
to be extended the contract ends
in december putting final
touches on the facility
currently in process to evaluate
proposals to hire somebody to
help with finishing the two
tanks we have are actually on
the ground and with phase four
we're going to finish up the
property completely we feel it's
advantageous for the facility,
to know able to finish it for
us.
>>com. Wilma pinder: when will
the finish date be.
>>speaker: in four years before
the olympics this's been a
request from the stakeholders we
can't complete all of it by
olympics but hope to finish most
by then.
>>anselmo collins: this is
ophelia rubio in charge of the
management of the water system.
>>tim o'connor: thank you
president we had discussion with
the water team on friday about
this item. We did ask for
additional information around
the cost associated with the
expansion of the estimates for
phase four. We understand the
department is still giving some
of that putting that map
together but at this point we
find that the estimates are
reasonable. And have no
concerns about the approval of
the item at this point.
>>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.
did you hear he has no --
>>pres. Richard katz: motion
and second.
>>com. Nurit katz: approved.
>>pres. Richard katz: without
objection three-zero. Motion on
the last one?
>>com. Nurit katz: motion to
approve the minutes from the
prior ladwp board meeting.
>>com. Wilma pinder: second.
>>pres. Richard katz: motion
and second. Three zero vote.
that's done that part of the
agenda we have some closed
session items but first we're
going to go downstairs.
>>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: do
you want to read it in?
>>pres. Richard katz: whatever
makes everyone happy.
>>com. Nurit katz: okay great.
ben you can read it then we'll
--
>>gen. Counsel, ben chapman:
the board shall publicly report
any action in closed session and
vote or abstention of every
member present thereon in
accordance section 54957.1 of
the california governed code.
thank you.
>>pres. Richard katz: we'll
head down to the lobby then come
back for closed session.
resume to open session president
katz we're back in session we
have one item from closed
session to report-out. Pursuant
to 54957.1 of the california
government code we're reporting
back on 02, jeffrey hughes v
ladwp los angeles superior court
case 20stcv35654, step and fall
on a broken water meter 350