General Meeting Agenda Revised (Item 8)

8:45   1.   Call to Order and Opening Remarks (Tony Wilkinson, Chair, 818-785-9355,lawilkinson@acm.org)  [1m]

8:46   2.   Self-Introductions of Participants and Guests  [2m]

                (Please sign the sign-in sheet!)

8:48   3.   Public Comment and Announcements  [4m]

                (Please limit to two minutes per speaker.)

9:02   4.   Approval of minutes for October 2, December 4, and February 2.  [2m]

9:04   5.   Voters approved an Office of Public Accountability for the DWP, including a Ratepayer Advocate.  Now the City Council must draft ordinances to implement the office.  DWP MOU OSC Vice Chair Chuck Ray signed the ballot argument in favor of the OPA-RPA measure.  Chuck will give an overview of the issues that must be decided through ordinance.  Member councils may want to weigh in.  [8m]

9:12   6.   DWP has finally addressed the problems with its antiquated customer bills.  A completely redesigned bill will soon appear in our mailboxes.  DWP's Greg Bartz will show us a draft of the new bill and explain the changes made in response to customer input.  [10m]

9:22   7.   When a meter is defective, or cannot be read for other reasons, DWP often goes many months before sending a huge back-bill to the customer.  This generates loud and repeated ratepayer complaints.  A policy of making an estimated billing whenever a meter is not read could solve this problem.  DWP's Greg Bartz will explain the issues.  [6m]

9:28   8.   Charter Amendment J requires DWP to present a preliminary budget by March 31.  The MOU specifies that DWP will hold a Winter Budget Workshop in January or February so that neighborhood councils have an opportunity to provide input before the budget is complete.  DWP has not yet scheduled a Winter Budget Workshop.  This year's budget will incorporate choices made relating to capital expenditures from the Department's Strategic Plan and energy source choices from the Integrated Resource Plan.  The budget is likely to include requested rate increases. Member councils and the general community need a "Winter" Budget Workshop soon. [4m]

9:32   9.   DWP will be drilling a series of wells in residential neighborhoods in the East San Fernando Valley in order to monitor plumes of contaminants in the groundwater.  Each well drilled will take up to three months to complete and will probably generate complaints from individual homeowners.  DWP is starting outreach and public comment on this program.  The Oversight committee is the first to get information on the drilling.  DWP's Greg Bartz will provide maps and details on the program, and on local impacts.  [12m]

9:44  10.   Member input on neighborhood council concerns regarding DWP issues. [4m]

9:48  11.   Discussion and possible action on policies, procedures and organization for the MOU Oversight Committee's operations.  [3m]

9:51  12.   Public Comment and Announcements  [4m]

                 (Please limit to two minutes per speaker.)

9:55  13.   Adjournment