COUNCIL TAKES CONTROL OF OWENS PACT AMID RISING COST.Byline: Dan Laidman Staff Writer The City Council voted Tuesday to assert jurisdiction over a $103 million contract for dust mitigation at Owens Valley This article has multiple issues: * It needs to be expanded. * It may need copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. Lake as officials expressed concern about mounting costs. The council's unanimous vote on the item - which had previously gone before the Board of Water and Power Commissioners - came as the price tag for the Department of Water and Power project has more than tripled to $400 million. ``It has become this place we're throwing money at,'' said Councilwoman Janice Hahn Janice Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. Hahn was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005, running unopposed. The 15th District encompasses the Los Angeles communities of Watts, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Athens on the . The project is a legacy of Los Angeles' diversion of Owens Valley water in the early 20th century. The diversion fueled the growth of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. but caused serious dust pollution in the Owens Valley as the lake dried up. Legislation and litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. have led to efforts by Los Angeles' DWP DWP Department of Work and Pensions (UK) DWP Drinking Water Program DWP Dynamic Weapon Pricing (gamin, Counter-Strike: Source) DWP Department of Water & Power DWP Drinking Water Protection to mitigate the situation. Estimates in 1998 suggested the project would cost about $120 million, said Richard Harasick, who directs the dust mitigation efforts for the DWP. ``There wasn't much known at that time about what that project would entail,'' he said. Councilman Greig Smith Greig Smith is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 12th District, which includes Granada Hills, Northridge and other parts of the Western San Fernando Valley. Smith is also a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. added that the costs could have been driven up by the city's handling of litigation related to the project. But Councilman Tony Cardenas Tony Cardenas served in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, he had the powerful position of chair of the Budget Committee. He is now a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 6th district, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley. , who asked that the council assert jurisdiction over the contract, said he wants to probe deeper into city policy surrounding the project and the reasons for the rising costs. ``I don't care if it's a $10 million or a $103 million contract,'' Cardenas said. ``The bottom line is how does it fit: Are we convoluting ourselves into spending money and getting more and more contracts or are we arriving at a resolution effectively and appropriately?'' The contract now goes to the council's Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Cardenas chairs. He said it could return to the council in a matter of weeks. The project timeline could be affected if a delay is extended, Harasick said. Dan Laidman, (213) 978-0390 dan.laidman(at)dailynews.com |
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