DWP HIKE REVIEW IN WORKS CITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR OUTSIDE FIRM'S OVERSIGHT OF RATES.Byline: Daily News With the prospect of a 4.2 percent increase in water rates this year, the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. took steps Friday to authorize the
first-ever independent review of the need to raise rates, as well as
involve neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. . In an 11-0 vote, the council called for
hiring an independent firm to review the DWP's plans to raise rates
in 2005 as part of a five-year, 19.3 percent rate increase plan.
``This is a significant change in how we do business in this city, where the public will get an independent review of whether we need a rate increase,'' said 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 chairs the council's Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee. ``Everything is being done out in the open, so the public can see the process we are using.'' 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. , who had introduced the proposal for an independent review, said it was important for the public to have trust that any rate increases are justified. Related to that is a plan to include neighborhood councils in the process. Under a memorandum of understanding A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a legal document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action and may not imply a legal commitment. signed by the Department of Water and Power, the councils will have at least three months to review any rate increase. |
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