[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6569421,"mediaKeyId","3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8","parentId",3184120,"title","LADWP presents $9.29 billion preliminary budget emphasizing reliability, renewables and water projects","audioSeconds",4361,"startMs",6486000,"endMs",10847000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8&start=6486&end=10847","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8/thumbnail_6486000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569421/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/LADWP-presents-929-billion-preliminary-budget-emphasizing-reliability-renewables-and-water-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569421-02f333167ee2ed0d6644719bb1233839/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432681&Signature=mNQu74jGfMIqsRdHihVz2yTocsTCZJq01XgXj9VZOnGE~1mZSREmuv2b5vRjxPIsTw8idJs4FAcAW0Mzq~h~lUUE0z2BTSE8ErJY8pZOV8OejqkBw66VgTUxh6RaLWXkVX0lV0tWr6ACCEQ8oSUyyeZi3WBz6Jil~61O7eSg9ybryPR3q6RGYIhQtAiUDb9MvgERCSpPWFOu7Pfn40EBcHOSyKWM5SELtg7~jXyDoVE9Dzqrh4pkTnGCIC~JshsItt6RFM1okA4NVe8TcOPS1QdlqQQTVhRPzbdp5Heuyi9nn4bMad9HqSfY7b9VXuxi~JxcvxObLm2Goh7lH9XBFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T01:52:27.66Z","article","Janice Quinones, CEO and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, presented the utility’s preliminary FY 2025–26 budget to the Budget Committee.

Quinones said LADWP’s preliminary net appropriations total roughly $9.291 billion and include funding for about 12,803 funded positions. The proposed power program emphasizes system reliability (pole, crossarm and transformer replacement), renewable portfolio expansion and transmission investments, and infrastructure projects to support LA100 goals. LADWP said it expects to replace about 4,000 poles, 13,900 crossarms and roughly 1,340 distribution transformers in the coming year, and noted power reliability and resiliency projects together account for a sizable fraction of power capital and operating costs.

On renewables and transmission, LADWP highlighted the McCullough‑Victorville Transmission Line Project to add renewable transfer capacity and an upgrade at Haines Generating Station (Unit 8) to reduce ocean water cooling. DWP said it expects purchased power and fuel to represent a significant share of next year’s costs and that CIP investments include energy efficiency and infrastructure work to support renewables and battery storage.

On the water side, DWP proposed $938 million for water system strategic initiatives including distribution main and trunk line work, stormwater capture, and water quality investments. The budget lists $97.2 million for stormwater capture and $88 million for the Donald C. Tillman Groundwater Replenishment Project; the Tillman project is expected to add roughly 22,000 acre‑feet per year of local supply and help the department reduce Metropolitan Water District purchases in future years.

DWP staff told committee members the department plans to issue RFPs to begin a rate study—water rates first, then power—and emphasized long‑range financial planning and bond metrics. The presentation noted a proposed city transfer of about $227.9 million (8% on cap rate ordinance sales and wholesale sales), a figure the department said is calculated from energy sales under the capped rate ordinance. Committee members asked about MOUs (with BSS and Street Services), wildfire and macroeconomic risks, EV charging expansion, and timing for rates.

DWP officials also said the financial plan includes significant capital IT investments—an enterprise resource planning move to Workday (~$78M), a cloud migration for customer care and billing, GIS and cybersecurity investments—and that proposed staffing changes add roughly 765 net new budgeted positions in the preliminary request.

Councilmembers asked for detail on recruitment and retention of linemen and on options to support port electrification work and ground‑mounted solar. LADWP said lineman recruitment and retention have stabilized and that plans for port infrastructure and receiving‑station expansions are underway to support decarbonization and increased port electrification needs.

Committee members requested rate‑study timing materials and additional follow‑ups on the proposed DWP MOUs, and the department said it will return with final budget materials to its board in May and then transmit the final budget as required by the charter.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Hearings - 5/2/25","oneSentenceSummary","LADWP presented a $9.291 billion preliminary FY 2025–26 budget highlighting power reliability (pole and transformer replacements), renewable integration and water system investments including the Tillman Groundwater Replenishment Project.","taxTitle","Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4025,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6569416,"Rec and Parks warns of 192 position cuts, seeks offsets and asks council to exempt department from prioritized hiring",4787,8697000,13484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8&start=8697&end=13484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8/thumbnail_8697000.jpg","/articles/6569416/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Rec-and-Parks-warns-of-192-position-cuts-seeks-offsets-and-asks-council-to-exempt-department-from-prioritized-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569416-8b7b3c63916df3d30b10a7ecd415af9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432681&Signature=B2mZMQ-MbGm8S7l4CG~rBvZmHrzAVn5-mZzNjrDCK2TEaRsY1ydFoDl1SD~Mkl1BxGB5x1ZmnaaGsN98-vP65lH4jF5r1NXZKfnNfdxR9b~IgthO8NvQoa--y3t1WA4mjrtWbROXa2P1RXsrKDh11giZUdLCkywxHQOhnvHnmIxsK7-9bWD3VENgVnLlm6RHbichp9wyO1FsiC~dFUibVzUBNQCjghuAAZXJZHKtfZo-xj4BRANFflLU3e9KzsejHtmPLXnT~h7depelTXz9XifTRsgVIrJia5SuHrvAbNja9eDcc~P64X8YpLz7c3LdUBDwtJ66Ov4j0WzRNesT6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jimmy Kim, general manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, told the Budget and Finance Committee the mayor’s proposed fiscal plan would eliminate 192 full‑time positions (about $14.7 million in salary authority) and cut about $5.8 million in expense funding (overtime, hiring hall, supplies), totaling a roughly $20 million reduction to RAP’s budget as transmitted.

Kim and senior staff said the deletion affects core services—park maintenance, aquatics, recreation center operations, park rangers and construction— and that 11 of the deleted positions are currently filled and could trigger layoffs if not restored. Kim proposed offsets the department believes can be achieved without drawing on the general fund: a proposed $9.2 million reduction to as‑needed and part‑time salaries that would free funds to partially restore full‑time critical positions and avoid layoffs. The department asked the council to consider exempting RAP from the city’s prioritized critical hiring (PCH) process—similar to the library—because the department’s charter appropriation and self‑generated revenues will fully reimburse costs the mayor’s proposed budget would no longer subsidize.

The committee and RAP also discussed the department’s childcare centers: Kim said the mayor’s transmittal clarifies that city‑run childcare sites will remain open while the department runs an RFP to identify contractors to operate centers moving forward. Staff said they will seek a seamless transition and stronger communications with families and staff; councilmembers asked for reports on proposed contract terms, enrollment and how awarded operators will be held to maintenance and upkeep requirements so federally funded refurbishments endure.

On capital and long‑term revenue, RAP described a citywide park‑needs assessment funded in last year’s budget to inform a successor to Proposition K; that assessment will continue through the end of the calendar year and programmatic outreach is planned. RAP said its ARPA‑funded capital projects (about 75 projects) are in construction and planned for delivery by summer 2026 and that the department will seek next‑generation park funding to avoid a capital maintenance gap when Proposition K sunsets.

Councilmembers requested multiple follow‑ups: a CAO memo analyzing RAP’s offset proposal and its operational impact; a special study on possible charter changes or successor measures to Proposition K and options for a new parks funding measure; a memo listing which full‑time position restorations RAP would prioritize (the department agreed to return that); a budget memo on maintenance turnaround times and a study of monetization opportunities on RAP‑owned property (weddings, corporate events, camping) alongside policy/legal changes that would remove barriers (sign and permit changes) so RAP can generate revenue.

Kim and staff also asked the committee to prioritize reconciliation of FEMA and OES reimbursements to the department’s special funds after emergency responses, and the committee instructed RAP to return with requested memos and a schedule for the childcare RFP process.","The Department of Recreation and Parks said the mayor’s proposed FY 2025–26 budget would eliminate 192 full‑time positions and cut roughly $5.8 million in expenses, and proposed a $9.2 million reduction in part‑time spending to restore critical staffing while asking the council to exempt RAP from the PCH hiring restrictions.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6569425,"Bureau of Street Lighting warns of multi-year repair backlogs, plans assessment ballot to shore up funding",2043,1213000,3256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8&start=1213&end=3256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8/thumbnail_1213000.jpg","/articles/6569425/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Bureau-of-Street-Lighting-warns-of-multi-year-repair-backlogs-plans-assessment-ballot-to-shore-up-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569425-b0abd0856766a96cf07130da44746123/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432681&Signature=UcO5UpDJa80g1EF8w3zLS8FlsX1ZQWA2XZ60bC8doatlPSNk5FOOTGGF873RtE6GfXlutP8~lRfshDYcI1Ct~~AukHtCBAsjy4QQpdMglqgkvGUkzWXbed71uKB5U9qpA-zqkukNXYjm2Tw~kKPW8tOLRO9QzcQRgmPLO-4IHH2xJAzjpBTMADZ2YYbvotft1B58u45fJZDZzWBkVGgqiSYN~TccgzSkPAVg7fhGIG~PrUCzhzeS2jdH~kx0ktBqkTL9sLg2C60CCvAEoi-xPtu6V3eMClMqwqAKM9px3ICLpFf1abe8XkdvzCaEsBiFe9hicztGPsILlKgxzAfrBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miguel Sandelang, director of the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, told the City Council Budget and Finance Committee that the bureau’s core maintenance and theft‑mitigation work is underfunded and that repair times already average eight to nine months and may reach a year by fall.

Sandelang said the bureau’s assessment revenue has remained at roughly $45 million annually since 1996 and that a 2022 internal and third‑party analysis estimate needs exceeding $100 million annually to sustain current services. He said the bureau will propose a new assessment ballot to the mayor and council this summer with the earliest effective date of January 1 if approved, and that the assessment revenues likely would not be collected until the following fiscal year because they are placed on the county property tax roll.

The bureau described program impacts that would follow if revenues fall short. Sandelang estimated the department could face cuts equal to about $7.7 million in offsets that would amount to roughly 80–100 positions — roughly a third of field staff — and said that if the DWP MOU funds are restricted to work on Department of Water & Power projects the bureau could be forced to redeploy personnel away from city streetlight repairs. Council members repeatedly asked whether entering a $7.7 million MOU with DWP to perform work for DWP would reduce streetlight responsiveness for city projects; bureau staff confirmed funds tied to DWP projects could not be commingled with the bureau’s streetlighting work.

Sandelang described several revenue and efficiency options the bureau is pursuing: a fall ballot assessment under Proposition 218 (an assessment mailed to property owners, not a general election), expanded colocation and conduit leasing opportunities, banner and permitting fees changes, participation in state middle‑mile broadband builds to offset personnel costs, and a possible internal loan or tax anticipation structure if the assessment passes but funds are not immediately available. He cautioned that internal borrowing carries risk if a future ballot measure failed.

Councilmembers requested multiple budget memos: a CAO feasibility analysis of the bureau’s offset proposals; an analysis of accelerating the assessment timeline and the assessor roll mechanics; options for using revenues (including potential securitization or internal borrowing) and the legal/financial risks; a study with City Attorney input on whether the banner program could be converted to a revenue source; and memos on how to capture greater cost recovery from EV charging and other bureau programs. Several council members asked for detail on tradeoffs between solar/battery streetlights (higher upfront cost, lower repeat repairs) and traditional repairs.

If the proposed assessment measure is placed on a fall ballot and passes, bureau staff said the earliest operational improvement would be an effective date of January 1 and that half of the first fiscal year would still be at current rates. The bureau said its hope is to place a ballot mailer this fall and to begin returning to more normal repair cadence the next fiscal year, but that short‑term constraints may require reassignments or temporary work for other city projects to keep staff employed.

The committee asked for a series of follow‑ups from the CAO, the bureau, and other departments so council can weigh options before the final FY 2025–26 budget is adopted.

","The Bureau of Street Lighting told the City Budget Committee that decades-old assessments and rising costs have left repairs taking up to a year and risk lengthening to 2–3 years unless new revenue is approved; the bureau proposes a fall ballot assessment and asked the CAO and council for several budget memos and potential offsets.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6569407,"Department on Disability warns 40% staff cut would hamper ADA compliance, AIDS services and Olympics preparation",324,17604000,17928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8&start=17604&end=17928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8/thumbnail_17604000.jpg","/articles/6569407/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Department-on-Disability-warns-40-staff-cut-would-hamper-ADA-compliance-AIDS-services-and-Olympics-preparation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569407-07b4860bdb246291868a826a76defc64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432681&Signature=IuQIp9k9pgw2ZTBKRoZUOcI~hpRuUK7LqPHDgvCvzbpzfhUIOUfb31txzeSrInhM9Umm0dcu3Igk7jPu4-HOY575QMRDiXWjBEhsFo93EYbmh7FQwuQQ7ynhYkVw6iccSeH1fQkEINocgJuChLms9EYqq9cFuOG4EhPjTrFBcTc6xrTBdVaMHb96b~XcuoGyJAeD9QE8GGAV9LTdq~3c3VegbBd~-ecTo0uHTC84Te8kZ2wblh9a8y-U6uKYbFXwl1ztrWh5OdJaXHhyxbTdB0H~s0tzW9WqydxJJunlEaXRu9kKJuYFOZ3PI7yqiciCXG-rnoWkK4qM0dSF4Lo5hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steven Simon, executive director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, told the Budget Committee the mayor’s proposed budget would cut roughly 40% of regular positions in his department — a reduction he described as removing ‘‘the shield’’ the city uses to reduce ADA litigation risk and to deliver legally required access services across city programs.

Simon said the cuts would reduce the department’s ability to review and remedy accessibility issues across city programs and facilities, staff seats in the Emergency Operations Center, document remediation and web/mobile accessibility work, and coordination for sign‑language interpreting and volunteer/worker accessibility training. He emphasized the urgency of compliance with forthcoming accessibility rules for web and mobile apps: Simon said new federal guidance and enforcement for web/mobile accessibility takes effect in April 2026 and that the city currently lacks the staff to meet that deadline.

The department also said a proposed 45% reduction in funding for the AIDS Coordinator’s office would eliminate many community contracts (roughly eight of 14 contracts), reduce HIV testing, overdose‑prevention training and outreach, and decrease capacity to deliver street‑level harm reduction. Ricky Rosales, director of the AIDS office, described concrete impacts: fewer HIV tests, fewer overdose reversals and less outreach to unsheltered Angelenos.

Simon urged use of available opioid settlement funds to backfill general fund cuts that support harm‑reduction and outreach programs, and the department provided offsets and asked the CAO to analyze whether settlement funds could be used for eligible services while preserving general‑funded positions that deliver ADA and outreach services.

On preparations for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic/Paralympic Games, the department said it lacks dedicated staff to coordinate venue accessibility across the many official and unofficial event sites across the city and to scale sign‑language interpreting and other communication services. The department asked for a study of staffing and budget needs for major event accessibility and whether costs could be recovered from LA28 or other event organizers.

Councilmembers requested a CAO memo on the feasibility of using opioid settlement funds to offset AIDS coordinator cuts, and asked the department for a budget memo on staffing and IT needs to meet web/mobile accessibility requirements.

","The Department on Disability said the mayor’s proposed budget would eliminate about 40% of its regular positions, a reduction the department said would undermine ADA compliance work across city agencies, reduce HIV/AIDS harm‑reduction services, and leave the city unprepared for web accessibility rules and upcoming major events (World Cup, 2028).",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6569412,"City Planning warns cuts would slow or pause community plans, threaten compliance and delay housing approvals",151,12598000,12749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8&start=12598&end=12749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3184120-22e617c653c053c30872a32b0ef358b8/thumbnail_12598000.jpg","/articles/6569412/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/City-Planning-warns-cuts-would-slow-or-pause-community-plans-threaten-compliance-and-delay-housing-approvals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569412-b06457d59f84caaaafd1804974379b2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432681&Signature=Ievk4icWFDzTEDtV-CnkZpKUR5pePpMpWvAA4wAY5X4bV7RPcHyheFAMaxN61uh2cSJUZLO4sjzjXkhVmaZErmIwRmc1G~Uwg19mLrbPNn5oTWwdXgaNhNqpJnL4wGBhsswIrJTAU8zziMjNI2K6XWqFtULxCJm0l7XZ3lh8u-2Vqm4ZMY4WwznHOClpVFK~nUqPEcuBijey7~xEu8JC5N8JqQEDpZQcMI9NrGGu54-MUAoI-BzKqOgVnmsmyM64ztP9Lfw59igEuFNvtn8RRKMBa6L5knxYzXtwlvZ4CCpUe0480GlM3Vxnov-epBCLE6clVYlzuXgMWUrk4s40AQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vince Bertone, director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, told the Budget Committee that the mayor’s proposed budget would eliminate 35 planning positions (about a 25% reduction of current filled staff) and that many of the department’s programs are funded by special funds or fees that are intentionally subsidized for public participation and due process.

Bertone said community planning and project planning are among the programs most affected. He warned that cuts to community plans and project planning would slow plan adoptions that are already years in process and put at risk multi‑year investments—such as Harbor area plans and environmental justice elements—because the department has invested substantial consultant and staff time to those efforts. Several councilmembers stressed that pausing community plans midway would waste prior investment and that some projects—plans and entitlements that have reached a critical stage—would cost more to resume later.

Planning staff described specific areas at risk: neighborhood and community plan capacity (central/downtown, Harbor area, Southwest Valley), environmental justice and oil regulation units, Historic Preservation (HPOZ) staffing, nuisance abatement work, and GIS/systems staff (a roughly 40–50% proposed reduction in mapping/GIS roles). Bertone noted that fee updates (planning fees have not had a major revision since 2008) and special fund adjustments could offset some costs and that a matrix study for code enforcement and process modernization is in procurement to identify efficiency and technology fixes. Members asked for a range of targeted follow‑ups:

- a memo to identify critically near‑complete community plans that would be costlier to pause or cancel;
- a memo on moving certain zoning review functions from the Department of Building and Safety into Planning and funding them from DBS enterprise funds to preserve project planning staff;
- targeted memos on the San Fernando Valley planning work and the Venice Local Coastal Program (the LCP) to detail how cuts would affect timelines and previous investments; and
- a special study analyzing proposals to consolidate development services across Planning, LADBS, Public Works bureaus and DOT.

Bertone said the department has proposals to identify revenue options (fee study underway) and suggested some project planning positions are reimbursable or full cost recovery; councilmembers asked for a CAO analysis of restoring filled, revenue‑generating and legally essential positions and requested prioritized memos describing the effects of cuts on RHNA‑related work, ADU processing, and AB 1033 implementation timelines.

Planning emphasized the legal timeline risks: state housing and permit streamlining laws can produce “deemed approvals” or monetary exposure if review timelines are missed, and litigation and defense costs could exceed savings from staff reductions.

Committee members requested an array of follow‑ups to quantify the fiscal and programmatic impacts and to explore options that preserve planning capacity critical to housing and economic development.","City Planning said a proposed elimination of 35 positions — roughly 25% of filled staff cited at the hearing — would curtail community planning, threaten timely implementation of housing and environmental programs, and risk exposing the city to penalties under state housing and permitting timelines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

LADWP presents $9.29 billion preliminary budget emphasizing reliability, renewables and water projects

Rec and Parks warns of 192 position cuts, seeks offsets and asks council to exempt department from prioritized hiring

Bureau of Street Lighting warns of multi-year repair backlogs, plans assessment ballot to shore up funding

Department on Disability warns 40% staff cut would hamper ADA compliance, AIDS services and Olympics preparation

City Planning warns cuts would slow or pause community plans, threaten compliance and delay housing approvals