[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-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],{"_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",6574923,"mediaKeyId","3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7","parentId",3180915,"title","City Council approves DWP settlement to retain half of Mojave stake amid reliability concerns","audioSeconds",3521,"startMs",1527000,"endMs",5048000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7&start=1527&end=5048","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7/thumbnail_1527000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574923/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/City-Council-approves-DWP-settlement-to-retain-half-of-Mojave-stake-amid-reliability-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574923-bb5d390f639076752fc80f3d8f71ed0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775807269&Signature=h8bQexLmMc~qVpBTZaAv3vakHWp~KU7genn-jg~-MCD4EcKuAo3Sch2my2RIuiF6hg3nJAkDX-VLHQltY-hUl2eZOKAWbV7rNDfP7VaHnEqAMm6IQi~qRzm7kDx993QXorjEAK-ksV9hv~W~9dBStxJ4CV2Vn5TjXxZXBhT7tAO-3LHCYT55gbgc38oPfnSPsI53xVI-uBwGUF8rMvHcLcw56M9ysDATSsCm7OpdRqRDkex1Jl-iI2a4wHilqf2akWelyyfZJ6WIdVRwgbIMPebfRiV42vRf8yRbsTGsPh4JS0Zagvn1IXHNUlUSUPNShUOcXe43mBv4ExkZOh0gXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-02T17:31:03.663Z","article","The Los Angeles City Council on Nov. 20 approved a settlement that will have the Department of Water and Power (DWP) sell half of the city's interest in the Mojave power plant while retaining the remainder, after DWP officials and council members debated reliability, cost and environmental trade-offs.

DWP General Manager David Wiggs told the council, \"We are here today to ask the council to approve a settlement with Salt River Project,\" and described the deal as a conservative step to protect the department's ability to provide reliable, low-cost power. Henry Martinez, assistant general manager for power supply, told members the agreement must be approved by the end of the month to avoid arbitration with Salt River Project.

The council's debate split members over two main arguments. Supporters said holding part of the plant preserves a source of relatively low-cost, dispatchable generation and reduces the risk of having to buy expensive power on the spot market during shortages. Opponents said the city should honor a prior agreement to sell the full 20% interest to avoid remaining a partial owner of one of the country's dirtiest coal-fired plants and instead use proceeds to invest in cleaner local resources.

Councilmember Ruth Galanter moved that the council complete the original sale; several other members called instead for the settlement recommended by DWP. An amendment by Councilmembers Padilla and Garcetti, accepted during final consideration, asked that \"some portion of the net earnings of the remaining 50% share be retained and dedicated to the funding of a renewable program\" for city power resources; DWP representatives said they would return with a program to identify a specific portion.

DWP told the council the department currently owns a 20% stake in Mojave (stated in the presentation as roughly 316 megawatts of nameplate capacity) and that the negotiated settlement would leave the city with half of its ownership interest (described in debate as roughly a 10% effective stake or about 50 megawatts in some explanations during the meeting). Wiggs said Mojave produced low-cost power during the recent statewide shortage, describing it as a resource that helped keep city rates stable during crisis conditions.

Several council members urged caution about long-term environmental consequences of maintaining any ownership in a coal-fired plant. Galanter and others urged the council to sell the city's entire stake and use proceeds to accelerate cleaner, in-basin projects. Councilmember Padilla and supporters argued the city can be part of cleaning the plant and still protect ratepayers.

After the motions and amendments were resolved, the council approved the department's settlement recommendation as amended; the ordinance implementing the transaction will be carried over for one week for final paperwork. The council directed DWP to return with specifics about the proposed renewable program and with details that would clarify how net proceeds would be reserved and spent.

What the council approved does not itself change state or federal environmental rules, and DWP officials told the council the settlement does not preclude future re-evaluation of ownership as markets and regulations change.

The council hearing also included multiple members asking for more detail on projected cleanup costs at Mojave, the timetable for in-basin capacity projects and the precise megawatt figures associated with the retained and sold interests; staff said they would provide additional written clarifications.

DWP, council staff and the council agreed to preserve opportunities to reassess ownership in future years as market and regulatory conditions evolve.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council - 11/20/01","oneSentenceSummary","The Los Angeles City Council on Nov. 20 approved a settlement that will have the Department of Water and Power sell half its interest in the Mojave power plant while retaining the other half, a move council supporters said would protect reliability and opponents said prolonged ownership of a coal-fired plant would delay investment in cleaner local generation.","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},6574914,"Votes at a glance: select actions from the Nov. 20 Los Angeles City Council meeting",109,1239000,1348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7&start=1239&end=1348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7/thumbnail_1239000.jpg","/articles/6574914/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-select-actions-from-the-Nov-20-Los-Angeles-City-Council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574914-980f01764af10ac7fc3a5100d5bd894d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775807269&Signature=GvzoD6v8vd8BObt~9BdAWyfjta7i~8C3icOpPDXC5emCh~6X~RBAfI6~TWl4OXmWOoQ46MOsBh0krOeKsC4Nnt1drdbTZJWxasFh47Jbr~N1KgSWGin2Mlwqfka6twzoobHB-mWPFS4EgE3r2g5i8jBDtCg45dqWVaI9sRXq3Mo0MirK3lpMIklWO3SwOeX4zNFs~WNwmCZmhaN8WtzSbhJMcwxC52wZN-lnmKo1hr8hQEa7xE3XJbyfZDslZ1Y~XJlDVE3Cm9POQ66iqo0X200ljR3Z51-owmbXjGm1huOR0zGFYutymy8671cibDufp0U5tSszl4qG42Of9Y2iWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council on Nov. 20 took votes on a range of routine and time-sensitive items. Key outcomes included:

- Wilmington Business Improvement District (Item 22): Council approved continuation of contracts supporting the new Wilmington BID; speakers praised local business owners for using matching city funds. Vote recorded in the meeting.

- Hollywood interim control/branding (Item 32): Council approved extending the interim control ordinance for signage to allow planning staff and the community redevelopment agency to complete supplemental use district design standards; staff said a hardship exemption is written into the interim control ordinance. The council recorded approval by roll call.

- Police and fire facilities bond measure (Item 57): Public safety groups spoke in support of a bond measure to improve police and fire facilities; the council approved forwarding the item for the March ballot with oversight and noted estimated residential cost projections in the public comment.

- Short extension for an information-technology general manager appointment (Item 18): Council approved the mayor's request for an extension while a national search continues; the mayor's representative told committee members the acting general manager will retire and a recommendation is expected during the extension period.

Many other consent and procedural items (minutes, continuances, and minor property transactions) were acted on by roll call. Several supplemental items were continued or carried over for one week as the council requested further staff reports or to finalize implementing documents.

For full details on substantive, debated items (the Mojave settlement and the term-limits ballot question), see the separate articles.","Council approved multiple routine and consent items, including an extension for the Hollywood signage interim ordinance, continuation of the Wilmington Business Improvement District contracts, approval to place a police and fire facilities bond on the March ballot, and a short IT general manager extension.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6574919,"Council agrees to place 3-term (12-year) charter amendment on March ballot; other options filed",0,5472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7&start=5472&end=5472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180915-feb9d4c57520be5c78d4a1ccdcae55c7/thumbnail_5472000.jpg","/articles/6574919/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-agrees-to-place-3-term-12-year-charter-amendment-on-March-ballot-other-options-filed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574919-fe21208d9cf28a340232908e89068a33/orig.mp4?Expires=1775807269&Signature=aF~t1p7nDrCNSNWTLaQD7nywOJHNmV0XB~fkTzdCCUbjTsyJb7AkgGEtc5tSV-OyYerKS6DuF4bdyIS~gFsSScejAfk6Ui5mwDdE5EIjNza5j7IolFLYA2TEORMbmUoZIpu1YbpWYoahULRMu12mXlDx2WNKP3Wltqf5bYquJIM-qcgByiqq7gP6qlgM1DUhcMjxij~b4oeif1ty2u8uLbiz9nqzbJgT51Nw0835DqBYuH8JWD40Gcw3qpdONippRdhsh6QusmXGfXXPamxANIMiscWhG8oNgHpFFnvwqE8133LBa~Kcry3RK9QGJC5Tg77PoapM9LWlACE8tkamAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council voted on Nov. 20 to place a charter amendment on the March ballot that would allow council members to serve three four-year terms (12 years total) rather than the current two-term limit. Council discussion was lengthy and divided, with members raising governance, democratic and practical concerns.

Councilmember Holden, the motion's original author, framed the proposal as a way to give elected officials more time to complete major projects and reduce the turnover that can slow long-range work. \"I think the question before us is whether or not the voters of this city can make the change,\" he said during his remarks.

Several other council members, including Councilmembers Mysikowski and Pacheco, urged limiting the change to the council only and keeping the amendment simple and consistent with the voter intent in 1993. Pete Echeverria of the city attorney's office clarified legal points about retroactivity: the council asked staff to include language making the measure apply as a lifetime cap and to preserve partial-term rules so that brief partial terms would not necessarily count as a full term unless specified.

The council approved a motion by Councilmember Mysikowski to put a three-term option on the ballot and to note and file competing options (including a repeal of term limits and a four-term option). As approved, the item directs staff to draft the ballot measure language to provide a lifetime three-term cap (not “consecutive” only) and to include explicit language addressing partial terms; the council instructed staff to return revised documents for final placement on the March 2002 ballot.

Clerks and staff briefed members on cost: the city estimated roughly $1.7 million for a single measure in the March voter pamphlet and roughly $200,000 for each additional measure; the council discussed minimizing added expense by focusing on one clear measure.

After motion and amendment votes, the council recorded a formal vote on the three-term option; the motion to approve the three-term measure and note/file the others was approved (roll call recorded in the meeting). Council staff will return with final, revised charter language and ballot materials.

Council members repeatedly emphasized that the ballot outcome would be decided by voters and that the measure's passage or failure would settle the issue citywide.

The council also debated whether the amendment should apply only to council members or to all citywide elected officials; the body ultimately left the broader question in place for staff to reflect the council's adopted language, and asked for retroactivity language to be added as directed.","After a long floor debate over whether to expand term limits for council and other citywide officials, council members voted to move forward with a single measure asking voters to allow three four-year terms (12 years total). The council noted partial retroactivity and removed a consecutive requirement; other proposals were noted and filed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City Council approves DWP settlement to retain half of Mojave stake amid reliability concerns

Votes at a glance: select actions from the Nov. 20 Los Angeles City Council meeting

Council agrees to place 3-term (12-year) charter amendment on March ballot; other options filed