[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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],{"_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",6544786,"mediaKeyId","3443235-4b032efd28159ee78ce2d3121c2b5468","parentId",3443235,"title","Committee approves Safe Clean Water updates, urges stronger LAUSD partnership on school greening and O&M planning","audioSeconds",2017,"startMs",2937000,"endMs",4954000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443235-4b032efd28159ee78ce2d3121c2b5468&start=2937&end=4954","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443235-4b032efd28159ee78ce2d3121c2b5468/thumbnail_2937000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544786/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Committee-approves-Safe-Clean-Water-updates-urges-stronger-LAUSD-partnership-on-school-greening-and-OM-planning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544786-c0b0e0dab1d246064fdfd7ce7ecd0417/orig.mp4?Expires=1775807104&Signature=f65t5x0Yy9tWRwrNTNqCF2WUHLSAX2lAOHiZPi9nRUMlPlzRKngk2LeunuO7z-BLinx5l7Uze~2KMZk2mnlYg~y9FA40hpWPHVc9ydGZkTTn3yelx4BNplEf7IBc5-CO6gr5HxEfPlrCpU4jyrZWWHA0BnJKnwthGb9BwNbhQwM~NOCR9reXr77Gi-AcNx1e9Oli5tq--FPBd9Ft7EfHWzoPN4m7NC4CaE9B1ShO6OgzNjWa5OmQrJHq5s7teBmG079jbCoUi0UEluRVSqmxTGgcBPr0jH3PBrLThJbWEjGQHDdL55kuJsoebzX9y3qBhm9ojM2npcqXbo1pk0Zi5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-22T12:50:38.93Z","article","The Energy and Environment Committee voted 3-0 May 20 to approve a Bureau of Sanitation report on Safe Clean Water Program coordination with the Los Angeles Unified School District and nongovernmental organizations, and to adopt the fiscal year 2024-25 Watershed Investment Strategic Plan (WISP) update.

Committee members and staff said school greening is a significant opportunity to capture stormwater, expand green space and improve community health. Michael Scudillo, principal engineer for the Safe Clean Water program at Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), told the committee that staff had identified the top 20 LAUSD school sites for potential stormwater greening and had shared concept-level plans with the district. He also warned of a recurring problem: projects developed through county-funded technical resource programs are sometimes returned to the city without early coordination with landowners or city departments.

\"One of the challenges ... is a lack of communication between the technical resource programs at the county funds and the projects that are within the city that are lacking communication with the appropriate real estate, landowners of those projects and the various city departments,\" Scudillo said.

Bruce Resnick, executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper, urged more accountability and said school greening provides multiple benefits beyond water capture. \"Green space in communities ... enhances community health, public health, mental health, including mental health and physical health of students as well as academic performance,\" Resnick said.

The WISP update presented a financial and programmatic outlook. LASAN staff told the committee the municipal program receives about $36 million annually from the Safe Clean Water program to fund staff, capital improvements and planning. The county-administered regional program collects roughly $45 million per year; the city has secured about $315 million in regional returns in the program's first five years, including roughly $40 million for third-party nonprofit projects within Los Angeles.

Committee members raised long-term costs and maintenance concerns. The WISP estimates that implementation costs for desired future outcomes could exceed about $7.4 billion over the next 25 years. Committee members and staff discussed a growing backlog of deferred maintenance and the need for dedicated operations-and-maintenance (O&M) funding and a trained workforce to maintain green infrastructure. LASAN noted success securing regional O&M funds for specific Prop O sites and plans to pursue additional regional funding for long-term maintenance where appropriate.

The LASAN report recommended continued collaboration with LAUSD, watershed coordinators and NGOs and urged development of clearer communication protocols so proposals developed through county-funded technical assistance are fully vetted with city departments and landowners before seeking final approvals. The WISP update recommended prioritizing funded regional projects, creating on-call design-build procurement to speed delivery, appropriating funding for positions to support project delivery and expanding planning for O&M and workforce development.

The committee approved the LASAN recommendations and the WISP annual update by unanimous roll call: Nazarian — aye; Yaroslavsky — yes; Padilla — yes. Committee members asked staff to return with contact points and to continue outreach to LAUSD facilities staff and the superintendent's office to resolve liability and long-term-use concerns raised by the district.

Speakers on record included Michael Scudillo (LASAN), Bruce Resnick (Los Angeles Waterkeeper) and multiple council members. The committee moved on after recording the approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Energy and Environment Committee - May 20, 2025 03:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Energy and Environment Committee approved two reports May 20 updating the Safe Clean Water Program's Watershed Investment Strategic Plan and a coordination report on LAUSD partnerships; city staff and advocates highlighted funding, operations and the need for closer coordination with LAUSD and NGOs.","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},6544792,"Energy and Environment Committee approves Tim O'Connor as Office of Public Accountability executive director nominee",1650,1275000,2925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443235-4b032efd28159ee78ce2d3121c2b5468&start=1275&end=2925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443235-4b032efd28159ee78ce2d3121c2b5468/thumbnail_1275000.jpg","/articles/6544792/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Energy-and-Environment-Committee-approves-Tim-OConnor-as-Office-of-Public-Accountability-executive-director-nominee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544792-b4bcab25e32f40d372549026826c754b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775807104&Signature=VQ7pLo9LyZRW5wu4kAv71HzmIUdMGxYVhs5oaIMb06AZiWzYA7So2vg0Bn3XMUASepUTtdNXnVZYMSJt3pH1Ui8uqlmO6A4-zSfVIfGIVE0eSzRTW-G6sGq2xgTBwu61hIofvHPE~F4h~uOOBCO7KWZ1XUT79xzevl6TCzpuJ61bH55q6IYvCquHsQvkgKIhwNfim4THEWii3r~bOGjxg0yz9PW2Yh8gJdondPC4rnvYzCAb~Dmqt6CYuYOwF5a7rYo5VWebVw8DP8ISnDowcG~OAdvLC~~QpLaLPx1E970~RRbxeNwBaLT8HO4KGyEwOXKXfZeUt3iYv9s0e5Bv0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Los Angeles City Council members on the Energy and Environment Committee voted unanimously May 20 to approve the citizens selection committee's recommendation to nominate Tim O'Connor as executive director of the Office of Public Accountability (OPA).

The committee approved the nomination following presentations by the citizen selection committee and remarks from O'Connor. The vote was recorded as Nazarian — aye; Yaroslavsky — yes; Padilla — yes. The recommendation originated with a citizen committee that conducted a multi-stage selection process beginning in 2023.

Committee members and selection-committee representatives said they sought an executive director with experience in utility rate-setting, strong administrative skills and the ability to build an office from a limited staff. John Murray, chair of the citizens selection committee, described a “comprehensive” process that winnowed a field of candidates through multiple interviews and written assignments. David Nahai, vice chair, told the committee the panel looked for forensic and rate-analysis capability given the technical complexity of Department of Water and Power (DWP) rates.

Selection-committee members cited O'Connor's prior work with the Department of Water and Power. John Murray said the committee found in O'Connor the mix of administrative experience and familiarity with power and water issues the office will need. \"We knew that this would have to be a person of truly rare talents,\" Murray said during the presentation.

In his remarks, Tim O'Connor described the OPA's role as one of transparency and accountability during a period of major utility investments and said he would prioritize public engagement and clear communication. \"I see this as an opportunity to ensure that those investments are a case study in how to achieve the scope and scale of investments that this utility ... and not a case study for how not to do it,\" O'Connor said.

Council members who spoke in favor of the nomination praised O'Connor's technical knowledge and integrity. Council member Yaroslavsky said he has known O'Connor for about 15 years and called him \"a known quantity\" with the skills and judgment needed to hold DWP accountable as the city pursues decarbonization and affordability goals.

The committee's action approved the citizens selection committee recommendation; the committee recorded the appointment as approved by the vote noted above. The committee chair closed the item after the roll call and moved to other agenda items.

Speakers listed on the record for this item included selection-committee chair John Murray, vice chair David Nahai, nominee Tim O'Connor, and committee members who spoke during the vote.","The Energy and Environment Committee voted 3-0 May 20 to approve the citizens selection committee's recommendation to nominate Tim O'Connor as executive director of the Office of Public Accountability; committee members praised his DWP experience and commitment to transparency.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves Safe Clean Water updates, urges stronger LAUSD partnership on school greening and O&M planning

Energy and Environment Committee approves Tim O'Connor as Office of Public Accountability executive director nominee