RATE RELIEF: The mercury may climb this...

RATE RELIEF: The mercury may climb this summer, but water bills won’t. The City Council voted to extend winter rates Tuesday in part because of angry Valley residents who reported bimonthly bills of $500 to $900 last summer (B1). . . . Under the two-tier rate structure imposed last year (above), customers using more than twice the median amount of water pay a higher fee per cubic foot.

SEA OF DEBRIS: Drive the streets of the Valley and you’ll see a familiar new landmark: earthquake rubble. The good news? Nearly 200,000 tons of debris has been hauled away so far. . . . The bad? Residents may be waiting a month or more for additional pickups (B1).

NO FEAR: The workplace looked a little different when employees of the Community Redevelopment Agency’s North Hollywood office went back to work Tuesday. The bullet-resistant glass and security intercom system, for instance (B1). . . . Both were installed after project manager Lillian Burkenheim began receiving death threats--like the hearse that showed up to claim her body one day.

COUNTDOWN: It was a close race, but when all the dust settled, Santa Clarita Councilwoman Jill Klajic had lost her seat by a mere 16 votes. She now says she’ll call for a recount if supporters can raise the $500 fee (B7). . . . She’s skeptical. “I told them, ‘You couldn’t raise enough money for me to get elected; how are you going to raise enough for a recount?’ ”

DWP Water Rates

Summer

If you use more than 2 x median water amount, you pay $2.98 per billing unit*

If you use less, you pay $1.80 per unit

Winter

If you use more than 2 x median water amount, you pay $2.33 per billing unit

If you use less, you pay $1.80 per unit

* 100 cubic ft. or 748 gal.

Rates subject to quarterly change based on water supply

Source: DWP