Council Confirms DWP Chief’s Reappointment

The City Council in a 6-4 vote narrowly confirmed the controversial reappointment Thursday of Department of Water and Power board President Rick Caruso.

The appointment was opposed by City Councilman Hal Bernson and environmentalists who are unhappy about Caruso’s stand on preservation of the Chatsworth Reservoir, a dry DWP reservoir that has become an unofficial wildlife refuge.

Caruso, a prominent developer, has said he wants to consider other uses for the property, particularly soccer fields. Environmentalists have argued that the reservoir’s value for wildlife would be diminished if portions were converted into sports fields.

Bernson has long contended that Caruso has failed to comply with a City Council directive to negotiate a 10-year lease with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to preserve the reservoir for wildlife.

“Much to my chagrin, we have been stonewalled,” Bernson told the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee before Thursday’s council vote.

Bernson, who has lobbied for two decades to preserve the entire 1,300-acre area, made it clear he would oppose the nomination unless Caruso gave “his word that he will back off and leave the reservoir alone.”

But the council majority seemed reassured by Caruso’s pledge that he would order a 90-day study of the reservoir.

Besides Bernson, council members Rita Walters, Jackie Goldberg and Nate Holden voted against the confirmation.