Council Bid to Kill DWP Pact Delayed

Some two dozen community activists spoke in support of the Department of Water and Power’s $2.4-million contract with a public relations firm to promote conservation, prompting the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday to put off a decision on whether to kill it.

The contract was approved by the DWP Board of Commissioners last week against the wishes of Mayor James K. Hahn and Controller Laura Chick. The two had wanted DWP to wait until Chick finishes an audit of the $60-million public-benefits program, which funds the contract. The audit is expected to be finished next month.

Councilman Jack Weiss, who sponsored the motion to veto the contract, remained optimistic after Wednesday’s hearing.

“We certainly got their attention, and there are a number of serious questions which remain on the table,” he said. “I want to make sure we’re getting everything we can possibly get for every buck we spend.”

DWP officials say the contract with the Lee Andrews Group is essential to helping them promote an energy conservation program called Green LA. Delaying the contract as the city enters the hot summer months would be a mistake, they said.

“There will be some loss of programs and momentum if we don’t have the money over the next few weeks,” said David Wiggs, DWP’s general manager.

The PR firm will work with community-based organizations to spread DWP’s message on renewable energy, conservation, energy efficiency and other environmental issues through next May 31. The contract includes an optional one-year, $2.4-million extension.

However, Chick, a longtime critic of the agency, said Wiggs and other DWP officials were “dishonest” and “disingenuous” during the hearing. Chick said she was disappointed that the council failed to take action and that attention was diverted from the appropriateness of the contract to the value of conserving energy.

“What happened in council were some very interesting attempts to turn people’s attention from what this really was about,” she said. “This was about a multimillion-dollar public-relations contract. It’s not about disrupting environmental and community services. Absolutely not.”

Dozens of religious leaders, environmentalists, businessmen and others packed the council chambers to support the contract.

Susan Cox appeared dressed as Green Power Girl, a superhero created to promote Green LA. Wearing a green wig, huge sunglasses and a cape, she told council members she has talked to students in 60 schools. “I’m just urging you to without delay support this contract,” she said. “Support programs like [this] that really outreach to the community. You don’t have to wear a cape to be a hero if you conserve energy.”

Members of churches and temples throughout the city supported the program’s goals.

“This program mirrors what we teach our children about caring for the Earth,” said Michael Cunningham, administrator of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. “We hold these program up as an example of what we teach our children.”

Weiss’ motion was scheduled to be considered at the next council meeting. Late Wednesday, however, Weiss proposed a compromise that would allow DWP to retain the PR firm without tying up city funds for a year. In a letter to Wiggs and DWP Commission President Kenneth Lombard, Weiss proposed retaining the firm on a month-to-month contract until Chick’s audit is completed.