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A STUDY OF THE CI I Y CHARTER
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Compensation of Board of Water and Power Coimnissioners
(1949 amendment) Each member receives fzs for each meeting attended,
up to a maximum of J-?;o per month (section 291.2).
Powers and Duties
The department constructs, manages, maintains, and controls works and
property for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of the city with water
and electric energy.
The department regulates and controls the use and sale and distribution of
such water and electric energy, grants permits for connections with water or
electric works, and fixes rates charged for such connections, subject to the
proval of the Council. All rates must be fixed every two years by the depart-
ent and must be uniform, reasonable, and fair.
The department supplies surplus water and electric energy to consumers
outside the city or to municipal corporations subject to the paramount right
of the city to discontinue such an arrangement. All contracts for supplying
surplus water are limited to fifteen years, subject to three years' notice of
termination, with the terms and conditions adopted by the Council and approved by the electorate.
The department may be divided into two bureaus, the Bureau of Water
Works and Supply and the Bureau of Power and Light, with each having a
general manager directly accountable to the board. The board can remove the
general managers by a two-thirds vote of its entire membership.
The department can sue or be sued and can use the legal services of the City
Attorney free of any charge to the department in cases where it is a party.
The department can lease agricultural land, sell personal property that is no
longer necessary for departmental use, and buy, sell, or lease interest in facilities or poles owned by the department or other utilities.
The department controls the expenditures of all funds received from its op-
ations. The funds are deposited in the city treasury to either the water revenue fund or the power revenue fund. All funds are kept separate from the
general city funds (section 220).
Retirement, Disability, and Death Benefits
(1937 amendment) The department can establish and maintain a general
system of retirement, disability, and death benefits. This separate retirement
system has been amended in 1947, 1951, and 19)7 to change the procedures
and amounts of benefits to be received under the retirement system of the department (section 220.1).
Industrial and Administrative Survey
(1941 amendment) An industrial and administrative survey is to be under-
SUMMARY OF CHARIER
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taken at least every ten years or sooner at the discretion of the Mayor. This
survey ascertains if the department is being operated most efficiently and economically (section 220.3).
Employee Benefits
(1963 amendment) The Department of Water and Power is authorized to
provide hospital, medical, and surgical benefits to its active and retired employees and their dependents (section 220.4).
Use of Funds
Money from the water revenue or power revenue funds can be used only
for purposes directly connected with the operation and financial responsibilities of the department (section 221).
Borrowing
The board can borrow money in cases of emergency.
(1929 amendment) The need for emergencies is deleted and the department
is allowed to borrow if it determines that the demand for service and the financial condition of the works justify doing so. The procedure, terms, and conditions of borrowing must receive the approval of the Council and the Mayor
(section 224).
(1933 amendment) The board can borrow from the national or state government or any authorized agency created by either of these governments
(section 224V1).
(1935 amendment) The board can borrow from the national or state government to acquire the electric system of the Los Angeles Gas and Electric
Corporation. The acquisition procedure is outlined (section 226).
Expositions
(1937 amendment) The department can extend and promote the electric
business of the department through conducting and holding annual expositions. The department may lease premises to any non-profit organization to
hold such expositions (section 228).
Indebtedness of the Department
(1947, 1953, and 1957 amendments) The indebtedness of the department is
separate from the general city debt. The department can initiate short-term
borrowing whenever it is in the public interest (section 229).
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (article xxiii)
The Board of Public Works manages and controls the department. The