Council asks interim DWP manager to delay signing $5 million outreach contract until budget details are provided

Council members raised concerns April 18 about a proposed $5,000,000 contract at the Department of Water and Power and asked the interim general manager to pause any final signature until the commission'requested budget and program details are provided.

Councilmember Holden said he would be satisfied if Mister Salas returned in about 10 days with recommended actions and that, in the meantime, he asked the interim manager not to sign the contract. Mister Salas responded that the commission had approved the contract "subject to them being satisfied as to the expenditure programs and the detail of the budget" and that the detailed information would be forthcoming within two weeks.

Mister Holden and other council members said they wanted to review the commission'requested materials and hear from the acting general manager before any final execution. The exchange did not produce a formal motion to block the contract; rather, the council requested the information and indicated a desire to be briefed prior to any final execution of the contract.

The contract was described on the floor as intended to support customer education and work with community organizations; the transcript records the $5,000,000 figure and that the commission set conditions tied to satisfaction with program details.

The council asked Mister Salas to return with the commission'review results and recommended that he consult with council members if information arrives prior to a final commission decision.