Councilwoman Perry’s Statement on New Committee assignments
Los Angeles—New Council Committee assignments were released today by Council President Wesson’s office. Councilwoman Perry will now chair the City Council’s Information Technology & General Services (ITGS) Committee, Vice Chair of Education & Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committees, and will remain a member of the Housing, Community & Economic Development Committee. Councilwoman Perry also continues to chair the Ad Hoc Committee on the Proposed Downtown Stadium & Event Center.
“I look forward to chairing the City’s Information Technology and General Services (ITGS) Committee. I believe our city can be a leader in new technologies and support the growth of citywide infrastructure that will help us reach our potential as a wireless city,” said Perry. “I also believe that we need to streamline our real property database so that we can finally maximize our city assets and create more government efficiency. I look forward to taking on these important tasks.”
Since 2003, Perry has chaired the Energy & Environment (EE) Committee. In this role, she has led the effort to ensure transparency at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), calling for Third Party Review of water and power rate adjustments and ensuring that they prioritized infrastructure improvements. She advanced LADWP’s Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) through committee, providing a roadmap for green energy that reflects the will of the people for the next twenty years.
“It has been an honor to serve the residents of Los Angeles over the past eight years as Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee. I am extremely proud of the work that we have been able to do through an open committee process that included important dialogue and community input on key issues like keeping LADWP accountable to the ratepayer, improving our environment, and moving forward with innovative policies and legislation,” said Perry.
As Chair of Energy & Environment, Perry was known for her advocacy on behalf of the ratepayer. When LADWP proposed drastic increases to the Energy Cost Adjustment Factor, she insisted on a Third Party Review of the proposal and conducted extensive public hearings on the proposal. Last year, she helped to develop City Charter language for the creation of the Office of Public Accountability (Measure I) and to mandate that the LADWP submit a budget to the City every March detailing their annual transfer to the City (Measure J); both were overwhelmingly approved by the voters in 2011 as a direct response to a perceived lack of transparency at the LADWP. She also worked on the implementing ordinances for the Office of Public Accountability including the formation of the Citizens Selection Committee for the Executive Director.
Additionally, Perry was an early proponent of incorporating solar energy into the LADWP’s energy portfolio. Under her leadership, the EE Committee successfully developed a viable Solar Incentive Program (SIP) that supports the growth of solar power throughout the city and Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) to offer businesses and residents the ability to sell back excess renewable energy produced on their property.
Perry co-authored Prop O in 2003, a $500 million bond designed to address the city’s need to repair aged sewer systems and create opportunities to capture, clean, and recycle storm water. She provided oversight for all of the incredible Prop O projects that came before the council, including her own vision for a South Los Angeles Wetland and Nature Park which is set to open on February 9th at the site of a former MTA bus yard.
Besides chairing the EE Committee, Perry also served on the Transportation Committee.