Officials Want Community Committee Formed For DWP Project

Following strong opposition by the Pacific Palisades community of a new Los Angeles Department of Water and Power distribution station adjacent to , officials are calling for a community-led task force to assist in finding an alternate location.

Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Los Angeles Unified School Board Member Steve Zimmer and LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols released a letter to the Palisades community Wednesday afternoon proposing the task force. The committee would consist of 7-12 representatives selected by local schools, the Pacific Palisades Community Council, the Los Angeles City Council and the LAUSD school board offices, stated the letter.

LADWP has been evaluating locations for an additional station due to increased power demand in the Palisades. A location behind and LADWP-owned land next to Marquez Elementary were both proposed as possible sites for the second station.

Responsibilities for the proposed task force would include discussing the need for the new station, coming up with ways to reduce energy use and identifying alternative locations for the station.

The following is an excerpt from the letter sent from Rosendhal, Zimmer and Nichols Wednesday:

We all want safe and reliable electrical service that meets the needs of the community we serve. To advance these goals, we pledge to work collaboratively with the community to find and evaluate alternative sites to the Marquez Avenue location that will meet requirements for reliable power service to your neighborhood. Facility siting processes are always challenging. To help make this process successful we propose to establish a community task force to serve as a forum for dialogue, understanding and identification of an acceptable location.

According to a press release, the task force will be finalized by mid-June.

Zimmer is hosting a community meeting Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Marquez Elementary auditorium where he is expected to update the community about new developments on the LADWP project.

• For a letter from Rosendahl to Nichols regarding the LADWP station,
• For a statement from Nichols about station, .
• For the full story from a community meeting at Marquez Elementary regarding the station on April 16, .
• For a television report from KCAL 9 about the April 16 community meeting regarding the station,.
• For the story about Zimmer calling for the April 16 community meeting, click here.
• For more reaction from a Feb. 29 town hall meeting,.
• For information about the Coalition of Palisadians to Keep Marquez Charter School Safe, click here.
• For information about a petition written by a local attorney about the Marquez Elementary site, click here.