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Deaton Tracks Progress of Prop O Programs From New Vantage Point – LADWP’s GM

As chief legislative analyst for the L.A. City Council for over a decade, Ron Deaton had a hand in nearly all laws and ordinances adopted in the city of L.A., not the least of which was the landmark Prop O initiative, which provides $500 million for stormwater treatment. However, for more than a year Mr. Deaton has served in a new role as general manager of the Department of Water and Power. As DWP head, Mr. Deaton is involved in the implementation of Prop O, as well as the myraid functions of the nation’s largest public utility. MIR was pleased to speak with Mr. Deaton about the progress of implementing Prop O locally and about its relationship with infrastructure initiatives and other stormwater programs statewide. Finally, Mr. Deaton and the DWP are also working to maintain reasonable rates as well as to help Mayor Villargaigosa realize his goal of making L.A. the “greenest big city in America.”

Published Monday March 6, 2006

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Ron Deaton

You are now the general manager of the L.A. Department of Water and Power, but once upon a time you were the City’s CLA. In that capacity you help shepherd the drafting and passage of Prop O, a half-billion dollar city measure to deal with storm water runoff and clean water. The voters endorsed that bond, and proposals have now come into the city requesting use of those funds. How would you assess the significance of the voters’ endorsement and the potential of L.A.’s Prop O?

I think it’s a very healthy beginning to the city’s efforts to address the issue of stormwater runoff. It’s kind of a combination opportunity and problem. Stormwater presents a problem to the extent that obviously has an impact on the L.A. River, various creeks and eventually the quality of the beaches and the health of the ocean. But, it’s also an opportunity to be able to capture that water and use it in the long-term to put it back in the groundwater or use it for other purposes to help meet the need for more potable water and, as a result, increase our water supply. I think it’s a very far-reaching look by the citizens to vote to begin the process for better utilizing this water supply.

What’s the distance between promise and reality regarding the implementation of the provisions and expectations for Prop O? How do we know the money will be used well and efficiently?

We have a series of built-in safeguards to make sure the money is used correctly. There’s an administrative oversight committee made up of the city’s administrative office, the budget office, the CLA, the mayor’s office, and the Board of Public Works to make sure the projects are done in a timely fashion. Also, there’s a group of citizen participants who and ensure that the money is also being spent in the best pragmatic way to correct the trash issues in the water and meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act, as well as to look at innovative ways to use storm water for parks and the greening of parts of Los Angeles. Finally, the Council and the mayor are the ultimate arbitrators.