TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution approving Resolution No. WD-1483 which establishes a unified Long Beach Utilities Department (LBUD); adds the existing offices and positions of the City of Long Beach’s natural gas utility to those existing offices and positions of the former Long Beach Water Department, recognizing all positions as those belonging to LBUD; authorizes the General Manager to establish new unclassified positions as described to support the combined utility; and rescinds all other resolutions or orders relating thereto, as approved by the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners of the City of Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On June 22, 2023, the Board of Utilities Commissioners approved Resolution No. UT-1483 creating offices and positions in the permanent service of the Long Beach Utilities Department. UT-1483 reflects the current composition of the Long Beach Utilities Department (LBUD), fixes the amount of compensation for offices and positions, and rescinds all other resolutions or order relating thereto.
On November 8, 2022, more than 63 percent of Long Beach voters cast ballots in favor of merging the City of Long Beach’s (City) water, gas, and sewer utilities to improve customer service, reduce impacts to streets through better coordination of pipeline repairs, and achieve cost savings through economies of scale. Prior to the passage of Measure BB, water and sewer utilities were provided by the Long Beach Water Department (LBWD) and natural gas services through the City’s Department of Energy Resources. Accordingly, separate budgets and salary resolutions governed LBWD, and the City’s gas utility, respectively. The LBUD released the first proposed consolidated utility budget on May 17, 2023; and subsequent publicly-noticed budget workshops were held on May 25 and June 8, 2023.
The passage of Measure BB amended the Long Beach City Charter, bringing together all three utilities under the management of LBUD with a single General Manager reporting to the Board of Utilities Commissioners. With the consolidation approved by voters in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23), the FY 24 LBUD salary resolution will be the first of these governing documents for all three utilities.
While the City’s natural gas utility and the former LBWD share many of the same classifications, there are existing offices and positions unique to the gas utility that need to be added to the proposed FY 24 LBUD Salary Resolution.
This matter was reviewed by Principal Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on August 17, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council’s approval of the attached Resolution, approving the Utilities Department’s Resolution No. UT-1483, as adopted, is requested on September 5, 2023.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Christopher J. Garner
General Manager