10B
Date: February 11, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: George K. Chen, Mayor | [email protected]
Subject: Mayor – Adopt a RESOLUTION approving the appointment of the City of Torrance’s Representative to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors. Expenditure: None
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Mayor that City Council appoint Raymond Jay as the City of Torrance representative on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors for the remaining balance of the term ending December 31, 2028.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the Public Works Department’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 Water Fund operating budget and is anticipated to be available in subsequent fiscal years.
DISCUSSION
Russell Lefevre, the City of Torrance’s longtime director on the Metropolitan Water District Board (MWD) announced his pending retirement in November 2024. Mr. Lefevre has served with great dedication and distinction as the City’s MWD director since 2013.
The procedure for appointment of a new MWD director for Torrance is set forth in Ordinance 3387 adopted in January 1994. Pursuant to the ordinance, the City’s MWD Director “shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of City Council”. The ordinance also stipulates that the director will serve a four-year term of office and be paid a stipend of $200 per month. In accordance with the ordinance, “the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor”. In this instance, the new MWD director would serve the duration of the unexpired term, which runs through December 2028.
The recruitment was announced by the Mayor during November City Council meetings and the position was advertised on the City’s website and NEOGOV. An ad hoc committee consisting of the Mayor and City Council members Mattucci and Sheikh reviewed the qualifications of each candidate that submitted their resume and cover letter. After careful review, the Mayor’s ad hoc committee is recommending the appointment of Raymond Jay as the City’s new representative on the MWD Board of Directors. Mr. Jay has an extensive background including 30 years of experience in the water industry and is currently a MWD employee in their Water Resources Section. In addition, Mr. Jay has been a member of the Torrance Water Commission for seven years and served as the chair for three years.
1 City Council
February 11, 2025
Mr. Jay will receive a conditional offer to serve as the new Torrance MWD Director effective April 1, 2025. Prior to the beginning of his appointment, Mr. Jay will be required to resign from his current position with the Metropolitan Water District. In the interim, Mr. Lefevre has agreed to remain as the City’s MWD Director. The City’s new director must be certified by MWD’s legal department and be formally seated and sworn in by the Metropolitan Board at a regular board meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1: Resolution
2: Ordinance 3387
2 RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE
APPOINTING RAYMOND JAY TO FILL THE UPCOMING POSITION AS THE CITY OF
TORRANCE'S DIRECTOR ON THE METROPOLITIAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHEREAS , the vacancy to the City of Torrance’s position on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors is due to the upcoming retirement of Director Russell Lefevre; and
WHEREAS , the vacant position is to be filled by the nomination of a candidate by the Mayor and approval of the City Council: and
WHEREAS, an ad hoc committee selected Mr. Jay from a list of qualified candidates to be the City’s new representative on the MWD Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, Mr. Jay has an extensive background including 30 years of experience in the water industry; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jay has indicated a willingness to serve as the City's representative on the Metropolitan Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California does not designate a fixed term of office, the City of Torrance, with the adoption of Ordinance No. 3387 on January 4, 1994, has established a four-year term of office.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby consent to and approve the nomination by the Mayor to appoint Raymond Jay as the City of Torrance's representative to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for the remainder of the four-year term from April 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
INTRODUCED , APPROVED , and ADOPTED this 11th day of February 2025. _________________________
Mayor George K. Chen
ATTEST:
_____________________
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN
City Attorney
By: __________________________________
Patrick Q. Sullivan, City Attorney
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