Mayor Moreno Forms Working Group to Guide SWBNO Reform and Local Control Transition

Mayor Helena Moreno today signed Executive Order HM 26-04A establishing the Public Utility Modernization Process Subgroup (PUMPS), a standing working group under the Infrastructure Coordinating Council (ICC) that will help guide the City’s review and implementation of proposed reforms to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO).

The Executive Order comes after legislation providing the New Orleans City Council with expanded authority over SWBNO, was overwhelmingly approved by the Louisiana Legislature.

Under the Executive Order, PUMPS will assist the Mayor, ICC, and City Council in evaluating governance reforms, operational oversight, fiscal impacts, infrastructure coordination, and long-term modernization strategies for SWBNO.

The subgroup will include representatives from the City Council, including the Council President and Chair of the Public Works Committee or their designees, as well as Subject-Matter Experts in areas such as municipal finance, utility regulation, engineering, labor, law, and infrastructure management.

The Executive Order outlines several key policy priorities for the modernization effort, including:

• Strengthening local accountability;
• Improving operational performance and reliability;
• Protecting ratepayers;
• Preserving financial and bond stability;
• Clarifying lines of authority and oversight; and
• Building greater public trust through transparency and engagement.

In the near term, PUMPS will review and develop recommendations related to the implementation of HB 1243 and related ordinances or policy changes. Over the longer term, the subgroup will evaluate potential governance models that could further integrate SWBNO Functions into City Government while protecting legal obligations, infrastructure investments, employees, and ratepayer interests. PUMPS will provide reports and updates on its work during the Full ICC Meetings which are open to the public and also provide updates to the New Orleans City Council when requested.

“We need to ensure that as we move forward with SWBNO Reforms we are careful and methodical, which means we must have expert voices in the room who can help advise my team and the Council on beneficial, responsible, and appropriate policies and ordinances to move forward with,” Mayor Moreno said. “This will be a heavy lift but I am excited for the long overdue hard work ahead.”

“Now that the City has secured the Passage of HB 1243, we have the duty to ensure that all future reforms and policies are deliberate and systematic to achieve better outcomes for residents,” said City Council President J.P. Morrell. “Finally, after years of piecemeal tweaks to the Sewerage and Water Board, it’s time for experts to come together and create meaningful reforms that not only address the failures of our Current Water System but also build a system that will benefit future generations of New Orleanians. The buck has to stop somewhere, and the City of New Orleans is up for the challenge.”