CONTROLLERS AUDIT SHOWS AIRPORT AUTHORITY'S ACTIVITIES IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CITY RULES AND REGULATIONS
Report Offers Valuable Guidance for Changes at City-Owned Airports

(Los Angeles, California -- December 15, 2003) Demonstrating a commitment to continually improving airport operations, today Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Interim Executive Director Kim Day thanked City Controller Laura Chick for her required audit of the department.

“The findings and recommendations outlined in the report need to be and will be studied,” Day said. “I am confident that the audit findings will offer valuable guidance for maintaining appropriate managerial accountability. As the aviation authority for the nation's second largest city, and hub of one of the world's most populous metropolitan areas, one reoccurring theme that is loud and clear from the audit is that LAWA is meeting the challenge of providing an airport system to serve a major portion of the Southern California market at no cost to the taxpayer.”

As the audit makes clear, LAWA’s activities are in full compliance with city rules and regulations. “This audit will provide us with further guidance for reforms that are already underway,” Day said. “Given the opportunity, these reforms will help make airport operations as efficient as possible while at the same time attracting more travelers and business to Los Angeles. There is always room for improvement, of course, and LAWA will look to this audit for insight as part of our commitment to continuous improvement. Clearly, ever-changing conditions require that the airport constantly reviews operations and finds new ways to improve services.”

A preliminary review of the audit shows that while we agree with most recommendations, LAWA believes some are without merit and paint a misleading picture of how contracting business is done at LAWA. As with most audits, there are bound to be some areas requiring additional study before any changes are made – and this audit is no exception. Working under the guidance of the City Attorney, LAWA enjoys an excellent reputation for its contracting practices and the department is proud that it is in accordance with the highest legal and ethical contracting practices.

The Controller’s report is being distributed to all Commissioners and senior airport staff today for their review.

More information on the LAWA contracting process is available at LAWA’s website: http://www.lawa.org/small_business/lawa_conProcess.html