DWP board prez stepping down *

Lee Kanon Alpert said today he will step down from the Department of Water and Power commission at the end of the year. The Times says he fought back tears as he said the post takes too much time away from his law practice and family. Alpert most recently has been president of the board. His leaving is "the latest example of churn in an agency that has experienced frequent leadership turnover since the mayor has been in office," the LAT says. Mayor Villaraigosa will be free to appoint a replacement.

Also: Council President Eric Garcetti is tweeting today about being in Washington with Senator John Kerry.

* News update: Later today Villaraigosa vetoed a City Council move to have voters decide in March whether to let the council fire a DWP general manager.

Last City Hall note: Council member Janice Hahn named Doane Liu, a former aide to Mayor Jim Hahn and Rep. Jane Harman, as her chief of staff.