Facing deadlines to open the long-stalled children's museum in the north San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles officials are turning to utility ratepayers and sanitation customers to put up nearly $8 million to help open the project.

On Friday, the City Council will consider allocating $3.9 million from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and $3.6 million from the Bureau of Sanitation to help meet a year-end fundraising deadline.

In return, the Discovery Science Center Los Angeles will dedicate a third of its exhibit space to the LADWP. The exhibit, which will last for up to 30 years, will focus on energy efficiency and water conservation, and the utility's efforts to do both.

The DWP logo will be displayed on signs on the exhibit and on promotional materials.

DWP watchdogs have questioned why city leaders are spending ratepayer dollars to get a science center - formerly known as the Children's Museum of Los Angeles - up and running.

Read more at Whittier Daily News