Summary

City Council approves wildfire business tax relief

Los AngelesJan 24, 20252 min read

At a glance

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The Los Angeles City Council directed the City Attorney and Office of Finance to prepare an urgency ordinance to provide relief from the 2025 gross receipts tax for businesses impacted by wildfires or fires for 60 or more consecutive days; the motion and findings were adopted unanimously by the members present (14 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Absent).

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City Council

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Budget & TaxCommerce

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What this means

Council asked city lawyers and finance staff to draft an emergency law that would reduce or waive the city's gross receipts tax for 2025 for local businesses that lost revenue or were forced to close for at least 60 straight days due to wildfires or fires. Gross receipts tax is a tax on a business's total revenue. The vote sent the request to staff to write the ordinance; the actual tax relief would take effect only if that ordinance is later approved.

Key decisions

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Directed the City Attorney, with assistance from the Office of Finance, to prepare and present an urgency ordinance providing relief from payment of the 2025 gross receipts tax for businesses impacted 60 or more consecutive days by wildfires or fires (Motion 25-0006-S55).
Adopted findings forthwith related to the motion.
Motion and findings adopted by Council vote: 14 Ayes, 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Soto-Martinez).
Council adjourned following the vote.

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Meeting information

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City Council Meeting

Jan 24, 2025, 6:00 PMJOHN FERRARO COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 340, CITY HALL, 200 NORTH SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012completed

Agenda

23-0900-S40 CD 14 CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF HEAR PROTESTS against the proposed improvement and maintenance of the Onteora and Kerwin Places Street Lighting District, in accordance with Sections 6.95-6.127 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code and Proposition 218. (Pursuant to Council adoption of Ordinance of Intention on November 8, 2023. The tabulation of ballots shall take place in Space 300 of 555 Ramirez Street on January 28, 2025 at 10 a.m. and will be publicly live-streamed. To access the live stream, join Zoom Meeting ID: 161 776 8120, Passcode: prop218. Public announcement of the tabulation of ballots and consideration of the Final Ordinance will take place at Council on February 25, 2025.) (Continued from Council meeting of October 25, 2024)
23-0900-S40
Decision: Items Noticed for Public Hearing
23-1443-S3 CD 1 CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (HERNANDEZ - BLUMENFIELD) relative to transferring and appropriating $4,124,400 from the Special Fund Account entitled “Encampment Resolution Fund Grant - Arroyo Seco” to the Los Angeles Housing Department; and executing a new contract with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide outreach and housing services to those experiencing homelessness for the Encampment Resolution Grant Project in Council District One; and related matters. (Housing and Homelessness Committee report to be submitted in Council. If public hearing is not held in Committee, an opportunity for public comment will be provided.) (Please visit www.lacouncilfile.com for background documents.) Community Impact Statement: None submitted
23-1443-S3
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
25-0006-S31 CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (PARK - HUTT) relative to issues related to the response and recovery for the local fire emergency, including but not limited to a temporary waiver of grant-specific requirements within the Los Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC), and prohibition of all leaf blowers in burn areas. Recommendations for Council action: REQUEST the City Attorney to prepare and present an ordinance in 30 days that amends LAAC Section 14.6(a) to authorize departments to apply for and accept grants related to a Federal and State declarations of emergency that aid in response and recovery. REQUEST the City Attorney to prepare and present an ordinance in 30 days that amends LAAC Section 14.6(b), allowing departments to apply for and receive grants related to the Palisades, Sunset, Hurst and Kenneth wildfire emergency response and recovery. Nothing in this request shall apply to Council authority approving grants requiring a matching fund. INSTRUCT the departments that utilize the aforementioned authorization to report to Council on a monthly basis regarding grants that have been applied for and received. REQUEST the City Attorney to prepare and present an ordinance in 15 days amending Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 112.04 to prohibit the use of all leaf blowers in the Palisades, Sunset, Hurst and Kenneth Fire burn areas to prevent the spread of toxins and other environmental hazards. INSTRUCT that the Chief Legislative Analyst, in coordination with the City Attorney and the Emergency Management Department, to report in 30 days on other changes to the LAAC and LAAC that may be required to expedite the response and recovery process, in addition to protecting health and safety. Community Impact Statement: None submitted (Public Safety Committee waived consideration of the above matter.)
25-0006-S31
Decision: Continuation Agenda: Items for which Public Hearings Have Not Been Held - (10 Votes Required for Consideration)