Summary

Los Angeles City Council summary

Los AngelesMar 21, 20253 min read

At a glance

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Council ratified the Mayor’s updated local emergency for January windstorms and wildfires, suspended competitive bidding for emergency purchases with required biweekly reporting, and noted/filed multiple finance and homelessness reports; several councilmember motions were submitted for posting and referral on assorted topics.

Committees mentioned

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City Council

Topics discussed

TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationCommerceHousingUtilities

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What this means

The City Council approved continuing the city’s declared local emergency for recent windstorms and wildfires so departments can act quickly and seek outside assistance. The Council also accepted (filed for the record) a set of finance reports and annual investment policies and received the homelessness emergency quarterly report; those items were informational and require no further immediate action. Other member motions were placed on the record for future consideration on issues such as school facility financing hearings, local parking restrictions, park funding, and reviews of city departments.

Key decisions

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Adopted a resolution ratifying the Mayor’s updated Declaration of Local Emergency (January 7 and January 13, 2025) for windstorm and extreme fire weather/wildfires, continuing the state of local emergency.
Authorized suspension of competitive bidding rules solely for purchases/contracts needed to respond to the declared emergency and directed departments to report every two weeks to the City Council on purchases/contracts made under that authority.
Requested enforcement efforts against price gouging, fraud, and theft by deceit related to the emergency (per the resolution).
NOTE and FILEd Office of Finance investment reports covering August–December 2024 and January 2025, and NOTE and FILEd the 2023 and 2024 Annual Statements of Investment Policy.
NOTE and FILEd City Administrative Officer annual reports for Community Facilities District No. 11 (Ponte Vista) and No. 8 (Legends at Cascades) Special Tax Bonds (FY 2023‑24).
NOTE and FILEd the City Administrative Officer’s Homelessness Emergency Declaration 2024‑25 Third Quarterly Report.
Multiple councilmember motions were submitted/posted for referral (see attached motions) on topics including: a TEFRA hearing request for bonds to finance educational facilities, a fund transfer for the Reseda Skate Facility, parking restrictions/No Stopping signage on Inglewood Boulevard, a review of certain proprietary departments (LADWP/POLA/LAWA), establishing an Advisory Group on City finances, adjustments to Charter Reform Commission appointment timing, legislative support resolutions, and proposed rules for prohibiting certain offensive epithets in public comment.

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Meeting information

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City Council Meeting

Mar 21, 2025, 5:00 PMJOHN FERRARO COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 340, CITY HALL, 200 NORTH SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012completed

Agenda

24-0458 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the August, September, October, November, December 2024, and January 2025 Investment Reports. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the Office of Finance reports dated October 3, 2024, October 24, 2024, November 27, 2024, January 3, 2025, and January 28, 2025, attached to Council file No. 24-0458, relative to the August, September, October, November, and December 2024 Investment Reports. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted
24-0458
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
22-0016-S6 CD 15 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the annual report for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community Facilities District No. 11 (Ponte Vista) Special Tax Bond, Series 2021. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the City Administrative Officer report dated February 6, 2025, attached to Council file No. 22-0016-S6, relative to the Senate Bill 165 annual report for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community Facilities District No. 11 (Ponte Vista) Special Tax Bond, Series 2021, inasmuch as it is for informational purposes only and no further action is necessary. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted
22-0016-S6
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
22-0691-S4 CD 7 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the annual report for Fiscal Year 2023-24 for Community Facilities District No. 8 (Legends at Cascades) Special Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2022. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the City Administrative Officer report dated February 6, 2025, attached to Council file No. 22-0691-S4, relative to the Senate Bill 165 annual report for Fiscal Year 2023-24 for Community Facilities District No. 8 (Legends at Cascades) Special Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2022, inasmuch as it is for informational purposes only and no further action is necessary. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable
22-0691-S4
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
23-0357 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the 2023 Annual Statement of Investment Policy. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the Office of Finance report dated March 21, 2023, attached to the Council file, relative to the 2023 Annual Statement of Investment Policy. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted
23-0357
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
24-1416 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the 2024 Annual Statement of Investment Policy. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the Office of Finance report dated November 13, 2024, attached to the Council file, relative to the 2024 Annual Statement of Investment Policy. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted
24-1416
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
23-0652-S8 HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the Homelessness Emergency Declaration 2024-25 Third Quarterly Report. Recommendation for Council action: NOTE and FILE the City Administrative Officer report dated February 21, 2025, attached to Council file No. 21-1216, relative to the Homelessness Emergency Declaration 2024-25 Third Quarterly Report. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted
23-0652-S8
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Been Held
25-0030 RESOLUTION (HARRIS-DAWSON - BLUMENFIELD) relative to the Declaration of Local Emergency by the Mayor dated January 7, 2025, and Updated Declaration of Local Emergency by the Mayor dated January 13, 2025, due to the windstorm and extreme fire weather system and devastating wildfires in the City of Los Angeles (City), pursuant to Los Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC) Section 8.27. Recommendation for Council action: ADOPT the accompanying RESOLUTION, dated January 14, 2025, to: Resolve that a local emergency exists resulting from ongoing windstorm and extreme fire weather system and the devastating wildfires in the City within the meaning of LAAC Section 8.21, et seq., as set forth in the Mayor’s January 13, 2025 Updated Declaration of Local Emergency, which incorporated the declaration of emergency dated January 7, 2025, which the City Council hereby ratifies. Resolve that because the local emergency, which began on January 7, 2025, continues to exist, there is a need to continue the state of local emergency, which the City Council hereby ratifies. Instruct and request all appropriate City departments (including proprietary departments), agencies, and personnel, in accordance with LAAC Code Section 8.21 et seq., to continue to perform all duties and responsibilities to represent the City in this matter to respond to and abate the emergency and prevent further harm to the life, health, property, and safety, and receive, process; and, coordinate all inquiries and requirements necessary to obtain whatever State and Federal assistance that may become available to the City and/or to the citizens of the City who may be affected by the emergency. Instruct the General Manager, Emergency Management Department, to advise the Mayor and City Council on the need to extend the state of local emergency, as appropriate. Resolve that, to the extent the public interest and necessity demand the immediate expenditure of public funds to safeguard life, health, or property in response to the local emergency and to support the emergency operations of the City and its departments (including its proprietary departments), agencies, and personnel (including mutual aid resources) in responding to the declared local emergency, the competitive bidding requirements enumerated in City Charter Section 371, and further codified in the LAAC, including LAAC Section 10.15 be suspended until termination of the state of emergency and solely with respect to purchases and contracts needed to respond to the declared state of emergency. Direct and request City departments and agencies making purchases pursuant to the authority granted in paragraph five (5), above, to report every two weeks to the City Council regarding the purchases and contracts made during the prior two week period on the reasons justifying why such purchase or contract was necessary to respond to the emergency, including why the emergency did not permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids or proposals, and why competitive proposals or bidding was not reasonably practicable or compatible with the City’s interests. Request all City departments and agencies who have the authority to investigate and/or enforce any/all forms of price gouging, fraud, and theft by deceit, as described in the California Penal Code, to do so to the fullest extent permissible under federal, state, and local law. Instruct the City Clerk, unless and until Council directs otherwise or discontinues the state of emergency, to timely agendize this matter so that Council may consider whether to continue the state of emergency. Instruct the City Clerk to forward copies of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of California, the Director of the Office of Emergency Services of the State of California, the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
25-0030
Decision: Items for which Public Hearings Have Not Been Held - (10 Votes Required for Consideration)