City Council Meeting

June 20, 2025
Meeting ID: 16923

Meeting Summary

What Happened

The council met on June 20, 2025, with 10-11 members present. The council heard a presentation from actor and Chicano-art collector Cheech Marin, introduced by Council Member Hugo Soto-Martinez, marking the third anniversary of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture at the Riverside Art Museum, which Marin founded and which has drawn more than 310,000 visitors; Chicana artist Margaret Garcia and museum executive director Drew Oberjuerge also spoke about the center's role in preserving Mexican-American cultural history amid what Soto-Martinez called ongoing attacks on Latino and immigrant communities.

Six routine committee reports passed without debate, including the Annual Community and Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory report (Item 1, CF 22-1402), LAPD and Harbor Department zero-waste compliance reports (Items 2-3), a Metro crime statistics report (Item 4), and Port of Los Angeles authorization to apply for a Safe Streets and Roads for All federal grant (Item 6, CF 25-0634). Item 7, an ordinance establishing a Right to Counsel Program guaranteeing legal representation in eviction proceedings, was continued to June 24, 2025.

Contested Votes

The council adopted, 9-1-5, as amended by Council Member Katy Yaroslavsky to cap the authorization at $250,000, a City Attorney request for preemptive authorization to retain and pay outside counsel for litigation, investigations, and other legal services arising from actions by the federal government (Item 8, CF 25-0662). Council Member Adrin Nazarian, who called the item for a separate vote, cast the lone no vote without offering floor comments explaining his opposition. Public commenters argued the authorization was really aimed at anticipated liability from LAPD's handling of protests against federal immigration enforcement rather than from the federal government's own actions.

Public Comment

Public comment was dominated by accounts of alleged LAPD use of force against protesters and downtown residents during the city's ICE-related curfew period, including one speaker who said she was shot with rubber bullets twice while acting as a legal observer and had filed a lawsuit against the city; several speakers argued that settlement costs from protest-related lawsuits, estimated by one commenter at up to $100 million, should come from LAPD's budget or pensions rather than general city funds. Other speakers described fear and disruption in immigrant communities tied to ICE enforcement, including unmarked vehicles and warrantless arrests reported in the northeast San Fernando Valley, and urged the council to strengthen enforcement of the city's sanctuary policies. A speaker also raised concerns about a vacancy on the Charter Reform Commission, alleging Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson delayed processing a commissioner's resignation for months. Several speakers were warned for disruptive conduct.

Contested Votes

Tallies and member votes are the official record (LA City Clerk CVVS). Descriptions are drawn from the meeting transcript.

Item 8 — CF 25-0662 (Adopted): Preemptive authorization for the City Attorney to retain and pay outside counsel for litigation, investigations, and other legal services arising from actions by the federal government, capped at $250,000.

VoteMembers
Yes (9)Eunisses Hernandez, Heather Hutt, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Imelda Padilla, John Lee, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Monica Rodriguez, Traci Park, Ysabel Jurado
No (1)Adrin Nazarian
Absent (5)Bob Blumenfield, Curren D. Price, Katy Yaroslavsky, Nithya Raman, Tim Mcosker
Completed hearings
(1)
22-1402

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the Annual Community and Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.

Official recommendation
NOTE and FILE the Bureau of Sanitation report dated March 24, 2025, attached to the Council file, relative to the Annual Community and Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory report. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25 Communication from the Bureau of Sanitation_6-3-25 Report from Bureau of Sanitation dated 3-24-25 Council Action dated 2-28-25 Speaker Card(s)_02-18-2025 Joint report from Energy and Environment Committee and Budget and Finance Committee_02-04-25 Communication from the Energy and Environment Committee Clerk_02-04-25 Speaker Card(s)_11-12-2024 Communication(s) from Public_11-19-2024 Communication from City Administrative Officer_09-27-2024 Speaker Card(s)_09-27-2024 Report from City Administrative Officer dated 8-07-24 Council Action dated 5-10-24 Speaker Card(s)_05-08-2024 Speaker Card(s)_04-26-2024 Report from Energy and Environment Committee_4-26-24 Community Impact Statement submitted by Palms Neighborhood Council_03-02-2023 Council Action dated 2-27-23 Speaker Card(s)_02-22-2023 Report from Bureau of Sanitation dated 2-14-24 Communication(s) from Public_02-13-2023 Report from Energy and Environment Committee_2-10-23 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council_02-09-2023 Community Impact Statement submitted Del Rey Neighborhood Council_12-21-2022 Motion (Krekorian - O'Farrell) dated 11-09-22
Documents (25)
Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25
Communication from the Bureau of Sanitation_6-3-25
Report from Bureau of Sanitation dated 3-24-25
Council Action dated 2-28-25
Speaker Card(s)_02-18-2025
Joint report from Energy and Environment Committee and Budget and Finance Committee_02-04-25
Communication from the Energy and Environment Committee Clerk_02-04-25
Speaker Card(s)_11-12-2024
Communication(s) from Public_11-19-2024
Communication from City Administrative Officer_09-27-2024
Speaker Card(s)_09-27-2024
Report from City Administrative Officer dated 8-07-24
Council Action dated 5-10-24
Speaker Card(s)_05-08-2024
Speaker Card(s)_04-26-2024
Report from Energy and Environment Committee_4-26-24
Community Impact Statement submitted by Palms Neighborhood Council_03-02-2023
Council Action dated 2-27-23
Speaker Card(s)_02-22-2023
Report from Bureau of Sanitation dated 2-14-24
Communication(s) from Public_02-13-2023
Report from Energy and Environment Committee_2-10-23
Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council_02-09-2023
Community Impact Statement submitted Del Rey Neighborhood Council_12-21-2022
Motion (Krekorian - O'Farrell) dated 11-09-22
(2)
21-1208-S4

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the annual progress reports from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) regarding compliance with the zero-waste plan.

Official recommendation
NOTE and FILE the LAPD reports dated February 7, 2024 and February 12, 2025, attached to the Council file, relative to compliance with the zero-waste plan. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25 Report from Los Angeles Police Department dated 2-12-25 Speaker Card(s)_03-08-2024 Report from Los Angeles Police Department dated 2-07-24
Documents (4)
Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25
Report from Los Angeles Police Department dated 2-12-25
Speaker Card(s)_03-08-2024
Report from Los Angeles Police Department dated 2-07-24
(3)
21-1208-S6 CD 15

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the annual progress reports from the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Harbor) regarding compliance with the zero-waste plan.

Official recommendation
NOTE and FILE the Harbor reports dated April 22, 2024 and April 29, 2025, attached to the Council file, relative to compliance with the zero-waste plan. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25 Communication(s) from Public_05-19-2025 Report from Harbor Department dated 4-29-25 Report from Harbor Department dated 4-22-24
Documents (4)
Report from Energy and Environment Committee_06-03-25
Communication(s) from Public_05-19-2025
Report from Harbor Department dated 4-29-25
Report from Harbor Department dated 4-22-24
(4)
16-0358-S2

PUBLIC SAFETY and TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES’ REPORT relative to crime statistics on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Official recommendation
NOTE and FILE the Board of Police Commissioners report dated October 11, 2024, attached to the Council file, relative to crime statistics on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable Community Impact Statement: None submitted Public Safety and Transportation Committees Reports 05-06-25 Transportation Committee Transmittal Letter 4-23-25 Speaker Card(s)_04-23-2025 Speaker Card(s)_04-23-2025 Speaker Card(s)_04-02-2025 Report from Public Safety Committee 04-02-25 Report from Board of Police Commissioners dated 10-11-24 Council Action dated 5-14-24 Amending Motion (Rodriguez - Park) dated 05-10-24 Speaker Card(s)_05-10-2024 Motion (Rodriguez - Padilla, et al.) dated 4-26-24
Documents (11)
Public Safety and Transportation Committees Reports 05-06-25
Transportation Committee Transmittal Letter 4-23-25
Speaker Card(s)_04-23-2025
Speaker Card(s)_04-23-2025
Speaker Card(s)_04-02-2025
Report from Public Safety Committee 04-02-25
Report from Board of Police Commissioners dated 10-11-24
Council Action dated 5-14-24
Amending Motion (Rodriguez - Park) dated 05-10-24
Speaker Card(s)_05-10-2024
Motion (Rodriguez - Padilla, et al.) dated 4-26-24
(5)

VERBAL REPORT ONLY – NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN

(7)
18-0610-S3

EXEMPTION, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE REPORT and ORDINANCE FIRST CONSIDERATION relative to adding Article 6 to Chapter XVI of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) to establish a Right to Counsel Program.

Official recommendation
FIND, based on the whole of the administrative record, that the adoption of the accompanying Version A Ordinance dated May 30, 2025, attached to the Council file, is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) through Section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) of the State CEQA Guidelines and Article II, Section 1 of the City CEQA Guidelines, and that none of the exceptions under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply; and, DIRECT the Los Angeles Housing Department to file Notices of Exemption with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office following the adoption of said Ordinance. PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying VERSION A ORDINANCE, dated May 30, 2025, relative to adding Article 6 to Chapter XVI of the LAMC to establish a Right to Counsel Program. NOT PRESENT and ORDER FILED the following draft ordinances, attached to the Council file: Version B Draft Ordinance dated May 30, 2025 Revised Draft Ordinance dated May 12, 2025 Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the City Attorney. Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report. Community Impact Statement: None submitted Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee - 6-11-25 Report from City Attorney dated 5-30-25 Attachment to Report dated 5-30-25 - Version A Draft Ordinance Attachment to Report dated 5-30-25 - Version B Draft Ordinance Report from City Attorney dated 5-12-25 Attachment to Report date 5-12-25 - Revised Draft Ordinance Amending Motion (Lee - Soto-Martinez) dated 4-1-25 Council Action dated 4-03-25 Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee - 3-19-25 Report from City Attorney dated 3-13-25 Attachment to Report dated 3-13-25 - Revised Draft Ordinance Council Action dated 12-16-24 Communication(s) from Public_12-10-2024 Speaker Card(s)_12-10-2024 Communication(s) from Public_12-09-2024 Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee_11-20-24 Speaker Card(s)_11-20-2024 Community Impact Statement submitted by Mid City West Neighborhood Council_11-20-2024 Communication(s) from Public_11-19-2024 Revised Report from City Attorney dated 10-31-24 Attachment to Report dated 10-31-24 - Revised Draft Ordinance Communication(s) from Public_09-18-2024 Council Action dated 9-13-24 Amending Motion 1B (Raman - Lee - Soto-Martinez) dated 9-11-24 Communication(s) from Public_09-11-2024 Speaker Card(s)_09-11-2024 Communication(s) from Public_09-10-2024 Communication(s) from Public_08-14-2024 Communication(s) from Public_08-14-2024 Communication(s) from Public_08-09-2024 Communication(s) from Public_08-09-2024 Speaker Card(s)_08-07-2024 Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee_08-07-24 Communication from Councilmember Nithya Raman_8-7-24 Communication(s) from Public_08-07-2024 Communication(s) from Public_08-05-2024 Communication(s) from Public_05-21-2024 Report from City Attorney dated 4-19-24 Attachment to Report dated 4-19-24 - Draft Ordinance Council Action - Mayor Concurrence dated 12212023 Communication(s) from Public_12-13-2023 Amending Motion 45A (Raman - Hernandez) dated 12-12-23 Transmittal Letter 11-30-23 Speaker Card(s)_11-29-2023 Housing & Homelessness Committee Corrected Report 11-29-23 Communication(s) from Public_11-29-2023 Communication(s) from Public_11-28-2023 Report from City Administrative Officer dated 11-27-23 Report from Housing Department dated 10-06-23.pdf Community Impact Statement submitted by Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council_04-13-2023 Communication(s) from Public_03-24-2023 Council Action dated 3-23-23 Speaker Card(s)_03-22-2023 Communication(s) from Public_03-22-2023 Communication(s) from Public_03-22-2023 Communication(s) from Public_03-21-2023 Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2023 Community Impact Statement submitted by Mid City WEST Neighborhood Council_03-19-2023 Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee 3-1-23 Communication(s) from Public_03-01-2023 Communication(s) from Public_02-28-2023 Communication(s) from Public_02-28-2023 Communication(s) from Public_02-27-2023 Communication(s) from Public_02-15-2023 Motion (Raman - et al. - Harris-Dawson) dated 2-14-23 Communication(s) from Public_03-18-2025 Communication(s) from Public_03-19-2025 Speaker Card(s)_03-19-2025 Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2025 Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2025 18-0610-S3_misc_4-1-25 Communication(s) from Public_03-28-2025 Communication(s) from Public_03-31-2025 Speaker Card(s)_04-01-2025 Communication(s) from Public_05-15-2025 Communication(s) from Public_06-10-2025 Communication(s) from Public_06-11-2025 Speaker Card(s)_06-11-2025 Communication(s) from Public_06-13-2025
Documents (79)
Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee - 6-11-25
Report from City Attorney dated 5-30-25
Attachment to Report dated 5-30-25 - Version A Draft Ordinance
Attachment to Report dated 5-30-25 - Version B Draft Ordinance
Report from City Attorney dated 5-12-25
Attachment to Report date 5-12-25 - Revised Draft Ordinance
Amending Motion (Lee - Soto-Martinez) dated 4-1-25
Council Action dated 4-03-25
Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee - 3-19-25
Report from City Attorney dated 3-13-25
Attachment to Report dated 3-13-25 - Revised Draft Ordinance
Council Action dated 12-16-24
Communication(s) from Public_12-10-2024
Speaker Card(s)_12-10-2024
Communication(s) from Public_12-09-2024
Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee_11-20-24
Speaker Card(s)_11-20-2024
Community Impact Statement submitted by Mid City West Neighborhood Council_11-20-2024
Communication(s) from Public_11-19-2024
Revised Report from City Attorney dated 10-31-24
Attachment to Report dated 10-31-24 - Revised Draft Ordinance
Communication(s) from Public_09-18-2024
Council Action dated 9-13-24
Amending Motion 1B (Raman - Lee - Soto-Martinez) dated 9-11-24
Communication(s) from Public_09-11-2024
Speaker Card(s)_09-11-2024
Communication(s) from Public_09-10-2024
Communication(s) from Public_08-14-2024
Communication(s) from Public_08-14-2024
Communication(s) from Public_08-09-2024
Communication(s) from Public_08-09-2024
Speaker Card(s)_08-07-2024
Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee_08-07-24
Communication from Councilmember Nithya Raman_8-7-24
Communication(s) from Public_08-07-2024
Communication(s) from Public_08-05-2024
Communication(s) from Public_05-21-2024
Report from City Attorney dated 4-19-24
Attachment to Report dated 4-19-24 - Draft Ordinance
Council Action - Mayor Concurrence dated 12212023
Communication(s) from Public_12-13-2023
Amending Motion 45A (Raman - Hernandez) dated 12-12-23
Transmittal Letter 11-30-23
Speaker Card(s)_11-29-2023
Housing & Homelessness Committee Corrected Report 11-29-23
Communication(s) from Public_11-29-2023
Communication(s) from Public_11-28-2023
Report from City Administrative Officer dated 11-27-23
Report from Housing Department dated 10-06-23.pdf
Community Impact Statement submitted by Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council_04-13-2023
Communication(s) from Public_03-24-2023
Council Action dated 3-23-23
Speaker Card(s)_03-22-2023
Communication(s) from Public_03-22-2023
Communication(s) from Public_03-22-2023
Communication(s) from Public_03-21-2023
Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2023
Community Impact Statement submitted by Mid City WEST Neighborhood Council_03-19-2023
Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee 3-1-23
Communication(s) from Public_03-01-2023
Communication(s) from Public_02-28-2023
Communication(s) from Public_02-28-2023
Communication(s) from Public_02-27-2023
Communication(s) from Public_02-15-2023
Motion (Raman - et al. - Harris-Dawson) dated 2-14-23
Communication(s) from Public_03-18-2025
Communication(s) from Public_03-19-2025
Speaker Card(s)_03-19-2025
Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2025
Communication(s) from Public_03-20-2025
18-0610-S3_misc_4-1-25
Communication(s) from Public_03-28-2025
Communication(s) from Public_03-31-2025
Speaker Card(s)_04-01-2025
Communication(s) from Public_05-15-2025
Communication(s) from Public_06-10-2025
Communication(s) from Public_06-11-2025
Speaker Card(s)_06-11-2025
Communication(s) from Public_06-13-2025
No hearings held (requires 10 votes)
(8)
25-0662

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY relative to authorization and appropriation for outside counsel.

Official recommendation
AUTHORIZE the City Attorney to retain and appropriate funding for outside counsel as appropriate to assist in any litigation, investigations, or other activities calling for legal services based on actions by the federal government arising between July 2, 2025 and July 30, 2025, when the City Council is on recess. INSTRUCT the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to identify funding for any resulting contract entered into pursuant Recommendation No. 1, above, and transfer the funding to Fund No. 100/12, Account No. 009301 – Outside Counsel. AUTHORIZE the City Attorney, or designee, to prepare Controller instructions for any necessary technical adjustments for any resulting contract and transfer of funds as authorized in these recommendations, and authorize the Controller to implement the instructions. (The Council may recess to Closed Session pursuant to California Government 54956.9(d)(2), (d)(4) [one potential case] and (e)(2) [one potential case]) Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the City Attorney. Neither the CAO nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report. Community Impact Statement: None submitted Report from City Attorney dated 6-16-25
Documents (1)
Report from City Attorney dated 6-16-25
Completed hearings
(9)
25-0618

CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF ARTS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the Zoo Department Agreements with SSA Group, LLC and The Superlative Group, Inc. to operate and manage the Los Angeles Zoo Membership, Special Events, Publications, and Sponsorship Programs.

Official recommendation
APPROVE an Agreement between the City of Los Angeles, by and through the Zoo Department, and SSA Group, LLC for the operation and management of the Los Angeles Zoo Membership Program, consistent with the terms included in Attachment 1 of the Zoo Department report dated May 30, 2025, attached to the Council file, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form. APPROVE an Agreement between the City of Los Angeles, by and through the Zoo Department, and SSA Group, LLC for the operation and management of the Los Angeles Zoo Special Events Program, consistent with the terms included in Attachment 2 of said Zoo Department report, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form. APPROVE an Agreement between the City of Los Angeles, by and through the Zoo Department, and SSA Group, LLC for the operation and management of the Los Angeles Zoo Publications Program, consistent with the terms included in Attachment 3 of said Zoo Department report, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form. APPROVE an Agreement between the City of Los Angeles, by and through the Zoo Department, and The Superlative Group, Inc for the operation and management of the Los Angeles Zoo Sponsorship Program, consistent with the terms included in Attachment 4 of said Zoo Departmet report, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form. AUTHORIZE the Zoo Department to deposit revenue generated from the Membership, Special Events, and Sponsorship Programs into the Zoo Enterprise Trust Fund (Fund No. 40E). AUTHORIZE the Zoo Department to prepare Controller’s Instructions for any technical adjustments consistent with the Mayor and Council action on this matter, subject to the approval of the City Administrative Officer; and, authorize and instruct the Controller to implement the instructions. INSTRUCT the Zoo Department to report to the Council with a retroactive comparison to previous vendor after one year. Fiscal Impact Statement: The Zoo Department reports that approved funding in the amount of $350,000 is available in the Zoo Department’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget, Fund No. 100/87, Account No. 003040 – Contractual Services, to fund services for the operations and management of the Publications Program by SSA Group, LLC through the end of the Fiscal Year. There is no additional impact to the General Fund. The Membership, Special Events and Sponsorship Programs are funded by revenue generated by the respective programs. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. Community Impact Statement: None submitted TIME LIMIT FILE - AUGUST 4, 2025 (LAST DAY FOR COUNCIL ACTION - AUGUST 1, 2025) Speaker Card(s)_06-10-2025 Report from Zoo Department dated 5-30-25
Documents (2)
Speaker Card(s)_06-10-2025
Report from Zoo Department dated 5-30-25