Meeting Summary
What Happened
Council President Harris-Dawson presided over the March 25, 2026 meeting with all members present except Council Member Blumenfield, who was absent.
The council unanimously approved several routine items including Business Improvement District annual planning reports for fiscal year 2026, LADWP easement agreements, and various REAP property removals. Items 4 through 43 were approved en masse without discussion, covering transportation committee reports on parking restrictions, civil rights committee reports on ADA compliance for major events, and multiple BID renewals across districts.
Several contested items required separate consideration:
Item 1 (CF 25-0677) - Nuisance Abatement Property: Council Member Nazarian called for comments on the nuisance abatement at 7779 Varna Avenue in North Hollywood. Two residents testified about dangerous conditions including drug activity, weapons, and fire hazards at the vacant lot. Nazarian noted 18 service calls and 10 LAPD-initiated calls since 2023, emphasizing the community's frustration with the decade-long problem. The item passed unanimously 14-0.
Items 6 & 7 (CF 26-0008-S4 & S5) - Oversize Vehicle Parking: Council Member Soto-Martinez requested separate votes on transportation committee reports establishing oversize vehicle parking restrictions in Council Districts 3 and 12. The items initially passed 13-1, but Council Members Hernandez and Harris-Dawson later changed their votes to "no," though this did not affect the outcome.
Item 9 (CF 26-0069) - Small Business ICE Impact Assistance: Council Member Rodriguez presented this civil rights committee report providing targeted financial assistance to small businesses negatively impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. Rodriguez cited $3.7 million in losses over three months, with 82% of businesses reporting negative impacts and half losing anticipated revenue. Council Member Jurado supported the motion, noting CD14's microenterprise grants of up to $3,000 for affected businesses. The item passed unanimously.
Item 44 (CF 25-1004) - Immigration Enforcement Employment Ban: Council Member Rodriguez moved the revised ordinance with urgency clause prohibiting city employees from engaging in civil immigration enforcement as outside employment. Rodriguez emphasized this ensures public trust in city services and prevents employees from having "two masters." The ordinance passed unanimously 14-0, with the urgency clause also approved unanimously.
Item 19 (CF 26-0173) - Off-Site Signage Penalties: Council Member Yaroslavsky presented comprehensive amendments to strengthen enforcement against illegal off-site signage. She explained that advertising technology has dramatically increased revenue potential - some vacant lots generate $50,000-$100,000 monthly from temporary construction signs, making violations profitable despite current penalties. The motion increases fines to match New York City levels, tightens construction wall sign program requirements, and explores revenue-sharing for legal advertising. After initial passage, Yaroslavsky moved to reconsider and strike recommendation five to expedite implementation. The amended version passed unanimously.
Item 46 (CF 25-0600-S133) - Mid-Year Financial Status Report: City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo presented the third Financial Status Report, projecting a $263 million budget gap for fiscal year 2026-27 before considering any new proposals. This includes the original $91 million deficit plus $25 million for additional LAPD hiring, $30 million for Palisades fire recovery fee waivers, and $117 million in reduced revenue estimates. Szabo emphasized four required actions: no service restorations or expansions, building substantial reserves toward the 10% policy target, implementing ongoing rather than one-time budget solutions, and strict adherence to approved expenditures. He warned that Moody's downgraded the city's rating from A2 to A3 while Fitch maintained negative outlook, citing reserve fund draws and increased personnel costs. Council Member Nazarian successfully bifurcated $2.2 million for city attorney outside counsel, which passed 8-5, while the remainder passed 10-3.
Public comment focused heavily on the Scattergood power plant modernization project, with multiple speakers from environmental organizations urging the council to reagendize their appeal of the Environmental Impact Report. Speakers argued the $1 billion hydrogen project lacks adequate environmental review and would commit the city to fossil fuels. Additional speakers included Flying Food Group workers commemorating the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire anniversary and advocating for workplace safety protections.
Contested Votes
Tallies and member votes are the official record (LA City Clerk CVVS). Descriptions are drawn from the meeting transcript.
Item (6) — CF 26-0008-S4 (Adopted): Transportation committee reports establishing parking restrictions in CD3 and CD12.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (13) | Adrin Nazarian, Curren D. Price, Eunisses Hernandez, Heather Hutt, Imelda Padilla, John Lee, Katy Yaroslavsky, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Monica Rodriguez, Nithya Raman, Tim Mcosker, Traci Park, Ysabel Jurado |
| No (1) | Hugo Soto-Martinez |
| Absent (1) | Bob Blumenfield |
Item (46) — CF 25-0600-S133 (Adopted): Separate vote on $2.2 million appropriation for city attorney outside counsel. LA Left Tracker Key Vote
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (8) | Curren D. Price, Heather Hutt, Imelda Padilla, John Lee, Katy Yaroslavsky, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Tim Mcosker, Traci Park |
| No (5) | Adrin Nazarian, Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Nithya Raman, Ysabel Jurado |
| Absent (2) | Bob Blumenfield, Monica Rodriguez |
Item (46) — CF 25-0600-S133 (Adopted): Third Financial Status Report for FY 2025-26 with technical amendments.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (10) | Adrin Nazarian, Curren D. Price, Heather Hutt, Imelda Padilla, John Lee, Katy Yaroslavsky, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Nithya Raman, Tim Mcosker, Traci Park |
| No (3) | Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado |
| Absent (2) | Bob Blumenfield, Monica Rodriguez |
CF 25-0677: Nuisance Abatement - 7779 Varna Avenue Ordering Board of Public Works to proceed with nuisance abatement for chronic problem property in North Hollywood.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (14) | Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Nazarian, Blumenfield (absent), Raman, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Hutt, Park, Lee, Soto-Martinez, Jurado, McOsker |
| No (0) | None |
| Absent (1) | Blumenfield |
CF 26-0069: Small Business ICE Impact Assistance Providing targeted financial support to businesses negatively impacted by immigration enforcement.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (14) | Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Nazarian, Raman, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Hutt, Park, Lee, Soto-Martinez, Jurado, McOsker |
| No (0) | None |
| Absent (1) | Blumenfield |
CF 25-1004: Immigration Enforcement Employment Ban Ordinance prohibiting city employees from engaging in civil immigration enforcement as outside employment.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (14) | Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Nazarian, Raman, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Hutt, Park, Lee, Soto-Martinez, Jurado, McOsker |
| No (0) | None |
| Absent (1) | Blumenfield |
CF 26-0173: Off-Site Signage Penalties (Initial Vote) Strengthening enforcement against illegal off-site signage and increasing penalties.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (14) | Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Nazarian, Raman, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Hutt, Park, Lee, Soto-Martinez, Jurado, McOsker |
| No (0) | None |
| Absent (1) | Blumenfield |
CF 26-0173: Off-Site Signage Penalties (Reconsideration) Motion to reconsider and amend by striking recommendation five.
| Vote | Members |
|---|---|
| Yes (14) | Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Nazarian, Raman, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Hutt, Park, Lee, Soto-Martinez, Jurado, McOsker |
| No (0) | None |
| Absent (1) | Blumenfield |