[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6627388,"mediaKeyId","2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0","parentId",2728496,"title","Council approves Grand Canal restoration plan over wetlands objections","audioSeconds",1440,"startMs",3730000,"endMs",5170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0&start=3730&end=5170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0/thumbnail_3730000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627388/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-approves-Grand-Canal-restoration-plan-over-wetlands-objections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627388-3381e9f1c122e55406d2773afd92efa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815723&Signature=PGxVAu3AquJ3fx7aye0VNpt3shmZPwp9ht~76VC-2ooSdnUH0XayWqpZAt4EV3AMYYod7Or0H-O0r2sPX~eKxkXwWYxYq2a4~4l0wcR10UboThFkhZ6LEvrFHCJjc2JLTIZ6Y354gX4c3FiQ4Mos0ySIqJ3KAMpVhJx6xu7Wsoe7~GTrGYppCAKXu5G~tGzREuTZ7eOFUXnCfjOM7ftipGaZd6CanBN2V9lrpEVFEFVElwNY0xORI8L0PxQZgCrB~PAO8B-EKYA5QFfwG0vRqtqOaEDnd9RgpAveC0DIYpnaC4KzWv0tWHjoBJ9DUDWYdiRJ0tlWcvznklcXDt8mMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Angeles City","date","2025-03-21T14:54:36.993Z","article","The City Council approved a mitigated negative declaration and moved forward with the Grand Canal restoration project (item 39), a proposal the city says will complete tidal flushing between the restored Biona Lagoon and the Venice Canals. The council vote to approve the item was 14-0.

Public speakers, including Marcia Hanscomb of Wetlands Action Network and representatives of the Sierra Club, urged the council to order a full environmental impact report (EIR) rather than accept a mitigated negative declaration. \"This is part of the Bayona Wetlands,\" Hanscomb said, arguing the project would harm wildlife habitat, increase lighting and use public funds on landscaping that is \"not an ecosystem.\" Other commenters, including local residents and nature-walk organizers, described mudbanks, crabs and important bird habitat in the project area and urged postponement.

Russ Ruffing, supervisor in the Bureau of Engineering's environmental group and the author of the mitigated negative declaration, told the council that CEQA requires the lead agency to balance public objectives and that expert regulators had reviewed the document. \"All of those agencies that I just mentioned first approved the same exact design on a gigantic scale in the Venice Canals back in 1992,\" Ruffing said, noting that the Department of Fish and Game, the Coastal Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State Regional Water Quality Control Board and the State Historic Preservation Officer had opportunities to comment and had not returned negative determinations during the public review period.

Councilmember Ruth Galanter said the council's action simply creates the opportunity for property owners to form an assessment district and does not itself levy assessments. City staff said approximately 80 percent of the affected parcel owners in the assessment district have expressed support; the staff report cited about $750,000 in proposed public funding for project elements such as sidewalks and water-quality improvements.

Opponents said the project uses a mitigated negative declaration to avoid full CEQA review and asked the council to wait for decisions from the Coastal Commission and other state agencies. Proponents said the scope mirrors earlier canal restorations and that completing the link is necessary for proper tidal flushing. The council voted to approve the negative declaration and proceed.

The council action allows the project to move forward to the permitting stage; several regulatory agencies will continue their formal permit reviews. The council's approval does not override those agencies' permitting authority; the city acknowledged some state-level appeals were possible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council - 08/01/01","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved a mitigated negative declaration and authorized the Grand Canal restoration to proceed, despite objections from wetlands advocates who urged a full EIR.","taxTitle","Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4025,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627393,"Council backs state study to explore decking the 101 downtown, adds funding safeguard",1129,1766000,2895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0&start=1766&end=2895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0/thumbnail_1766000.jpg","/articles/6627393/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-backs-state-study-to-explore-decking-the-101-downtown-adds-funding-safeguard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627393-4214435266360779ca553b8d043d05da/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815723&Signature=ZytmnF~flFn~F~6KilJFDgZj0nvi55x97aRdj8QbSHxZeTeIWU9Qm7aDeqdb3AwPRVVwxC81BAtWMToWy5ywliKiTXHs1aLOhKlLKLCQozikXeYpLmIqhQN3Hwvw5plRm27Fw-PnZdBLh8PY1HvHX5u0ONxPIRb1EbOE7zb938CXIoNGowu0~Orou5dRI1yTk~u2e9ihdiFeObWGQzEAsYl1AvAq4TWzz-nFIUZFy4~DkB3Eute~soHjRgQaun-cZegWpDTcuJW9CId7dOUxZA8K3yI3W8TpCAu-4YS2LX255vsqNFOt4FcrMT8pxWuYCrKCYozHDaNG4NBjc6M3mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted to support AB 942 (sponsored locally and tied to downtown representatives) to study construction of a deck over the US-101 freeway to create open space near El Pueblo and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The council approved support as amended, attaching a condition that the bill not supersede or bump projects already included in regional funding lists and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) call-for-projects process. The item passed 14-0.

Councilmember Alex Pacheco described a plan to close the on-ramp on Los Angeles Street, create a tunnel entrance on Alameda Street and \"deck that portion and extend that park area\" connecting downtown landmarks. Pacheco said engineers have provided a class-C estimate and that the Bureau of Engineering and the City Administrative Office have worked with the Council to outline potential design and budgeting steps.

Victor Franco Jr., deputy director of legislative affairs for the Central City Association, urged support and described the bill as necessary to accommodate increased pedestrian traffic from a new downtown high school, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and cultural venues. He said the CCA had sent letters to Sacramento backing AB 942.

Several councilmembers praised the vision but raised funding and process concerns. Councilmember Nathan Bernsen recommended an amendment requiring that the bill should not \"jump or supersede other projects which have been approved in the call for projects,\" arguing regional priorities should be respected. Councilmember Eric Garcetti and others praised the idea as an overdue urban-improvement concept and urged city staff to pursue the MTA process and explore funding options. Councilmember Joe Holden suggested seeking Caltrans consideration for funding because of historic freeway impacts on city land.

The council's amendment was adopted and members directed staff to submit a proposal to the next MTA call for projects and to work with Assembly offices and potential state partners on funding options. The motion as amended was approved unanimously.","The City Council voted to back state legislation to study capping part of the US-101 freeway downtown to create park space, but amended its support to require the bill not displace projects in regional funding processes and asked that the proposal be submitted through MTA's call for projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627398,"City Council backs regional trash limits, adopts internal 60% early-target for river cleanup",3812,3154000,6966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0&start=3154&end=6966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0/thumbnail_3154000.jpg","/articles/6627398/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/City-Council-backs-regional-trash-limits-adopts-internal-60-early-target-for-river-cleanup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627398-e85db1bd67bede9fc7a4d419d8e5855d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815723&Signature=IWnlXVn7SaLxAvChs2FmBeTWQasmgaVcfoT9ZhgELCGGfecTtY~ZqZt76gARYRUOQu5XXkZCqX8W0ZwO5y7CYRkB7jrcmgqXE5Uz~FL9y~iPcIqs3FH07HmGCVZA7OoeKBNETp-p~EJC6ZIlRmgdRqaG5i3BWdlKuq2UfqfDRgafAfPg2Tq8tHwErQTDb8-lwVKpYwjvKfIus8xqixGe-Ir7JKPs5oO7anzvChI1UxCbud-jYLAM7CxOhRoNoKMbn3cQV38dLFaKirGb~vj-ChDT3T0Xs3Y60rDHoQazMs1IfJITzTLjWZHoWijKd~d~F-b0bqCq7RzrtTDmpYjIQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council voted to adopt amending motions on the regional trash total maximum daily load (TMDL) and the draft municipal stormwater permit, and the council set an internal goal of achieving a 60 percent reduction in trash for the city's early-control period. Councilmembers approved the amended package 14-0 after a separate voice vote adopted a verbal amendment raising the early target from 50 percent to 60 percent (12-2 on the verbal amendment).

Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, chair of the committee working on the items, framed the package as closing a compliance gap while keeping implementation reasonable and cost-effective. He said the motions \"raise the bar for the city of Los Angeles.\" The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has adopted a draft trash TMDL and the stormwater permit the council considered seeks city responses and plans to reduce trash carried by storm drains into the bay and harbor.

Environmental groups and the regional board urged the council to move quickly. \"This TMDL is cost effective,\" said Leslie Mintz, staff attorney for Heal the Bay. Dennis Dickerson, executive officer of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, showed photographs of debris clogging beaches and harbors and said the board set a 14-year compliance horizon with interim steps to reduce trash that currently flows from city streets into the LA River and out to the ocean.

Supporters said the measures provide a framework to reduce thousands of tons of debris that flow into local waterways during storms. Santa Monica Baykeeper Executive Director Steve Fleischli told the council the regional board had \"bent over backwards\" to accommodate city concerns and warned long delays or opposition would harm prospects for coordinated regional cleanup.

Several council members urged pairing the policy with public education, enforcement and targeted investments to retrofit storm drains and priority catch basins. Councilmember Eric Garcetti urged the council to seek a higher early target, saying, \"the first 20 miles you spend about half your energy and getting through that last 6 miles you spend just as much,\" urging an internal 60 percent goal so the city holds itself to a higher standard. Councilmember Nathan Bernsen cautioned that setting an overly ambitious target could risk litigation if the city later failed to meet it; he opposed formally increasing the numeric obligation beyond what the regional board had set but did not oppose the council's internal 60 percent commitment.

The package adopted by the council removed certain language the city had proposed and directed staff to continue negotiating implementation details with the regional board. The council also incorporated a distributed amendment (item 48) and directed departments to return with practical, cost-effective plans for meeting permit requirements. The council instructed city sanitation staff that limited additional street sweeping or targeted catch-basin cleaning likely would be needed; city sanitation staff indicated modest additional sweeping could be required but likely would not cause major new operational cost.

Council action does not itself change the regional board's legal requirements. The regional board retains authority to adopt numeric limits and compliance schedules. The council vote signals city support for moving the permitting and TMDL processes forward while asking for feasible, cost-effective implementation details.

The council expects department briefings and implementation plans to follow and indicated willingness to pursue grant and state funding where available to meet cleanup goals.","The City Council voted to endorse positions on the Los Angeles River trash TMDL and the draft stormwater permit, approving an amended package and adopting an internal 60% reduction target for the first five-year phase; council members and environmental groups urged faster action while some members cautioned about legal and funding risks.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627383,"Votes at a glance: key outcomes from the Aug. 1 Los Angeles City Council meeting",6329,847000,7176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0&start=847&end=7176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728496-8c720583add7b1c0b45362b5853d2eb0/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6627383/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-key-outcomes-from-the-Aug-1-Los-Angeles-City-Council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627383-36b512e146f3f8878810ffbe93a0bad8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815723&Signature=hCDGfsEWCDVVMVzT8r51AVplftIzk5kVOpZiA4GgM6XYiS6qit7QmUhv51FaxiAit-wrHRxpl-jfum-AqdKN1LXImi~22R1sVoc0PVNQbcx9Eulw-BAq3JJqW2Mihte1nQqE~YTHZmq5yFtbk~jCHI22eegNmxdYVzyV-csTsTIZbxWRk4MFrALakqoa80MLVuF7eBl-95Hxt4zneNaF~cAojiWJvRFBqA-u9bypt~I1bK4mXvGIE6d-gAWqwncCn0HGqHd8g7FTkUHG7sEYPisiVIcFZejSFXHhU5ZIY1exkm0sZv2PAEMbOC9wGfeShWBoFxTPkHlms0~OdkZsVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council took votes on several agenda items during its Aug. 1 meeting. Key outcomes:

- Items 1 and 2 (street lighting district ordinances): Council confirmed assessments and adopted the abandoning ordinance where a majority protest existed; vote recorded as 14 ayes. (Items 1's proceedings recorded on the agenda.)

- Items 4 and 7'10 (building and safety assessments and appeals): Staff presentations were on the desk and the council confirmed assessments; the roll for these items was recorded with 11 ayes at one point in the discussion and subsequent tabulations recorded passage as reflected in the minutes.

- Item 15 (consent-decree community meetings and training status): Council adopted staff recommendations and instructed departments to schedule multilingual community meetings required under the consent decree; vote recorded 14 ayes.

- Item 20 (support for AB 942, freeway decking study): Council supported the bill as amended to require it not to bump approved MTA projects and directed staff to submit the project to the next MTA call for projects; vote recorded 14 ayes.

- Item 22 (SB 307, Japantown preservation / Little Tokyo): Council supported the motion and the item passed 14 ayes.

- Item 23 (eviction-notice pilot / no-fault notice increase from 30 to 60 days): Council held discussion and continued the item until Friday for clarification on potential preemption and compatibility with the city's rent-stabilization rules; the continuation vote was 14 ayes.

- Item 24 was continued to Aug. 8 upon request from the member representing the district with the matter.

- Item 27 (referred as called special) and multiple other consent items: Item 27 approved, 14 ayes.

- Item 37 (Playa Vista assessment-district authority for certain street lighting): Council approved the item after public comment; roll recorded 13 ayes.

- Item 39 (Grand Canal negative declaration and project authorization): Council adopted the mitigated negative declaration and approved the project, 14 ayes. Public testimony both opposed and supported the project; city staff said regulatory agencies had reviewed the document during the public review period.

- Items 40 and 41 (trash TMDL and municipal stormwater permit): After public testimony and an amending motion, the council adopted positions and directed staff to negotiate implementation; the council adopted a verbal amendment setting an internal 60 percent early-attainment target (verbal amendment vote 12 ayes, 2 noes) and approved the final package 14-0.

- Item 25 (housing task-force recommendations and policy direction): Item passed by the council, 14 ayes.

- Item 44 (closed-session settlements): 44(a) Randy Walker workers' compensation settlement: approved (roll recorded 12 ayes); 44(c) Phyllis Govans settlement $125,000: approved (roll recorded 12 ayes).

The meeting also included continuances and multiple items held for closed session pursuant to Government Code \u0000\u0000\u0000 54956.98.

For full texts of motions, amendments and the staff reports referenced by the council, see the official agenda packet and the city clerk's minutes for Aug. 1, 2001.","A roundup of the meeting's formal actions, including passage of street-lighting ordinances, building-and-safety assessments, support for AB 942 (as amended), approval of the Grand Canal project, and adoption of motions on the trash TMDL and stormwater permit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Grand Canal restoration plan over wetlands objections

Council backs state study to explore decking the 101 downtown, adds funding safeguard

City Council backs regional trash limits, adopts internal 60% early-target for river cleanup

Votes at a glance: key outcomes from the Aug. 1 Los Angeles City Council meeting