[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6582534,"mediaKeyId","3077141-88f557edd56c508881b3033ae1dcde5a","parentId",3077141,"title","City departments report wide infrastructure damage and recovery needs after wildfires; council receives reports","audioSeconds",2806,"startMs",1229000,"endMs",4035000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077141-88f557edd56c508881b3033ae1dcde5a&start=1229&end=4035","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077141-88f557edd56c508881b3033ae1dcde5a/thumbnail_1229000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582534/California/City-departments-report-wide-infrastructure-damage-and-recovery-needs-after-wildfires-council-receives-reports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582534-6a24293c5f46622999d1d0a3840d2660/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203283&Signature=MJC7XCDJ9~9csJg0VwEXlNLLEO8VYSynFTCjOFcB-GGVmW7WZGtpmh9sOIHvukHC7tMcIpA0onduXS0BkhRf509azw7dUneOYVNIDCS8LiyiAQq3q86oNWESiy4b73XjMe609NBxIZBNZTOWaULM02di5zZwEEu4tB71NFV0ziEgGjcmLBcOwd5yJ6AzKTJs1LN8gX138FaILsoqOmo2LDLYgR1CVO7dFbBQijEmxFuXOHqobCxNohXoFpvaajs8cAed9WrPV63wWV8ShfLj9XHqjs6xrscb0maYDm1SACUswSoN5f0Dk9gfPaYzVyjXWa~GDfPefp4vNcWYLSrXqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-22T08:25:58.043Z","article","City departmental representatives told the City Council that the January wildfires caused extensive damage to water, stormwater, street lighting, traffic-control equipment, parks and other public infrastructure, and outlined immediate repairs, temporary measures and longer-term needs.

Department representatives said crews conducted thousands of inspections, mobilized emergency generators and contractors, and installed temporary lighting and circuit repairs while coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on debris removal. Mark López, a representative identified as DCD, said the city mobilized additional emergency generators and emergency contractors and is consolidating and replacing damaged pumps. \"We have asked for additional generators and arranged emergency contracting to make these repairs,\" López said.

Street-maintenance staff reported inspections of damaged trees and removal or monitoring plans. The Streets division said about 371 trees need removal and that another group of trees requires monitoring; staff have begun contracting removal and post-fire monitoring. The division also described its enforcement approach to illegal dumping: residents should report violations to 311, inspectors first issue corrective notices and repeated violations can escalate to fines of $250, $500 and $1,000 per the municipal ordinance.

Board of Engineering staff (Patrick Schmidt) said more than 1,000 bags and debris piles have been addressed; structural inspections of hillside areas identified a small number of sites needing repair or replacement. Schmidt said the Army Corps helped clear access to Positano and that crews are awaiting materials to rebuild base structures before reopening roads.

Department of Water and Power (DWP) representatives reported electrical and water-system impacts. A DWP speaker said crews have completed more than 1,300 jobs (including cross-arm installations), replaced hundreds of transformers and replaced conductors and underground cable; design work for undergrounding is underway. The DWP presenter said site-level damage varies by fire and that some circuits have been restored while others need further work.

DWP also reported on a precautionary \"do not drink\" order issued January 10 and lifted March 7, 2025; the department said it completed roughly 470 investigations and restored services to customers as properties are cleared and reconstructed. The DWP representative said ongoing water-quality sampling is available to residents on request.

The Street Lighting Office reported that an initial study identified several hundred poles potentially damaged by heat; staff recommended replacing many poles and have installed temporary solar lighting in some locations. Victor Tercios, principal engineer for the Street Lighting Office, said the office has shifted some inventory intended for other programs to provide temporary solar lighting and temporary poles in damaged neighborhoods.

Parks and Recreation and other departments noted damage at multiple parks and playgrounds; one department representative (Ching My Ken) said replacement of a recreation building could cost between $30 million and $50 million (figure given by the presenter). The presenter said preliminary soil and sand testing found no contaminants in one park sample but that further testing and removal of affected sand would proceed as needed.

Council action: Councilmember Rodriguez proposed a modification to agenda item 8 (to prioritize undergrounding in high‑hazard zones and other clarifications); the council approved the modification (vote recorded as in favor by Councilmembers Tracy Park, Rodriguez, Soto Martínez and Makosker; one member absent). The council later moved agenda items 5–7 onto the consent list and approved them. The council received and filed the infrastructure reports for agenda item 1; the motion to receive and file the reports passed on a 5–0 recorded vote.

Ending: Department heads told the council that short-term emergency repairs and temporary measures are in place, but that comprehensive recovery will require additional funding, materials and federal coordination. Councilmembers instructed staff to provide quarterly reports on recovery progress and to continue coordinating with the Army Corps and federal grant eligibility processes.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ad Hoc Committee for LA Recovery - SAP - 4/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","City departmental representatives told the City Council that the January wildfires caused extensive damage to water, stormwater, street lighting, traffic-control equipment, parks and other public infrastructure, and outlined immediate repairs, temporary measures and longer-term needs.","taxTitle","Spanish, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",80599,"location","California","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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6582539,"Residents urge council to waive building-permit surcharges after January wildfires",815,163000,978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077141-88f557edd56c508881b3033ae1dcde5a&start=163&end=978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077141-88f557edd56c508881b3033ae1dcde5a/thumbnail_163000.jpg","/articles/6582539/California/Residents-urge-council-to-waive-building-permit-surcharges-after-January-wildfires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582539-664322ad01d2a3b04adb9daf9ce5c5c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203283&Signature=C5iKkljWShBtlc~mEmiJS-13EjyQm7DnlvbKidSDnI33mBWXom8DuQ4hpsUtvZus2J1iEtpGtz3~Tyyzv39URoDQrmaJbWOxg2aKJ5ruWMFr3803~kEHFlrIOqpUPU4oM3uWyIAXawJOCMxwtKpcoHiBw8lDE6NZrBPd6dbrqfuiFXufsriwI~JfigwHzTDzTY5fi1gh8LZg42ByAw1vN2YTwjmrapK0kpZRG8S--Qww6BB9lAfxS9gF7LCTnkvdOzRq1dCedrRDKfwzul97MgrCYXrqC-A4FX7v8V~VtMA-nBzJrHUEOXJ7fsUm7KRgfXDA1~kgaGk6OfBKhTuHcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents impacted by the January wildfires told the City Council during public comment that permit surcharges, unclear rebuild rules and lack of insurance are preventing survivors from rebuilding and returning to their neighborhoods.

Speakers at the special session said many long-standing, often lower-value homes burned and that families with multigenerational ties to neighborhoods face economic barriers to reconstruction. \"We have mortgages, rents, insurance shortfalls, destroyed personal property and a massive hole where our lives used to be,\" said Jessica Reyes, who identified herself as president of the Pacific Callacides Association. \"That begins with all surcharges being waived.\" Reyes was among several commenters who urged full waivers of permit surcharges for fire survivors.

The plea for fee relief was echoed by multiple speakers. Kimberly Bloom, representing the Alphabeta Street block and the Palaces community council, said roughly 40% of her block survived but many longtime residents who bought homes in the 1960s cannot afford to rebuild. \"We need help with permit surcharges, water and building permits,\" Bloom said. Laurie Cutzel and Oud Donald (president of the Pacifical Sales Homeowners Association) also asked the council to waive building fees and to provide clear limits on allowable reconstruction.

Speakers asked for three specific clarifications from the city: (1) whether permit surcharges would be waived for fire survivors; (2) what the city’s numerical thresholds mean for rebuilding (several speakers referenced a 10% rule but asked what counts toward that percentage); and (3) whether rebuilt houses would be insurable. Alexel Lora Paul Hill and others said many survivors lack insurance and that insurers have withdrawn coverage in the fire area.

Community advocates also asked the city to include anti–human trafficking protections in contracts for post-disaster recovery work. Paloma Bustos, associated with a traffic-advocacy initiative, urged the council to require contractors to train workers and include safeguards against labor exploitation, and to require anti-exploitation assurances in technical-assistance or contract language.

Councilmember Tracy Park thanked speakers and said the comments would inform follow-up work. Park closed the public-comment period and then proposed moving several consent items; the council proceeded with agenda business.

Ending: Commenters repeatedly emphasized that permit surcharges and unclear rebuilding guidance are immediate barriers to recovery. Council members acknowledged the concerns and directed staff follow-up during the briefing on post-fire infrastructure recovery that followed public comment.","Multiple residents and neighborhood leaders told the City Council during public comment that building-permit surcharges and unclear rebuilding rules are blocking wildfire survivors from returning; speakers asked the council to waive fees and clarify rebuild limits and insurance guidance.","actionData","errors"]

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City departments report wide infrastructure damage and recovery needs after wildfires; council receives reports

Residents urge council to waive building-permit surcharges after January wildfires