[{"_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",6530644,"mediaKeyId","3646576-bc75a3ce0cf1db7ecb01740ca7019c65","parentId",3646576,"title","Committee approves GSD staffing restorations, notes PPE logistics report and reauthorizes MICLA construction projects","audioSeconds",1243,"startMs",676000,"endMs",1919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646576-bc75a3ce0cf1db7ecb01740ca7019c65&start=676&end=1919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646576-bc75a3ce0cf1db7ecb01740ca7019c65/thumbnail_676000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530644/California/Committee-approves-GSD-staffing-restorations-notes-PPE-logistics-report-and-reauthorizes-MICLA-construction-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530644-512a4caab7b8f10ea9bbbc5a506d38b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436890&Signature=OjN8SGfz1ia33e8Si79eg9Nv5DUJTAMQfLpFbI9IZitGdTQS6mkZPPe7uI8clKS~zRU2ccqe~NOASiM1f-gS1A6INR~~sxVWqXGHPwxdTt0c-jjzgQRdZ~DI~uvVF5CONkQ-RmFzWxem8VRHF5sw0H9jLwZnh4XVJ8E3DeFiNAcYwlws4kszn5GI7nsUurh6eylWVftXsm24sk9z0q0pvIAFIc~3ST7SizZsS~E3xbEcptq307jQOcF33DKfaxdaMFBsUzQiv1Zevza1s0bEZd5FfozeT3GefQ862LalKraSRhfiyYc61Y4m49i-gbYnmGmHdDZH4juNUyBg~DMtKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T04:43:55.53Z","article","The Los Angeles City Council\u00009Committee on Government Operations on June 3 voted on several administrative and budget items, approving personnel restorations for General Services Department (GSD), noting a logistics report on pandemic-era personal protective equipment (PPE) and reauthorizing capital projects to preserve MICLA funding for fiscal 2025-26.

The committee voted to restore positions in GSD funded by sewer construction and to restore five positions in GSD\u00009s special services division; both motions passed by unanimous committee vote. The motions were presented by GSD representatives, who said the roles support procurement, heavy-equipment maintenance and access-control and security work.

GSD also presented a report titled \"Victory Logistics Los Angeles,\" summarizing lessons learned from a program that procured and distributed PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic and during recent wildfire responses. GSD staff told the committee that while the program succeeded in obtaining supplies when global supply chains were constrained, the city should plan for storage costs, distribution logistics and phased contracting to avoid long-term excess inventory. David Batid, identified in the hearing as the Port of Los Angeles executive, discussed coordination among city, county and state inventories.

The committee voted to \"note and file\" the logistics report.

Separately, the Office of the City Administrative Officer presented the sixth Capital Projects Report (CPR) for fiscal 2024-25; the committee approved reauthorizations that, as presented, would preserve approximately $270,560,000 in MICLA funding for listed projects. Staff said the CPR reauthorization is intended to prevent project delays by ensuring MICLA authorities do not lapse before projects can draw funds.

Votes and quick outcomes: Items restoring GSD positions (agenda items 2 and 3) approved (Padilla, Lee, Jurado — yes). The committee noted and filed the Victory Logistics report (item 4) by unanimous vote. The sixth CPR reauthorization (item 5) was approved as modified; the committee requested additional schedule information for certain district projects.

What this means: The votes preserve departmental staffing and funding authorities that GSD and project managers said are necessary to avoid service interruptions or construction delays. The PPE logistics item includes staff recommendations to adopt phased procurement windows and to coordinate storage and distribution planning with other government partners.

No items in this package required ordinance changes or immediate additional appropriations at the time of the meeting; staff said any future budget-year subsidies or new appropriations would return to the council for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Government Operations Committee - SAP - 6/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","At the June 3 Government Operations committee meeting the panel approved budget adjustments to restore General Services Department positions, accepted a report on the city\u00009s Victory Logistics PPE work, and reauthorized projects in the sixth Capital Projects Report (CPR) to preserve MICLA funding.","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},6530649,"Council committee approves pause on 2025 cannabis license lottery, directs fee study and limited exemptions for equity applicants",4653,103000,4756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646576-bc75a3ce0cf1db7ecb01740ca7019c65&start=103&end=4756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646576-bc75a3ce0cf1db7ecb01740ca7019c65/thumbnail_103000.jpg","/articles/6530649/California/Council-committee-approves-pause-on-2025-cannabis-license-lottery-directs-fee-study-and-limited-exemptions-for-equity-applicants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530649-f0aa316b3f55d92ce340c3f10462c11e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436890&Signature=CsiRvVyXsv-lXpiVN4WwOT0B4pHESDJ3AFgl95yT6qiVYmeSF39aBLrsWxyLALTxSIWYOT43WrpNd0KrMQGOUvmBIvi22caEr8uFA2T1M4YMrAexalsUGbOyp5gq4lCsfAZNDp0~pjkUdM1qPAeNnLlqgcNacQuQmBnVCaDDAtZZtx2jsSoq450xL11VUr7ZyKeDE0AnJcYa~Z-x9UQ8Yr5-UEJs27OdbpUsgGGWVgcNKI9eeVSO2Xc-qSaxRiSlblHwnZX6XNXoEajD7JvVq~QGaw3F~P0cgHjQDWMc4qHSQlbx9oKypAmTEfYlOpQt5MesmYu-otP10gWqWDV75g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council\u00009Committee on Government Operations on June 3 approved a motion to pause the Department of Cannabis Regulation\u00009(DCR) license lottery planned for 2025 and directed staff to pursue a multi-part review of proposed fee increases and related policy issues.

The instruction package, introduced by Councilmember Padilla and approved by the committee, asks the City Administrative Officer to commission a three-part independent study of DCR cost-recovery fees and tax impacts; directs DCR to produce a follow-up report on application processing times and enforcement revenues; and asks the City Attorney to prepare ordinance language to amend city code provisions related to DCR fee and process changes. The committee also approved a three-year exemption from the proposed fee increases for applicants under the city\u00009\u00009s social-equity program.

Why it matters: Committee members and dozens of public commenters said the local cannabis industry is struggling under current fees, heavy taxation and a proliferation of unlicensed sellers. Committee members framed the pause and the directed studies as steps to better align fees with actual department costs, examine possible subsidies or temporary mitigation and ensure equity applicants are not unduly penalized while the city refines licensing processes.

DCR Assistant Director Jason Kleen and a returning DCR official identified in the meeting as Michelle (COO/liaison) outlined operational and legal constraints. Kleen said the department is legally structured as a cost-recovery operation and does not receive general-fund support. He described a licensing system that has grown to roughly 1,400 active licenses and said that some licensees hold a license but cannot operate because they lack approvals from other city agencies.

Kleen said applications that are otherwise complete may still be blocked by separate approvals (occupancy, fire, land-use), leaving about \"approximately 200 businesses that have a physical license and could operate if they obtained other agencies' approvals.\" He urged a holistic alignment among departments to shorten timelines.

Public commenters representing licensed operators urged an immediate pause to further license rounds and sharp reductions in taxes and fees. Alexis Luna Reyes, owner-operator of JC Red (district 14), said: \"Antes de expandir el programa, la ciudad tiene que asegurar que los operadores actuales estén estables, apoyados y tengan la oportunidad para tener éxito.\" Ethan Martin of Cherry Cannabis Cove and Elliot Lewis of Cannabis Co Catalyst urged \"radical\" changes rather than repeated studies; Lewis told the committee he wanted \"héroes\" to act on behalf of the existing regulated market.

Financial context provided in the presentation: DCR expects the legal cannabis market to need roughly $140 million in tax revenue to meet budget assumptions; current collections were estimated at about $80 million, leaving an indicated shortfall of roughly $60 million. The department described a fee and tax structure that includes a city cannabis tax (15% baseline) that, under current rules described by DCR staff, would automatically increase to 19% on July 1, 2025 if specified revenue targets are not met. DCR staff said they had approximately $3.5 million in one-time grant or contingency funds available for 2025-26 that could be used to mitigate near-term impacts.

Committee instructions and next steps: The approved package instructs that fee increases be reviewed with a clause creating a three-year exemption from the proposed increases for social-equity applicants; that the CAO contract an independent three-part review (cost recovery, fee-setting methodology and tax-impact analysis) with DCR consultation; and that DCR produce a follow-up report including: processing-time data (received-to-complete timestamps), the department\u00009s enforcement and fines history for the past five years, and a description of the tools DCR uses to coordinate with other city departments. The City Attorney was asked to prepare ordinance language to implement necessary municipal-code changes.

Voting and motion details: The committee approved the modified motion as presented. Committee roll calls recorded three affirmative votes.

Background and context: The committee revisited the matter after several prior hearings (April 23, May 6 and May 20, 2025) and extensive public comment. DCR staff traced several longstanding problems to the department\u00009s start-up years (2013 launch and 2019 expansion), including limited initial staffing and underfunded equity services. Staff said changes made after 2019 (pre-application review, revised timelines and a 2019\u00009\u000092019-to-2022 shift in processes) were intended to address earlier problems but that substantial operational and market changes have continued to stress the system.

What the committee did not decide: The committee did not set final fee rates or permanently change the city cannabis tax; it instead paused a next-round lottery and directed further study and reporting before ordinance introduction. The committee also did not authorize general-fund subsidies for ongoing fee relief; staff indicated that any sustained subsidy would require general-fund coverage and separate council action.

\"We want to be methodical,\" Padilla said while reading the motion's instructions; public commenters, industry representatives and DCR staff agreed the pause would provide time to align processes and evaluate the fiscal trade-offs.

Votes at a glance for this item: motion approved (vote recorded as three yes votes).","The Government Operations committee voted to pause a planned 2025 cannabis-license lottery and approved a package of instructions asking the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and the City Attorney to analyze and report on proposed fee increases and potential exemptions for equity applicants.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves GSD staffing restorations, notes PPE logistics report and reauthorizes MICLA construction projects

Council committee approves pause on 2025 cannabis license lottery, directs fee study and limited exemptions for equity applicants