[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6483901,"mediaKeyId","5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4","parentId",5555413,"title","Los Angeles City Council approves first reading to create Department of Emergency Preparedness after extended debate","audioSeconds",1718,"startMs",1512000,"endMs",3230000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4&start=1512&end=3230","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4/thumbnail_1512000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483901/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Los-Angeles-City-Council-approves-first-reading-to-create-Department-of-Emergency-Preparedness-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483901-9ac3f6f7c593c3608d9b01158412f835/orig.mp4?Expires=1775571028&Signature=nvx3JGq1Vj1IxOQW0LuIhG8~fjCK11CDSjZ61fYHMB5APQFWYGWw-S1f-A3vJfeOjMsRiyFtE39es5sKs4VOCx9RcrK40mGYtk9-2FN2BPcNbKVeDrdfwksD-s~ydCctHf~XTNML8ixEdR5BWWDmrv1PFzN0tvllmTrrTXzbMNJSRZQ11JbhFbUSHoaKUD7j5RE7ZFRK4rto9nOjlRSdPqTys~umvwaSt97fyl6ohWtWnrjXwUIopVy35bFTnFz00PdxKlaXbljPY6z~2w6iqsypPGvUXgCOT4Adk7KWA2G7CqACPvOFUxkRovhZdLf3stMVYJd7CNVX9A-8HhbZYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Angeles City","date","2025-08-08T14:54:40Z","article","The Los Angeles City Council voted on May 24 to approve the first reading of an ordinance to create a Department of Emergency Preparedness, sending the measure over one week for final adoption after extended debate about authority, cost and oversight.

Councilmembers and staff spent nearly two hours debating two competing approaches: an ordinance that would establish a standalone Department of Emergency Preparedness and a technical ordinance that would retain emergency preparedness functions in the City Administrative Officer's Office/Office of Research and Statistics (ORS). Supporters said a separate department would elevate preparedness and give the mayor meaningful directive authority; opponents warned of added cost and little operational benefit.

Councilmember (last name) Hernandez, describing the city’s history with disasters, argued for a standalone department: “Los Angeles has had its share of emergencies...when I attended a seminar at the emergency preparedness officer's request in regards to protection for terrorist acts...it created an acute awareness on my part, that we are under a constant threat of a potential emergency in this city.” Other supporters said continuity across preparedness, response and recovery argues for a distinct unit.

Opponents, including Councilmember Walters, said the city already has a mayorally led response under the charter and questioned whether a new department would add value or simply increase costs. Walters said the city had experienced a limited number of declared disasters and that “the money that will go to this would be better spent on other things,” citing competing budget priorities.

City staff described how the competing ordinances differ. A city attorney’s representative said one ordinance would create the new department and assign a general manager role; an alternative ordinance would implement technical charter-consistent changes that would keep preparedness in the CAO/ORS. CAO staff noted initial costs would be modest — primarily moving and basic set-up — and said the CAO could absorb early expenses. Staff also cautioned that long-term administrative costs could rise if the new department established its own separate administrative, personnel and payroll units rather than continuing services by memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Staff identified Alice Stanley as the current emergency-preparedness coordinator in the CAO’s office and said that, if a department were created, the position classification and pay could change; the city suggested an assistant general manager position would likely be part of a new department’s structure.

After debate and motions on the floor, the council recorded the final vote on item 16 as 9 ayes and 5 noes; the council president announced the ordinance would be carried over one week for second reading and final action.

Councilmembers also discussed procedural links between this ordinance and a separate technical ordinance (Item 52) that had already been adopted at second reading; staff said Item 52 made technical changes consistent with the charter while Item 16 addressed the policy decision of whether to move preparedness out of CAO/ORS.

The council’s action today authorizes the ordinance’s first reading. Final adoption, and any details about staffing, exact titles, or an implementation timetable, will appear when the ordinance returns for second reading next week.

What’s next: the ordinance will return for second reading and final vote one week after first reading. If adopted, implementation details including any reclassification of positions and required MOUs or administrative setup will be developed by city staff and presented to the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council - 05/23/00","oneSentenceSummary","The Los Angeles City Council voted on May 24 to approve the first reading of an ordinance to create a Department of Emergency Preparedness, sending final adoption over one week after lengthy debate.","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},6483890,"Council adopts budget amendments; moves risk management to Department of Finance and splits street resurfacing funding",3166,5811000,8977000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4&start=5811&end=8977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4/thumbnail_5811000.jpg","/articles/6483890/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-adopts-budget-amendments-moves-risk-management-to-Department-of-Finance-and-splits-street-resurfacing-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483890-27acfa40a0c2bcc5c9f9c6c0ac1e6e43/orig.mp4?Expires=1775571028&Signature=W3ZdsW0qknU~XaHPG828fGFj0-dYDfFDpFXBRAP9Z7E8Uujjk7j~Fnc66UkScp-Pli0aITPIhvsbfcMM9Lkc-ByiI6xEqp-7jCJXNwhm-vcCbHN0B1Ie6eFiIaph2j1kv3ue-FjzL3QKAIy5UxRXm1F8LEtpB7hGiaVjLG6YVrerRpcKCqO0UBPob9A3~cPxL3cFxLbVh3oi2Fhgynj3GIkc5JASpqKBhZN~j1Wf2EPXFxELmtp1bYdHBj3eDXjC1hF6usmO~undE0-DOqBZ8ZzFaJsezwkFg-r1FL3dBQEiR9QL2qx66Kw12uwk2W2HasTaVBx8NhceS2AUj1dLyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council approved the city’s annual budget on May 24 with several council amendments that reshape administrative placement and near-term capital work.

Key budget actions included: (1) splitting 25 miles of the street resurfacing program so approximately half the miles are funded immediately in the budget and the remaining half are earmarked in reserve for future allocation, (2) adopting an amendment to place the city’s risk management function under the Department of Finance, and (3) reflecting the council’s earlier vote to advance an ordinance creating a Department of Emergency Preparedness in the budget documents.

On risk management, council debate focused on oversight and reporting. Some councilmembers warned that placing risk management in the Department of Finance would reduce the council’s direct ability to require reports without a charter change; others said the move reconciled prior votes and would centralize related functions such as collections and treasury operations.

Councilmember Goldberg underscored concerns about oversight reporting and the existing labor-management relationships handled through the CAO: “There’s virtually no way for us to require reports from risk management if it's in the Department of Finance,” she said, and urged monitoring and a six-month check-in. Several members proposed adding reporting requirements; one councilmember moved a charter amendment to require quarterly reporting to the council, the CAO and the City Legislative Analyst to build enforceability.

Procedural steps and votes: The council considered related ordinances (Item 3, Item 17 and Item 52) that implement charter changes. Council attempted an override of a mayoral veto earlier in the meeting but did not secure the required votes; subsequently the council adopted an ordinance for several technical charter-conformity items on first reading and passed an amendment to ordinance 17 to include risk management in the Department of Finance (the amendment passed on council vote). The budget amendment that put risk management in the Department of Finance was approved as part of Item 30 (budget) and recorded in the council’s roll calls.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript included: the motion to amend 30 to split the resurfacing miles passed (12–1), the amendment placing risk management in the Department of Finance passed as part of budget actions (vote recorded as 8–5 on the budget amendment), and the full budget (Item 30 as amended) passed on the final roll call (vote recorded as 8–5).

Councilmembers who opposed placing risk management in Finance said the CAO’s existing relationships with labor and the joint labor-management committee provided an operational benefit that might be disrupted by an immediate move. Supporters argued that anchoring collections, debt management and risk in the Department of Finance produced administrative coherence.

What’s next: Council directed staff to return with implementation details, and several members asked for mandatory periodic reporting; one motion on the council floor requested a charter amendment to require quarterly reports from the Department of Finance and the city risk manager to the council and other oversight offices. The council also carried forward several related ordinances to second reading for final vote.

The budget actions change where the city places the risk management function for the coming fiscal year; details about reporting requirements, staffing, and any charter amendments will be clarified in follow-up reports.","The council adopted the annual budget with several amendments: splitting an earmarked 25 miles of street resurfacing into half immediate and half reserved, and an amendment that places the city's risk management function in the Department of Finance. Council also approved funding and first-reading ordinances tied to charter implementation.",{"_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},6483897,"Local businesses, residents and MTA clash over Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit study; Council keeps the issue in committee",2391,3329000,5720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4&start=3329&end=5720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5555413-0e952e16108ff2dfa3329644d89956f4/thumbnail_3329000.jpg","/articles/6483897/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Local-businesses-residents-and-MTA-clash-over-Wilshire-Bus-Rapid-Transit-study-Council-keeps-the-issue-in-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483897-219e7ecc6240ab57a8e01c8256c8a020/orig.mp4?Expires=1775571028&Signature=jDXpTsixwK79dHQhLD0V1hbjmG3uVNnlMBfD0Qh-vLoAStQql5pyka7MDTSN2qc5XVN~AbFBN-C2czIGCOGn~HyCEXI8QyffuUjdYo-LGuhBNjPTd4vbqsBJDy5y1u6IHOYbeCuHlntIKnlctyfzJshRg-Tn0FYr1oxBTZMogsY5NiuAT7XaTlKeMyPeYlrJdIc8ysYeIbO0Gz6LF1kXkd7Ga7RyyocWLgW-3vWp4TCqhfN1epV~1Shc9u~p4PI3kdMX8lEwCV58dc6ZBoJlY98H8Ifwe6Mq4LPwA2q2JhTzmAUC97Z-NNyrOpNl2QbJ~GJ9v-YB3kHn81-Wib07qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents, business groups and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority clashed at the May 24 Los Angeles City Council meeting over MTA’s study of a Wilshire Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated busway.

More than a dozen speakers representing the Miracle Mile, Wilshire Center Business Improvement Corporation and area homeowner associations opposed the BRT proposal at a five-minute public hearing. They said a dedicated center busway would remove parking, eliminate left-turn lanes in places and damage recent streetscape investments. “Removing the islands, the curbside parking for a dedicated rapid bus lane will destroy over 13 years of community effort and beautification for the mile,” said Wally Marks, president of the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition.

MTA and city Department of Transportation staff told the council the proposal is at an early stage and that MTA is conducting environmental and feasibility studies. David Meager of MTA (MTA project staff) said MTA is studying multiple West Side corridors and that an identified pool of federal funds must be programmed for a West Side project or the funding would be reallocated elsewhere. DOT General Manager Francis Banerjee told the council it would be appropriate for the transportation committee to oversee study work and for the committee to require MTA and DOT to return with detailed information before the council takes action.

Councilmembers expressed differing views. Councilmember Holden and others said Wilshire is a major transit corridor that needs solutions; others, including Councilmember Walters and Councilmember Goldberg, said the Miracle Mile’s fragile economic recovery and recent streetscape investments counsel against a dedicated center busway there. After motions on the floor, the council voted against withdrawing the matter from the transportation committee (the withdrawal motion failed on a 7–7 vote), and the council left the item in committee for further study and committee oversight.

What the council asked for: DOT staff recommended—and several councilmembers supported—returning the proposal to the transportation committee for study and to require MTA to consult with affected cities (Beverly Hills and Santa Monica were repeatedly cited as necessary partners for a Wilshire-wide project). DOT advised that committee oversight should precede any city-level directive to MTA.

Outcome: The council did not adopt a blanket prohibition on BRT on Wilshire and did not authorize construction; instead it kept the matter in the transportation committee for additional study and directed staff to work with MTA and with committee members to develop conditions the council would want to see if the BRT proceeds.

The public record: MTA representatives urged that the council not oppose the MTA’s rapid bus program (a separate, near-term priority bus improvement slated to begin next summer) while studies proceed on whether a center-running BRT could be designed to preserve medians and parking. MTA staff said some of the study money already being spent could be at risk if project partners (other jurisdictions) decline to participate.

Next steps: The council directed that the transportation committee receive MTA and DOT study results and recommended community mitigation concepts before the council considers any formal position on a Wilshire BRT.","Council heard sustained public opposition from Miracle Mile and Wilshire Center groups to MTA’s proposed Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated busway; MTA and DOT urged study and said feasibility remains untested. Council did not withdraw the item from committee and directed transportation committee oversight.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Los Angeles City Council approves first reading to create Department of Emergency Preparedness after extended debate

Council adopts budget amendments; moves risk management to Department of Finance and splits street resurfacing funding

Local businesses, residents and MTA clash over Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit study; Council keeps the issue in committee