Committee approves amended Adopt-a-Lot license agreement with Koon Kee Design Initiative

The Government Operations Committee on Sept. 16 approved an amendment to the master license agreement (contract CDash13437) with Koon Kee Design Initiative to continue operation of the Adopt-a-Lot pilot program, removing one site from the agreement and making required charter and administrative-code findings. The action matters because the Adopt-a-Lot program transforms vacant city-owned lots into neighborhood resources in park-deficient areas; the amendment clarifies that the site at 15240 West Tupper Street in North Hills be removed from the master license because a long-term lessee identified the site for an educational garden. Committee discussion included an amendment that cited Los Angeles City Charter section 371(e)(10) and Los Angeles Administrative Code section 10.15(a)(10) in support of a finding that competitive bidding was not required for the license agreement. The amendment also described the program—s goals of revitalizing vacant lots and addressing disparities in park access. With the amendments read into the record, the committee moved and approved the motion as amended; council members Padilla and Gerardo voted to approve the item.