The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 12 to extend the cluster review pilot that routes proposed board motions through public cluster meetings before they are placed on the full board agenda. The motion, sponsored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell and amended by Supervisor Hilda Solis, passed on a unanimous vote.

Mitchell said the cluster process gives departments and the public time to review and strengthen non‑urgent motions and helps avoid unintended consequences. “The cluster review process is a tool for co‑governance that keeps policymakers, departments and residents in sync and engaged,” she said.

The executive officer reported quantitative results from a six‑month pilot: before the pilot, 31.4% of eligible motions were revised on a supplemental agenda; after the pilot, the revision rate rose to 53.2% for motions introduced via clusters. The report said the total number of motions submitted by board offices declined after the pilot, and several departments reported improved interdepartmental collaboration but also flagged challenges including extended timelines, ambiguous exemptions, and inconsistent public access at cluster meetings.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath urged that, if the board continues the cluster process, it should incorporate structural improvements—clearer timelines, better technology for remote participation, language access and refined rules to avoid unnecessary delays. After discussion the board approved Mitchell’s motion as amended to add an explicit exemption allowing motions “in response to or otherwise related to any action taken by the federal government” to bypass cluster review, and to extend the pilot for a year with a public review of operational improvements.

Why it matters: The cluster process changes how the county develops policy by requiring earlier departmental and public review. Supporters say it improves transparency and reduces drafting errors; critics say it can add delay or bureaucratic burden unless refined.

What’s next: The board directed the executive office and county counsel to update board rules and report back with operational changes and implementation details. The executive office will also convene stakeholders to address language access, technology and timeline concerns raised by departments and community participants.