The Los Angeles City Council on Jan. 24, 2025 approved a set of emergency measures related to recent wildfires and post-fire recovery, voting unanimously on determinations and motions that the council said would fast-track relief and public-safety measures.

Councilmember Hernández introduced a motion asking the City Attorney and the Office of Finance to prepare an ordinance with an urgency clause to waive or defer certain gross-receipts collections for businesses impacted by the fires. Hernández told the council the motion was intended to deliver immediate relief to small businesses and employees who lost income and property. The motion passed by voice vote and was recorded as 14–0 in favor.

Separately, the council considered and approved a motion to restrict the use of leaf blowers in areas directly affected by the fires. Councilmember Padilla spoke in support of the amendment that limited the restriction’s duration and scope, saying the measure should protect both public health and workers’ livelihoods: “Estoy aqued para apoyar la enmienda ... Eso asegura que estemos tomando las medidas equitativas para proteger a los residentes de estos vecindarios y tambie9n los trabajadores de servicios que los apoyen.” Councilmember Park carried the original motion and Councilmember Rodríguez urged the council to be explicit that the restriction apply only in the fire-affected areas to reduce misuse of the rule; she said, in Spanish, “es ser expledcito con las e1reas indicadas es muy importante.” The amendment limited the restriction to the neighborhoods affected by the fires and, according to Councilmember Padilla, set a one-year duration. The council recorded the vote as 14–0.

The council also approved agenda item 1 (street-lighting maintenance/improvements) and item 2 (a modified item that had raised a procedural question about circulation of a technical amendment) by unanimous 14–0 votes. As chair announced, a planned technical modification to item 2 had not been circulated in time earlier in the meeting; councilmembers returned to the item after presentations and adopted the modification and the item by vote.

Clerk announcements at the end of the meeting recorded that the council approved two Rule 23 motions (special items) and moved to publish and file the related items; both special motions were listed as passing 14–0. Several public commenters had addressed the same emergency topics during the public comment period, including concerns about accessibility of materials, evacuation and property impacts; those comments were heard but did not change the motions the council adopted.

The motions direct staff (City Attorney and Office of Finance) to draft the specific legal language and, where applicable, to report back to the council with ordinance text or implementation details. The council did not adopt final ordinances during the Jan. 24 meeting; the votes put the measures onto an accelerated track for drafting or future formal adoption.