The Personnel and Hiring Committee of the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion to examine expanded emergency assistance for city employees affected by recent fires, and amended the motion to ask staff to evaluate a range of supplemental paid leave from 80 to 160 hours.

Why it matters: Committee members and union and guild representatives said many city employees lost homes or were displaced and asked the city to provide immediate cash, leave and telework options to help workers continue to do their jobs and recover.

What passed: The committee voted to approve the motion as amended to direct the City Administrative Officer and Personnel Department to explore and report back on emergency assistance programs that could include expanded supplemental paid leave in a range from 80 to 160 hours, preservation or expansion of telecommuting options, and options to permit donated leave in emergency circumstances.

Who testified: Marlene Fonseca, executive director of SEIU-represented Local 6, urged support for item 11 and asked that telecommuting remain in effect for workers displaced by the fires. Kirsten Xavier, a children’s librarian with the Los Angeles Public Library, described losing a family home in Altadena and offered libraries as a public resource for recovery information. Lisa Palombe, president of the Librarians Guild, requested the committee consider increasing supplemental paid leave to 160 hours to match county policy. Irving Estrada, representing the Los Angeles City Attorneys Association, asked that donation-of-time programs be permitted to extend supplemental leave and said telecommuting options are necessary to maintain legal work involving fire survivor cases.

Staff response: Paul Gerard, Employee Relations Division in the CAO’s office, said the motion contains many ideas for the CAO and Personnel Department to evaluate. Gracie Lou, interim general manager of the Personnel Department, told the committee the department will examine telecommuting, leave donation and other options; she said Personnel is checking legal and tax implications of leave donation but that recent guidance suggests emergency exceptions may exist.

Vote and next steps: The clerk called the roll. Councilmember Kevin McOsker and Councilmember Heather Hutt recorded affirmative votes and the committee approved the motion as amended. The CAO and Personnel Department will report back with analysis and recommended language for any ordinance or administrative changes needed to implement expanded supplemental leave, donation mechanisms, telecommuting rules and other immediate assistance measures.