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

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.