Council approves routine items, year-end budget adjustments and several motions; public comment urges tobacco funds for anti-smoking unit

The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved multiple grouped agenda items and motions, passed year-end budget adjustments, and disposed of several closed-session motions by combined roll call votes.

The council voted to approve the items for which public hearings had been held (items 1 and 1–10 with exceptions noted) and to place ordinances on the June 2 calendar where indicated. The clerk recorded that 10 council members constituted a quorum for the meeting.

Item 8, the year-end budget adjustment group, was considered separately after a public speaker, Steven J. Gallegos, urged the council to use $800,000 in tobacco settlement funds to support the city’s anti-smoking unit rather than leave the amount in the city’s reserve for economic uncertainty. Gallegos suggested that tobacco-settlement proceeds be used for enforcement officers who inspect bars and restaurants and recommended applying settlement funds instead of general fund dollars for playground equipment and other uses. After public comment the clerk recorded the roll as 10 ayes and the council approved item 8 forthwith.

The council also approved, by roll call, the group of items 11–27 (with item 15 continued to June 2 and items 17 and 18 called special). The clerk recorded those items as approved with two recorded nays for the grouped vote. Ordinances in that group were continued to June 2 where noted.

After a brief closed session, the council directed the clerk to take combined votes on four prepared motions (identified on the desk as 30a, 30b, 31 and the special agenda item 1); the clerk recorded those four motions as approved forthwith.

The council recessed for closed session and returned to open session to take public comment and finalize the remaining procedural motions. The council adjourned after making a series of memorial adjournments and scheduling excused absences.