Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cleanup Greenup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Los Angeles committee approves amended report-back on Cleanup Green Up program
Summary
The City of Los Angeles Energy and Environment Committee voted 4-0 (one member absent) to approve an amended report-back on the Cleanup Green Up (CUGU) program, directing planning and sanitation staff to provide a detailed evaluation, equity analysis and recommendations to strengthen implementation and enforcement.
The Energy and Environment Committee of the City of Los Angeles on June 3 voted to approve an amended report-back on the Cleanup Green Up (CUGU) program, directing staff to provide a detailed evaluation of lessons learned and the resources needed to expand the program.
Committee Chair Council Member Adrienne Nazarian said the item would return with more analysis after the Department of City Planning and LA Sanitation complete their report-backs. Nazarian moved the amendment to specifically instruct the Department of City Planning to “include in their report back strategies to incorporate the regulations set forth in the CUGU ordinance in the development of community plans.” The motion passed 4-0 with Council Member Yaroslavsky absent.
Why it matters: Cleanup Green Up is a neighborhood-focused environmental justice policy aiming to reduce illegal dumping and industrial impacts in designated zones. Committee members asked for a report that goes beyond program descriptions to clarify interdepartmental workflows, enforcement roles and measurable outcomes for communities targeted by CUGU.
LA Sanitation representatives described work already underway. Melissa Plomondon, the city’s Cleanup Green Up ombudsperson, said the department has produced a draft report-back, delivered environmental justice training for sanitation employees, convened interdepartmental meetings, and developed outreach programs such as a “green talk” community showcase. "We don't have it ready to release," Plomondon said, describing a draft environmental justice dashboard that will map tree planting, brownfields, vacant lots and illegal-dumping enforcement for public review and feedback.
Planning staff flagged cross-department coordination questions. Hagu Solomon Carey of the Department of City Planning said the ordinance was developed in the citywide bureau in 2015 and that planning is prepared to answer procedural questions in the requested report-back.
Committee additions and requests: Council Member Padilla and others asked staff to include in the report a definition of how planning currently classifies industrial uses in CUGU zones; a formal workflow with time targets among Planning, Department of Building and Safety (DBS) and LA Sanitation for CUGU case review; whether there is a centralized log or tracking system for CUGU cases; and recommendations to modernize or replace a cited zoning rule identified in the discussion as "Z1-2355." Padilla also asked for an equity analysis to assess whether CUGU has measurably improved outcomes in Sun Valley, Pacoima, Wilmington and Boyle Heights and for an analysis of all CUGU cases implemented since the ordinance was enacted.
The committee asked that the report include potential legislative and procedural changes to strengthen CUGU, improved community notifications, business support mechanisms, clearer enforcement pathways involving DBS and any applicable local enforcement agencies (LEAs), plus an assessment of state-level regulatory changes such as CEQA that could affect implementation.
The item passed as amended. Committee staff will return with the requested report-back that consolidates the department updates and answers the procedural and equity questions raised by Council members.
