Council to oppose AB260 change after amendment would remove city's vote on Exposition Park board

City Attorney staff informed the Los Angeles City Council on June 16 that recent amendments to Assembly Bill 260 (AB260) would substantially change governance of Exposition Park and remove the city’s voting role in the park authority. Council members instructed staff to oppose the amended bill ahead of a June 20 committee hearing.

The city attorney’s office told the council that the legislation, which the council previously took a position on in June 1999, had been “changed substantially” and that the latest amendment eliminated the city’s role in the entity governing Exposition Park. Staff advised that the council should make findings that the need to act had arisen after posting the agenda and that a timely position was required.

Councilmember Holden described the amended measure as an effort to “take the city of Los Angeles out of the mix” and expressed concern the change could vest authority to entities that would not include the city’s vote. City staff recommended opposition to the amended bill. Councilmembers agreed and asked staff to prepare formal opposition for the upcoming committee hearing.

Council approved the procedural findings that an immediate need to act had arisen after agenda posting (recorded vote 12 ayes) and later took up a motion to oppose the amended bill; the clerk recorded the council’s instruction to staff to oppose the measure and prepare testimony for the June 20 hearing. The council’s action preserves the city’s ability to register formal opposition in Sacramento while staff prepares a full position and testimony for committee consideration.