City Council approves LA28 venue amendments; McCosker amendment on sailing study passes 12-2

The Los Angeles City Council voted Thursday to approve a set of amendments to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic venue plan, including a technical correction, an economic-study requirement and an amendment from Councilmember Tim McCosker calling for further review of San Pedro as a potential sailing venue.

Council President Marquis Harris Dawson called the meeting to order and the council took up Item 18, the LA28 venue plan amendments, after presentations and public comment from athletes, business groups and residents. The council approved a technical amendment introduced by Council President Harris Dawson and seconded by Councilmember Price (amendment 18c), and a separate amendment from Councilmember Bob Blumenfield requesting an economic study that would incorporate security and transportation costs (amendment 18b). Both passed on unanimous recorded votes of 14 ayes.

A third amendment, introduced from the dais by Councilmember Tim McCosker and described in debate as focusing on sailing, passed 12 ayes to 2 noes. McCosker framed the amendment as a request to analyze whether the Port of Los Angeles and San Pedro — a site he said has hosted SailGP and offers consistent winds, large spectator capacity and existing infrastructure — should be used for Olympic sailing instead of the site then under consideration. “My point is that moving sailing to San Pedro is better for the athlete, it's better for the sport of sailing, it's better for safety and security, it's better for the viewer, and it's better for Los Angeles,” McCosker said during debate.

After the three amendments passed, the council voted to approve Item 18 as amended. Clerk roll call recorded 14 ayes on the final action.

Why it matters: Council members and public commenters said the venue decisions affect public safety, costs, neighborhood impacts and opportunities for local economic and workforce development. Speakers at the meeting included Olympians and Paralympians who urged support for the games and community groups that said the plan would bring jobs and exposure to the San Fernando Valley.

What the council decided: - Amendment 18c (technical correction): approved, 14 ayes. - Amendment 18b (economic study to include security and transportation considerations): approved, 14 ayes. - Amendment 18a (McCosker — direction to analyze San Pedro/Port of Los Angeles for sailing): approved, 12 ayes, 2 noes. - Item 18 as amended (LA28 venue plan amendments): approved, 14 ayes.

Discussion highlights: Councilmember Nithya Raman and others acknowledged both the potential benefits of hosting events and their concerns about giving venues outside the city or outside specific neighborhoods; multiple council members urged more complete information before finalizing all site decisions. McCosker presented technical and operational reasons — consistent wind conditions, existing power and fiber capacity, and a Port of Los Angeles police force he described as highly resourced — for studying San Pedro. He noted that the currently considered sailing site, as described in debate, lacked spectator capacity and electrical/fiber infrastructure and would require significant build-out. Blumenfield’s amendment sought a city-commissioned economic analysis that would include transportation and security costs.

Public comment: Dozens of speakers addressed Item 18. Olympians and Paralympians including Janet Evans and Rachel Dawson spoke in support of the games' local benefits; local business groups including the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce urged approval of venue changes that would include the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area for BMX and skateboarding events. Other public commenters raised concerns about costs, neighborhood impacts, and transparency.

Next steps and follow-up: LA28 representatives told the council their final venue plan would be presented to the International Olympic Committee executive board on April 9 and that they would continue to coordinate with the council and staff. Council members asked that the city and LA28 provide more complete venue lists and analyses before final decisions are published.

Quotes: “I think if done right, the 2028 Olympics are going to be a huge part of our city's recovery,” Councilmember Park said during debate, urging caution but support. “My point is that moving sailing to San Pedro is better for the athlete, it's better for the sport of sailing, it's better for safety and security, it's better for the viewer, and it's better for Los Angeles,” Councilmember Tim McCosker said when urging approval of his amendment. “The children we're gonna affect in Los Angeles at the Olympic and Paralympic games ... are gonna be inspired,” Olympian Janet Evans told the council during public comment.

Context: The council’s action responds to a package of venue changes put forward by LA28, the local organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Among the venues discussed during the hearing were Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area (proposed for BMX freestyle, BMX racing and skateboarding) and potential locations for sailing, which drew technical and operational debate.

The council recorded its votes on Item 18 and its amendments in public roll calls and asked LA28 and city departments for additional analysis and coordination as the venue plan is refined.