Council approves ordinance change to streamline Hollywood Walk of Fame star approvals, removes council step

The Los Ángeles City Council approved an ordinance change to remove the council as a required step in approving new stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, transferring final approval authority to the Board of Public Works process and related departments.

City staff presented proposed amendments to the municipal code (referenced in staff remarks as Section 28.04D) to streamline the permitting path for plaques, letters and individual figures embedded in sidewalks associated with the Walk of Fame. Staff explained the change would take the council out of the approval step and leave the public‑comment opportunity at the Board of Public Works. One staff member said the ordinance “saca al Concejo Municipal de este proceso” and described it as intended to make the permitting process more efficient.

Councilmembers debated scope and limits. Several members emphasized the ordinance applies only to approval of new stars and does not grant authority to remove existing stars. One councilmember summarized: “Pero no se trata de remover estrellas que ya existen, es para la aprobación de estrellas nuevas.” Councilmembers asked how the Department of Cultural Affairs might be involved as the Office of Engineering develops the new process; staff said that role would be clarified in a forthcoming engineering report.

The council voted to approve the ordinance change. The vote was recorded as two in favor and one opposed; the minutes reflect the motion passed. Staff said a separate Office of Engineering report will return with detailed process steps for how future applications will be routed to the Board of Public Works.

The ordinance change takes effect according to the city's standard code‑amendment timeline; staff will return with implementation details per the staff report.