LA committee approves Getty-funded undergraduate internship; takes consent actions on LA28 venues, invasive species and budget transfers

The Arts, Parks, Libraries and Community Enrichment Committee of the Los Angeles City Council approved a Department of Cultural Affairs grant from the Getty Foundation to support the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program and took several consent actions at a special meeting on the morning of March 11, 2025.

Lisa Davis, Community Arts Director for the Department of Cultural Affairs, presented the Getty-funded internship and described it as "an amazing opportunity for us," saying eligibility is open to undergraduates who live in or attend college in Los Angeles County and that interns will support the LA Municipal Art Gallery.

The committee approved the report accepting the grant by roll call: "2 ayes, this item is approved," with Council member Nazarian recorded as absent. A clerk noted that items 3 and 4 are also referred to the Budget and Finance Committee.

Why it matters: the internship gives paid professional experience to undergraduates — including students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the arts — while the consent items direct city staff on planning for the 2028 games and environmental work in a major city-owned basin.

DCA presentation and internship details Lisa Davis said the Getty award funds will be transferred to the department—s 1070 fund and that the intern will be hired as a temporary seasonal worker paid from that classification. "I'm not certain what the rate is," Davis said, adding the position is paid at a level "similar to some of the worker program[s]" in other departments and that it "meets the living wage standard of the city of Los Angeles." The report cited $7,900 to be reimbursed to the Department of Cultural Affairs—s "salaries as needed" account for salary support.

Davis said the application will be managed by the LA Municipal Art Gallery curator, Hugo Cervantes, and described the posting and outreach plan: the position is advertised as a community administrative service worker 1 through the city personnel department, on the LA Municipal Art Gallery website and social media, and on the Getty internship page. "We—re trying to...make sure that we get a really nice [pool] of candidates," Davis said.

Committee actions taken on consent Before the presentation, the chair moved to take items 1, 2, 3 and 5 on consent, saying, "With no speakers on the queue, public comment is closed. Members, if there are no objections or questions, I would like to take items 1, 2, 3, and 5 on consent." The committee recorded a roll-call vote of two ayes with Council member Nazarian absent; those consent items were approved.

Votes at a glance - Item 4: Department of Cultural Affairs report accepting a Getty Foundation grant for the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program. Approved by roll call: 2 ayes; Nazarian absent. - Item 1: Motion (Ramon Hernandez) instructing the Chief Legislative Analyst, with assistance from the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Bureau of Engineering and other relevant agencies, to report to council within 90 days with a list of proposed LA28 game venues and training facilities. Approved on consent (2 ayes; Nazarian absent). - Item 2: Motion relative to a work plan to remove all invasive species within the Sepulveda Basin and related matters. Approved on consent (2 ayes; Nazarian absent). - Item 3: Department of Cultural Affairs report accepting funds from Community Project Funding (grant administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) to support the Highland Park Youth Arts Center. Approved on consent (2 ayes; Nazarian absent). The transcript does not specify the dollar amount. - Item 5: Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners report (dated 03/11/2025) relative to Resolution No. 10662 approving a transfer of appropriations to the Information Technology Agency for communication services in fiscal year 2024-25. Approved on consent (2 ayes; Nazarian absent).

What the committee did not resolve There was no public comment on the record; the meeting record shows no speakers in the public comment queue. The committee did not adopt additional policy language or set further deadlines beyond the 90-day report instruction for the LA28 venues item. Where specific dollar amounts, hourly rates, or outreach metrics were not provided in the transcript, the article notes those items as not specified.

Next steps and context The committee referred some items to the Budget and Finance Committee for additional consideration, per a clerk correction noted during the roll call. The Getty-funded internship will be posted and reviewed by the curator at the LA Municipal Art Gallery, who will select and hire the temporary seasonal employee under normal personnel procedures.