Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City Council Votes to Restore Office Name to City Administrative Officer, Reversing Charter-era Change
Summary
The council voted to return the Office of Administrative and Research Services (ORS) to the Office of the City Administrative Officer (CAO), reversing a name change enacted in the city’s new charter. Supporters framed the vote as restoring clarity about the office’s role in budgeting and independent financial analysis.
The Los Angeles City Council voted on July 3 to change the name of the Office of Administrative and Research Services back to the Office of the City Administrative Officer.
Supporters, including Councilmembers Bill Garcetti, Linda Burnson (Ruth Galanter in transcript), and others, said the original charter-era renaming to ORS (Office of Administrative and Research Services) had created confusion about the office’s role and that restoring the CAO title better communicates the office’s responsibility to provide objective financial analysis to both the mayor and the council. Bill Fujioka, the department head, described the CAO/ORS role and the rationale for restoring the name during the discussion.
Why it matters: The CAO’s office prepares and monitors the city budget and provides independent financial analysis that informs policymaking. Multiple councilmembers said restoring the CAO name would clarify the office’s function for staff, the public and other agencies.
Discussion and votes: Councilmembers debated the historical reasons for the change, the impact of the new charter, and the importance of maintaining the office’s independence. The council approved an ordinance on the file to restore the CAO name; the clerk recorded 13 ayes on the roll call in the excerpt provided and the item was approved and sent forthwith.
Councilmembers who spoke in favor noted the charter created new financial positions but said the CAO title is more readily understood. Several members called for future charter review to ensure dual reporting lines and clear authorities. After the vote councilmembers thanked CAO staff and urged clarity of role going forward.
