City Council adopts ordinances, approves settlements and forwards wildfire business tax relief for further action

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved several ordinances, authorized settlement payments in three lawsuits and advanced wildfire-related business tax relief for further action.

Councilmembers adopted an amended motion for Item 22 by unanimous vote after the amendment was circulated and posted. Ordinances tied to Items 23 and 25 were held over briefly and then adopted when reconsidered with the full membership present.

The council also authorized settlement payments in three cases: up to $112,000 in Stop LAPD Spying Coalition v. City of Los Angeles; up to $94,999.99 in a case involving LAPD Sergeant Joel Sedama; and $105,000 in Nicole Jennifer Bridal v. City of Los Angeles. The clerk read the settlement amounts into the record during the meeting; the council voted 12–0 to approve the settlements in closed-session items considered by the Budget and Finance Committee.

Separately, the council sent Item 37 — an ordinance to provide tax relief to local businesses impacted by the wildfires — forthwith for expedited consideration after public testimony from nonprofit and business advocates. Tamara Harris of Bet Tzedek Legal Services told the council that nearly 1,900 small businesses were located in fire burn zones and described cascading economic harms to workers and communities, urging support for the proposed municipal tax relief.

Other procedural votes included approval of a range of consent and calendar items (items 14–21 and other grouped items) by recorded roll calls in open session. The council also handled recusals and special calls: Councilmember Price recused on specific items and left the room for the vote on Item 24, which was approved in his absence by an 11–0 vote.

Votes at a glance

- Item 22 (amending motion adopted as circulated): adopted (12 ayes). - Items 23 and 25 (ordinances): held/held-over and then adopted after reconsideration (12 ayes on reconsideration and adoption). - Item 24: approved with recusal (11 ayes; Price recused and left the room). - Items 38–40 (closed-session settlements): approved (12 ayes). Settlements: Stop LAPD Spying Coalition — up to $112,000; Sedama matter — up to $94,999.99; Bridal matter — $105,000. - Item 37 (business tax relief for wildfire-impacted businesses): sent forthwith for expedited review.

The council clerk announced postings and referrals of additional council motions before the meeting concluded, and the council adjourned with no further public votes taken on the items continued to later dates.