Los Angeles City Council secures quorum, approves appointments, extends state contract and authorizes $125,000 settlement

The City of Los Angeles Council convened Tuesday after several repeated quorum calls and, once a quorum was reached, approved a series of administrative and policy actions including three mayoral appointments, an amendment to extend a state contract for three months, approval of an urgent police-requested special item and authorization of a $125,000 settlement. The council also continued a REAP notice item for one week to allow staff and the district council office to be present.

The meeting opened amid multiple quorum calls; Assistant President Pro Tem Rudy Savornich Jr. presided after members arrived. The Clerk recorded 10 members present and declared a quorum.

Why it matters: the actions move appointments and short-term contract authority forward immediately and authorize settlement funds following closed-session negotiations. The decision to continue the REAP property matter gives the affected property owner a week to secure staff presence and follow-up with the council office.

Votes at a glance - Appointment — Reynold Blight to the LA Industrial Authority: approved (roll call recorded as 10 ayes). Councilman Bernsen commented on the appointment saying, “The name Blight may not fit the appointment, but I'm gonna support you anyway.” - Reappointment — Mike Monosmith to the Los Angeles Export Terminal: approved (machine vote recorded as 10 ayes). Monosmith thanked the council for the reappointment. - Appointment — Vernon Hall to the Board of Transportation Commissioners: approved (10 ayes); the chair noted Hall's community and harbor department background. - Amendment and approval — Item 3 (contract with state): Councilman Pacheco moved to amend item 3 to request a three-month extension from the California Department of Community Service and Development so the city could expand funds awarded; the amendment and items 3 (as amended), 4 and 5 were approved (10 ayes). - Special Item 1 (police-requested urgent matter): the council found that the matter required immediate action because it arose after agenda posting and approved Special 1 (findings and the item) by recorded votes (findings: 10 ayes; item approval: 10 ayes). - Item 10 (REAP notice / property dispute): public speaker Mr. Ramirez said he did not receive certified mail from REAP in time and presented receipts/photos of approximately $30,000 in property repairs. With no staff or the district council member present, the chair continued item 10 one week to Nov. 21 to allow staff to attend and for the council district office to respond. - Closed-session disposition — Item 22(a): on return from closed session the City Attorney requested authorization to settle a matter for $125,000; the Council approved the settlement (10 ayes).

Public comment and claims - Property owner Ramirez said certified mail from REAP was sent to the wrong address and that he had "done about $30,000 worth of work" on the property, providing receipts and photos; the council continued the item to allow staff to respond. - During general public comment, Mr. Robinson raised concerns about selective hand counting of ballots in Florida and argued the counting process could disadvantage Black voters; he urged extension of deadlines. That comment was part of non-agenda public comment and did not change council action.

Procedural notes and next steps - Several items were continued: item 1 was set over to Dec. 12; item 9 was continued to Nov. 15; item 11 was continued to Nov. 28. Item 10 was continued to Nov. 21. - The council made multiple requests to excuse members for upcoming dates (motions to excuse Padilla, Walters, and Bernsen were approved by consent).

Quotes - "The name Blight may not fit the appointment, but I'm gonna support you anyway," Councilman Bernsen said in support of the Reynold Blight appointment. - "I have done about $30,000 worth of work," Mr. Ramirez told the council regarding his property and a lost/misaddressed certified REAP notice.

The meeting adjourned after a series of ceremonial motions to adjourn in memory of several community members; the council recorded no further substantive business at adjournment.