A commitment to convene meetings out in the community

Tuesday, July 23

In a move we salute, the LA City Council made a decision today to impose on themselves an ongoing requirement to take Council meetings out into the communities a minimum of 15 times over a two-year period of time. On average, this translates to an opportunity about once every two months for residents to take part in the City Council process, and to express their concerns to the body during the "Public Comment" period.

We are delighted the Council has seen fit to do this. In the past, feeble attempts had been made to take these meetings city-wide, with as few as two a year actually occurring outside City Hall's Council Chambers.

But to their credit, the members took it on themselves to self impose this new amendment to "Rule 18 of the Los Angeles City Council."

Our single criticism is that no provision has been made to ensure these meetings will be held in the evening. Typically those who can made daytime events do not truly represent the community, but rather tend to be only those who are retired, self-employed, unemployed, professional "lobbyists" or those who are willing to take time off from their jobs.

In our opinion, every effort should be made to hold these meetings at night, so that a much more reflective cross section of the community can attend.

Here's the actual amendment, which passed unanimously, 12 to 0:

AMEND Rule No.18 of the "Rules of the Los Angeles City Council"

CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF RULES, ELECTIONS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to amending the rules of the Los Angeles City Council to require regularly scheduled off-site Council meetings.

Recommendation for Council actions, as initiates by Motion (Hahn - LaBonge):

AMEND Rule No.18 of the "Rules of the Los Angeles City Council" to add the following:

"The Council shall hold no fewer than 15 special meetings throughout the City during a two-year period, beginning after the first regular meeting after June 30th of each odd-numbered year. Public facilities shall be selected for off-site Council meetings, Council Committee meetings and Ad Hoc Council Committee meetings. Preference shall be given to City-owned facilities, and if no appropriate public facilities are available, a motion must be presented for the Council's consideration and approval regarding the selection of a site; said motion shall contain all pertinent information, including all associative site costs.

The office of the City Clerk, with the assistance of the Chief Legislative Analyst, and other involved City departments, shall coordinate with the individual Council offices, the identification of appropriate facilities in each Council District for off-site Council and Council Committee meetings, and all other activities related to the conduct of these meetings.

As feasible, all off-site Council meetings shall be broadcast live over the City's municipal access cable system (Channel 35)."

Fiscal Impact Statement: The Chief Legislative Analyst has not completed a financial analysis of this report.