The following Council Motions were introduced during today’s City Council meeting. The listed motions govern ALL SUBJECT MATTERS OF COUNCIL not only land use. Council file numbers have not been assigned at this time and are currently being processed.View City Council.
View City Council Motions (April 29, 2020) (Land Use Policy: None)
On March 4, 2020, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a declaration of emergency following a determination by the Health Officer of Los Angeles County of possible COVID-19 community transmission occurring in the public. A series of Mayoral emergency orders followed, changing how the City and its Departments carry out core functions including telecommuting for City employees. Further affecting the Department’s operations were State executive orders modifying the public meeting laws, and more specifically the Brown Act (Executive Order N-25-20) These changes now enabled Departments to hold virtual public meetings.
Technology as eliminated the “physical place” that “facilitates attendance by the public” by using web conferencing platforms. Without a physical location for participants, it reduces or eliminates the public’s need to travel and increases accessibility to those who may otherwise be unable to attend in-person public hearings.
Will virtual public hearing change the public’s perspective on in-person public hearings? Only one in four Americans have attended a local public meeting in 2014, according to a Governing article featuring data from the National Research Center. Often, those meetings lack a demographically broad representation of the community and are dominated by the most vocal community members with a specific issue or an axe to grind.
“Testing the Waters” study released in 2013 by the nonprofit group, Public Agenda and the Davenport Institute, surveyed 900 local officials in California on public hearings. The study found that on the one hand, a full 88 percent of respondents said that the public has “ample opportunity” to participate in local decision-making and that they considered typical public meetings to be effective. On the other, the vast majority also believed the public is to be too busy to participate, too disengaged or ignorant to understand the issues facing their communities, and too angry and distrustful of local officials to be reliable partners. Three-fourths of the local officials surveyed believed that public meetings are dominated by people with narrow agendas. Nearly two-thirds said that public hearings “typically attract complainers and professional citizens’” and don’t give the broad public a voice. Only half said that their typical meetings “generate thoughtful discussion among ordinary residents.”
The answer to the question, “will virtual public hearing change the public’s perspective on in-person public hearings? is – I hope so! At least, the City’s virtual public hearings will be an opportunity to change the format of presentations to be more interactive and dynamic. This is a different approach from the tired linear and static PowerPoint or Keynote slides. It’s a presentation in an organic flow of information. In a live presentation, this is a “Conversational Presentation“, which is more interactive and presents only the information the audience wants to see in the order, they need to see it. Information is presented based on the presenter’s desired flow and response to questions. SATT is developing a “Conversational Presentation” application for virtual public hearings using text, images, videos, and audio.
SATT has already developed “Wheelhouse”, a “Viewer Led Presentation” that enables viewers to jump and move around topics and subtopics depending on their interest. This gives the presentation a more personalized experience. Instead of a linear showing of slides, SATT’s Wheelhouse application makes use of one large canvas that allows viewers to pan and zoom to various parts of the canvas and emphasize their desired information. Wheelhouse uses text, images, and videos to tell a story.
SATT’s Wheelhouse application presents four core topics that govern most conversations on land use – Property, Project, Request, and Justification. Property is a discussion of the land and how it’s used or to be used as determined by general plans and zoning. Project is the development, construction, or a change of use. Request is the discretionary process triggered by regulations and guidelines. Lastly, Justifications address the legal Findings required by the decision-maker.
SATT’s Wheelhouse uses these four topics in a non-linear Viewer Led Presentation format. The viewer can ignore the established presentation path and plot their own entirely by clicking on a topic to zoom in on. Click here to see an example of a Wheelhouse
The following Council Motions were introduced during today’s City Council meeting. The listed motions govern ALL SUBJECT MATTERS OF COUNCIL not only land use. Council file numbers have not been assigned at this time and are currently being processed.View City Council.
View City Council Motions (April 22, 2020) (Land Use Policy: Access to City Hall, Budget Process, Food and Beverage businesses streamline process and fees, Project Roomkey for Hotels, Establish a Social Housing Program)
| 20-0499 | Recommend low-cost or no-cost changes to streamline City processes for departmental approvals | |
| To Economic Development Committee Motion (Blumenfield – Price) relative to instructing the Economic and Workforce Development Department to convene in a working group including Food and Beverage Industry representative and appropriate City Departments, to recommend low-cost or no-cost changes to streamline City processes for departmental approvals for the operation or modification of business operations; and as further instructed in the Motion. |
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| 20-0491 | Social housing program | |
| To Housing Committee Motion (Bonin – Harris-Dawson – Koretz) relative to the request that the Office of the Mayor, using his expanded powers under the Covid-19 state of emergency, establish a social housing program that could use federal funds to purchase a long term lease for privately owned properties, including hotels, motels, vacant properties, and distressed properties, to provide housing for Angelenos, etc. |
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| 20-0488 | Project Roomkey | |
| To Homelessness and Poverty Committee Motion (Martinez – Buscaino) relative to instructing the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, to report on the status of Project Roomkey, identification of hotels and motels, the populations served, and services provided; and further instructions detailed in this Motion. |
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The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment has prepared a uniform Neighborhood Council virtual meeting process, as committed to in their March 27 and April 8 letters to NC board members. As a result, the Department will be returning the NCs to full board service effective May 1, 2020, using the Zoom meeting application. The EVG includes a collection of City Attorney approved meeting notice and agenda templates, meeting protocols, and Zoom Meeting technical requirements, to name a few of the ready-to-use tools.
In conformity with the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 (March 17, 2020) and due to concerns over COVID-19, the CPC meeting will be conducted entirely telephonically by Zoom [https://zoom.us/]. The meeting’s telephone number and access code access number will be provided no later than 72 hours before the meeting on the meeting agenda published at https://planning.lacity.org/about/commissions boards-hearings and/or by contacting cpc@lacity.org
In conformity with the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 (March 17, 2020) and due to concerns over COVID-19, the City Planning Commission meeting will be conducted entirely telephonically. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS CAN BE LISTENED TO BY DIALING (213) 621-2489 OR (818) 904-9450. IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING AND OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. Only members of the public who wish to offer public comment to the City Planning Commission should call (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID No. [CHECK THE AGENDA] And then press #. Press # again when prompted for participant ID.
City Planning is proposing a program to permit eligible sit-down restaurants to serve alcohol through an administrative clearance process. The Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) is intended to save applicants time and money. Largely as a result of community input, the ordinance incorporates nearly 50 operating standards. These standards will be applied citywide, contributing to consistency and equity in the review of alcohol permits.
Under existing City regulations, all businesses seeking to serve alcohol, regardless of the business type, are required to apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). This process takes roughly six months and costs approximately $12,500. For establishments such as bars or nightclubs, which have the potential to create adverse impacts, the Conditional Use Permit process provides a useful tool for neighbors to weigh in and for the decision-makers to evaluate the establishments’ potential impact. However, establishments where alcohol is incidental to dining, the Conditional Use Permit process is time-consuming and costly with little commensurate benefit for the community. Per the City Council’s instructions, City Planning has prepared an ordinance that creates an administrative clearance process for on-site alcohol sales at bona fide sitdown restaurants, subject to objective operational standards as well as mandatory monitoring and inspections. The proposed process would take approximately three weeks, cost roughly $3,000.
Thursday, April 16, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Monday, April 20, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
While Californians are rightfully focused on COVID-19 during this time, OPR has also received many questions about SB 743 implementation in the past few weeks. The requirement in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3 to use vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the metric for transportation analysis still takes effect on July 1st. The purpose of this webinar is to make this transition as easy and seamless as possible.
The following Council Motions were introduced during today’s City Council meeting. The listed motions govern ALL SUBJECT MATTERS OF COUNCIL not only land use. Council file numbers have not been assigned at this time and are currently being processed.View City Council.
View City Council Motions (April 7, 2020) (Land Use Policy: Neighborhood Council Teleconferencing, Use of Hotels for Covid-19, Use of public right-of-way for Covid-19, Prohibit sale of living animals for human consumption, Modify permitted construction hours)
OPR Implementing SB 743: What You Need to Know
While Californians are rightfully focused on COVID-19 during this time, OPR has also received many questions about SB 743 implementation in the past few weeks. The requirement in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3 to use vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the metric for transportation analysis still takes effect on July 1st. The purpose of this webinar is to make this transition as easy and seamless as possible.
OPR staff will walk through OPR’s recommendations on how to implement this change and answer clarifying questions from attendees. The webinar will cover methods of VMT analysis, determining VMT significance, and VMT mitigation for both land use and transportation projects.
Guest presenters from the City of San Jose and UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment will cover how their jurisdiction has implemented the VMT metric and potential mitigation strategies, respectively.
The webinar will be held on two dates, with the same content each time. Closer to the date, the zoom link and an agenda will be sent out and posted on OPR’s website. Participants are welcome to join for part of one day and part of another. There will also be upcoming online office hours to address more detailed questions.
April 9, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
April 16, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm New Date Added
In the meantime, helpful resources are available at OPR’s SB 743 web page, which contains the latest Technical Advisory and narrated presentations explaining key points from the Technical Advisory:
Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA (PDF)
Introduction (Slide Presentation)
Problems with LOS (Video)
Benefits of VMT (Video)
Methods for Land Use Projects (Video)
Full Counting of VMT (Video)
It also contains a California Air Resources Board document connecting VMT with climate targets found in state law.
CF 20-0303 AT CITY COUNCIL 04/07/2020
PUBLIC COMMENT
In conformity with the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 (March 17, 2020) and due to concerns over COVID-19, the City Council meeting will be conducted entirely telephonically.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON CABLE TELEVISION CHANNEL 35 AND ON THE INTERNET AT: HTTPS://WWW.LACITY.ORG/GOVERNMENT/FOLLOW-MEETINGS/CITY-COUNCIL-MEETINGS. LIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS CAN ALSO BE HEARD AT: (213) 621-CITY (METRO), (818) 904-9450 (VALLEY), (310) 471-CITY (WESTSIDE) AND (310) 547-CITY (SAN PEDRO AREA)
Members of the public who wish to offer public comment to the Council should call (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID No.459 499 150 and then press #. Press # again when prompted for participant ID.
Requests for reasonable modification or accommodation from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act can be made by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (213) 978-1133. For Telecommunication Relay Services for the hearing impaired, please see the information located on page 2 of this agenda
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (CAO) relative to a proposed contract with BAE Urban Economics, Inc. for the purpose of conducting a fee study analysis of the Systematic Code Enforcement Program (SCEP).
Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
AUTHORIZE the General Manager, Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), or designee, to:
Negotiate and execute a contract with BAE Urban Economics, Inc. for the purpose of conducting a fee study analysis for the Systematic Code Enforcement Fee Trust Fund, with a compensation amount not to exceed $120,000, and contract term of three years from February 1, 2020 through January 23, 2023, in substantial conformance with the draft contract attached to this report, subject to review and approval of the City Attorney as to form, funding availability, and compliance with the City’s contracting requirements.
Prepare Controller instructions and make any necessary technical adjustments consistent with Council and the Mayor actions on this matter, subject to the approval of the CAO.
AUTHORIZE the Controller to:
Establish a new account 43S798 – Code Enforcement SCEP Fee Study within the Systematic Code Enforcement Fee Trust Fund No. 41M/43.
Transfer appropriations in the amount of $80,000 in Fund No. 41M/43 from Account No. 43P143, HCIDLA to the new Account No. 43S798, Code Enforcement SCEP Fee Study.
Fiscal Impact Statement: The CAO reports that there is no impact to the General Fund. The proposed contract with BAE Urban Economics will be provided by the Systematic Code Enforcement Trust Fund No. 41M. The requested appropriation will provide funding for the first year of the contract. The remaining balance of funding for the second and third year of the contract term may be subject to approval as part of the 2020-21 Financial Status Reports. The recommendations in the report comply with the City’s Financial Policies in that the City’s financial obligation is limited to funds budgeted for this purpose according to the City’s Standard Provisions.
Community Impact Statement: None submitted.
Click on the BLUE HIGHLIGHT to view official documents and reports.
City Administrative Officer report 0220-00540-142, dated February 19, 2020, relative to the proposed contract with BAE Urban Economics, Incorporation for the purpose of conducting a fee study analysis of the Systematic Code Enforcement Program.
| 20-0380-S1 | Extend all expiring Conditional Use Permits | |
| To Planning and Land Use Management Committee Motion (Blumenfield – Price) relative to instructing the Planning Department with the assistance of the City Attorney, to prepare and present a draft emergency Ordinance or Ordinances that would extend all expiring Conditional Use Permits and suspend various parking requirements for a period of 12 months, after expiration of the Coronavirus COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, and the related actions detailed in the Motion. |
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| 20-0380 | Waive public hearings for the renewal of Conditional Use Permits (CUP) | |
| To Planning and Land Use Management Committee Motion (O’Farrell – Blumenfield) relative to requesting the Mayor issue an Executive Order, under the provisions of the Administrative Code, Chapter 3, Section 8.29, to waive public hearings for the renewal of Conditional Use Permits (CUP), during the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, for existing restaurants and bars that have sunset clauses in their existing CUPs for the serving of alcohol. |
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| 20-0377 | Extension of time on an order issued by the Department of Building and Safety. | |
| To Council Motion (Krekorian – O’Farrell) relative to requesting the City Attorney to prepare and present a draft emergency Ordinance amending the Los Angeles Municipal Code, to create an exception to the required fee for an appeal to request an extension of time on an order issued by the Department of Building and Safety. |
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| 20-0381 | Emporarily waive the Code Violation Inspection Fee and extend the Non-Compliance Fee payment deadline. | |
| To Council Motion (Krekorian – Koretz) relative to requesting the City Attorney to prepare and present a draft emergency Ordinance amending the Los Angeles Municipal Code to temporarily waive the Code Violation Inspection Fee and extend the Non-Compliance Fee payment deadline. |
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| 20-0365 | Permanent General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety | |
| To Planning and Land Use Management Committee Mayor report, dated March 26, 2020, relative to the appointment of Mr. Osama K. Younan as the Permanent General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. |
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