Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting - June 18, 2025
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Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting - June 18, 2025
The Los Angeles City Council met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 9:30 AM. The meeting included ceremonial presentations for Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ Pride, public comment on multiple agenda items, and votes on consent calendar items, a special appropriation for LAPD overtime, and a settlement agreement regarding digital advertising in the public right-of-way.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items 4 through 12, 14 through 26, and 28 unanimously (13 yeas).
- Item 3 was continued to Tuesday, June 24, 2025, without objection.
Presentations & Ceremonies
- Councilmember Rodriguez introduced singer Neza (Vanessa Hernandez), who performed the Star-Spangled Banner in Spanish. Rodriguez commended her for standing up for the Latino community amid federal immigration enforcement.
- Councilmember Price led a Juneteenth commemoration with a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Faith White, and a video message from artist Brandon Barry Brown. Price announced multiple Juneteenth events (June 20-22) in South Los Angeles and reaffirmed solidarity with immigrant communities.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tenant rights: Angela Birdsong (LA Can) demanded restoration of mail delivery and 24/7 security at 17 buildings recently purchased by Hope for Affordable LA, and urged the council to execute the Stay House LA contract.
- Immigration and protests: Multiple speakers criticized LAPD's response to recent ICE raids and protests, alleging excessive force and constitutional violations. Some called for the council to denounce police actions.
- Tourism kiosks (Item 33): Supporters (Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, IBEW Local 11, LA County Federation of Labor) argued the kiosks would generate revenue, support local businesses, and create jobs. Opponents (Coalition for Beautiful LA, West Side Neighborhood Council, and residents) raised concerns about privacy, data collection, competition with the existing bus shelter program, and lack of community outreach.
- Litigation settlement (Item 34): Speakers from Citizens for a Better Los Angeles and Coalition for Scenic Los Angeles urged approval of the settlement regarding the Street Furniture Advertising Program (STAP), citing privacy protections and revenue benefits.
- General public comment: Several speakers alleged Brown Act violations, criticized the city's handling of homelessness, and raised issues about the city engineer's residency.
Discussion Items
- Item 27 (Federal immigration enforcement): Continued for two days without discussion (to June 20).
- Item 33 (Interactive tourism kiosks): Councilmember McOskar introduced a motion to release an RFP within 30 days. After public comment, the council voted to refer the matter to the Public Works Committee without objection.
- Special Item (Rule 23 - LAPD overtime for ICE-related operations): Councilmember Lee presented findings justifying an emergency appropriation of $5 million for LAPD overtime costs incurred during recent immigration enforcement operations. The council adopted the findings (14-0) and then voted on the motion itself, passing it 13-2 (with Councilmember Hutt recorded as a "no" vote).
- Item 34 (STAP settlement): After closed session, the council voted on a settlement agreement in the cases Citizens for a Better Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles and Coalition for Scenic Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles. The roll call was recorded as 5 yeas and 9 nays, but the council president did not explicitly state the outcome; the meeting then proceeded to adjournment.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved.
- Item 3 continued to June 24.
- Item 27 continued to June 20.
- Item 33 referred to Public Works Committee.
- Special Item (LAPD overtime) approved (13-2).
- Item 34 (STAP settlement) vote recorded as 5-9; outcome not declared.
- The council adjourned in memory of retired Deputy City Attorney Jessica Hines, community leader Eugene Don Haskell Korn, and political consultant Eric Bauman.
Meeting Transcript
Hello everyone. I'm Susan Huckle, and here's what's happening in LA this week. Angelinos are using their First Amendment rights to protest ice raids in the community. LA Mayor Karen Bass has issued a warning to anyone who is distracting from those legitimate protests with vandalism or looting. The violence and the damage is unacceptable. It is not going to be tolerated, and individuals will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. For more information, visit mayor.lacity.gov slash press. Over in Hollywood, as part of the city's lesbian gay, bisexual, and transgender heritage month, Pride Marches On. This community celebration is all about love, self-expression, and living authentically out loud. Happy Pride LA. We are going to continue to stand together in solidarity with all Angelino. Because we believe in love in LA. Happy Pride! This year we're celebrating our 55th anniversary of LA Pride. Our theme this year is Pride March is on recognizing that we have to show up and continue the movement. Everybody's getting up out of the house and making a statement without even having to say a word. Just show up. Show up, and we're gonna show out today. This is such an incredible day every year. Second Sunday in June, Market Calendar for forever. Because this is when the city of Los Angeles gathers to celebrate pride. It is so important for us to make sure that we are announcing to the world that LA is for everyone. We welcome everyone. We embrace everyone, we support everyone. Now more than ever, we need these spaces. We are creating a safe space for everyone to come out and celebrate and be themselves. We've got a federal administration that is coming after trans kids and LGBTQ people, and it shows our community that there's many of us, and if we stick together, we're gonna overcome this. It's that unity that gives our community strength and resilience. There are people who have fought for our right to mark down this boulevard and celebrate who we are and love who we want to love. So on a day like today, this is us showing people who we are and celebrating love and inclusivity. It's a great day. This event really, really promotes acceptance. Everyone has the right to love. Everyone has the right to be who they want to be. And regardless if you're gay, stray, bisexual, transgender, it doesn't matter. That's what party's all about. Just being a human being and celebrating love. In this celebration, people go all out. Fuck coming out to celebrate themselves and their authenticity. You see everybody here, all shapes, all sizes, all ages, all backgrounds. It makes me feel empowered. It makes me feel seen. It makes me feel like I'm cared for. It makes me feel human. It means a lot to us as out LGBTQ officers to acknowledge all the work that we have done and also to recommit ourselves to the work that we need to continue to do to ensure that everybody is treated with dignity and respect. It's opportunities like this that reminds us what humanity means, why it's important for us to stick together, show love, and we need to make sure that we're supportive of one another. I want LA to always be first and out front, doing what they're trying to set as an example for other people to do. Love one another, be supportive. Because if we don't stand together, we all fall apart. We're here together to be happy and be us and be proud and not be afraid.
openpublica.com