OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Los Angeles City Council Meeting – February 20, 2026

City Council — Friday, February 20, 2026
BodyLos Angeles, California
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, February 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:35:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Another really interesting thing to me was from the 1881 time capsule from the normal school that was on this site before the library, and that capsule was actually inside of ours.

0:12

We didn't have any idea what that was going to contain, but among the really interesting things was a sort of memento of black morning cloth and dried moss from the funeral of President Garfield who had been assassinated just a couple months prior, and somebody who was at that memorial celebration in uh Cleveland brought that and felt that it was important to represent that moment in American history and put it in the time capsule.

0:40

I've walked around and looked at the artifacts, which is amazing how well they survived.

0:45

They don't look like they sat in the box for a hundred years.

0:47

But the building itself proves that LA does have a history.

0:52

We are not just this whole new city.

0:55

We do have a history here, and we like to celebrate our history.

1:15

I don't know what anyone would be if we didn't learn from history, learn from the lessons of life.

1:30

Then we have exhibitions sobre la historia, el arte, la architectura de la biblioteca y también sobre los services que ofrecen.

1:38

It's a fecha que duramos si quieres invitamos atrás to celebrar con nosotros.

1:47

Even though we're celebrating Central Library, we're going to be having programming at our branches throughout the entire year.

1:54

So people can go and get all kinds of information if they go to the Los Angeles Public Library website, lapl.org, backslash Central 100, and everything will be posted there, and we're gonna be adding information as the year goes on.

2:08

We're so excited to celebrate this incredible landmark building and to have the public celebrate with us.

2:24

Today's event is called Plant Day at the library.

2:28

I came in one day with my sister and saw that they had a sign for planting.

2:33

And I was like, oh, this seems really interesting.

2:35

We should come in and join like the workshop that they have.

2:37

And she was like, okay, so we decided to come in.

2:41

It's just a way for people to get together and celebrate plants and the people will love them.

2:45

This one is called Donkey's Tale.

2:46

We've gathered a number of different uh experts in horticulture, flower arrangements, sustainability, composting.

2:53

I love how you're adding just a little bit of stuff.

2:56

Propagation and repotting to teach the public how to work with plants, veggie trays in case they want to grow veggies at home.

3:02

It's for drainage.

3:03

So people are walking away with knowledge of how to work with plants, some plants themselves, and then also connections to community agencies that are working to make LA greener and more sustainable.

3:11

They like my design.

3:13

I do.

3:13

It's very creative.

3:15

I felt really proud of my idea and expressing who I am as a person, which I feel like I was able to do with the rainbow.

3:31

We've been invited by the Central Library for Plant Day.

3:34

Today we're doing five bouquets where they're revengeing flowers.

3:38

Yes, yes, yes.

3:39

I think that uh nature brings something out in us, right?

3:41

We live in a natural world.

3:43

At the end of the day, we come from nature, and it's important for us to be able to connect with and learn in that sort of way.

3:48

Uh doing something with your hands is really important too, not only for kids but also for everybody.

3:51

Thank you.

3:53

And that's what we're here to do today.

4:29

Starting this year, the city will engage artists and cultural organizations in all 15 city council districts.

4:37

The official launch will take place in 2027 with events taking place across Los Angeles in 2028.

4:44

Learn more at culture.lacity.gov.

4:50

Hey Angelinos want to check out some amazing museums and cool spots.

4:54

Your Los Angeles public library card is the key to it all.

5:00

From the zoo, Labrea Tarpits, and LA Galaxy to the Music Center and so much more.

5:05

Log into Discover and Go to reserve free or low-cost passes to tons of awesome attractions.

5:12

Learn more at LAPL.org slash explore LA.

5:24

We're at the Central Library, the largest public library in California, and one of the biggest in the nation.

5:30

This has long been home to millions of books, photographs, maps, films, and archival materials.

5:37

Some dating back to the city's earliest days, reflecting the shared history of Los Angeles.

5:42

That same sense of connection is being echoed in soccer.

5:45

The beautiful game.

5:46

As LA hosts this year's World Cup with fan festivals, watch parties, and community events unfolding across the city.

5:53

The excitement is building fast.

5:54

Whether you're new to the game, a casual fan, or a devoted player, there are countless ways to experience the World Cup spirit throughout Los Angeles together.

6:11

One, two, and three.

6:13

We're right at the doorstep of the World Cup.

6:16

We're all coming together to bring together our communities and to celebrate the sport of soccer.

6:23

It gives me great joy that we get to share our city with the world.

6:29

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and to have eight matches hosted in Inglewood is bigger than a dream come true for the city.

6:37

It puts us on the map as an international city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts and Culture████████████████████████24%
Public Comment██████████████████18%
Procedural████████8%
Education██████6%
International Solidarity██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Procurement Oversight█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Housing And Homelessness████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Los Angeles City Council Meeting – February 20, 2026

The Los Angeles City Council convened on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 9:34 AM. The meeting included presentations honoring community groups, public comment on a range of issues, discussion and votes on several agenda items, and a special resolution opposing a federal housing rule. The council voted on consent calendar items, heard updates on the Olympics and golf course management, and passed a motion to oppose a HUD proposal on citizenship verification.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1 through 17 (public hearings held) and items 18 through 20 (no public hearing) were approved. The first set (items 1, 2, 4, 6–8, 10–17) passed with 11 ayes. Items 18–20 passed with 12 ayes. Item 3 was amended and passed 12 ayes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Martin Barrera (Jobs to Move America) urged the city to mitigate harms from upcoming global sporting events (World Cup, Olympics) and ensure high-road jobs.
  • Andrew Gillispi (general comment) called for a military-level investigation of police misconduct.
  • Carmen Klose (general comment) pleaded for preservation of housing vouchers, stating she is disabled and at risk of homelessness.
  • Fatima Morieta (Jobs to Move America) highlighted human rights concerns with FIFA sponsor Hyundai, including child labor and environmental abuses.
  • Mai Kodbian (general comment) also sought help with expiring housing vouchers.
  • Casus Rojas (Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles) opposed a proposed requirement for rental housing providers to post immigration rights materials, arguing it is an unfunded mandate.
  • Ebony Goodwin (Harbor of Hope) called for survivor-led services for human trafficking victims.
  • Renora Jong Thomas Hid (Thai Community Development Center) demanded the release of FIFA's human rights plan, noting the December 31, 2025 deadline was missed.
  • Andrew Gillespie (Starbucks worker) urged passage of the Fast Food Fair Work Ordinance to mandate know-your-rights training.
  • Nick Stewart Block (Fair Games Coalition) demanded the release of human rights plans for both FIFA and LA28, and called for the resignation of Casey Wasserman.
  • Valerie Lizaraga (Jobs to Move America) urged immediate release of the FIFA human rights plan.
  • Professor Stephanie Richard (Loyola Law School) echoed the demand for transparency on human rights plans.
  • Alexander Chavez (student advocate) stressed the need to prevent labor trafficking during major sporting events.
  • Michelle Hopewalker thanked council members for Black History Month and called for an end to racism against Mayor Karen Bass.
  • Several other speakers commented on the special motion (see Discussion Items).

Discussion Items

  • Item 5 – Contract amendment with Ernst & Young (EY) for Olympics project management: Councilmember Yaroslavsky questioned the cost increase from $2 million (2019) to $42 million. CAO Matt Zabo explained the scope evolved from conceptual to project management, including monitoring APCLA's work. Yaroslavsky requested monthly updates and transparent accounting. Councilmember Raman asked about internal tracking; Zabo promised a first status report in March 2026 and monthly updates thereafter. The item passed 12 ayes.
  • Item 9 – Golf course tee time reservation system: Councilmember Yaroslavsky asked whether scalping/bots had been eliminated. General Manager Jimmy Kim reported a 95% decrease in cancellations due to deposit system and noted that brokers were prosecuted by the IRS. Yaroslavsky requested a report on potential penalties for violators. The item passed 12 ayes.
  • Rule 23 Motion – Opposition to HUD proposed rule on citizenship verification: Councilmember Hernandez introduced a resolution opposing the rule that would require aggressive citizenship verification for federal housing assistance, affecting mixed-status families. He noted 96% of those affected are people of color, 86% Latinx, 46% children, and an estimated 1,700 families in Los Angeles at risk. Councilmember McCosker called the rule "cruelty masquerading as governance." The council voted 12 ayes to adopt the findings and then passed the motion 12 ayes.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar items passed (11–12 ayes).
  • Item 5 (EY contract) approved (12 ayes) with a commitment to monthly updates to the Budget and Finance Committee.
  • Item 9 (golf course reservation system) approved (12 ayes) with a directive to report back on penalty options.
  • Rule 23 motion (opposing HUD rule) adopted (12 ayes) – the council will send a resolution opposing the proposed citizenship verification rule.
  • The council also heard presentations honoring the Woodland Hills Library Friends (50th anniversary), San Fernando High School Tigers football team (2025 CIF City Champions), and recognized the Day of Remembrance (Japanese American internment) and the start of Ramadan.
  • Adjourning motions were passed in memory of Martha Francis Benedict, Alice Sandoval, and in honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson (flags at half staff).

Meeting Transcript

Another really interesting thing to me was from the 1881 time capsule from the normal school that was on this site before the library, and that capsule was actually inside of ours. We didn't have any idea what that was going to contain, but among the really interesting things was a sort of memento of black morning cloth and dried moss from the funeral of President Garfield who had been assassinated just a couple months prior, and somebody who was at that memorial celebration in uh Cleveland brought that and felt that it was important to represent that moment in American history and put it in the time capsule. I've walked around and looked at the artifacts, which is amazing how well they survived. They don't look like they sat in the box for a hundred years. But the building itself proves that LA does have a history. We are not just this whole new city. We do have a history here, and we like to celebrate our history. I don't know what anyone would be if we didn't learn from history, learn from the lessons of life. Then we have exhibitions sobre la historia, el arte, la architectura de la biblioteca y también sobre los services que ofrecen. It's a fecha que duramos si quieres invitamos atrás to celebrar con nosotros. Even though we're celebrating Central Library, we're going to be having programming at our branches throughout the entire year. So people can go and get all kinds of information if they go to the Los Angeles Public Library website, lapl.org, backslash Central 100, and everything will be posted there, and we're gonna be adding information as the year goes on. We're so excited to celebrate this incredible landmark building and to have the public celebrate with us. Today's event is called Plant Day at the library. I came in one day with my sister and saw that they had a sign for planting. And I was like, oh, this seems really interesting. We should come in and join like the workshop that they have. And she was like, okay, so we decided to come in. It's just a way for people to get together and celebrate plants and the people will love them. This one is called Donkey's Tale. We've gathered a number of different uh experts in horticulture, flower arrangements, sustainability, composting. I love how you're adding just a little bit of stuff. Propagation and repotting to teach the public how to work with plants, veggie trays in case they want to grow veggies at home. It's for drainage. So people are walking away with knowledge of how to work with plants, some plants themselves, and then also connections to community agencies that are working to make LA greener and more sustainable. They like my design. I do. It's very creative. I felt really proud of my idea and expressing who I am as a person, which I feel like I was able to do with the rainbow. We've been invited by the Central Library for Plant Day. Today we're doing five bouquets where they're revengeing flowers. Yes, yes, yes. I think that uh nature brings something out in us, right? We live in a natural world. At the end of the day, we come from nature, and it's important for us to be able to connect with and learn in that sort of way. Uh doing something with your hands is really important too, not only for kids but also for everybody. Thank you. And that's what we're here to do today. Starting this year, the city will engage artists and cultural organizations in all 15 city council districts. The official launch will take place in 2027 with events taking place across Los Angeles in 2028. Learn more at culture.lacity.gov. Hey Angelinos want to check out some amazing museums and cool spots. Your Los Angeles public library card is the key to it all. From the zoo, Labrea Tarpits, and LA Galaxy to the Music Center and so much more. Log into Discover and Go to reserve free or low-cost passes to tons of awesome attractions. Learn more at LAPL.org slash explore LA. We're at the Central Library, the largest public library in California, and one of the biggest in the nation. This has long been home to millions of books, photographs, maps, films, and archival materials. Some dating back to the city's earliest days, reflecting the shared history of Los Angeles. That same sense of connection is being echoed in soccer.

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