Today before you, which says, if we're gonna do this, let's also put on the ballot, and this is all in the amendment, it's written out, it's a long amendment.

Let's do the same with our fire department.

You know, our fire department, we need at least 15% of the general fund budget in order to make our fire department whole.

That would be a strong fire department, and we wouldn't have things like the Palisades fire.

So I have a motion that not only includes the park money, and let's and let's, by the way, let's do the park money right away.

Let's not wait, do any ramp up, but let's also dedicate 15% to the fire department.

Also, let's amend the budget to provide at least 100 million dollars a year adjusted for inflation to install and improve curb ramps to address the city's past failure to comply with the Americans with Disability Act.

Every year we move forward and we don't, we you know, this is legally required for us to do, and we don't do it because we don't have uh the Hutzbah, I'll say, to uh to put it in the budget to actually do it.

So let's ask the voters out of context.

Let's say voters, shall we put in at least 100 million dollars to deal with our ADA curb ramps?

Out of context, of course the answer is yes.

So let's put that in this motion as well.

Let's also, you know, our police department should have at least as number of officers per capita as the 10 largest cities.

You know, we should at least have that.

So let's put that in there as well.

That's in my motion as well.

So you can vote on it.

And just as people are saying, if you vote against this, you're against parks.

Under that logic, I'm gonna say if you vote against this, you're against the fire department, you're against the police department, you're against fixing curb ramps, all of those things.

And in fact, let's also um I'm gonna add in shall the charter be amended to add at least 40 million dollars a year for the unarmed crisis response.

I think that's really important for us.

And if you vote, if you vote no on this amendment or you send it to committee, then you're against the unarmed crisis response.

What else?

How about um 150 million dollars per year adjusted for inflation for mobility improvements to include it in the uh plans general plan?

Let's do that.

Let's also put, I think we could all agree, um, 125 million dollars a year to operate our street lighting system.

You know, the the measure didn't pass on the ballot, so we know we we know the dangers of darkness in this city, so why not set aside why not have the charter set aside every year a minimum of 125 million dollars?

You get the idea.

Same thing with tree trimming.

I'm not gonna put a number on that, but I'm gonna say in this amendment, the charter should be amended to require our annual budget to ensure that the city's trees are trimmed on a cycle that conforms with recommended best practices.

Recommended best practices are five to six years.

We're on a 17-year cycle for our trees.

So we have a lot of things, a lot of good things that if we put them on the ballot, I think most of us or all of us would agree, at least for most of these things, we should be funding these things.

It is the right thing to do.

So why not put it all on?

If we're gonna, if we're gonna lock off part of it, why not make that decision right now?

And I'm giving you all the opportunity.

You can vote for this right now.

And you can actually fund all of those things.

And by the same logic that some folks are saying you're not you're against parks if you're for if you're against this motion, I'm gonna say you're against trees, you're against police, you're against fire if you don't vote for this.

So I'm gonna put this forward for a vote.

Uh, I hope it passes, uh, and if it does, we can all vote move forward.

If it doesn't, and I see the writing on the wall, and I know I'm that I'm gonna I'm gonna leave the chambers because if we don't have a unanimous vote moving forward, you're all gonna have to come back on July 7th.

So I'm gonna do you that favor of uh because it's not gonna change the ultimate outcome.

Uh, but we'll see what happens, but I I won't leave you to to be here on July 7th, so I can make my point.

I'm making my point now, and I thank the council president, Tracy Park, for allowing me to make this point by allowing this amendment to go forward.

Uh and I know people think it's funny, but I I don't I don't just mean this as a joke.

I mean, this is a real manifestation of why this is a why this underlying one is a problem.

Uh, because there are a lot of things that are really important that if we just throw on the charter, it will feel good today, but we're not gonna have to live with the consequences tomorrow.

So, with that, I ask for your I vote on this amendment.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Bloomfield.

I got Councilmember Park.

Then uh Councilmember Yaroslavsky, and then Councilmember Rodriguez to close us.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you, Councilmember Bloomfield.

I'm not just seconding your motion, I'm gonna vote for it to your amendment.

Um, we all love our parks.

I've literally spent the last four years on the west side getting our parks safe and accessible after years of neglects.

We're opening new parks, small parks, dog parks, and regional assets like Lulu's place, uh, our city's most famous park went from being the most dangerous beach in America to hosting Baywatch activating for FIFA and hosting the Olympics.

But still, it's not enough.

We need to double down.

But we also need to double down on sanitation, code enforcement, sidewalk repair, street lights, risk management, and police.

And we also especially need to double down on our fire department, especially after what happened last January and after what has gone on in boil heights over the last couple of weeks.

Honestly, I am frustrated because this isn't how we should be making budgeting decisions as a city.

The reality here is that we should be looking at this when the entire general fund is in front of us and making those priority decisions all at once instead of binding the hands of future councils when the inevitable crises and emergencies emerge.

For years they begged for the city's help for this council's help, and none ever came.

And meanwhile, the city just keeps burning.

So they ultimately went out on their own and did the hard work of qualifying a ballot measure that brings its own revenue source to cover their needs.

And they did things right to make sure that other departments wouldn't take a hit.

And so while I am going to be supportive of this because I do believe that our parks matter, don't take that for a blank check.

And I do want the record to reflect that I'm gonna vote yes to support our parks over significant reservations because I don't think this is fair to our other departments, and we cannot keep carving up our general fund one ballot measure at a time and tying our own hands.

So, Councilmember Bloominfield, thank you for your courageous remarks and your leadership on this issue.

I I hear your concerns loud and clear.

And Councilwoman Yaroslavsky, thank you for being willing to take on this additional challenge as our budget chair.

Um our parks are worth the investment, but this is not how we should be managing our finances.

Thank you, Councilmember Yaroslowski.

So thank you, Councilmember Bluenfield.

I think everything you said was spot on.

Uh and yet I'm still gonna ask colleagues to vote no on your amendment.

Uh and I'm hoping that I don't have to explain all the reasons why us tying our hands in every future council's hands with the budget is a bad idea.

Um so maybe that was obvious that please vote no.

Like Council Member Blue and Field's amendment.

Um, I think it's gonna be very challenging to figure out how to double the parks department's budget over the next 10 years.

But we have 10 years to figure it out, and we also have the ability to reduce that amount by up to 30 percent should we face a fiscal crisis.

So there is a little bit of flexibility there.

It's not as much as I would like.

Um, but given the dire state of our parks department and the will of the body whenever we last voted on this, I think it gives us enough reasonable assurances that if we need to, we can pull it back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I got Councilmember Hernandez and then Councilman Rodriguez.

Yes, so I feel differently about ballot box budgeting.

I co-authored Measure J and LA uh at the LA County level that said 10% of locally generated tax dollars need to go into youth services, uh community-based pre-child services, uh housing, uh alternative to incarceration, alternate types of crisis response, and that ballot measure came about because the county didn't have the political will to invest its budget into these things that it's so desperately needed.

And I find your motion very humorous.

Yes, Councilmember Blue Enfield, but it also triggers memories of when I was sitting right here advocating to you for safe street infrastructure during the budget process, and I couldn't get you to move or others to move, and there was no political will to invest in that safe street infrastructure.

So, as humorous as this is, you know, usually there's not the political will to do the right thing.

And that's unfortunate.

So that's why sometimes ballot box budgeting is required, and um, I'd like to provide a friendly amendment uh to remove the police language and instead add language, support the LA Animal Services Department.

Councilmember Rodriguez.

Can I get a second?

Second.

Councilmember Rodriguez.

Thank you, colleagues.

Now that uh we have uh functionally wounded Council Member Yaroslavsky with your amendment, uh Mr.

Nandez.

I you know, Bob, I I really appreciate every everything you're you know, everything that you said and where you're coming from with this, and um, even if you're not trying to be funny, you have a way of being funny.

And for me, this this uh amendment was that, but I respect and appreciate where you're coming from on this issue, and uh to be clear, I've always known you to be a pro parks guy because of all of your history.

Uh however, this is a circumstance that we are facing uh obviously with the state of our parks uh with so much that we have looking ahead with what our parks provide, not just uh for the recreational access, but for the emergency relief that it provides.

Our parks are literally overused, and uh, and we have a plan, and the plan was built around mitigating further financial risk that we were already being exposed to out of lack of ADA compliance.

So we got a lot of work ahead and we know that, but I want to thank everybody for helping to provide the proper safeguards to ensure that uh should we face fiscal crisis that we have that measure to help ensure that we aren't locked into something that we can't repair.

So, with all due respect, I still ask for a no vote on your amendment and uh an I vote on the underlying item.

Thank you.

Alright, thank you, Councilmember uh Rodriguez.

Uh, and thank you, members, for this uh very very important discussion.

Uh, I think it I think it's important that it you know be on the record.

We understand the pitfalls of approaching budgeting this way.

Um, um, are anticipating the challenges that it will create, notwithstanding how uh important it is for us to fund our parks.

Uh Mr.

Clerk, uh, we have an amendment.

Uh Mr.

Blumenfield, uh, is I guess it's a Bloomenfield Hernandez Park motion at this point.

So before council correct is yes, 95A as amended by Hernandez Park.

All right, and I'm gonna move that we send that amendment to committee without objection, rules committee without objection.

All right, without objection, that'll be the order.

What's next?

Item number 95.

All right, all right.

Let's uh open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote, 13 ayes.

All right.

All right, what's next?

Before council is item number 93.

The city attorney has submitted an updated ordinance and ballot resolution.

Um dated June 30th.

All right, and I would just want to confirm that the updated ordinances ordinances are dated for June 30th.

It sounds like that's the case.

Uh, all right, we'll get to open the roll.

All right, let's open the roll, close the roll.

I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

Is there a motion to adopt the updated ordinance and resolution?

Council Member Yaroslovski moves, Council President seconds.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

Twelve eyes.

Alright.

What's next?

Item number 96, and as the city attorney has also submitted updated documents, the ordinance and ballot resolution dated June 30th.

Alright, confirming that the updated ordinances are dated for June 30th.

Let's open the roll.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

Sorry, Mr.

President.

We'll need another motion for that to adopt the updated items.

Mr.

Coster moves, the council president's seconds.

Let's open the roll.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

13 eyes.

Alright, what's next?

Item number 91.

We're still waiting on the the updated documents.

Would council like to reset.

Mr.

Dundas.

I believe that we actually haven't voted on the amendment.

Oh, thank you.

But the record, the documents are ready.

Should the council approve the amendment?

Thank you.

Mr.

President, we actually do have 91A, the amendment before you.

Alright.

91A is before us.

Let's open the roll.

Close the roll, tabulate to vote.

13 eyes.

Alright.

What's next?

And then can you confirm that we do have the updated ordinance and ballot resolution for I can make such a confirmation?

All right.

And would you like to make a motion to adopt those updated documents?

So moved.

And a second.

Councilmember Yarosovsky seconds.

Alright.

Let's open the roll.

Close the roll.

Tabulate to vote.

Thirteen eyes.

Alright, what's next?

Would council like to recess the regular meeting and convene the second special meeting?

Yes.

Please call the roll.

Bloomenfield, Harris Dawson, Hernandez, Harado, Lee, McOskar, Nazaren, Padilla, Park, Price, Raman, Rodriguez, Suda Martinez, Yaroslavsky, 14 members in a core, Mr.

President.

And item one is an item for which public hearings have not been held.

Ten votes are required for consideration.

Alright, without objection, that item is before us.

We got to do public comment.

Okay, uh, Mr.

City Attorney.

Yes.

So uh we are now in the second special meeting.

So this is special agenda number two.

There's only one item.

It is related to the Glaza litigation and a request for outside counsel.

So if you would like to provide public comment for that item only, you'll have up to one minute.

Uh please either I I see we have at least one, but if not, then line up on your left-hand side of the council chambers.

Uh can we get the wireless handheld microphone, please?

All right, and as speakers are coming forward, we want to announce that ad hoc committee on Olympics will start at three, hopefully.

Three o'clock for ad hoc committee on the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Okay, we'll we'll begin with uh audit LA.

Go ahead, you have one minute for the item.

Okay, this is a zoo, right?

Um, okay.

I can tell you how you can get some money for the zoo.

First of all, stop allowing, you know, get Scientology to pay their part.

They use up all of our resources, they don't pay taxes, they take advantage of the permit system.

They have a lot of workers that says it's religious workers, but they're not.

They're doing labor.

It's it's labor trafficking.

All that money could go in and save our zoo.

Um, and why are we?

We're building big infrastructures like a building that no one's gonna come to because you can't navigate the city.

The elevators don't work, the sidewalks don't work, but you're building these big buildings, you know, but you could save the zoo, and I think it's just ridiculous that you guys, you know, you can't figure it out.

And you know, here go you want to help, you know, run the police and all that stuff, but you can't even control uh Scientology's permit abuse in your area.

Okay, uh that let's think about that.

So thank you.

Save the zoo.

Go ahead, Miss Chairman.

You have one minute.

So for the fucking 50 million dollars, that was money, fundraise it, in which I support the people who supported the zoo.

Fuck Los Angeles.

What entitlement do you belong to to receive 50 million dollars of a slush fund that don't belong to you?

It does not belong to you.

That fundraising money goes to the fundraisers and it goes to all the little animals, right?

Miss Hippopotam, Miss Hernandez.

Right, Miss Moo Moo.

Rodriguez, you're not on topic.

Fucking topic, case number two.

We're not just on topic.

Stick to the item, or you'll forfeit your time.

Shut the fuck up!

I'm speaking, asshole, my last fucking 10 times.

You're disrupting the meeting, you're off topic.

This is your second warning.

And your time is forfeit or expired.

Pick one.

You were off topic multiple times and did not get on topic.

I, Mr.

President, I do not see anyone else here to provide public comment on these items.

So we can close public comment.

Alright, Ms.

Clerk.

So item one from special agenda two is before us.

Alright, let's open the roll.

Close the roll.

Tab we like to vote.

13 eyes.

Alright, what's next?

The desk is clear on the special.

Would you like to adjourn special two?

And please.

Without objection, that'll be the order.

Thank you.

Now the desk is clear.

Would you like to recess the special meeting and resume the regular?

Yes.

Blumenfield, Harris Dawson, Hernandez, Hutt, Harado, Lee, Mike Oscar, Nazarian, Padilla, Park, Price, Raman, Rodriguez, Soda Martinez, Yaroski, 13 members, and a core, Mr.

President.

Alright, what's before us?

Council has motions for posting and referral.

All items forthwith, Mr.

Clerk?

Without objection.

That'll be the order.

Alright.

The motions are posted and referred.

Announcements members.

Councilmember McCosker.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, it's important for us to think about the well-being of our pets in our the animals in our community.

The 4th of July is one of the most difficult times for pets at home.

And it is a difficult time for our animal shelters.

Fireworks cause pets to panic.

We know fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles, but folks do shoot them off.

The animals then escape after they panic.

They end up frightened and alone and sometimes in the animal shelter system.

We can all help by giving a current shelter pet a much deserved break from the kennel through a program called Four Days for Life.

It's a foster campaign, fostering a pet for just four days before or after the holiday.

Gives them a quiet place in your home.

We hope to stay with you and you provide them company and some safety.

It also this uh opens up life-saving space within our shelters for newly lost animals.

Sometimes they're temporarily lost and gives families more time to reunite with their pets during the holiday period.

LA Animal Services actually provides everything you need if you want to foster.

You get all of the supplies, the equipment, a bed, a crate, toys, other essentials.

Just a few days in your home can make the all the difference uh for a pet for that pet that's lost and that space that opens up for more information.

Uh you can go to LA Animal Services.com slash foster or you can just pop into one of your local animal shelters.

Thank you.

Councilmember Nazarian.

Thank you, Council President.

Just wanted to vote change on the last vote from an I to no.

I uh accidentally missed the vote.

Special confirms happens.

Number two, the the the city council funding.

Yes, yes, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Clerk.

Uh we're actually not in the special meeting anymore, so we can't change the vote.

The special meeting has been adjourned.

We can we close it?

The meeting's been adjourned.

That meeting's been adjourned.

It was a special.

Got it.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Councilmember Soda Martinez.

Thank you so much.

Uh, you know, as we conclude, uh, if long uh years, a process of many years.

I just want to make some comments regarding uh the charter reform.

Colleagues, look, I want to be real with you, I'm gonna keep I'm gonna be honest with you.

I have never been more embarrassed to be a member of the city council.

The charter reform process represented years of work by the community, members who fought to make this city more democratic, more accountable, and more responsive to the people we serve.

And what do we say as a city council?

That the school status quo is working just fine.

Don't ask for more, don't give voters a chance to decide.

Every significant charter reform was killed by this body.

Expanding city council?

Killed.

Ranked choice voting, killed.

LAPD reform?

Killed.

Strengthening independent oversight and giving strengths or controller, killed.

All of these were killed.

One by one.

This body has killed reforms that would give Angelinos a greater voice in their own government.

And then somehow we stand here and claim to be representing the people while refusing to even have the let them have a say.

That is not representation.

That's not democracy.

We should all be ashamed of ourselves.

Angelinos are not dumb.

They're not stupid.

They know that our city is not working, that there are real challenges, and they want us to do something about it.

But no matter how hard some of us fight on this body, we continue to remain the status quo.

But you know what?

That demand's not gonna go away.

We've seen what's happened the last few years in this city.

And that movement is only growing stronger and bigger every single day.

But today, I hope everyone's seeing everyone's proud of what we did.

But you know what?

I'm tapped into those folks out in the street organizing every single day.

And we're gonna keep organizing, we're gonna keep fighting, and we're gonna change the city, whether people like it or not.

So with that, I hope everyone enjoys your recess.

Councilmember Hernandez.

Thank you, Council President.

And I think you all think that you all made the decision that it's gonna impact things in a positive way in November.

And I think you're absolutely wrong.

I think you've just lost it.

Alright.

Any other announcements, members?

All right.

With that, I'll ask everybody in the chamber to rise for adjourning motions.

My left.

To my right.

All right, seeing none, we're adjourned.

Thank you so much, everybody.

Just be sitting around.

These are our golden years, and we would like to keep them golden.

Exactly.

And very active.

The Department of Aging is our community spotlight for tonight.

We will put the camera on them in their seats.

You know, just catch them having fun.

I hope they think back to their childhood and to their teenage years of when they were out, you know, just having fun, everybody just having an absolute ball.

We're out together, we just want to have fun, right?

It's all about community, it's all about gathering, it's all about making friends, and we have a lot of senior centers in the Los Angeles area, and all of them are turned all the way up.

We have a great time, we laugh, we celebrate, we dance, find a place to go, make those friends, get out and move.

Because if you don't use it, you lose it.

We are at the WLCAC Southwestern Multipurpose Senior Center site.

As you get older, you appreciate these things that are are given to us because otherwise that we'd be sitting at home watching TV.

So these activities make us feel younger.

And we fellowship.

We fellowship with everybody down here.

They always have something for us to do.

What we do, it's a lot about health and wellness, right?

Health and wellness.

As we age, we focus on the mind, the body, and the spirit.

So what you're seeing back here right now is the spirit part of it, right?

But earlier, that exercise program that the LA Sparks did for us, it was wonderful just seeing everyone stretching their arms, moving their torsos, stretching their legs.

That's what leads to movement, seeing the enjoyment, the camaraderie is just an amazing experience, and we're so thankful that they were able to join us today.

I really enjoyed today's function.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

And it was just what I thought it would be.

We are at the Wilmington Senior Center, and we are doing a outreach basically.

Um we're here to bring some some positive fun and joy and good vibe to the seniors here.

We started off in August at the Sparks game.

So for a lot of our seniors, the first time at a WNBA game.

They had a lot of fun.

A lot of those same seniors are here today, and generations came together.

So we had the children of the seniors, adult children, grandchildren, families, friends, neighbors, they were all there, and we had a great time.

We want to get them up and moving around first, active, having some fun, kind of let them buy into what we're we're bringing today.

We'll do some line dancing, make some good memories.

Uh, but then we're also gonna play some bingo.

We have our mascot here, Sparky.

He's gonna walk around and take some great photos.

Oh, we got a special guest.

Hold on now.

Oh Sue!

That's my guy, so yeah, he's gonna bring some excitement today.

So I I think that's part of what we really enjoy about being at these centers is making sure that everybody feels remembered, uh warm, welcome.

And so we're trying to come in and not only pick up on some of that energy and that that excitement and that wisdom, but also provide some youth to them as well and make sure that they feel uh welcomed and loved.

It's been fun.

It's been fun.

They are really energetic, and yeah, they did give a spark to everybody here at the center that it's uplifting.

It's a look at this.

So we essentiale para todos nosotros, porque el cual nos acogen a todos nosotros.

To me, it makes them still feel like they belong, you know, and to get them out here and get them doing stuff as a community, they're having a great time and they feel wanted and still feel youthful.

We just are so thankful.