Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting - October 23, 2026

The Los Angeles City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on October 23, 2026, with 12 members present and a quorum. The meeting covered the consent calendar, multiple presentations and recognitions, public comment on Measure FD and other topics, and two major discussion items: a presentation on the Los Angeles Fire Department's implementation plan for Measure FD (a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot) and approval of a term sheet for data sharing and coordinated entry system management with Los Angeles County regarding homelessness services.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2 through 8 were approved unanimously (12-0) after public hearings had been held. These included routine approvals and reports.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Support for Measure FD: Multiple firefighters and union representatives (including Rich Ramirez, Chung Ho, Dave Riles, Gary Esquerdo, Tony J, Dennis Garrison, and Riley Quigley) spoke in support of Measure FD, emphasizing the department's staffing shortages (same number of firefighters as the 1960s but five times the call volume), aging infrastructure (53 of 106 stations past 50-year life expectancy), delayed response times (average 7 minutes 53 seconds vs. national standard of 4 minutes), and the critical need for additional resources. They argued the measure is not about pensions or benefits but about core firefighting and emergency services.
• General Public Comment: Multiple callers addressed a variety of topics, including concerns about LA Animal Services, homelessness governance, opposition to certain city policies, allegations of misconduct in city departments, and criticisms regarding the city's relationship with the Church of Scientology. One speaker, Jason Spindler, was warned and eventually removed for disruptive behavior.

Discussion Items

• Item 9 – Measure FD Implementation Plan (Fire Department Presentation): Fire Chief Moore presented a detailed plan for how the LAFD would prioritize and manage resources if Measure FD passes on November 3, 2026. Key investments include strengthening the workforce (recruitment, academy capacity), improving apparatus maintenance (repairing broken hoists, addressing maintenance yard infrastructure), upgrading or replacing aging fire stations (56 stations past service life), enhancing technology (drone program, tablet command, geotabbing), and expanding EMS dispatch capacity (parallel dispatch center). The chief emphasized transparency, promising a citizens oversight committee, quarterly reports to council, and public dashboards to track expenditures and performance. Councilmembers asked about recruitment from local communities, including formally incarcerated firefighters, women, and youth programs; prioritization of restoring previously closed fire companies; the relationship between Measure FD and overtime/pension costs; and the impact on underserved neighborhoods. The presentation concluded with a unanimous vote to note and file the report.
• Item 10 & Amendment 10A – Homelessness Data Sharing Agreement with Los Angeles County: The City Administrative Officer (Matt Zabo) and Bureau of Homelessness Oversight staff presented a term sheet negotiated with the county for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry System (CES) lead roles, which the county is expected to assume. Key terms include: the city will have access to all HMIS data for persons experiencing homelessness within city boundaries; the county will contract with the city to manage CES matching for city-funded permanent supportive housing units; the city will have proportional representation on relevant policy bodies; and within 60 days, the city and county will jointly develop local preference for city homeless residents in city-funded housing. Councilmembers debated the definition of “proportional representation,” enforceability of commitments, the role of the COC (Continuum of Care) board, and the scope of data access. Some expressed skepticism about the county's track record. After discussion, the council voted (10 ayes) to adopt item 10 as amended, advancing the agreement.

Key Outcomes

• Items 2-8 approved unanimously (12-0).
• Measure FD Presentation (Item 9) was noted and filed after discussion.
• Item 10 with Amendment 10A (data and matching agreement with the county) was approved (10-0, with two members not voting). The special meeting originally scheduled for later that day was cancelled.
• Recognitions: The council adopted commendatory resolutions recognizing World Polio Day (October 24), National Clergy Appreciation Month (recognizing 15 faith leaders from various districts), Patty Giggins Day (founder of Peace Over Violence, for her 45 years of advocacy and creation of Denim Day), and the 100th anniversary of the Sisters of Social Service in Los Angeles.