LA City Measures on November Ballot -Five Charter Reform Amendments

‍ ‍ The  L.A. Charter Reform Commission was formed after the 2022 City Hall audio scandal where the LA City Council President, two other City Council Members, and the President of the LA County Federation of Labor were recorded during an hour-long conversation  revealing racist and derogatory language and political gerrymandering.

The 13-member commission held more than 50 public meetings in all council districts, collected 14,000 surveys, and wrote a 300+-page report with propositions. So far, this has resulted in five measures that have been brought to the November ballot. Each of these five measures is labeled a “Charter Amendment” on the ballot.

Charter Amendment LA (City Infrastructure/Budget/Finance/Contracting)

• • Summary: Amends the City Charter to establish a two-year budget cycle, requires a capital infrastructure plan, increases the authority of the Director of Public Works, allows the elimination of or changes to the Board of Public Works, removes restrictions on the city engaging in commercial enterprises or mortgaging city-owned property, and updates contracting rules

  • Supporters: Good-governance watchdogs, municipal labor unions, and local infrastructure development groups aiming to eliminate bureaucratic delays

  • Opponents: Independent taxpayer advocacy groups cautioning against shifts in fiscal oversight or changes to bidding standards

Charter Amendment PL (City Planning Department)

• • Summary: Creates a Neighborhood Appeals Commission to replace Area Planning Commissions, establishes a process for City Council review of planning decisions, updates timeline requirements for planning actions, grants the Planning Department authority to investigate and hear quasi-judicial reviews, and permits changes to floor area regulations by ordinance

  • Supporters: Transit-oriented housing developers, urban planning advocacy groups, and business organizations seeking predictable entitlement timelines

  • Opponents: Historic preservationists, community-level neighborhood councils, and anti-displacement advocates concerned about reduced local input on neighborhood developments

Charter Amendment EE (City Ethics, Elections, and Governance)

o   Summary: Amends the City Charter to increase authority of the Police Department Inspector General and Fire Department Independent Assessor, prohibits Ethics Commissioners from running for certain elected offices for five years, increases campaign finance violation penalties, requires weekly City Council meetings

o   Supporters: Good-governance organizations, anti-corruption watchdogs, transparency advocates, and L.A. City Council sponsors seeking to rebuild public trust in municipal government

o   Opponents: Former lobbying groups and political action committees arguing the rules impose overly restrictive campaign finance constraints and administrative burdens

Charter Amendment PRK – (City Department of Recreation/Parks Budget)

• • Summary: Amends the City Charter to increase the minimum required budget allocation to the Department of Recreation and Parks, phased in over ten years until it doubles the current baseline, with provisions for exceptions during fiscal emergencies

o   Supporters: Park equity groups, youth sports coalitions, environmental justice advocates, and neighborhood green-space organizations

o   Opponents: Fiscal conservatives, taxpayer associations, and certain City Council Members who caution against locking up flexible general fund dollars during tight budget years

Charter Amendment PRT (City Airports/Harbors/Water & Power Depts.)

o   Summary: Amends the City Charter to require the Harbor Department to fund waterfront public access projects, requires workforce impact disclosures on certain Harbor Department leases, extends maximum lease terms, and alters the composition requirement of the Airport Commission

o   Supporters: Municipal efficiency coalitions, infrastructure development groups, and trade advocates looking to streamline port, airport, and utility operations

o   Opponents: Labor unions representing municipal department workers and ratepayer oversight groups concerned about potential shifts in contracting standards or workforce protections.

         What was proposed by the Charter Commission but does not appear on the November ballot includes:

·      Expanding the City Council from 15 to 25 members

·      Rank choice voting for city elections starting in 2032

·      A chief financial officer

         Now is your chance to voice your opinion on charter reform.             

By Debra Shrout