COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY relative to a contract with Bergman Dacey and Goldsmith, P.C for the firm's representation of the Los Angeles County Development Authority in 722-728 South Broadway, L.P. v. City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 20STCP03499).

(Budget and Finance Committee report to be submitted in Council. If public hearing is not held in Committee, an opportunity for public comment will be provided.)

(Click on the above hyperlink or go to www.lacouncilfile.com for background documents.)

REQUEST the City Attorney, with the assistance of the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), to prepare and present an ordinance that addresses the City's ongoing fiscal crisis and the Office of Finance's operational changes, by allowing commercial cannabis licensees to provide late payments of renewal fees in accordance with the following provisions:

1. For all invoices issued on or after January 1, 2021:
   
   
   1. Allow commercial cannabis businesses to submit a late renewal application and/or make late renewal fee payments between November 3rd and December 31st before the expiration date of a License or Temporary Approval license. This type of late renewal application shall be subject to the Expedited Services Fees (Time and a Half Rate) contained in Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 104.19(h), and shall be due by December 31st.
      
      
   2. Allow commercial cannabis businesses to submit a late renewal application and/or make late renewal fee payments between January 1st and February 28th after the expiration date of a License or Temporary Approval license. This type of late renewal application shall be subject to the Expedited Services Fees (Double Time Rate) contained in LAMC Section 104.19(h) and shall be due by February 28th. All commercial cannabis businesses with an expired License or Temporary Approval license must cease all unlicensed cannabis activity until a new License of Temporary Approval license is issued.
      
      
   3. Amend the payment deadlines in LAMC Sections 104.03(a), 104.03(a)(4), 104.03(b), 104.03(c), 104.03(e)(3), 104.06.1(b)(8), 104.06.1(c)(1), 104.06.1(c)(7), 104.06.1(d)(6), 104.06.1(e)(4), and 104.06.1(f)(3) that are required to be made within 10 days of the date of invoice issuance to 30 days of the date of invoice issuance.
      
      
   4. Consider all payments timely paid if enclosed in a properly addressed envelope with sufficient postage, deposited in the mail, and postmarked by the payment deadline.
      
      
   5. Consider all payments timely paid if an applicant or licensee schedules and confirms an appointment with the Office of Finance by the date of the payment deadline, notwithstanding that the appointment may be after the date of the payment deadline.
      
      
2. The State of California and City of Los Angeles declared a State of Emergency due to the novel COVID-19 virus pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allow commercial cannabis businesses to submit a late 2020 and/or 2021 renewal application and/or make late renewal fee payments on or before March 31, 2021. This one-time clause will extend deadlines for:
   
   
   1. Businesses which timely submitted 2020 and/or 2021 renewal applications but did not pay associated fees.
      
      
   2. Businesses which paid 2020 and/or 2021 renewal fees but did not submit 2020 and/or 2021 renewal applications.
      
      
   3. Businesses which did not submit a 2020 and/or 2021 renewal application or pay associated fees.
      
      
3. No amendments proposed here shall be construed to extend the time to pay fees, which have a payment deadline longer than 10 days, except that those payments may be made by mail.
   
   
4. Include an urgency clause in the ordinance transmitted for the Council's consideration.
          

Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the DCR. Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (CAO) relative to extending the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) contract with MV Transportation, Inc., to continue the Cityride Dial-A-Ride program.

Recommendation for Council action:

AUTHORIZE the General Manager, LADOT, or designee, to execute the Seventh Amendment to Agreement C-127028 with MV Transportation, Inc., to continue the Cityride Dial-A-Ride program on a month-to-month basis for a period not to exceed one year through February 1, 2022.

Fiscal Impact Statement: The CAO reports that this action will not impact the General Fund. Funding is available for the proposed contract amendment within the Proposition A Local Transit Assistance Fund. Funding for subsequent years of the contract will be provided in those fiscal year budgets.

Financial Policies Statement: The CAO reports that this action complies with City financial policies in that sufficient special fund revenues are available and eligible for this purpose.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

(Transportation Committee waived consideration of the above matter)

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION (RODRIGUEZ - BLUMENFIELD) relative to increasing the funding and distribution of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to address food insecurity during the pandemic.

Recommendation for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE CONCURRENCE OF THE MAYOR:

ADOPT the accompanying RESOLUTION to include in the City's 2021-2022 Federal Legislative Program SUPPORT for any legislation and/or administrative action that would maintain the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, and increase its funding and distribution to all-time high levels to address food insecurity during the pandemic.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

(Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee waived consideration of the above matter)

CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (MARTINEZ - PRICE) relative to a strategy to identify City facilities that could be used for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in areas with higher risk within the City and low-income communities of color. 

Recommendation for Council action:

INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), in coordination with the Department of General Services, Department of Recreation and Parks, and all other relevant departments, to report back with a strategy to identify City facilities that could be used for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine; the facilities should concentrate in higher risk communities within the City and low-income communities of color. 

Community Impact Statement: None submitted. 

(Ad Hoc Committee on Covid-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment waived consideration of the above matter)

CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (MARTINEZ - PRICE) relative to a strategy for equitable vaccine distribution in low-income communities of color and a public outreach campaign on vaccines for communities of color. 

Recommendation for Council action:

1. INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Emergency Management Department, to report back with a strategy for equitable distribution of vaccines, one that prioritizes low-income communities of color and essential workers who are people of color.  
   
   
2. INSTRUCT the CLA to report back with information on the Governor’s $300 million vaccine budget proposal and how the City may be able to use that fund, or to partner with the State, on a public outreach campaign for communities of color.

Community Impact Statement:  None submitted. 

(Ad Hoc Committee on Covid-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment waived consideration of the above matter)

CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (MARTINEZ - O'FARRELL) relative to the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on working women in Los Angeles with an emphasis on mothers and women of color, and the impact of COVID-19 on women in the City’s workforce.  

Recommendations for Council action:

1. DIRECT the Commission on the Status of Women, Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), and all other relevant departments to report back on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected working women in Los Angeles with an emphasis on mothers and women of color; the report should consider the following:
   
   
   1. Childcare issues. 
      
      
   2. Paid leave policies.
      
      
   3. The potential long-term consequences of women leaving the workplace during COVID-19, and related issues.
      
      
   4. Recommendations on how companies, organizations, and policymakers can create policies and program to support women in the workplace.
      
      
2. DIRECT the Commission on the Status of Women, CLA, and Personnel Department to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on women in the City’s workforce, especially mothers and women of color, and report back with recommendations on how to strengthen City policies to support women in the workplace. 

Community Impact Statement: Yes

For:

Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council

(Ad Hoc Committee on Covid-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment waived consideration of the above matter)

CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (RODRIGUEZ - BLUMENFIELD) relative to a proposed budget to expand the Tech2go Hotspot Loan Program as provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. 

Recommendation for Council action: 

DIRECT the Library Department, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department, to prepare and submit a proposed budget to expand the Tech2go Hotspot Loan Program utilizing the supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds as provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted. 

(Ad Hoc Committee on Covid-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment waived consideration of the above matter)

Oral presentation by Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Health Department, Hospital Association of Southern California, and Los Angeles Fire Department on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles City and County, including the current surge of cases and its effects on hospital capacity, and the distribution of vaccines.

NO ACTION TAKEN

MOTION (RODRIGUEZ - BLUMENFIELD) relative to funding for supplemental community services, programs and needs in Council District 7.

MOTION (PRICE - O'FARRELL) relative to an offer of reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of Pearl Myles on October 1, 2020.

MOTION (PRICE - O'FARRELL) relative to funding increase for the Main Street Project to provide for additional scope elements for the design and construction of access ramps and street resurfacing.

Members Present: Blumenfield, Bonin, Cedillo, De Leon, Harris-Dawson, Koretz, Krekorian, Lee, O'Farrell, Price, Raman, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez and President Martinez (14); Absent: Buscaino (1)