Charter reform commission recommends sweeping changes to city government to rebuild public trust

The Los Angeles City Charter Commission on Tuesday approved a set of recommendations aimed at improving how the city operates, including streamlining the City Attorney’s Office, creating an anti-corruption office and doubling the charter-mandated amount of funds set aside for the city parks.

The commission also recommended spelling out more clearly how to suspend any councilmember who is accused of a crime. But the panel stopped short of creating a legislative recall process where the council could trigger a recall election on its own. Right now, the only way to recall a member of the council is to launch a signature-gathering drive.

The commission was created in the wake of the 2022 City Hall tapes scandal, wherein members of the council were heard on audio discussing how to hold onto power. The conversation was laced with crude and racist remarks, triggering calls for resignation. Council President Nury Martinez resigned, but councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon remained.

The commission’s recommendations will go to the City Council, which will decide whether to place the proposals on the June ballot. Any changes to the charter require voter approval.

Tuesday’s meeting was the latest in a series of commission meetings to discuss various reforms. There’s another one Thursday, where commissioners are expected to propose increasing the size of the City Council from 15 to 23 members.

Bifurcating the City Attorney’s Office

Right now, the City Attorney’s Office handles both civil litigation and criminal prosecution of misdemeanors. The proposed charter change would make the city attorney responsible solely for the criminal prosecution of misdemeanors and create a law department (or similar office) appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council that serves and represents city officials for all other legal functions.

The idea arose out of concerns over conflicts of interest.

Commission staff wrote in a report that bifurcating the office and making the position that represents the city civilly an appointed position “without the need to fundraise or garner endorsements” reduces the possibility of conflict of interest.

Creating an Inspector General’s Office

The commission recommended creating an Office of Inspector General that would be part of the Ethics Commission and would be designed to root out corruption within city government. The inspector general would launch investigations on behalf of the ethics commission, other commissions and on its own.

The idea is to “reduce political influence, enhance accountability and rebuild public trust in local government,” staff wrote in a report.

Increasing funding for parks

Right now, the city charter requires an annual appropriation for the Department of Recreation and Parks of at least .0325% of the assessed value of all property in the city. The formula has remained unchanged since the 1930s.

The commission recommends doubling it to .065%.

Dozens of people who showed up to the panel’s meeting and on zoom spoke out in favor of this reform.

“Literally the infrastructure is crumbling,” said Sakae Koyama, co-president of Friends of Elysian Park. “The lack of staffing is breaking the parks system. You have terrible morale.

“I don’t understand why something that everyone can use is not being funded properly.”

The commission also recommended installing language in the charter that would enshrine the right to an attorney for somebody facing deportation. But the proposal was watered down amid concerns it would cost the city too much to provide attorneys.

Instead, the proposal said any right is subject to the City Council’s decision to fund it.

The commission rejected expanding the authority of neighborhood councils, which are advisory bodies currently.

What’s next

The commission will consider even bigger charter reforms at its meeting today, including expanding the size of the City Council and changing L.A.'s election system to ranked-choice voting.

The panel meets in the Board of Public Works session room 350 in City Hall at 4 p.m.

You may also join via Zoom.