The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-0 on June 30 to place a measure on the November ballot that would allow the council to reduce its minimum requirement for regular meetings to as little as one day per week. The council members currently earn base salaries starting at $245,255 annually, with potential to reach $270,389.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez was among the three members not present for the vote, having walked out in protest. She called the proposal "tone deaf" and argued that elected officials should manage their schedules more effectively rather than reducing meeting days. Rodriguez stated that the public expects officials to attend meetings and that those finding the schedule inconvenient should consider other employment. She emphasized the need for better planning and suggested that packed schedules could be improved through proper committee management.
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, a proponent of the change, described herself as "restless and frustrated" and suggested that fewer mandated meetings could allow for greater efficiency and focus on other tasks. She stated, "I’m working all the time," whether at City Hall, in her district, or at home, and believes this change would allow members to be "more effective."
A spokesperson for Councilman Tim McOsker, who formally proposed the measure with Yaroslavsky, explained that the intent is to modernize the City Charter. According to the spokesperson, Sophie Gilchrist, this measure would update the Charter requirement and not reduce the council's workload, as committees would continue to meet. Gilchrist pointed to New York City and Chicago as examples of major governments with less frequent full council meetings. She added that this could lead to longer council agendas and potentially later meeting times, which might offer working Angelenos more opportunities to participate.
The proposal comes as Los Angeles grapples with significant challenges, including homelessness, housing shortages, and recovery efforts following natural disasters. Residents affected by the January 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire, which destroyed approximately 6,800 structures, have expressed frustration over slow recovery and permitting processes. Jeremy Padawer, a fire survivor who lost his home, criticized the proposal, stating, "We didn’t vote our City Council in for one day per week." He noted the "glacially slow" pace of issue resolution and questioned the timing of the proposal given ongoing recovery needs.
Business leaders have also voiced concerns. George Francisco, board chair of the Westside Council of Chambers of Commerce, stated that a city council meeting less frequently is "a decidedly unwelcome development" given the existing bureaucratic hurdles for businesses. He argued that Los Angeles requires more action and that elected officials often drive progress through bureaucratic stagnation.
Concerns about meeting frequency have arisen previously. An investigation found that the council committee overseeing homelessness and housing had repeatedly canceled meetings, including four out of eight after Councilwoman Nithya Raman launched her mayoral campaign. Her office attributed these cancellations to budget season and scheduling conflicts, citing that three of the five committee members also served on the Budget Committee, impacting quorum.
The ballot measure, part of a broader package of Charter reforms, will be decided by voters on November 3.