Public Safety Committee · Held
Los Angeles City Council Public Safety Committee meeting, September 15, 2026
From official records: The Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee approved 13 of 16 items on Sept. 15, 2026, including an ordinance banning nitrous oxide sales by tobacco and cannabis retailers, a request for a new drone ordinance and two El Niño preparedness reports the Council adopted the next day. It continued the Wildland-Urban Interface Code ordinance and noted and filed two LAFD training fund reports. Posted votes were 4-0 with Traci Park absent (committee report).
As of October 2, 2026, outcomes for the September 15, 2026 meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the Los Angeles City Council come from official records posted so far, such as council files, recorded votes and filed statements. Some results may be missing until the full minutes are posted and read.
| Agenda | Official agenda (posted September 11, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Video | Recording |
| City Council districts | Council District 7 |
Committee members, per the agenda: John Lee (chair), Curren D. Price Jr. (vice chair), Traci Park, Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martinez. Every posted committee report records a 4-0 vote with Park absent (committee report). Items 4, 6 to 9, 11, 14 and 15 had no committee report posted as of Oct. 1, 2026; those outcomes come from each council file.
1. City Attorney to draft a drone ordinance replacing unenforced rules and protecting critical infrastructure
- What it does: Asks the City Attorney, with LAPD, LAFD, DWP, the Emergency Management Department and the Port, to draft an ordinance that repeals the unenforceable parts of Municipal Code Section 56.31 and lets LAPD respond to dangerous drone use and protect critical infrastructure, consistent with Federal Aviation Administration rules (committee report).
- Who brought it: John Lee, seconded by Curren D. Price Jr. The motion says the City Attorney found the current rules likely preempted by federal law and that LAPD suspended enforcement (motion).
- What happened: Approved, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
- What’s next: It goes to the full Council; no Council date was posted as of Oct. 1, 2026 (CF 26-1119).
2. Departments to present their preparations for the predicted super El Niño
- What it does: Tells the Emergency Management Department, with Engineering, Sanitation, Recreation and Parks, DWP, LAPD, Contract Administration and LAFD, to present their El Niño preparations to the Ad Hoc Committee for LA Recovery: coastal flooding and the City’s fishing piers, evacuation and shelter, clearing catch basins and storm drains, hillside and road protection in the Palisades burn scar and other hillsides, and overgrown brush in fire zones (committee report).
- Who brought it: Traci Park, seconded by Tim McOsker (CF 26-1169).
- Neighborhood council positions: Bel Air-Beverly Crest asked that the work cover hillside communities citywide, including its own area (CIS).
- What happened: Approved as amended, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
- What’s next: The Council adopted it Sept. 16, 2026, 11-0, with Heather Hutt, Ysabel Jurado, Adrin Nazarian and Park absent (CF 26-1169).
3. Updated El Niño emergency plans and storm guidance for hillside property owners within 30 days
- What it does: Tells the Emergency Management Department, with Public Works, LAFD, LAPD, LADOT and DWP, to present updated El Niño emergency plans within 30 days, with guidance to help hillside property owners prepare for flooding and mud and debris flows (committee report).
- Who brought it: Katy Yaroslavsky, seconded by Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CF 26-1169-S1).
- What happened: Approved, concurring with the Public Works Committee, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
- What’s next: The Council adopted it Sept. 16, 2026, 11-0, with Hutt, Jurado, Nazarian and Park absent (CF 26-1169-S1).
4. LAPD to report on publicly funded homelessness service centers with heavy nuisance complaints and 911 calls
- What it does: Tells LAPD, with LAFD, the CAO and the Housing Department, to report on publicly funded homelessness service centers that draw many nuisance complaints or calls for service: calls and emergency responses at or within 500 feet over three years, crime and medical incidents, police and fire staff time, and corrective steps for operators, including fines, nuisance abatement or closure where the law allows (motion). A Council District 13 amendment adds data from the operators of the highest-demand sites: people served, meals, showers and housing placements, and a written response on their use of public safety resources.
- Who brought it: Monica Rodriguez, seconded by John Lee and Imelda Padilla (CF 26-0817).
- What happened: The committee concurred with the Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Community Services, as amended by Council District 13; no tally is posted (CF 26-0817).
- What’s next: The file is also referred to the Homelessness and Health Committee (CF 26-0817).
10. Ordinance banning nitrous oxide sales by tobacco and cannabis retailers
- What it does: Adds Municipal Code Section 56.34 barring tobacco and cannabis retailers from selling or distributing nitrous oxide, with an exemption for packaged food products that use it only as a propellant. A violation carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both (City Attorney report).
- Who brought it: Eunisses Hernandez and Imelda Padilla, seconded by Tim McOsker (CF 24-1220).
- Neighborhood council positions: For: Greater Wilshire.
- What happened: Approved, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
- What’s next: The ordinance goes to the Council for a first vote; no date was posted as of Oct. 1, 2026 (CF 24-1220).
13. Departments to report in 30 days on the top 50 street racing and takeover locations and the cost to treat them
- What it does: Asks for a report in 30 days with an updated list, by LAPD bureau, of the top 50 street racing and takeover locations based on 2024 to 2026 data; the City’s capacity to treat them; which earlier locations were treated and at what cost; and funding sources. It notes and files a 2025 LADOT report and a 2024 LAPD report (committee report).
- Who brought it: Tim McOsker, seconded by Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CF 22-1019).
- Neighborhood council positions: For: Harbor Gateway North (committee report).
- What happened: Approved, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
16. Release a request for proposals for the LAPD Vehicle Recycling Program
- What it does: Approves the Board of Police Commissioners’ recommendation to release a request for proposals for vehicle dismantling and recycling services (committee report).
- Who it affects: The agenda lists Council District 7 (agenda).
- Neighborhood council positions: For: Sylmar and North Hollywood Northeast (committee report).
- What happened: Approved, 4-0; Park absent (committee report).
- What’s next: The Homelessness and Health Committee waived consideration and the Council adopted it Sept. 29, 2026, 13-0, with Nazarian and Monica Rodriguez absent (CF 22-1324).
Every item
| # | Item | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Attorney to draft a drone ordinance replacing unenforced rules and protecting critical infrastructure | Approved, 4-0 |
| 2 | Departments to present their preparations for the predicted super El Niño | Approved as amended, 4-0 |
| 3 | Updated El Niño emergency plans and storm guidance for hillside property owners within 30 days | Approved, 4-0 |
| 4 | LAPD to report on publicly funded homelessness service centers with heavy nuisance complaints and 911 calls | Approved as amended (concurred with the Ad Hoc Unarmed Crisis Response Committee) |
| 10 | Ordinance banning nitrous oxide sales by tobacco and cannabis retailers | Approved, 4-0 |
| 13 | Departments to report in 30 days on the top 50 street racing and takeover locations and the cost to treat them | Approved, 4-0 |
| 16 | Release a request for proposals for the LAPD Vehicle Recycling Program | Approved, 4-0 |
| 5 | Restructure LAFD fee categories for aboveground petroleum storage tanks | Approved, 4-0 |
| 6 | New LAFD re-inspection fee for businesses regulated under hazardous materials (CUPA) programs | Approved |
| 7 | New County Fire oversight fee passed through LAFD's hazardous waste program | Approved |
| 8 | Letter of agreement between LAFD and the Port of Los Angeles on fireboat maintenance and reimbursement | Approved |
| 9 | Ordinance creating a Los Angeles Wildland-Urban Interface Code from the 2025 state code | Continued to a date to be determined |
| 11 | LAFD annual report on its CAL-JAC revolving training fund, 2025-26 | Noted and filed |
| 12 | LAFD annual report on its special training fund, 2025-26 | Noted and filed, 4-0 |
| 14 | No-cost extension of the 2024 federal DNA backlog reduction grant | Approved |
| 15 | LAFD accepts $182,310 from Cal OES for swift water and flood rescue training | Approved |