Committee narrows immediate ULA staffing to CAO priorities, adds senior auditor for oversight

The committee voted on Jan. 21 to note-and-file the Los Angeles Housing Department's staffing report for United to House LA (ULA) and to approve the CAO's interim staffing recommendation with an amendment to restore one senior auditor.

LAHD General Manager Tina Johnson Hall presented a request for 108 new ULA-funded positions across LAHD to stand up 11 ULA programs, including roles in housing development, asset management, regulatory code compliance, administration and a permanent Office of the ULA Inspector General. Hall told the committee the positions are special-funded by ULA administrative revenue and are needed to sustain implementation.

The CAO, represented by Eve Bachrock, said city fiscal policy requires interim requests only in extreme circumstances and recommended prioritizing 43 positions for the current fiscal year with the remainder to be considered in the upcoming budget development process. The CAO said some positions previously authorized in the adopted budget remained vacant and stressed the need to align hires with immediate operational needs.

Committee debate: members noted LAHD staff were working extended overtime (LAHD said staff had been working significant overtime during the Homes for LA NOFA process) and argued for restoring positions to avoid service delays. The chair proposed and the committee approved adding one senior auditor to the CAO list to strengthen oversight of ULA expenditures and reporting.

Vote and next steps: the committee voted to note-and-file the LAHD report, approve the CAO's prioritized interim staffing list and accept the chair's amendment to add a senior auditor; roll-call recorded three ayes and the item was approved as amended. Members asked LAHD and CAO to return quickly in the budget process with a joint budget letter outlining additional positions needed for full implementation and to report on timeline and hiring phasing.