Council approves exemptions for three Housing Department positions and a new assistant general manager slot

The committee approved two related personnel exemption requests tied to the Los Angeles Housing Department on Feb. 12, 2026. Greg Spiegel of the Housing Department’s policy team said item 1 seeks approval of an exemption for an assistant general manager position that would lead a homelessness bureau the council previously requested; item 2 requests renewal of exemptions for three existing grant-funded positions that oversee LAHSA contracts and HOPWA grant administration.

Spiegel said the assistant general manager position already has authority approved at previous meetings and that the mayor is following the charter process by recommending the exemption to council for approval. Emily Zahn Cervantes of the housing department said two of the renewed positions are part of an LAHSA oversight team managing eight contracts, and a third supports HOPWA grant management; the positions are grant-funded and the charter requires periodic re-exemption.

Council members had no substantive questions on the record and voted to approve items 1 and 2 together. Clerk roll call recorded Council member McOsker voting yes, Council member Rodriguez voting no, and Council member Sotto Martinez voting yes; the clerk announced the matters approved.