Ad Hoc Recovery committee advances ordinance to waive permit surcharges for January wildfires

Tracy Park, president of the Ad Hoc Recovery Committee for Los Ángeles, moved and won approval of an amended ordinance to waive specified permit surcharges for properties damaged in the January 2025 wildfires. The committee approved the amendment after Chair Park thanked community advocates and called for continued state and federal assistance and reimbursement efforts for affected residents.

Chair Park told the committee the ordinance "se debe hace mucho tiempo" and noted sustained advocacy by the community. The secretary read the ordinance amendment, which replaces subsection B of the surcharge-waiver provision in the municipal code and applies to permits to repair or rebuild buildings or structures damaged by the January 2025 wildfires.

After the reading, Chair Park moved the amended ordinance "salvo que hay una protesta, quiero mover la renuncia"; members voiced their approval and the chair announced the item passed as modified. The committee had a quorum and recorded members present; the transcript records members voicing assent during the roll call and approval.

The committee discussion also included Chair Park urging work with the governor's office to secure recovery funds and to make sure limited federal recovery allocations are dispatched to disaster areas. She said the city is seeking federal support for infrastructure, technology for public safety response, and direct disaster relief for residents excluded from federal recovery assistance.

Next steps: the ordinance, as amended, will be considered by the full Council before the July recess, per Chair Park's statement. No exact vote tally for item 2 is transcribed beyond members voicing approval in the committee; the transcript records that a quorum of three members was present.