Garcetti prohibits ‘ex parte’ communications between planning commissioners and developers

In an effort to improve transparency at city hall, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an executive directive on March 9 to reform the city’s planning process, and establish a ban on ex-parte communications between planning commissioners and developers. The directive prohibits planning commissioners from holding any private meetings about projects under their consideration.

The directive reforms the city’s planning process by instructing the Department of City Planning (DCP) to develop a specific program and timeline for updating all 35 of the city’s Community Plans – a process that will take place within six years.

The mayor’s office said the directive will also allow the city to build transit infrastructure and housing more quickly and efficiently by fostering collaboration among city departments, and with the Metro Transit Authority (MTA). To streamline the delivery of transportation projects, city departments will each appoint a Transportation Infrastructure Liaison to form a dedicated committee with the Mayor’s Office and the MTA.

“Angelenos sent a clear message that they want a city with affordable housing and improved transportation to help them live more fulfilling lives,” Garcetti said. “That is my vision for Los Angeles, and we can only realize it by working together in trust, transparency and fairness. This executive directive is about making sure we put people before anything else – as we expand opportunity to families that need affordable places to live and better ways to get around, and deliver on our promise to get the most vulnerable off the streets as quickly as we can.”

DCP will prepare a schedule and program for the review and update of the city’s General Plan, including Community Plans, and ensure the effective implementation of Measure M and Proposition HHH in preparing these updated plans.

Jill Stewart – campaign director for Measure S in the 2017 municipal election – said the mayor “does not come close” to solving issues of transparency. The Coalition to Preserve L.A., which initiated Measure S, criticized the mayor’s directive in a statement for refusing to adopt reforms to end “backroom deals” between city council members and developers.

“Ending ex-parte communication only with his planning commissioners will have virtually no positive affect,” Stewart said in a statement. “The mayor is going to have to do better than that if he is going to fulfill his promise of ending back room deals with developers.”

After Measure S failed in the 2017 election, Stewart said she does not have much hope that the city council will fulfill its promises to make the reforms that the ballot initiative would have mandated.

Councilman David Ryu, 4^th District, however, said the executive directive is a major victory for transparency in local government.

“While this ban is a step in the right direction, we cannot stop here. We must ensure that all 35 community plans are updated within the next six years and that community input is taken seriously throughout that process,” Ryu said. “The city council must also quickly pass comprehensive campaign finance reform, which will restore Angelenos’ faith in the city’s ability to fairly review and approve major development projects. We need a campaign finance system that limits the influence of big-pocketed developers and instead, empowers thousands of small donors to have their voices heard.”

With the directive, city departments will also establish a Measure M Steering Committee focused on improving transportation project delivery. This effort will accelerate project review times and permitting, and increase coordination and cooperation with MTA.

Garcetti will also release a Transportation Oriented Communities program for consideration by the city planning commission. The program will expand development incentives for mixed-income housing projects located within one-half mile radius of major transit stops. These incentives are currently being drafted by DCP and are required by Measure JJJ.

The directive also instructs DCP to expedite the preparation of a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) ordinance to reduce regulatory hurdles for such projects.

In the next year, the mayor also plans to release a series of new land use incentives, financial tools and administrative reforms in an effort to more than double the production and preservation of affordable housing.