City Council

(21) 20-1074-S6 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to addressing the lack of enrollment in the permanent L.A. Al Fresco program. A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR: 1. DIRECT the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) to continue with the new service category for Al Fresco on the Virtual Counter system and other service platforms to expeditiously assist businesses and perform a bi-monthly email outreach until the new deadline on July 1, 2026, to businesses that have not transitioned their temporary Sidewalk Dining authorization to the permanent L.A. Al Fresco program. 2. DIRECT the Department of Building and Safety (DBS) to continue to enhance and improve the Al Fresco ePlanLA module to achieve maximum efficiency, leading to a higher level of enrollment, and to continue to promote the Restaurant and Small Business Express Program. 3. AUTHORIZE the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) to utilize funds allocated to the Jobs and Economic Development Incentives (JEDI) Program permit fee reduction incentive, currently held by DBS and Department of City Planning (DCP), to subsidize Al Fresco-related BOE, Department of Transportation (DOT), and Bureau of Sanitation (BOS) permit fees for businesses located in approved JEDI Zones. 4. AUTHORIZE the Controller to transfer $200,000 from the DBS Building Permit Enterprise Fund No. 48R/08, Balance Sheet Account No. 2222, in the following amounts to the following departments and accounts: a. $80,000 to the BOE Special Services Fund No. 682/50, Account No. TBD, entitled "JEDI Program Al Fresco Permit Reduction Incentive". b. $8,000 to the DOT Trust Fund No. 840/94, Account No. TBD, entitled "JEDI Program Al Fresco Permit Reduction Incentive." c. $112,000 to the BOS Fund No. 208/50, Departmental Revenue Source Code No. 518801 Miscellaneous Revenue-Others. 5. DIRECT the EWDD, BOE, DOT, and BOS to establish policies and procedures for eligibility for the JEDI Program permit fee reduction incentive for Al Fresco businesses located in approved JEDI Zones. 6. INSTRUCT the BOE, with assistance from the DOT, DBS, DCP, EWDD, and BOS, to report with recommendations to potentially consolidate Al Fresco program components and functions, such as inspections, clearances, and compliance responsibilities across fewer departments and bureaus, and explore the feasibility of creating a task force to streamline internal City processes. B. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS COMMITTEE REPORT Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR: CONCUR with the recommendations of the Public Works Committee with the following additional recommendation: INSTRUCT the Los Angeles Fire Department, and any other relevant departments, to report on the fire and safety requirements necessary for outdoor dining structures to be eligible under the City's Al Fresco Program. The report should assess existing outdoor dining structures established during the COVID-19 emergency that did not obtain formal Al Fresco permits, and identify: the key compliance gaps preventing these establishments from meeting current standards; the fire safety risks associated with non-compliant structures; and feasible pathways, including potential modifications, phased compliance options, or alternative safety standards, that would enable these businesses to come into compliance without undue financial or operational burden. Fiscal Impact Statement: Not applicable