City Council

(8) 17-0744-S1 CD 10 CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION and ARTS, PARKS, AND CITY FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT relative to a First Amendment to a Lease Agreement with Heart of Los Angeles Community Partners (HOLA) for the HOLA Rock Garden Project in Lafayette Park located at 625 South Lafayette Park Place. Recommendations for Council action: 1. DETERMINE that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301 [Permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use] of the California CEQA Guidelines, as well as Article III, Section 1, Class 1(14) of the City CEQA Guidelines. 2. APPROVE the proposed HOLA Rock Garden Project (Project) located on a portion of Lafayette Park at 625 South Lafayette Park Place, as described in the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners (Board) report dated August 20, 2026, attached to the Council file, and in conformance with the proposal included as Attachment 1 of said Board report. 3. APPROVE the First Amendment (Amendment No. 1) to Lease Agreement No. C-129943 (Lease) with HOLA, substantially in the form on file in the Board Office and included as Attachment 2 of said Board report, for the lease of an additional portion of Lafayette Park for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project, subject to approval of the City Attorney as to form. 4. AUTHORIZE the President and Secretary, Board, to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Lease upon receipt of the necessary approvals. 5. AUTHORIZE the Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) to make technical corrections as necessary to carry out the intent of the Board report. Fiscal Impact Statement: The Board reports that approval of the proposed Project and Amendment No. 1 to the Lease will have no impact on RAP's General Fund. All costs associated with the proposed Project are the responsibility of HOLA.