Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez speaks at LA City Council meeting against a recommendation that would potentially ban backyard carne asadas and barbecues. (Source: @LACityClerk)
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved recommendations establishing new protocols and procedures for the city's Red Flag Warning Declarations, which were brought forth by the Ad Hoc Committee for L.A. Recovery, a special committee focused on recovery and rebuilding efforts following the Palisades Fire.
Before the vote, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez successfully pushed to remove a recommendation restricting outdoor barbecuing in residential areas. She argued that the policies unfairly targeted neighborhood gatherings and long-standing community traditions.
“The last thing Angelenos need is a ban on hosting a carne asada in their own backyards,” said Rodriguez.
Originally, the motion called for the City Attorney, along with L.A. Fire and LAPD, to draft enforceable restrictions on outdoor barbecuing during Red Flag Warnings.
“Let me be clear, wildfire prevention and public safety matter deeply to everybody in the city of Los Angeles, especially as we continue to face growing climate and fire risks,” said Rodriguez. “However, we need to be thoughtful about the types of policies that we’re advancing here.”
She added the recommendation misses the mark, saying many of the fires impacting neighborhoods derive from other activities.
The newly adopted protocols and procedures instruct the police, fire and transportation departments, including the City Administrative Officer and other city agencies, to report back on options to increase fines, allocate revenue to wildfire preparedness and expand patrol and towing capacity during red flag warnings.
It also instructs the Department of Building and Safety and the Fire Department to halt construction activities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and directs the LAPD and the Department of Traffic to report on current policies, procedures and operational practices governing coordination with Official Police Garages.
The City Administrative Officer is also responsible for reporting back on the establishment of a Red Flag Specific Overtime and Augmentation Fund and identifying the funding necessary to support staffing and resource needs.
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