Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 1 Creation of the Department

There is a hereby created a department within the government of the City to be known as the Cultural Affairs Department, hereinafter referred to in this chapter as “Department.”

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Ord. No. 153,893, Eff. 6-30-80, Oper. 7-1-80; Ord. No. 173,290, Eff. 6-30-00, Oper. 7-1-00.

The Department of Cultural Affairs shall strengthen the quality of life in the City of Los Angeles by stimulating and supporting cultural activities and ensuring access to such activities for residents and visitors to the City. To fulfill the above, the Department shall:

(1) Administer such cultural, historic or scientific programs as may be assigned to it in this ordinance and by any ordinance adopted

subsequent to the operative date of this chapter;

(2) Administer a program of grant support to arts organizations;

(3) Cooperate with the private sector in technical services to cultural organizations and artists;

(4) Coordinate the efforts of other City Agencies that affect cultural activities, policy, or planning;

(5) Develop an appropriate relationship between the City and other public and private organizations having similar interests and

responsibilities;

(6) Encourage, and approve the development of aesthetic design in the City, its public facilities and lands;

(7) Develop interest and activity in historic preservation and rehabilitation of buildings and sites through increased awareness of

architecture, archeology, paleontology and other cultural and scientific disciplines; and administer such programs as may be assigned by ordinance in fulfillment thereof.

(8) Promote the cultural and artistic offerings in Los Angeles as a resource to attract economic development; and

(9) Further recommend to the Mayor and City Council policies and programs that encourage a productive environment in the City

for the arts, sciences and historic preservation activities in both the public and private sectors.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 153,893, Eff. 6-30-80, Oper. 7-1-80.

ARTICLE 2

CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT

Section

Said Department is under the control and management of a general manager.

SECTION HISTORY

Based on Charter Sec. 70(c). Amended by: Ord. No. 153,893, Eff. 6-30-80, Oper. 7-1-80

The General Manager shall be appointed and may be removed in accordance with Charter Section 508(b) and (e).

SECTION HISTORY

Based on Charter Sec. 79(b). Amended by: Ord. No. 153,893, Eff. 6-30-80, Oper. 7-1-80; Ord. No. 173,290, Eff. 6-30-00, Oper. 7-1-00.

(a) There is hereby created a “Board of Cultural Affairs Commissioners”, referred to in this chapter as the “Commission” or the “Board”.

(b) The Commission shall be comprised of seven members.

(c) The Commissioners shall be appointed and may be removed in accordance with Charter Section 502.

(d) The original seven members of the Commission shall be appointed for such terms as shall cause two terms to successively expire on the date of June 30 in two years, three years, and four years, and one term to expire in five years respectively, next following the effective date of the appointment of the original Board of Commissioners. The period of the term of each of the first seven members shall be designated in the appointment.

Thereafter, the terms of succeeding members of the Commission shall be five years beginning with the first day of July following the expiration of the prior term.

(e) Organization and Meetings of the Commission.

(1) The Commission shall elect officers in accordance with Charter Section 503(a). The first appointed Commission shall elect

interim officers from its members to serve as President and Vice-President until succeeded as provided above.

(2) The Commission shall hold a regular meeting at least once a month. All meetings of the Commission shall be in a municipal or

other facility open to the public and there shall be reasonable provision for notice and attendance by the public. Each Commissioner shall be paid an attendance fee of $10.00 per meeting attended, not to exceed $100.00 in any calendar month to any one member.

(3) As required by Charter Section 503(a), the General Manager shall assign a Secretary to the Commission from among the

employees of the Cultural Affairs Department. The duties of the Secretary shall be in addition to the regular duties prescribed for that employee, who shall be under the supervision of the General Manager or the General Manager’s designee.

(4) The Secretary shall perform those duties set forth in Section 21.4 of this Code and shall perform such other duties imposed by

this article, or by the General Manager.

(5) Four members of the Commission must be present at any meeting in order to constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time until a quorum is present.

(6) The Commission may establish and empower a Committee, composed of two or three of its members, to consider matters for, to conduct hearings on behalf of, and make recommendations to, the Commission.

(7) The powers conferred upon the Commission shall be exercised by order or resolution adopted by a majority of the members and recorded in the minutes with “Ayes” and “Noes” at length. The minutes shall be attested by the signatures of the President or Vice- President, or two members of the Commission, and by the signature of the Secretary.

(f) Powers and Duties.

(1) The Commission’s relationship to the General Manager of the Cultural Affairs Department shall be advisory.

(2) Notwithstanding its advisory capacity, the Commission shall exercise the powers and duties set forth in Section 22.109 of this Code and any other powers and duties as may be conferred by ordinance.

(3) In fulfillment of the above responsibilities, the Commission shall be empowered to hold public meetings and committee
meetings to seek advice and information from members of the general public and such governmental representatives as may be
appropriate, so that the Commission may be informed on matters in the arts, sciences or historic affairs of importance to the City, and
so that the information may be made available to the General Manager of the Department.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 153,893, Eff. 6-30-80, Oper. 7-1-80.
Amended by: Ord. No. 173,290, Eff. 6-30-00, Oper. 7-1-00.