The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday adopted a series of measures aimed at kick-starting recovery efforts for residents whose lives have been devastated by devastating wildfires.

In a series of quick votes, the council took steps to expedite the arrival of federal emergency funding, assess the likelihood of mudslides following fires and create new safeguards to prevent price gouging and evictions, particularly for pet owners and evacuations. personnel.

One measure seeks to commission an independent "after-action" report on the city and county's emergency response to the fires. The council also took steps to help the city and its residents, workers and businesses access federal disaster relief funds and other forms of aid.

“As a city, our only goal must be to ensure residents have the resources they need to rebuild their lives and return home,” said Traci Park, the author of many of the motions approved Tuesday.

Parker, who represents Pacific Palisades, said the series of votes adds up to a road map to recovery for residents who have lost everything.

"I want my constituents to know that from now on, my only focus is on making this right for them," Parker said, fighting back tears. "I want our firefighters to know that I'm going to do everything I can and I'm going to move every mountain to make sure they get what they need."

Parker and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez also unveiled a proposal to begin work on a bond measure for the June 2026 ballot that would raise funds to repair fire stations and build new ones. Under the proposal, the fire department would not have enough funds to maintain its 106 fire stations, more than half of which are more than 50 years old.

The proposal, which would give the department 60 days to come up with a recommendation for a 2026 bond measure, is before the council's Public Safety Committee for further discussion.

Freddy Escobar, chairman of Los Angeles Unified Fire Department 112, has advocated for a 2026 ballot measure to raise funds for the department, which he said has "been neglected for decades."

Escobar said Mayor Karen Bass has discussed the proposal with the union and said she would support it.

"I know we have a commitment from Mayor Bass," he said in an interview.

"Three years ago, the mayor met with UFLAC leadership and expressed her interest and support for the bond development effort," Bass spokesman Zach Seidl said.

The commission's action comes a week after the Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains. The fires have killed at least eight people and destroyed more than 5,300 structures, including numerous homes and historic buildings. That fire and other wind-driven blazes that devastated Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other communities last week are almost certain to be among the worst. The costliest disaster in U.S. history.

Lawmakers on Tuesday described the fire as a once-in-a-lifetime disaster and compared it to what Los Angeles experienced during the 1992 riots or the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The council also signed off on Bath's declaration last week of a local state of emergency due to the fires.

A proposal introduced by Councilmen Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez would put a moratorium on rent increases and ban evictions for people suffering financial or medical damage due to fires Distressed tenants, for one year; referred to committee.

Another motion by Hernandez would create a 60-day grace period for parking tickets and vehicle impoundments while the fire emergency continues. The bill failed to pass, with 10 of the council's 15 members voting against it.

The motions cover matters large and small, including procedural steps to fund future recovery in the city, as well as short-term actions such as measures to help reunite people with their pets in fire zones. A measure passed takes the first step toward developing a long-term recovery plan that draws on recommendations from Santa Rosa, Paradise, Maui and other communities that have suffered similar tragedies in recent years.

Some of the measures approved Tuesday focus on accountability, including one directing the Los Angeles Fire Department to "immediately" report to the council the status of the fire, "the current status of the department and its ability to manage a wildfire of this magnitude; and anything that might impede its ability to protect lives and Property Effort Issues." Another requires the city's Department of Water and Power to provide transparency about its infrastructure, including water pressure issues, dry hydrants and the Santa Ynez Reservoir that remains vacant during firefighting efforts.

Parker said officials from the Northern California communities of Santa Rosa and Paradise, which suffered devastating losses from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2018 Camp Fire, respectively, worked with her team to develop the proposed fire response motion.

“It’s really hard to describe the scope and scale of this loss,” Parker said of the devastation in Pacific Palisades. “A beautiful, thriving, vibrant, engaged community is now completely wiped off our map.”

Some City Council members said the city must seize the moment to rethink its priorities and the way it deploys resources for public safety and infrastructure.

“Business as usual is not possible,” said Councilman Bob Blumenfield. “We have to fundamentally change the way we do things in this city so we can grow again and rebuild in a strong way.”

Rodriguez also warned people in Southern California, "We're not out of the woods yet."

The councilman said with more strong winds expected, "there is no threat to anything in this city, anywhere in this region."