Venice Shorts: Committee on Charter Reform Addresses Goals, Outreach Objectives

The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission is a temporary, civilian advisory body created to review and propose changes to the Los Angeles City Charter—the city’s “constitution” that defines how city government is structured and operates.

By Nick Antonicello 

Despite a small window of opportunity to make an impact, the newly created Ad Hoc Committee on Charter Reform of the Venice Neighborhood Council met on Tuesday evening to discuss goals and objectives as well as how best interact with the LA Charter Commission that is winding down its operations and will make specific recommendations to the Los Angeles City Council which could appear on the November ballot as amendments for voter approval. 

The committee was approved by the Venice Neighborhood Council and new President David Feige named both Robin Rudisill and Community Officer Lisa Redmond co-chairs. 

The Committee members according to their posted agenda consist of Rudisill and Redmond, David Ewing, Steve Garvey and VNC Vice-President Gary Pearl.

The meeting, which was conducted via ZOOM, also consisted of VNC board members Yolanda Gonzalez, Helen Fallon, and Erica Moore.

In total, 15 individuals signed on. 

The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission is a temporary, civilian advisory body created to review and propose changes to the Los Angeles City Charter—the city’s “constitution” that defines how city government is structured and operates.

The Charter Reform Commission was established in August 2024 by the Los Angeles Mayor and City Council.

Its job is to:

Review the entire Los Angeles City Charter

Develop recommendations for amendments or revisions

Submit those recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for consideration

Potentially place proposed reforms on the November 2026 city ballot for voter approval.

Even if the commission proposes changes, voters must approve charter amendments before they become law.

The commission was designed as a 13-member civilian board and the commission has an Executive Director who manages operations and research.

The commission’s mission is to improve how Los Angeles city government works by reviewing the city charter and recommending specific reforms.

Key areas include government operation and structure, rules governing elected officials, procedures for filling vacancies in elected offices, rules for censure or suspension of elected officials, as well as potential anti-corruption reforms. 

Improving delivery of city services, reforming city contracting, updating the municipal budget process, as well as potentially expanding the size of the council from fifteen to 25 members, and consideration of “rank choice voting” as adopted in New York City for municipal elections for the office of mayor. 

The effort was partly driven by calls for governance reform after the 2022 Los Angeles City Hall leaked audio scandal, which triggered public demands for reforms to city government.

The goal of the commission was to restore transparency, accountability, renewed representation, and overall increase in the public’s trust of municipal government.  

The Commission was selected and confirmed in 2025, and public meetings have been held including stakeholder consultation and policy research.  The Commission will be submitting reform recommendations to the LA Council sometime in April, as ballot measures will be considered as charter amendments for the public’s approval. 

Tonight’s meeting was informal, as committee members and stakeholders interacted and discussed what was important to the Venice community and what would be formally submitted for consideration. 

The goal was to “educate the public on issues” pertaining to those issues being considered as well as influence the direction of the commission. 

Committee member Rick Garvey discussed the merits of ranked choice voting and discussion on reforming the spending habits of Los Angeles were also discussed.

Stakeholder Robin Murez questioned how city funds and expenditures were spent, and if the process could be more transparent. 

Co-chair Lisa Redmond discussed the importance of neighborhood councils, while Yolanda Conzalez offered specifics such as flood insurance, building safety, parking and the notion of “VEXIT,” or a renewed effort for Venice cityhood. 

Co-chair Robin Rudisill discussed several issues and that a punch list of topics be considered as primary talking points such as infrastructure, coastal policy, and other committee considerations. Vice-President Gary Pearl talked about Sales Tax reform and further discussion on the notion of the voting age be lowered for municipal elections, and be possibly opened to non-citizen participation as another committee topic.

It was agreed that more meetings are required to be scheduled, and that outreach to the public also be formulated such as including charter reform information in the VNC newsletter. It was stated that the Charter Reform Commission would be meeting at least one more time, and that this committee meets again on March 19th to finalize the committee’s priorities and mission moving forward. 

Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident of the neighborhood and extensively covers the deliberations of the Venice Neighborhood Council. Have a take or a tip on all things Venice? Contact him via e-mail at [email protected].