DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION, AND DIRECTION REGARDING AN LA28
OLYMPICS AD-HOC COMMITTEE
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Provide Direction
SUMMARY
On April 15, 2025, the LA28 Organizing Committee announced that Santa Anita Park will host the equestrian events for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Subsequently, at the April 15, City Council Meeting, Council Member Cao received support to place the discussion of an LA28 Olympics Ad-Hoc Committee on a future City Council Agenda.
This agenda item is intended to allow the City Council to have a full discussion on a potential City Council Ad-Hoc Committee for the LA28 Olympics. It is recommended that the City Council provide direction on the establishment of an LA28 Olympics Ad-Hoc Committee, its purpose, and membership.
DISCUSSION
The City of Los Angeles and the broader region last hosted the Olympics in 1984. During the 1984 Summer Olympics, Santa Anita Park was the host venue for the equestrian events. With a successful track record from 1984 and significant growth in lodging and infrastructure since, the City of Arcadia is well-positioned to welcome the Olympic Games once again in 2028.
An LA28 Olympics Committee (“Committee”) would function as an ad-hoc committee of the City Council, which are usually established to address a specific issue or task. The Committee would consist of a maximum of two members of the City Council and any applicable support staff. Meetings of the Committee, including its frequency, start time, and end-date would be set out in the resolution that authorizes its creation.
The purview of the Committee would be established by the City Council, but, generally, an ad-hoc committee should be narrow in scope. In this discussion, the City Council should also identify which of its members should serve on a potential committee. Since
Establishing LA28 Olympics Committee
May 6, 2025
the LA28 Summer Olympics is several years away and the 2026 City Council elections will occur in the interim, the City Council should consider designating members that will be present in 2028. However, the City Council or the Mayor, depending on how the authorizing resolution is worded, would have the ability to re-appoint different members should the need arise.
The Committee will be supported by City staff as designated by the City Manager. The Economic Development and Transportation divisions of the Development Services Department will play a key role in supporting the LA28 Olympics in Arcadia, making them a logical support team for a potential Committee. If approved, the Committee will provide updates to the City Council as necessary and may enlist support from other community partners to support the LA28 Summer Olympics in Arcadia.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed discussion of an ad-hoc committee does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact associated with establishing a City Council ad-hoc committee is de minimis outside of any staff time and allocation of City facilities for use by the committee.
If direction is provided to create a committee for these purposes, its mission and objectives will be determined at that time, and any potential costs would also be considered then.
As a local host for the LA28 Olympics, expenses associated with local transit, public safety, marketing, and other event support may arise. Any expenses incurred to directly support Santa Anita Park as an LA28 venue are expected to be fully reimbursed or offset by tourism revenue from the Games. These details will need to be identified and negotiated with the LA28 organizers and Santa Anita Park, similar to other events at the Park.
While unknown at this time, any expenses associated with events and activities surrounding the LA28 Olympics will be addressed in the normal budgetary process or brought forward separately for City Council approval. It is expected that an ad-hoc committee would study and provide recommendations on any such satellite events and activities.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this discussion does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and provide direction regarding the establishment of an LA28 Olympics Ad-Hoc Committee.