Implementing the Los Angeles County Disaster Recovery Rebuild
Authority
16.
Revised recommendation as submitted by Supervisors Barger and Horvath:
Introduce, waive reading, and set for adoption, an ordinance adding Sections
2.18.090 through 2.18.097 to the County Code, Title 2 - Administration, to
formally establish the Disaster Recovery Rebuild Authority as the County’s
comprehensive recovery and community rebuilding entity for the
unincorporated areas impacted by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades
Fires, operationalized within the Department of Public Works, with the Director
of Public Works serving as the head of the Authority and exercising the
administrative authority necessary to oversee its programs, operations, and
staff, consistent with the governance structure, staffing framework, and
operational roles outlined in the Chief Executive Officer's reports back to the
Board dated February 20, 2026, and March 6, 2026.
Instruct the Director of Public Works, as head of the Disaster Recovery Rebuild
Authority (Authority), in coordination with the Interim Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), the Directors of Regional Planning and Public Health, the Fire Chief,
County Counsel, the Chief Sustainability Officer, and other affected
Departments as appropriate to stand up the Authority as the County’s unified
coordinating body for disaster recovery in the fire-impacted unincorporated
areas, with responsibility for integrating and aligning the full spectrum of
recovery functions across County Departments. The Authority shall coordinate
these functions without superseding the operational authorities of other County
Departments.
Instruct the Director of Public Works, as head of the Authority, and in
collaboration with the Interim CEO, to identify and secure the initial financial,
staffing, and administrative support using existing resources to launch the “Day
Zero” Initial Phase and sustain operations through the end of Fiscal Year
2026-27, as described in the CEO's reports back to the Board dated February
20, 2026, and March 6, 2026. Recognizing funding constraints, the Authority
shall deliver on the identified set of high-priority functions outlined in the report
backs upon implementation and prepare to scale in alignment with future
funding availability. The Authority shall seek opportunities for State, Federal, or
other funding sources for the rebuild and for its operations.
Direct the Interim CEO to establish the CEO Disaster Recovery Oversight
Team, as described in the CEO’s reports back to the Board dated February 20,
2026, and March 6, 2026, in coordination with the Directors of Public Works,
Regional Planning, and Public Health, the Fire Chief, County Counsel, the Chief
Sustainability Officer, and other affected Departments as appropriate, to
maintain executive coordination of recovery efforts, (including executive
functions that are beyond the Rebuild Authority such as economic recovery