L.A. CITY COUNCIL:

After over a year, members to meet at City Hall in June.

After more than a year, the Los Angeles City Council will finally return to convening in its downtown chambers next month.

Sophie Gilchrist, a spokesperson for council President Nury Martinez, said that beginning June 15, members will be allowed to attend council meetings three times a week with one staff member from their office.

COVID-19 vaccine status will be verified for anyone inside the chambers.

“For those who are going to be inside chambers, they need to be vaccinated,” Gilchrist said.

Council meetings have been conducted remotely since City Hall was closed in March 2020, with members of the public able to participate remotely as well.

When asked about what would happen should a council member refuse to get vaccinated, Gilchrist said that “it hasn’t come up yet” but will be addressed if it does. She did not elaborate.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last month that the state would be aiming to fully reopen its economy by June 15. In L.A. County, the spread of the coronavirus has reached record lows. On Friday, the county Department of Public Health announced that the five-day average of daily hospitalizations is 389, the lowest since the start of the pandemic.

But in a statement Saturday, county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer cautioned the public to remain vigilant in protecting against the virus and urged everyone to get vaccinated.

“While transmission is low and we continue to see declines in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, we are approaching the terrible milestone of 24,000 COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County,” Ferrer said. “There continues to be higher risk of COVID-19 transmission and severe health outcomes among unvaccinated people. Please get vaccinated as soon as you can.”

Gilchrist said the resumption of in-person City Council meetings is being planned in consultation with the county’s Department of Public Health, the city attorney’s office and the city’s Emergency Management Department.

She said no date has been set for when City Hall will reopen to the public.

Irfan Khan Los Angeles Times MOST SEATS were empty in the L.A. City Council chambers at City Hall on March 17, 2020. Starting June 15, council members and one staffer from each council office will be allowed to attend public meetings in person.