CITY HALL MADE EASY

Would you like the city council to hear your opinion on an issue?

City council meets on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and noon (and sometimes later).

First, call your council office the day before the hearing and tell the receptionist that you are coming to City Council. Give her the make, model and plate number of the car you will be driving. You now have free parking!

Driving/Parking Directions

City Hall address: 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90012.  Go south on the 101 freeway past the 110 turn off. Exit on Los Angeles Street. Turn right onto Los Angeles Street and get into the left turn lane. Turn left on Temple and right at the next signal. Drive to Main Street and turn right again to Los Angeles Street. Turn right again to the first guard shack on the right. (It's always a good idea to take a cell phone just in case the call you made to reserve your parking space got lost in the maze of paperwork that such a large city must generate. You will have to call your council office from the car.)

That is the entrance to lot 2. You will park on level P2.  After parking, walk back in the direction of the security shack. Walk past the shack to the entrance. Take the elevator to the third floor. You are now in City Hall East and must find your way to the newly renovated bridge.

You will need a photo identification to cross over to City Hall. Your bags will be searched. You will be given a guest badge. Don't lose the badge or you will be asked to leave the building due to heightened security at City Hall. Cross the bridge to the newly restored City Hall. 

City Council meets on the third floor.  Most commission hearings take place on floor 10. Once in the hearing, get a "comment card". Ask anyone for help filling out the card.

If you can't get away from home or office, see below for two other alternatives. But don't forget to communicate in writing to your elected officials.

Council Phone - City Hall
Made Almost TOO Easy!

Stuck at work or otherwise too busy to go in person to City Hall?  No problemo!  You can listen in on important hearings and meetings because City Council and other public meetings are now available by phone. Just dial into LA’s own “Council Phone” system and push the speaker button.  It’s the next best thing to being there.

“Council Phone” is a dial-up system that allows the public to listen to live coverage of the Los Angeles City Council and Council Committees from any phone.  Call the number in your area and listen to City Council live on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 a.m.   When you call the number, the first thing you'll hear is a menu of all the meetings to be broadcast on that day, and you may choose which one you want if it is not a Council day.  Here are the numbers:

Downtown:
(213) 621-CITY (2489)

West Los Angeles:
(310) 471-CITY (2489)

San Pedro:
(310) 547-CITY (2489)

Van Nuys:
(818) 904-9450

Hollywood:
(323) 957-6415

These numbers may be used from any location, not just Los Angeles.  Dial up and listen in.  Council Phone is maintained and operated by Francisco Montano. He can be reached by phone at (213) 847-2775.

This service is operated by the L.A.  Information Technology Agency, who also produce LA Cityview 35, a city government channel.

Can't Get Away From The Computer?

While online you may elect to hear and view the city council hearing live.  Go to www.lacity.org -- under the Mayor’s picture, click on council webcasts. Then click on Council Chambers (video internet).  You may have to download RealPlayer but that’s easy!