Council gives up ability to adjust minimum wage rules without public vote

West Hollywood City Council voted Monday night to approve two big proposals pushed by voters through a petition process.

The first measure focused on keeping tight controls on vacation rentals, including reinstating rules for home-sharing that had recently expired. The second measure protected hotel workers’ rights and set a minimum wage that can’t be changed without a vote by the public. Both measures were passed unanimously, locking in the rules for good unless the voters decide otherwise.

Back in July, supporters of the measures — aligned with special interest groups like UNITE HERE Local 11 and Better Neighbors LA —  filed notices to start collecting signatures to get them on the ballot. They gathered the 2,600 signatures by September, and Council was tasked with deciding the next steps: either pass the measures right away, put them on the ballot for a future election, or delay for a report on their impacts.

The meeting drew several impassioned proponents of the measures to participate in public comment.

June Paniouchkine, a onetime employee of SunLife Organics on Sunset Boulevard, said the minimum wage ordinance allowed him to finally move into the city where we he worked.

“It’s because of that minimum wage that I earned that I was able to go through my UCLA studies,” he said. “I graduated this summer with a degree in public affairs, and I was able to avoid living in my car. Having that minimum wage job and working in West Hollywood, I commuted an hour and 30 minutes from far away. That job, and now being able to live in this city, was an immense privilege that this City Council was able to afford me.”

Councilmember Sepi Shyne said she was proud of the city’s long-standing efforts to fight illegal Airbnb rentals and raise wages for workers. She supported passing both measures immediately, saying they reflected the city’s progressive values.

“I am incredibly proud every time I share with anyone that we have the highest minimum wage in the country,” Shyne said. “It is because of the opportunity and the relief of stress that it gives to workers who haven’t been seen, recognized, or acknowledged. In the city of West Hollywood, we have done so in a remarkable way that no other city has.”

Councilmember Lauren Meister voiced concerns about locking in rules that future councils couldn’t adjust. She pointed out that while the vacation rental rules only affect about 30 properties, the inability to tweak the rules—for example, allowing short-term rentals during big events like the Olympics—could cause problems down the road. Meister preferred to delay the vote for a deeper analysis but said she could go along with approving the measures since they didn’t seem to cause harm as they were.

Meister suggested that the activists in the crowd “start lobbying your state legislators to push for a law that prohibits short-term rentals in any new development that receives density bonuses. This is still happening—not in West Hollywood but in other cities in California. If you want to make a real impact, that should be part of your lobbying efforts and your ability to organize.”

Councilmember John Heilman shared similar concerns about flexibility. He mentioned that while he supports the city’s efforts to crack down on illegal rentals and protect workers, these measures would make it harder for future councils to adapt. For instance, he noted that banning all home-sharing outright might align with the measures but couldn’t be done without risking legal issues. Still, Heilman said he wasn’t prepared to hold up the measures and would vote in favor.

“People signed petitions under the assumption that this would go on the ballot and they would have the opportunity to vote on it,” Heilman said. “So, I think we have to be careful. Just because they met the minimum number of signatures required doesn’t mean everyone who signed it would have voted for it.”

Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers strongly supported both proposals, highlighting the community effort that went into gathering signatures. She said these rules were about protecting the city’s progressive reputation and standing firm on policies that benefit workers and residents.

“I do see and feel that among the tremendous effort that was undertaken to really draw a line in the sand around what has become some of our defining issues and policies as a city,” Byers said. “I am very supportive of ensuring that these are maintained. ”

Mayor John M. Erickson closed the discussion by praising the community for standing up for their values. He pointed out that these issues resonated with voters during the recent elections and aligned with what residents want—fair wages for workers and protection against short-term rental abuse. Erickson strongly supported passing the measures immediately, saying they reflect the city’s progressive foundation and commitment to its people.

“This is about supporting our workers, who are the heart of West Hollywood,” Erickson said. “Supporting them doesn’t mean we’re against our businesses. It means we’re standing for the progressive values the city was founded on.”

In the end, the council voted 5-0 to pass both measures. The first locks in vacation rental and home-sharing rules, ensuring future councils can only strengthen—not weaken—these restrictions without voter approval. The second protects hotel workers by keeping the city’s high minimum wage and other safeguards intact. Both measures will officially take effect in 30 days.