Rubalcava

Respondents sought mandamus and injunctive relief against appellant City Council of Los Angeles (City Council) and other parties, contending that the City Council improperly approved an ordinance essentially similar to one that the City Council had repealed following respondents’ successful campaign to institute a referendum on it. The trial court granted respondents’ petition. We reverse.

RELEVANT FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On November 22, 2006, the City Council adopted ordinance No. 178082, entitled “Hotel Worker Living Wage Ordinance” (Wage Ordinance). The ordinance set minimum wage standards that exceeded California’s minimum wage requirements for certain hotel workers employed within the Gateway to Los Angeles (Century Corridor) Property Business Improvement District (PBID), which abuts Los Angeles International Airport. Under the ordinance, hotels within the PBID that contained 50 or more guest rooms were obliged to pay at least $9.39 per hour to workers who received health benefits, and at least $10.64 per hour to workers who did not receive health benefits.

The Wage Ordinance was opposed by respondents—who are a group of hotel operators within the PBID and…