Mesa RHF Partners, L.P. v. City of L. A.

*915 Mesa RHF Housing Partners (Mesa), Hill RHF Housing Partners (Hill), and Olive RHF Housing Partners (Olive) appeal from orders denying motions to enforce settlement agreements under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. 1 The trial court denied those motions on the merits. We affirm the trial court's orders, but we do so based on our conclusion that the trial court was without jurisdiction to hear the motions.

BACKGROUND

Hill and Olive filed a petition for peremptory writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office on July 18, 2012 challenging various provisions regarding the City's establishment of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) by ordinance of April 10, 2012. On January 13, 2013, counsel for Hill and Olive filed a notice of settlement of entire case stating that the parties had settled the case on December 20, 2012. The parties' settlement agreement contained the *916 following language: "The Court shall retain jurisdiction pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6 to enforce the terms of the Settlement Agreement." On March 1, 2013, counsel…