DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Today is Monday, September 14, and Council deals with a few items today before recessing for the rest of the week. The City's finances continue to be a top concern, but Downtowners might be more interested in an update on High Speed Rail.

UPDATE: A special Council meeting was called for Tuesday. More below.

MONDAY: Three committees are in session: Public Safety, Budget & Finance and the ad hoc River Committee.

At Public Safety is CF 09-0679, a Wesson / Smith motion asking that Police Chiefs be eligible for a third term. The motion was introduced in March, before Chief Bratton announced he was leaving office.

Budget and Finance committee will hear updates on the City's budget situation, including revenues that are below forecasted amounts.

The ad hoc River committee will hear updates on the High Speed Rail project, including potential alignment and station options Downtown. Under consideration are an aerial station atop the existing tracks at Union Station (roughly $590 million) and a station that would be just east of Union Station's Patsaouras Transit Center and connected via a pedway. Just how the latter station would be constructed and its potential cost are unclear.

TUESDAY - FRIDAY: Council is off for the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference, taking place September 16 - 18 in San Jose.

UPDATE (6PM): A special Tuesday Council meeting has been called for 9am, with the body scheduled to vote on budget items and an early retirement program for City workers. The same items were at Budget & Finance committee on Monday, a meeting that is still ongoing.