1 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL,
CULVER CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
CULVER CITY PARKING AUTHORITY,
REDEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY,
AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CULVER CITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING OF THE March 13, 2023
CITY COUNCIL, CULVER CITY 7:00 p.m.
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
CULVER CITY PARKING AUTHORITY,
REDEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY, AND
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CULVER CITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Mayor Vera called the regular meeting of the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority, Redevelopment Financing Authority, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board to order at 5:32 p.m. in the Mike Balkman Chambers at City Hall.
Present: Albert Vera, Mayor
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Vice Mayor
Göran Eriksson, Council Member
Freddy Puza, Council Member
Dan O’Brien, Council Member
o0o
Closed Session
T’Ana Allen, Deputy City Clerk, reported no requests to speak on Closed Session items.
March 13, 2023
2 MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, CULVER CITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, CULVER CITY PARKING AUTHORITY,
REDEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
CULVER CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.
At 5:34 p.m. the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority, Redevelopment Financing Authority, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board adjourned to Closed Session to consider the following Closed Session Items:
CS-1 CC - Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Re: City of Arcadia, et al. v. Southern California Edison Co.
Case No. 20CV02026
CS-2 CC - Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Re: Significant Exposure to Litigation (1 Item)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
o0o
Reconvene
Mayor Vera reconvened the meeting of the City Council at 6:53 p.m. with all Council Members present for recognition
presentations.
o0o
Recognition Presentation
Item R-1
A Proclamation Declaring the Month of March 2023 as Red Cross Month in Culver City
Council Member O’Brien presented a proclamation declaring the month of March 2023 as Red Cross Month in Culver City.
A Red Cross representative thanked the City Council for honoring the volunteers for the work that they do to continue the mission of the Red Cross to help others.
o0o
March 13, 2023
3 Recess
Mayor Vera called a short recess at 6:57 p.m. to address technical difficulties.
o0o
Regular Session
Mayor Vera reconvened the regular meeting of the City Council, Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority, Culver City Housing
Authority Board, and Culver City Parking Authority at 7:01 p.m. with all Council Members present.
o0o
Pledge of Allegiance
David Voncannon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
o0o
Report on Action Taken in Closed Session
Mayor Vera indicated nothing to report out of Closed Session.
o0o
Community Announcements by Members/Information Items from Staff
Council Member O’Brien reported participating in the Screenland 5K on March 12 and attending a ceremony for Lila Braggard, one of Culver City’s first female Eagle Scouts; he proposed that the Boy Scouts of America change the name to Scouts of America; discussed Deaf History month; his family’s experience; the importance of being inclusive of people of all abilities; teamwork; he quoted the Academy Award winning director for Best Film in his speech on March 12; discussed communication, intent, body language, and the impact of words on the receiver; and the importance of showing grace.
Vice Mayor McMorrin discussed celebrating the contributions of women during Women’s History month in March; the 30th Los Angeles County Women of the Year Celebration; the theme of equity for International Women’s Day; her unique perspective and important contributions as the only woman , the only person of color March 13, 2023
4 currently on the City Council, and the first ever Black woman to serve; she encouraged everyone to read Harvard Business Review article on the Angry Black Woman Stereotype at Work ; activation of stereotypes; tips for overcoming bias ;
encouragement to neighbors and the community to read from a website on White Supremacy Culture about white comfort, power hoarding, and the fear of conflict; she reported putting out a statement regarding her experience at the March 7 City Council budget meeting and clarified that she had not demanded an apology or resignation; indicated that she remained unapologetic for her commitment to equity; she requested an investment in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Training for Council Members and senior staff; and she asked that the previous standard practice of annual evaluations of City staff that report directly to the City Council be reinstated to provide accountability and transparency.
Council Member Puza expressed support for requests made by Vice Mayor McMorrin; discussed the opportunity to model repair when harm has been done noting that failure to do so could indicate deeper issues in the City; historically used tropes to undermine Black women; he invited those interested to explore whiteness, anti-Blackness, and important work to dismantle oppressive institutions to create more equal outcomes; acknowledged the importance of talking about race; he recommended reading White Fragility, So You Want to Talk About Race , and Witnessing Whiteness as well as groups to join to unpack issues; discussed the Alliance of White Anti -Racists Everywhere; reported attending Christina Wong: Sweatshop Overlord at the Kirk Douglas Theater; invited everyone to attend the 11th Anniversary Walk N Roller event on March 18 on Main Street; he acknowledged Women’s History month; and he indicated that he was reading Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World.
Mayor Vera acknowledged the importance of having constructive and respectful dialogue moving forward.
o0o
Information Items
Item I-1
CC – Update on Homelessness Emergency (Including Project Homekey, Safe Camping and Other Housing Programs)
Tevis Barnes, Housing and H uman Services Director, discussed March 13, 2023
5 the requirement to provide regular updates on efforts being made to address homelessness in the community with the adoption of the Emergency Declaration on Homelessness; she discussed buzz about a potential sweep at the 405/Venice on March 15 on the Los Angeles side; she reported communication from Los Angeles indicating that March 15 was the regular monthly care and service day; discussed the Los Angeles process; projects and programs to address the homeless; a proposed tour of the Project Homekey facility at the end of the month and she provided photographs showing progress; the Safe Sleep program; contract approval for a lead service provider and operator; the planned tour of the Safe Sleep provider on March 14 ; dealing with inclement weather; continued work on infrastructure for the Safe Sleep site; regular 60 day consideration of the Emergency Declaration and the recommendation to consider continuation; the process to create Mobile Crisis Intervention Units (MCIUs); research into what other cities are doing; staffing; ensuring responsiveness; City Council approval of the creation of the Housing and Human Services Department; the Human Services and Crisis Intervention Division; space planning; deployment; response time; transportation; implementation; non-medical response; discussion with labor groups; the budget; the timeline; dispatch; recruitment; training; and the number of projects that are being done simultaneously.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation to staff for the work done; hiring of the Human Services and Crisis Intervention Division Manager; the roll-out phase; whether comments from former Mayor Lee and use of CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) had informed the process; the desire for an unarmed model with a group of trained mental health professionals to provide an alternative to police response; general overall concern that the current path was not effective; the desire to deliver a quality product; efforts to mirror the CAHOOTS model in -house and provide equal status to the other compo nents of Police and Fire; creation of the timeline in response to questions raised on March 7; staff agreement that the consultant report be shared with the City Council; the projected timeline for implementation; dispatch; appreciation for the detailed report and the efforts to create the program; and City Council willingness to help expedite the process in any way possible.
o0o
March 13, 2023
6 Presentations to City Council
Item P-1
CC – Presentation of the City of Culver City Coyote Study and Management Plan by Loyola Marymount University/Los Angeles Center for Urban Resilience
Shelly Wolfberg, Assistant to the City Manager, introduced the item.
Eric Strauss, Loyola Marymount University (LMU), announced a public workshop on April 27; provided a summary of the report; discussed work done during the pandemic; collaboration with Field Biologist, Dr. Melinda Weaver and many others; using non- invasive techniques to work around the animals; goals of t he study; management interventions; social surveys; human attitude and response; the urban ecological context; conflicts; human stakeholders; comparisons with other studies; development of durable management interventions; movement patterns of coyotes; educational support; reducing coyote conflicts; data collection methods; key components of management recommendations ; the resident survey; perceived resident knowledge; and
opportunities for intervention.
Dr. Melinda Weaver, Arizona State University, discussed stability of coyote densities; the resident pack; the secondary pack; dramatic fluctuations in the rabbit population; rainfall patterns; overlapping cat/coyote populations; increased predation risk; differences in interactions of other cities; the Oil Fields; the strong preference for green spaces; seasonal patterns; diet; key findings and recommendations; use of knowledge to inform citizens regarding danger to pets;
implementing a suite of interventions at the individual parcel level; coyote preferences; coyote searches for food items; out of character behavior; how individual residents can handle situations; documented incidents; detailed scaled management intervention; getting rid of the dangerous coyotes; palliative strategies; enhanced specialized e ducation for pet owners; school-based curriculu m; specialized training for cats; and specific protocol for hazing coyotes before they become aggressive.
Eric Strauss , LMU, discussed frequently asked questions; disrupting territorial family groups; remov al of coyote populations; the unpredictable nature of coyotes; adaptive behavior in response to changes in the community; length of the March 13, 2023
7 study; comparisons of different years; identification of patterns; key aspects of the study that differ from other studies; the unique overlap of coyote and cat geography in Culver City; continued work with the City after the formal contract has ended; the Culver City curriculum developed; ensuring that good decisions are made based on data;
understanding impacts; and making appropriate and defendable decisions about coyote management.
Council Member Puza disclosed that he works at LMU noting that consultation with the City Attorney indicated that there was no conflict of interest and he stated that if there were ever to be a vote related to the budget, he would recuse himself.
Council Member O’Brien expressed appreciation for the report.
Eric Strauss, LMU, invited Council Members to visit the lab noting that the more informed the City Council was the better decisions they would make.
o0o
Joint Public Comment – Items NOT on the Agenda
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Jamie Wallace expressed support for staff that went out of its way to solve homeless issues; noted the nee d for properly trained, capable people to address issues; thanked staff and the City Manager for their tireless efforts; and she invited those in the audience who agreed with her to stand up.
Stephen Jones was called to speak but could not be heard in Council Chambers.
Crystal Alexander , with one minute ceded by Tasha Lowitz, celebrated the work done by City staff for residents; discussed her work with outstanding civil servants; high quality work delivered; the difficulty of being a public sector manager; conditions during the pandemic; misunderstandings; the value of staff for the community; and she applauded the City Manager for his support of staff.
Stephen Jones noted that Vice Mayor McMorrin is a voice for many constituents who have been historically unrepresented in bodies March 13, 2023
8 like the City Council; discussed constituents who are angry that MCIUs continue not to be implemented while Culver City Police Department (CCPD) handles over 1,000 mental health related calls for service each year; a mental health call in December that ended with CCPD shooting and killing an unarmed man in the back; he indicated that he had never heard Vice Mayor McMorrin address staff with anger; he noted that the City Manager could have expressed his frustrations about the process without directing them at the Vice Mayor for asking about it; discusse d people offended that the Vice Mayor had called out the racist behavior of invoking the angry Black woman stereotype ; and he pointed out that “white male” was not a racial slur.
Ron Bassilian was called to speak but was not present online.
Lorri Horn was called to speak but did not respond.
Bubba Fish expressed appreciation for the presentation from Director Barnes on MCIUs; he reiterated the unanswered question posed by the Vice Mayor at the budget hearing about whether MCIUs could be expedited noting that the question was about priorities, not about how hard people were working; he thanked the Vice Mayor for doing her job; discussed the loss of Guillermo Medina, noting that implementation of the MCIUs were truly a matter of life and death; he indicated concern with the angry response from the City Manager accusing the Vice Mayor of being angry all the time; noted that he had a hard time imagining the City Manager addressing Council Member O’Brien or Mayor Vera in that way; discussed the many ways the Ci ty Manager could have responded noting that he could have come up with options and given the City Council the opportunity ability to weigh in on what items should be prioritized; and he indicated that he would appreciate an apology.
Carolyn Libuser noted that her son had been homeless many times; expressed appreciation for the efforts of staff to help the homeless in the community; discussed the difficulty of observers to watch people reading off their computers noting that they did not appear to be engage d; she asserted that School Board Members never read off teleprompters; and she wanted to see Council Members close their laptops and be fully engaged.
Prisca Gloor discussed the pattern of Mr. Nachbar following his own agenda; the slow process on items that help the poor vs. the pace of items that fit in with white male dominant culture; she observed that the City Manager did not complain about the extra work caused by the special meeting for the anti -camping March 13, 2023
9 ordinance just before Christmas; discussed advertising Culver City as a model little white City; she asserted that contrary to Mayor Vera’s advice , the latest racist incident was not a matter to “move on” from, nor was it “ridiculous” as Council Member Eriksson had stated; and she proposed that it was time to finally acknowledge the racist past and present and make significant changes to the structural racism still dominating the City.
Judy Scott provided background on herself; discussed her interactions with staff and provided unqualified support for them; expressed agreement with Jamie Wallace and those
supporting the City; and she noted that when someone is voted in on the City Council, they are to represent all residents.
Monika Rogasch provided background on herself and stated that not every conflict is about race.
Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director, with one minute ceded by Michele Williams, presented a letter to the City Council signed by 100% of the Executive Management Team expressing viewpoints to provide insight into the Executive Team dynamic and City Manager, John Nachbar; she discussed the commitment of the City Manager to his team, and to carrying out policies of the City Council in a dedicated and professional manner; she asserted that the City Manager was fair, supportive, direct, helped staff celebrate progress, and rallie d the team during times of heavy workload and long hours; she noted efforts of the City Manager to safeguard staff from the politics of local government that City Council more directly faces in their role as community leaders and ensuring that staff are efficient and focused on policy outcomes desired by the elected leaders; she discussed commitment to diversity and the success of women and hi storically underrepresented groups; genuine concern demonstrated about the well -being of City staff; she affirmed that the City Manager is an excellent leader who has created a positive work environment allowing City staff to thrive and dedicate themselves to the community; and she noted that assertions suggesting otherwise were inconsistent with the extensive professional experience staff has from working with the City Manager every day.
Gary Zeiss expressed anger at assertions from Vice Mayor McMorrin that white males d id not have a right to their anger or had different or lesser rights in the workplace than a person of color; discussed creating a hostile workplace environment based on race ; required work place training; racist comments March 13, 2023
10 made by members of the Los Angeles City Council; racially motivated comments made by Vice Mayor McMorrin, not the City Manager; concern with a lack of awareness or remorse for the Vice Mayor’s actions; appeasement of racism as a predecessor to institutional racism; failure to address the issue as providing comfort to racists and ha rming the City; and he demanded that the Vice Mayor be censured for her comments that were likely illegal and could expose the City to liability.
Kelli Estes expressed support for comments made by Tevis Barnes; expressed disappointment with the implication that the Housing Department had seen multiple evictions, when in fact, just one large property was involved; asserted that the insinuation perpetuated divisiveness between landlords and tenants ; discussed equity; noted that she did not recall a vote to create the M CIUs; discussed comments from CAHOOTS during their presentation that Culver City was too small and should partner with other cities rather than create their own; she encouraged more transparency and facts-only reporting; she noted that any City leader walking out of a meeting should be a disqualifier for future leadership roles; and discussed using race to deflect criticism.
o0o
Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERIKSSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
o0o
Order of the Agenda
No changes were made.
o0o
Consent Calendar
Item C-1
CC:HA:SA - Approval of Cash Disbursements for February 18, 2023 to March 3, 2023
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
March 13, 2023
11 The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Melissa Sanders was called to speak but did not respond.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL , HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD: APPROVE CASH
DISBURSEMENTS FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2023 TO MARCH 4, 2023.
o0o
Item C-2
CC:HA:SA - Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on February 27, 2023
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL , HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD: APPROVE MINUTE S FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 27, 2023.
o0o
Item C-3
CC - Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with MGT to Complete the Citywide Classification and Compensation Study in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $148,080
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MGT TO CONDUCT
A CITYWIDE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDY IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $148,080; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
o0o
March 13, 2023
12 Item C-4
CC - (1) Approval of an Amendment to an Existing Professional Services Agreement with AG Coast, Inc. dba California Panther Security in an Additional Amount Not -to-Exceed $273,569.00 through June 30, 2023; and (2) Authorization to the City Manager to Amend the Scope of Service to Include Additional City Locations and Services as Needed by City Departments
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AG COAST, INC. DBA CALIFORNIA PANTHER SECURITY IN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $283,569 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE SCOPE OF SERVICE TO
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CITY LOCATIONS AND SERVICES AS NEEDED BY CITY DEPARTMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
o0o
Item C-5
CC - Approval of an Amendment to an Existing Professional Services Agreement with Insight Investment for Investment Advisory and Portfolio Management Services with an Annual Fee of 0.08% of All Assets (Up to/Including $60 Million) and 0.06% (Exceeding $60 million) Ending December 31, 2023
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Kelli Estes questioned where the City’s investments were and how safe they were.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH INSIGHT INVESTMENT FOR INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND March 13, 2023
13 PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT SERVICES THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023 FOR AN ANNUAL FEE OF 0.08% OF ALL ASSETS UP TO AND INCLUDING $60 MILLION AND 0.06% FOR ALL ASSETS EXCEEDING $60 MILLION; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
o0o
Item C-6
CC:HA (1) Approval to Submit a Joint Application in Partnership with Community Corporation of Santa Monica under the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Notice of Funding
Availability in an amount up $35 million for Capital and Programming Funds and u p to $15 million for City Bike, Pedestrian and Transit Infrastructure for the 95 -unit 100% Affordable Housing Project to be Developed at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA; and (2) Approval of and Direction to Staff to Complete the Proposed Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Projects Included in the Grant Application if the Grant is Awarded to the City
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Kelli Estes requested a brief snapshot on the item rather than having it included as a Consent Item.
Nancy Barba encouraged the City Council to approve the wonderful project; expressed support for the Church and the developer for their engagement efforts ; and, with regard to Item C -7, she wanted to hear about what the Emergency Services Declaration had done differently to proactively help the unhoused community.
Janee Lennox questioned how those affected are a part of the process; wanted to ensure that funding affected them; she asked the City to explain how affected voices would be centered; and she indicated that her comments also applied to Item C-7.
March 13, 2023
14 THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND AUTHORITY BOARD:
1. APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF A JOINT APPLICATION WITH COMMUNITY
CORPORATION OF SANTA MONICA UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY IN AN AMOUNT UP $35 MILLION FOR CAPITAL AND PROGRAMMING FUNDS AND UP TO $15 MILLION FOR CITY BIKE, PEDESTRIAN AND TRANSMIT
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE 95-UNIT 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT LOCATED AT 4464 SEPULVEDA BOULEVARD, CULVER CITY, CA (PROJECT); AND,
2. APPROV E AND DIRECT TO STAFF TO COMPLETE THE BICYCLE,
PEDESTRIAN, AND TRANSIT PROJECTS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, SHOULD THE GRANT APPLICATION BE APPROVED; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY/AUTHORITY GENERAL COUNSEL TO
REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY CORP REGARDING JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE SUCH
DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY/AUTHORITY, INCLUDING JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.
o0o
Item C-7
CC - First Review and Approval of the Need for Continuing the Local Emergency Declared on January 3, 2023 by the City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, under City of Culver City Emergency Authority, Due to the Homelessness Crisis
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 8630,
CONDUCT A REVIEW AND CONFIRM THE NEED FOR CONTINUING THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARED ON JANUARY 3, 2023 BY THE CITY MANAGER, AS
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, UNDER CITY OF CULVER CITY EMERGENCY AUTHORITY, DUE TO THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
Responding to an inquiry from Council Member Eriksson, Lisa Soghor, Chief Finance Officer, asserted that City investments were very safe; discussed the City investment policy; secure investments; and the extension of the current agreement with the investment advisor.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERIKSSON AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE ITEMS C-1 THROUGH C-7.
March 13, 2023
15 THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: ERIKSSON, O’BRIEN, PUZA, VERA
NOES: MCMORRIN
Vice Mayor McMorrin indicated she had dissented since Item C-7 had not been pulled.
o0o
Public Hearings
Item PH-1
CC - PUBLIC HEARING: Introduction of an Ordinance Approving a City-Initiated Zoning Code Amendment (P2022-0357-ZCA), Amending Title 17: Zoning Code of the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) to Clarify and Clean up Internal Inconsistencies Related to Accessory Residential Structures, Definitions and Nonconforming Structures
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERIKSSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE THE AFFADAVIT AND POSTING OF PUBLIC NOTICE.
Erika Ramirez, Current Planning Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
ERIKSSON AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:·
Bubba Fish noted the significant number of new housing units in California that are ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units); stated that as recently as a few years ago, ADUs were considered
controversial housing policy and now are an important tool to use and encourage; discussed the need to continue to fight for more parking reform; and allowing more people to live in the City.
Gary Zeiss was called to speak but indicated wanting to speak on a different item.
March 13, 2023
16 Sean McLemore was called to speak but was not present online.
Alan Schulman was called to speak but indicated wanting to speak on a different item.
Monica Richardson was called to speak but indicated wanting to speak on a different item.
Laurence Ardito discussed his efforts on a garage expansion and he thanked staff and Council Members who helped him through the process.
Janee Lennox was called to speak but indicated wanting to speak on a different item.
Thistle Boosinger was called to speak but was not present online.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
ERIKSSON AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation to staff for their efforts; congratulations to Mr.
Ardito on his project; support for additional housing;
acknowledgement of the work done by former Mayor Alex Fisch to encourage streamlining and zoning amendments; and appreciation to those who spoke. ·
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERIKSSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:·INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A ZONING CODE AMENDMENT P2023 -0357-ZCA, AMENDING TITLE 17: ZONING CODE, RELATED TO ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES, DEFINITIONS, AND NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES.
o0o
Action Items
Item A-1
CC - Discussion and Direction for the Future Use of Main Street, Between Culver Boulevard and the City Boundary South of Venice Boulevard
Andrew Maximous , Mobility and Traffic Engineering Manager , provided a summary of the material of record.
March 13, 2023
17 Council Member Puza received clarification that no new data was available since the previous Council meeting.
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Jamie Wallace asserted that Main Street was dying; stated that in Paris and London, they did not put a pedestrian precincts on a throughfare; and she felt that Main Street should not be closed except on Tuesdays for the Farmers Market.
Darrell Menthe, Downtown Business Association (DBA), asserted that the closure of Main Street had not worked; reported empty asphalt at any time of the day; he conveyed messages from specific businesses asking that the street be reopened noting that they were the ones being affected; he pointed out that Town Plaza was right across the street; and he asked that Main Street be reopened on the weekends.
Bubba Fish urged the City Council to support the recommendation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to fully invest in Main Street by keeping it open to people 24/7 and investing in programming; discussed opportunities to activate the space; the upcoming Walk N Rollers event and the Pride event; he felt that it did not make sense to open up the street to traffic again; requested data to support statements made by the businesses; reported using Main Street all the time because it is safe for pedestrians; and he encouraged the City Council to take advantage of the unique opportunity to activate one of the most community-minded areas of the City.
Stephen Jones noted the importance of seizing opportunities to reclaim public space; asserted that the street had been more actively used when it was closed to cars all the time; discussed using the space to its full potential; giving it a chance to succeed; lack of evidence that putting cars on Main Street d id anything more than allow more traffic; number and frequency of cross streets; his use of the space with his child; and he asked that the street be opened to pedestrians and closed to cars permanently.
Philip Lelyveld was called to speak but could not be heard.
Steven Stanton was called to speak but was not present online.
March 13, 2023
18 Kelli Estes questioned why bollards had been purch ased before having the discussion; discussed lack of data; noted that cars were not a thing of the past; asked that Main Street be opened to all residents, businesses, and employers; and she thanked the City Manager and staff for their hard work noting tha t things seemed to change quickly.
Melissa Sanders questioned why the item was being considered; discussed moving the parking lot exit at The Steps to allow for easy access from Venice to the parking lot ; the fact that the street is not fully inside the City; she did not feel that Main Street was the proper location to take back public space from; indicated that businesses that would not have signed leases if they had known the situation; and she did not feel the street should be closed.
Disa Lindgren hoped that the City would install the bollards that were ordered and collect data to study and learn what the best use of Main Street is; discussed reasons for activating Main Street for non-vehicular use; she proposed adding lights, tables, chairs, and signage; and expressed support for gathering data.
Christopher Michel discussed his observations of people enjoying Main Street without cars; safety; traffic; adding pedestrian elements; and he expressed support for the installation of bollards and working together to keep Main Street closed to cars.
Alan Schulman asserted that Main Street was an important part of solving traffic issues; discussed the need for the exit from the parking structure at The Steps; increased employee occupancy and traffic; additional activity coming with opening the movie theatre and Eerew hon; and he expressed concern with driving traffic onto Culver.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin urged the City C ouncil to legalize Main Street and open it for businesses; discussed recovery from the major global health crisis that resulted in massive business closures; feedback from struggling businesses on Main Street that want the street to be open; activating Culver Steps; and she shared her observations of Main Street being deserted on the weekend.
Melissa Stucky was called to speak but was not present online.
March 13, 2023
19 Michelle Weiner saw Main Street as a continuation of The Steps; discussed Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica; activating The Steps; the role of the DBA; vision and investment; the need for the DBA to support business and make the area lively with lights and signage to activate the area; and she wanted to see the bollards installed and studies conducted to how the area works.
Patricia Bijvoet discussed the future of Main Street and the downtown area ; more people and less cars; core values; a combined vision; creating a pedestrian-friendly street to attract people from far and wide; the General Plan Update; the decision in May 2022 to allow car traffic back on to the street; the confusing schedule; she questioned what the City could contribute; and she provided suggestions to help Main Street be successful as a pedestrian area.
David Metzler was called to speak but was not online.
Adrian Killigrew wanted to see the City get creative with the space; he believed in people and community over cars; proposed collaboration with Los Angeles sports teams to have fun fests on their away days; proposed creating a painted track for kids; discussed the Pride festival last year; Walk N Rollers; and he encouraged exploration of what the area could be.
David Coles, Bike Culver City, indicated that he was speaking on behalf of himself; discussed the unsuccessful compromise and predictable failure of having the street open four days per week; relocating the Farmers Market to Media Park; amenities in The Plaza; and he wanted to see a better vision for the street.
Marci Baun felt that the businesses should be listened to; reported her experience walking across th e empty Main Street; asked that the street be opened up to allow people to get in and out of the Plaza and the parking lot; and she felt that those who advocate closure were only advocating for themselves.
Nancy Barba reminded everyone that Culver Studios parking was originally meant to exit on to Washington Boulevard before a last minute change was pushed through by a large developer; she indicated that the space had been well -activated when it was closed to all traffic; she asserted that had been a mistake to open the street during the week aa it had ended the activation that had been created; and she noted that if the City wants to be seen as forward facing, the street should be closed and activated.
March 13, 2023
20 Travis Morgan, BPAC Vice Chair, discussed consideration of the issue by the BPAC with extensive community input received; main concerns raised as being congestion created by Amazon employees; proximity of the Metro station and bus lines serving the area; lack of new data offered; the urgency of prioritizing public transit and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for more equitable and environmentally frie ndly alleviation of
congestion; and unanimous support for full-time closure of Main Street to car traffic and opening it to pedestrians.
Robert Combs provided background on himself; asked the City to keep a lane of traffic open on Main Street; discussed
efficiency; forcing traffic onto Culver Boulevard; additional traffic coming; elimination of parking on Main Street; the Farmers Market; and he thanked all Council Members and staff for their time and dedication.
Monica Richardson provided background on herself; discussed her previous experiences; difficulties for the businesses on Main Street with closure of the street and removal of parking; access to Culver Steps parking; reduced lanes; increased traffic with the bike lane and the closure of Main Street; she proposed that people who want to play with their kids on the street could do so at the park; and she wanted to see the street reopened.
Dorothy Sadd was called to speak but was not present online.
Jim Shanman discussed activities demonstrating how successful Main Street can be when the City and businesses work together; effective activation of space in other cities; support for keeping the area closed; the upcoming Walk N Rollers
celebration; the investment in the bollards; and he proposed simple upgrades to make the area an extension of The Steps.
Keith Jones asserted that he would not take his kids to play in the middle of the City as that is the purpose of parks; expressed sympathy for businesses that signed long leases; discussed lack of convenience for shoppers with the street being closed; installation of bollards for the Farmers Market; he felt the street should stay open; and he stated that the Third Street Promenade was failing and Culver City was heading that way too.
Thistle Boosinger was called to speak but did not respond.
Laurence Ardito was called to speak but did not respond.
March 13, 2023
21 Meghan Sahli-Wells provided background on herself; discussed the half measure on Main Street; lack of investment; full occupation of Main Street during the pandemic; she wanted to see the street opened to people and closed to cars 24/7; she noted opportunities in other countries; and she felt that the City needed to catch up.
Karim Sahli cited SB 1439 requiring officials to abstain from voting on issues involving donors who gave over $250 in the last 12 months; r eported that Council Member O’Brien had received $600,000 from Mr. Hackman; pointed out that the item related to the Culver Studios and Council Member O’Brien should recuse himself from the vote; he felt that bollards were pointless if they did not safeguard the bike lanes and crosswalk; stated that a car-free Main Street would benefit everyone; noted that Paris had removed the thoroughfare; indicated that a few parking spots would not make a significant difference with the large parking structures nearby; he asserted that downtown was poised to become pedestrian with Main Street; discussed Parcel B; and he indicated the need to follow the Bicycle and Pedes trian Action Plan and reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled rather than fostering car culture and a parking lot.
Heather Baker, City Attorney, reported that the statute cited by Mr. Sahli did not apply to campaign contributions received during the 2022 election , it applied only to contributions received after January 1, 2023, therefore a conflict of interest did not exist.
Cary Anderson provided background on herself, responded to comments made by Disa Lindgren, Alan Schulman, Michelle Weiner, Keith Jones, Monica Richardson, Robert Combs, Meghan Sahli - Wells, and Karim Sahli; noted that Main Street was the shortest street in America and would be the smallest plaza; and discussed concerns about Rush Street that were ignored.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin indicated that she had already spoken on the issue.
Mary Daval noted that options for Main Street had been supported by the DBA, Hackman Capital, and several business almost one year ago , although the majority of speakers now supported keeping the Main Street closed to cars 24/4; she requested that the City Council adhere to their original motion to direct staff to install bollards and monitor the data; she wanted to see data relating to the viability of on street parking, numbers relating to traffic in and out of the Steps Garage, cut-through traffic March 13, 2023
22 using Main Street to access the Culver/Washington corridor, and sales tax information for the businesses; she proposed
enlivening the space while data is collected by stringing festive lights to let people know that Main Street is open for business and put practice tracks on the ground to alert parents that Main Street is an available alternative to the crowded Town Plaza area; she noted that things would be getting more and more crowded as more businesses are opened and the weather gets better; and she wanted a scramble crossing at the intersection to encourage use of both plazas.
Sean McLemore , Main Street business owner, discussed the struggle of businesses; presented photographs of the empty street every weekend; he asserted that the street should have never been closed, and that businesses were suffering; discussed the shared street with Los Angeles; he felt that those who did not own a business should have no say in the matter; and he asked that Main Street be reopened.
Janee Lennox discussed the missed opportunity to make the space work; she asserted that foot -traffic created business; noted that there were no lights on Main Street; and she felt laziness and trying to keep things the same rather than engaging in creative thinking was preventing success.
Ken Mand discussed the need to consider the area as a whole; making things easier for the public and community groups; the difficulty of pulling a permit to use the public space; insurance requirements that limit events that can be put on; and he proposed making the process easier.
Melissa Stucky felt that the business owners should be listened to; noted the importance of being able to park to use businesses; and she indicated that parks were available play spaces.
Thistle Boosinger discussed her positive experiences living on Main Street in Culver City when it was closed and her dream of closing the City to cars; she echoed comments made by Mary Daval; wanted to see native plants and open space on Main Street with space for eating outside; and she hoped to see streets closed to cars and the area made accessible to the community.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation for the public comment; climate change; making the City more walkable, bikeable, and connected with use of public transit; prioritizing public spa ce for people, commerce, and community rather than for cars; lack of additional study or data March 13, 2023
23 points available since previous Council consideration; data as a part of the original motion; the mixed results achieved with the hybrid version that was not acti vated; successful events that offer a peek into what the street could be;
inappropriateness of the Plaza for certain things; climate change; greenhouse gas emissions; the need to take action; studies confirming that capacity expansion leads to more vehicle traffic, not less; decreased accidents and injuries with decreased volume; parking structures; parking spots; The Plaza; leaning on the BPAC recommendation; City investment in the project; closing the street to cars full -time to evaluate the change; a sug gestion to table the item until installation of the bollards and return with more data; the importance of creating a use policy to activate the space; and annual evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the project.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding input from the businesses indicating that they are suffering; Main Street as a feeder street into the parking structure; the Washington/Ince intersection; the traffic study as a driver for the change to the parking str ucture entrance; difficulties for the businesses on Main Street; issues that cannot be ignored; people with mobility issues; the need for a functioning downtown area; allowing those with cars to have easy access into the area; helping restaurants and stores survive; bringing in more retail; under-utilization of The Plaza; the closure of Washington Boulevard between the hotel and the movie theater; Parcel B; downtown streets closed to create a walkable area; maximizing The Plaza before spending money on Main Street; traffic in and out of the City; employees returning to the office; lunch business vs. evening business; and support for keeping Main Street open except for the Farmers Market.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding chaos and confusion with the closure; listening to those most affected; string lights to beautify the Main Street area; investigation of installing a scramble pedestrian intersection; efforts of the DBA to beautify the street; changes made by the City that affect businesses; accessibility; the importance of allowing curb-side drop off; activating the space; the hydraulic bo llards as allowing closure of the space when needed; support for streamlining the permitting process; allowing businesses to enjoy the benefit of the activation; ways in and out of the area; Erewhon; access to The Steps; Parcel B; transformation of the str eets to open space; the unique time during the pandemic when the City came together; making it more inviting for events downtown; installation of a right turn lane March 13, 2023
24 back on to Culver; communication with business owners; enhancing traffic flow; installation of a bulb out; installation of bike racks; and making the process for activating the downtown area easier.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the belief that public space is for people; whether the community is being planned for cars or for people; the vision for the City; examination of data; increased fatalities and traffic with expanded roads; the myth that traffic is only on one corridor in the City; status quo; incentivizing other modes of transportation; increas ing accessibility,
sustainability, effectiveness, and reliability; infrastructure improvements; traffic fatalities as the biggest killer in the City; slowing cars down; investing in sustainability; creating a mandate to do more to slow cars down, and invest in climate conscious and sustainable infrastructure; adding more disabled parking spots in the parking garages; signage to explain traffic pattern shifts; the need to activate space; support for smaller events; volunteers; provi ding community benefit; focusing on youth and senior activities as well as mindfulness and
meditation; centering those closest to the issue; applying a power analysis to all voices in the community; the practice of routinely centering of the wealthy, housed, and connected; being mindful of the climate crisis; policies as choices; and support for keeping Main Street activated and open for all people.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding struggling businesses; data; the need for more public space; activating the area; listen ing to residents and businesses; focusing on activating the Plaza; events to activate Main Street; making it easy for people who want to activate the space; beautification; changes to the model of operation on Main Street; activation of the nearby park; and support for opening up Main Street except for Tuesdays for the Farmers Market.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERIKSSON THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO
ADD A RIGHT HAND TURN LANE ON CULVER, ADD A SCRAMBLED
INTERSECTION AT CULVER AND MAIN, IDENTIFY A LOCATION FOR BIKE
RACKS, AND REOPEN MAIN STREET ON WEEKENDS BUT KEEP IT CLOSED FOR THE FARMERS MARKET.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: ERIKSSON, O’BRIEN, VERA
NOES: PUZA, MCMORRIN
March 13, 2023
25 o0o
Item A-2
CC - (1) Presentation on the Unaudited Fiscal Year-End 2021/2022 Report and the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Mid-Year Budget Monitoring Report; (2) Receipt and Filing of the Unaudited Fiscal Year-End 2021/2022 Report and the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Mid-Year Budget Monitoring Report; (3) Notification to Public Inviting Comment and Input for the Upcoming Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024; (4) Adoption of a Resolution Approving Salary Schedules; and (5) FOUR -FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of Proposed Budget Amendments
Lisa Soghor, Chief Finance Officer, thanked Finance Department staff for their efforts and provided a summary of the material of record.
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Janee Lennox noted that the budget reflected the City’s values; expressed concern with a lack of creativity in fund allocation and the amount of money still being allocated to CCPD; she asked that thoughtful consideration be given to the budget when it is voted upon ; and expressed disappointment in the continued behavior of focusing financial support on CCPD.
Karim Sahli discussed the successful work of former Council Member Fisch on Measure RE; the lesser allocation for the MCIUs; he echoed comments from previous speakers regarding the need to change the way the budget is being done since “more of the same” is not working; and he expressed concern wit h the amount of money being allocated to CCPD.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the budget as a reflection of City values; discomfort supporting many of the items proposed for CCPD; appreciation that numbers looked better than expected; reserve policy; changes in the deficit going forward; revenue vs. income; inflation; opposition to increasing the CCPD budget; a dvocacy for care -first, life affirming systems; clarification that none of the adjustments were police related; Project Homekey funding; payment
obligations; moving forward with the SCE (Southern California Edison) transformer necessary for the Project Homekey site; March 13, 2023
26 increases to police services noted on Attachment 2 and Capital Improvements; replacement of a totaled motorcycle; and increases to police services on page 3.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA AND UNANIMOUSLY CA RRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL : APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS PROPOSED IN ATTACHMENT 2 WITHOUT THE MOTORCYCLE ADJUSTMENT.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIE N, SECONDED BY MAYOR VERA AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR MISCELLANEOUS EMPLOYEES.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O’BRIEN AND SECONDED BY MAYOR VERA THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVE FUNDING F OR THE REPLACEMENT OF ONE
MOTOR BIKE TOTALED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
THE MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE (FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT):
AYES: ERIKSSON, O’BRIEN, VERA
NOES: MCMORRIN, PUZA
o0o
Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
Mayor Vera invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Melissa Sanders indicated that she admired the restraint of the City Manager in waiting so long to say something that needed to be said; asserted that Vice Mayor McMorrin had consistently shown an inability to be prepared for meetings , did not pay attention at meetings, and was constantly looking at her phone; discussed the need t o listen to public comment rather than reading pre-prepared comments; and she expressed appreciation to staff for their efforts.
Disa Lindgren thanked Vice Mayor McMorrin for her leadership noting that she c ame to meetings prepared with intentional questions; she expressed support for the values the Vice Mayor supports in the community not ing that she consistently acknowledged and thanked staff; she pointed out that people can have good intentions but also fall short and fail; reported March 13, 2023
27 attending City Council meetings for years and never witnessing the City Manager address anyone the way he did the Vice Mayor at the previous meeting; discussed inappropriate reactions with fragility and anger due to unconscious biases; the tendency to defensively jump to indicating that harm was not meant; holding to account even when difficult ; and she indicated that white people needed to learn that intention is not enough.
Amy Ellzey was called to speak but was not present.
David Voncannon was called to speak but did not respond.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin was called to speak but did not respond.
Edward Wolkowitz was called to speak but did not respond.
Melissa Stucky was called to speak but could not be heard.
Jeff Cooper observed Council Members reading comment from their laptops and questioned whether they were being fed information from community members; expressed concern with transparency and fairness as well as potential legal issues; and he asked the City Council to agendize a dis cussion of possibly banning electronic devices on the dais during meetings except for City issued iPads.
John Cohn discussed working with competent and professional staff; requested co-sponsorship of the 19 th Annual Culver City Car Show in order to allow banners to be hung; and he noted that there was no cost to the item.
Mayor Vera and Council Members Eriksson and O’Brien agreed to agendize consideration of the Car Show sponsorship.
Michelle Weiner expressed concern with what she witnessed at the previous meeting; noted that statements made by the Vice Mayor reflected concerns also held by thousands of community members regarding holding the M CIUs to a higher standard than current systems and concern with delays to implementation; observed that the Vice Mayor’s questions and concerns had been met with shame and blame; pointed out that any Council Member should be able to raise such questions without fear of reprisal; expressed concern that respectful relationships had
deteriorated; she noted that discussions about bias, racism, and what gets in the way of inclusion, can be a way of opening the door to understanding rather than being seen as a threat ; March 13, 2023
28 and she stated that just as City staff is appreciated for their work, she wanted to appreciate the Vice Mayor for diligently doing her job and trying to provide the best representation for constituents.
Tristan Ezidore discussed explaining racism to white people; he strongly condemned the misogynist and racist language as well as the blatant disrespect that the City Manager directed at Vice Mayor McMorrin; discussed other callous incidents; all the women who have to deal structural and cultural conditi ons;
marginalization of women, especially women of Color; those who are set on upholding oppression and misogyny; silencing the Vice Mayor; the progressive minority; he stated that the voice of the Vice Mayor would become louder and stronger and that her leadership would continue to be celebrated across the City and county; and he noted that apology or not, the Vice Mayor was there to serve and be their voice on the dais.
David Metzler was unable to be unmuted.
Darryl Cherness was called to speak but did not respond.
Daniel Hernandez was called to speak but was not online.
Marci Baun, with one minute ceded by Jay Garacochea, expressed gratitude for the hard work of the City Manager and staff; discussed pressure; unrealistic expectations; supply chain issues; she requested that the MOVE project be dismantled due to minimal use of the bike lanes and empty buses; she indicated that she rarely went downtown as it was so difficult; and she asked that the pool be made welcoming again , opened up to 50 meters, and that reservations and time limits be eliminated.
Nancy Barba pointed out that intentions d id not equal impact; expressed gratitude for the Vice Mayor’s mission in daring people to dream; discussed Harriet Tubman and Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.; preserving the status quo; resistance when people who envision something other than what is currently in place for Public Safety; the Vice Mayor’s requests to fund best practices and increase investment in those departments charged with programs that can improve care for each other; conflating the feelings of the City Manager’s management or supervisory abilities with the remarks he made last week noting that two things can be true at once; and she felt that use of a racist trope at a public meeting should not be swept under the rug and deemed acceptable.
March 13, 2023
29 Khin Khin Gyi was called to speak but was not present online.
Keith Jones expressed support for the work done by John Nachbar; he acknowledged that sometimes things get heated; discussed claims that the City Manager voicing his displeasure was a racist event; an instance when Daniel Lee raised his voice to the Assistant City Manager at a City Council meeting; bringing race into the disagreement between two professionals; and he expressed support for Vice Mayor McMorrin and for City Manager John Nachbar.
Meghan Sahli-Wells expressed shock and disappointment at the outburst from the City Manager; noted that she had never seen behavior like that to any other Council Members; discussed insulting, belittling comments made toward staff by male colleagues; the importance of professional standards to the City Manager; open anger and leaving professional standards behind; the double standard; concern with seeing the first Black City Council Woman belittled, disparaged, and being talked over in a public setting; the fact that the City Manager is not supposed to be the subject of City Council meetings; she hoped that the City Council would bring back anti -bias training for all City Council and staff; she expressed surprise that evaluations were not happening and wanted to see them brought back; and she hoped that the City Manager would apologize.
Karim Sahli reported going to the swimming pool four times per week noting that it was perfectly fine; discussed white supremacy; the decision of the City to implement MCUIs after the death of George Floyd; he felt that Vice Mayor McMorrin was right to question the timeline noting that if the unit had been up and running, the death of Guillermo Medina who was shot in the back for experiencing a mental health crisis could have been avoided; he stated that the City needed to go faster as lives are at stake; pointed out that the City Manager is paid about a half a million dollars per year to answer questions from City Council Members and to be professional; he observed that the City Manager used the angry Black woman stereotype on the Vice Mayor and berated her; indicated that he expected better; expressed concern that the City Manager was using his employees as a shield while claiming to protect them; and he expected an apology to the Vice Mayor and better behavior in the future.
Carrie Elkins was called to speak but did not respond.
Janee Lennox referenced comments made by the City Manager about “restraining his rage”; she discussed being a Black woman in March 13, 2023
30 America; restraint; daily oppression; historical context; threatening comments; verbal an d physical abuse; unacceptable behavior; token whiteness ; threatening Black people; using privilege to not accept that what the City Manager was doing was wrong; applauding the behavior by indicating that was not the meaning behind the words; and she encouraged the City Manager and Council Members to read books if they did not understand the problem.
Dani Zandel expressed concern that the BPAC has not been acting within the Brown Act; expressed support for John Nachbar and staff for t he painstaking work they do in the community; discussed concern with not being able to see the eyes of people on the dais , Council Members who look down at their devices , and those who choose to wear masks; and she requested creation of a policy regarding personal device use to ensure transparency and the full attention of Council Members on the audience.
Cary Anderson reported statements on social media that the Vice Mayor was using gender and race as both a shield and a sword; discussed racist comments; passive aggressiveness; loss of respect for Council Members who do other things while people are making public comment; those who read a list of questions; concern with disrespectful behavior of looking at electronics and ignoring people; and the unacceptability of walking out of a City Council meeting without notice.
Sara Hartley was called to speak but did not respond.
Denise Neal acknowledged the pl ight of Black women and all women; discussed the need for mutual respect and diplomacy; the need to get work done; working with Karen Bass and the Westside Council of Government s regarding zone programs; the mission statement of the Community Development D epartment; and the importance of opening up participatory budgeting.
Mary Daval discussed Women’s History month and thanked all of the women who make Culver City a wonderful place including staff, members of Committees, Boards, and Commissions, and the Vice Mayor.
Melissa Stucky thanked staff and employees for their hard work; noted staff support of the City Manager; discussed bringing people together; misinformation and badgering on social media; creation of divisions; the need to build community; she encouraged people to get off social media, and instead have a conversation with someone they might not agree with; discussed March 13, 2023
31 concern with those who feel that everything is racially motivated; she indicated voting for the Vice Mayor, but felt that she did not respect the City staff or the voters; and she referenced comments made by Karim Sahli noting that plenty of people use the pool and she wanted the pool to be opened up.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin echoed comments made by Mary Daval about Women’s History month and acknowledged the great work done by women in the City; discussed other cities that use a legislative advocate registration system; requiring people to register as lobbyists; ensuring governmental transparency; providing the public with information regarding contacts with government officials; communication with the intent to influence City action; and she wanted Culver City to require lobbyist registration as many nearby cities do.
Chante Sheperd expressed support for the solution-based professionalism of the Vice Mayor; discussed racism endured by the Vice Mayor; asserted that the community would not tolerate the racism and that the City Council would be watched very closely; and she noted the need to respect all people,
especially the Vice Mayor.
o0o
Items from Council Members
None.
o0o
Council Member Requests to Agendize Future Items
Council Member Puza requested that a proper proclamation be presented for Women’s History month.
Council Member Eriksson expressed support for exploring lobbying regulations; concern with issues related to electronic devices being online during meetings; reported discussion of the issue at the Independent Cities Association; due process issues with public hearings; and he proposed that the Policy Subcommittee consider the issue.
Mayor Vera and Council Members Eriksson and O’Brien agreed that the matter o f using on line electronic devices should be considered by the Policy Subcommittee.
March 13, 2023
32 Heather Baker, City Attorney, noted that lobbying registration rules were generally found in the Municipal Code rather than in a policy, and she recommended that staff investigate what other cities have done regarding lobbying registration and return with a report rather than sending the matter to subcommittee.
Council Member O’Brien received consensus from Mayor Vera and Council Member Puza that diversity training be brought back.
Vice Mayor McMorrin received assurance from the City Manager that annual evaluations of all staff that report to the City Council would return.
o0o
March 13, 2023
33 Adjournment
There being no further business , at 12:04 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board adjourned to a meeting to be held on March 27, 2023.
o0o
Jeremy Bocchino
CITY CLERK of Culver City, California
EX-OFFICIO CLERK of the City Council and SECRETARY of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority, Culver City Housing Authority Board, and Culver City Parking Authority
Culver City, California
ALBERT VERA
MAYOR of Culver City, California and CHAIR of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board,
Redevelopment Financing Authority, Culver City Housing
Authority Board, and Culver City Parking Authority
Date: _________________________