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 18, 2024
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 McMorrin called the regular meeting of the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority, an d Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board to order at 6:02 p.m. in the Mike Balkman Chambers at City Hall and via Webex.
Present: Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Mayor
Dan O’Brien, Vice Mayor
Göran Eriksson, Council Member
Freddy Puza, Council Member
Albert Vera, Council Member
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Closed Session
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated that no requests to speak on Closed Session Items had been received.
March 18, 2024
2 MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA , SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
ERIKSSON AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT 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 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.
At 6:03 p.m. 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 Clo sed Session to consider the following Closed Session Item:
CS-1 CC - Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Re: Significant Exposure to Litigation (1 Item)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
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Regular Session
Mayor Mc Morrin 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 Board at 7:00 p.m. with all Council Members present.
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Recognition Presentations
Item R-1
A Proclamation Designating March as Women’s History Month 2024
Mayor McMorrin presented a Proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month 2024.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, stated that the Mayor was a force to be reckoned with; noted that she is the epitome of the 2024 theme of women who advocate for equity, diversity, and
inclusion; and she thanked her for her leadership.
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March 18, 2024
3 Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor McMorrin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Report on Action Taken in Closed Session
Mayor McMorrin indicated nothing to report out of Closed Session.
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Community Announcements by Members/Updates from Commission s, Boards and/or Committees/Information Items from Staff
Council Member Puza reported attending events at the Mosque for Ramadan with the Mayor and Vice Mayor; announced the Spring Eggstravaganza at Veterans Memorial Park on March 23; and he discussed the City’s release of an Accessory Dwelling Handbook with pre -approved plans for r esidents considering ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) on their property with more
information on the City website.
Vice Mayor O’Brien announced meetings in Council Chambers on March 18-19 at 3:00 p.m. to consider the budget for the coming fiscal year and a community meeting with the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) on April 4 regarding RIPA (Racial and Identity Profiling Act) data from the past year.
Mayor McMorrin discussed the 12th Anniversary Walk ‘n Rollers event over the past weekend; reported attending Breaking Barriers Building Bridges: The Journey to Shatter the Glass Ceiling in Honor of Women’s History Month at Getty House on March 17 ; thanked the Equity and Human Relations Advisor y Committee (EHRAC) for their efforts to put together the City- hosted Courageous Conversation on March 19 at Veterans Memorial Building; discussed Disability Awareness Month in March; Persian New Year on March 19; and she thanked Culver CityBus for their work noting that March 18 is Transit Operator Appreciation Day.
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March 18, 2024
4 Presentations to City Council
Item P-1
Presentation from the Culver City Fire Chief Regarding
Accreditation-Related Documents and Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class Rating
Ken Powell, Fire Chief, provided an update on the completion of Fire Department documents and achievements; discussed the community-driven Strategic Plan for 2024 -2029; internal and external stakeholders; goals and objectives; established benchmarks; identification of performance gaps; ensuring a safe and effective response; Community Risk Assessment; the Class 1 ISO Rating for Culver City since 1995; and he noted that additional information was available on the Culver City Fire Department (CCFD) website.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding status of the surrounding fire departments; cities that do not engage in the accreditation process; the ISO rating process; and appreciation to staff for their efforts to maintain the quality of CCFD.
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Joint Public Comment – Items NOT On the Agenda
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Emily Sarvinski thanked Culver City for their partnership on Taste of the Nation at Media Park; provided an overview of No Kid Hungry; discussed goals; the premise that it takes more than food to solve hunger; food insecurity; helping communities create and improve meal programs for kids; grant funding; advocating for laws and policies that help families feed their children; national campaigns working on a local level; raising awareness and funds to support the work to combat hunger; and she asked for support for the May 4 event.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, read the City statement regard ing hate speech.
March 18, 2024
5 Mary Daval discussed AB1909; the requirement that motor vehicles must move over one lane when passing bicyclists instead of only allowing a distance of three feet; sharrows; different scenarios for different streets; bike lanes; the door zone; and she indicated that giving space to cyclists is not just a courtesy, it is the law.
Melissa Stucky asserted that Culver City had been infiltrated by progressives from outside the City who wanted to continue to ruin their small town; indicated that she would stand up to the corruption that is being voted on in the City Council; discussed lack of transparency in hiding changes to City policy in agendas; not addressing votes until five hours into the meeting; voting against people whose health will be affected by allowing 5G radiation right next to their windows; lack of care for constituents; she proposed putting cell towers next to where Council Members sleep; discussed making changes to restroom policy rather than spending money to add restrooms or safe changing spaces; allowing people to enter other people’s safe space; trendy and divisive agenda items to get money and votes; and she felt that Culver City was self-destructing.
Marci Baun discussed an experience a friend had showering at the El Segundo Aquatics Center; provided statistics regarding rape and sexual harassment; expressed concern with pedophiles and sexual predators who will take advantage of rules meant to help transgender individuals; discussed those who have been intimidated by others physically; concern with disappearing safe spaces for women; reported being sexually assaulted four times; indicated that she felt separate facilities should be provided; and she asked the City Council to re-think their decision.
Daniela V. was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Maria Carrill a discussed the motion to revise restrooms in parks, public buildings , and city properties; lack of public outreach; overuse of the term inclusion and diversity; the need to protect children; celebrating Women’s History Month; keeping women and children in the community safe; and she asked that the City Council reconsider their decision.
James Richardson was called to speak but was not present online or in Council Chambers.
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March 18, 2024
6 Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
MOVED BY VICE MAYOR O’BRIEN , SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
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Order of the Agenda
Items C-3, C-6, C-8 and C-11 were considered separately.
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Consent Calendar
Item C-1
CC:HA:SA - Approval of Cash Disbursements for March 2, 2024 to March 8, 2024
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD: APPROVE CASH
DISBURSEMENTS FOR MARCH 2, 2024 TO MARCH 8, 2024.
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Item C-2
Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings for the Levy and Collection of Annual Assessments for the Higuera Street Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer's Report Thereon for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE
HIGUERA STREET LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF THE ENGINEER’S REPORT, THEREON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025.
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March 18, 2024
7 Item C-3
CC – Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings for the Levy and Collection of Annual Assessments for the Landscape Maintenance District Number 1 and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer's Report Thereon for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director, provided a summary of the material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding frequency of landscaping; documenting and reporting the status of the bike lanes; and staff agreement to add reports on maintenance efforts to the scope of work.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NUMBER 1 AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF THE ENGINEER’S REPORT, THEREON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025.
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Item C-4
CC – Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings for the Levy and Collection of Annual Assessments for the Sewer User’s Service Charge and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer’s Report, Thereon for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SEWER USER’S SERVICE CHARGE AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF THE ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025.
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Item C-5
CC – (1) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Procedures Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.075.F.3; (2) Approval of an Amendment to an Existing Agreement with the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care in an Amount Not -to-Exceed $821,551 ($468,714 for Years One Through Three and $352,837 for Two One- Year Extension Options), for the Provision of Paramedic Continuing Education, Quality Improvement Activities, and Other Related Paramedic Program Support; and (3) FOUR -FIFTHS VOTE March 18, 2024
8 REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Rela ted Budget Amendment
Appropriating $5,364 from the General Fund Unassigned Balance
THAT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCEDURES PURSUANT TO CCMC SECTION
3.07.075.F.3; AND,
2. APPROVE A THREE -YEAR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
THE UCLA CENTER FOR PREHOSPITAL CARE IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $821,551 ($468,714 FOR YEARS ONE THROUGH THREE AND $352,837 FOR
TWO ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OPTIONS), FOR THE PROVISION OF PARAMEDIC
CONTINUING EDUCATION, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RELATED PARAMEDIC PROGRAM SUPPORT; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXERCISE EACH OF THE TWO ONE- YEAR OPTIONS; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE A BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATING $5,364 FROM THE GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED BALANCE TO ACCOUNT NO. 101045300.610400 (REQUIRES FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE); AND,
5. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND
6. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-6
CC – Approval of an Agreement with UniFirst Corporation for Uniform Rental and Uniform-Related Products and Services in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $70,000
Lisa Soghor, Chief Finance Officer, read a correction into the record for the agreement with UniFirst Corporation for uniform rental and uniform products and services: “in an amount not to exceed $70,000 per fiscal year”.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH UNIFIRST CORPORATION FOR
UNIFORM AND UNIFORM-RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $70,000 PER FISCAL YEAR; AND,
March 18, 2024
9 2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE TH E CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-7
CC – (1) Consideration of a Request from the Downtown Business Association to Permit a CicLAvia Bike Event on April 21, 2024 as an Additional Event Authorized under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the DBA; (2) Approval of the Closure of Main Street for the Event; and (3)
Authorization to the City Manager to Approve Applica ble City Permits and Licenses Required to Implement the Street Closure
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A REQUEST FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO PERMIT A CICLAVIA BIKE EVENT ON APRIL 21, 2024 AS AN ADDITIONAL
EVENT AUTHORIZED UNDER THE MOU BETWEEN THE CITY AND DBA AND APPROVAL OF THE RELATED CLOSURE OF MAIN STREET FOR THE EVENT; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE APPLICABLE CITY PERMITS AND LICENSES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE STREET CLOSURE; 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.
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Item C-8
CC – (1) Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. to Conduct a Comprehensive Mobility Services Analysis in an Amount Not -To- Exceed $758,471.38; and (2) Authorization to the City Manager to Approve Amendments to the Agreement for Contingency Costs of Approximately 15% Not-To-Exceed $115,000
Dorothy Suchkova, Transportation and Mobility Planning Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
March 18, 2024
10 Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Mary Daval discussed the importance of planning for long -term mobility; growing pressures of traffic, climate, and increased population density; learning to adapt as a community while supporting equitable inclusion; creative and innovative approaches; utilizing best practices from other places; concern with allotting enough time and money; she was looking forward to being part of the process; and she wanted to see the City Council unanimously support the item.
Daniela V. was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan; ensuring that goals are met by 2045; and appreciation to staff for the report.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH NELSON \NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR AN AMOUNT OF $758,471.38; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT FOR CONTINGENCY COSTS OF APPROXIMATELY 15% NOT -TO- EXCEED $115,000; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EX ECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-9
CC – Receipt and Filing of Measure CC and Measure C Sales Tax Status Reports (FY 2023-2024, First Quarter) and Real Property Transfer Tax Status Report (FY 2023 -2024, Second Quarter), as Approved by the Finance Advisory Committee
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: RECEIVE AND FILE THE MEASURE CC, C, AND REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX STATUS REPORTS.
March 18, 2024
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Item C-10
CC – (1) Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Construction Contract with Concept Consultant Inc. for the Main Street Bollards Project, CIP No. PS-023 for a Total Contract Amount Not-to-Exceed $426,89 ; and (2) Approval of a Proposed
Budget Amendment Appropriating an Additional $83,673 From General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to Cover the Additional Project Costs
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH CONCEPT CONSULTANT INC. FOR THE MAIN STREET BOLLARDS PROJECT, PS -023 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT -TO-EXCEED $426,898; AND,
2. APPROVE A PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATING AN ADDITIONAL $83,673 FROM GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE INTO ACCOUNT NO. 420.80000.730100.PS023 TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL PROJECT COSTS (FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT); 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.
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Item C-11
CC – (1) Authorization to Accept Grant Funds from the Metro Active Transportation Program in the Amount of $1,956,529 for the Culver City E Line Bike and Bus Lane Project; and (2) FOUR- FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Related Budget Amendment to Appropriate the Grant Funds
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Mary Daval discussed concern with the need to encourage the City Council to accept the free grant money to pay for a project that March 18, 2024
12 has been in process for many years; the importance of first and last mile solutions; hard work by staff to get the grant; and she asked the City Council to accept the money to get the project done.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE METRO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION (MAT) PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,956,529 FOR THE CULVER CITY E LINE BIKE AND BUS LANE PROJECT; AND,
2. APPROVE A RELATED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO RECEIVE THE REVENUE AND ALLOCATE THE GRANT FUNDS (FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIRED).
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Item C-12
CC – Approval of a Purchase Order with Western Office, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2023 -2024 in an Amount Not -to-Exceed $27,000 for Work-Station Furniture for the Information Technology
Department
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A PURCHASE ORDER WITH WESTERN OFFICE, INC. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 IN AN AMOUNT NOT -TO-EXCEED $27,000 FOR WORK - STATION FURNITURE FOR THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING OFFICER TO ISSUE SUCH PURCHASE ORDER ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS C-1 THROUGH C-12.
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Action Items
Item A-1
CC - (1) Consideration of a Request from the Asian World Film Festival to Rename Portion of “A Street” to Bruce Lee Alley March 18, 2024
13 Pursuant to City Council Policy 3403; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate
Elaine Gerety-Warner, Economic Development Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding requirements to meet all criteria, and clarification that the section is now called A Street.
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Andy Cheng reported discussions with the Bruce Lee Foundation and with Bruce Lee’s daughter; discussed buying the house Bruce Lee lived in when he was young; ; renaming the street or the alley; the inability of the house to serve as a museum; placement of a statue; the Asian World Film Festival; policy; petition signatures; culture; storytelling; educating the younger generation; costs; he requested help navigating difficult policy with an exemption; and he asked whether the City felt it would be possible to move forward.
Eileen Chen discussed diversity in the City and appreciation for City support of the Asian World Film Festival over the past ten years; Bruce Lee’s philosophy of people growing together; and she indicated that the Bruce Lee Foundation supported the idea and would come to make a pitch if the City wanted to move forward.
Andy Cheng indicated that the statue had been created and the y needed a location for it; discussed their dream and the dream of Bruce Lee; and creat ing a landmark with Bruce Lee’s former home.
Karim Sahli expressed support of the idea; recommended changing the name of the alley and of Irving to Bruce Lee Street as well as creating a zoning exemption to turn the house into a little museum; noted the potential for a large amount of money brought in by the museum; discussed Bruce Lee’s legacy; Foundation support of the project; he felt it would be foolish not to encourage the project; and noted the importance of allowing the project to grow into a beneficial addition to the legacy of the City.
March 18, 2024
14 Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding creation of the new standards for recognitions; concern with sidestepping the process; other famous figures who have lived in Culver City or people who have made an impact; the fact that Bruce Lee lived in Culver City for one year; limited spaces that can be named; the Bruce Lee Museum in Seattle where he is buried; finding another path of recognition; acknowledgement of the legacy of Bruce Lee; Culver City sponsorship of the Asian World Film Festival; appreciation for the tenacity and drive of the organizers; support for the philosophy; respect for the process; openness to making an exception; the fact that the street is not already named; ensuring that all promotional mate rials include Culver City; the need for more support to move forward and a suggestion to seek support through mailers , local Asian organizations, martial arts groups, film societies, and the Historical Society; naming of a square or a corner; the inability for the organization to meet the naming criteria; opening the door for other organizations to apply for the same thing; the pass-through area; recognizing other cinema greats with statues; creating a draw for the City; concern with having a museum in a residential area; existing parking issues on the street; lack of consensus for a renaming; consensus to see if there is any interest in exploring another path of recognition; doing something similar to what was done to honor Judge Cherness with a plaque; placement of a plaque on park benches in the paseo; ensuring against creating too much variance in the ordinance; staff agreement to return with ideas; the new Cultural Affairs Manager; clarification that naming a corner is a level III recognition that has its own criteria, plaques are a Level II, and name plates are a Level I; consensus to direct staff to return with options and to consult the Historical Society; and City Council consensus to direct staff to come up with ideas for something creative to honor significant
individuals in the entertainment industry.
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Item A-2
CC - (1) Receipt and Filing of Report of Findings from
Architectural Research Group (ARG) Regarding the City of Culver City Historical Context Study; (2) Discussion of Report and Next Steps and, if Desired, Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
Jeannine Houchen, Human Resources Equity Analyst, provided a summary of the material of record.
March 18, 2024
15 Andrew Goodrich, Architectural Resources Group (ARG), provided an overview of the Historical Context Study; discussed the purpose of the study; methods; primary and secondary source search; outreach; the dedicated webpage; the online public comment form; the importance of hearing from people; and organization of the study.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Goodrich, staff, and Council Members regarding studies of other cities conducted by ARG; efforts in Culver City that were not done in other cities to turn racist policy around in the late 1960s ; appreciation for the report; ensuring that enough time had passed to understand what was going on; firm data through 2010; adding data from the 2020 census if the City Council desired; the effort to create a historical study; efforts of the Equity Subcommittee to get people to participate; the study commissioned by Culver City in 1968 and the Human Relations Commission established at that time to ensure that Culver City was working to overcome past practices of discrimination and promote inclusion; neighborhood associations and fair housing councils run by citizens that helped People of Color navigate unfair housing practices and paved the way for integrating Culver City neighborhoods; specificity with names and details included in earlier parts of the City’s history; l ack of unanimity in the decision to apologize for the racist past of Culver City; and whether it was a conscious decision not to include names and details of the more recent history in the City.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding internal discussion about names included throughout the report; public information; the decision made to suppress names to foster more powerful and impactful change in the future; development of the Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP); the context study as a first and significant step in examining public policy that needs to be addressed rather than focusing on the names; centering issues to move forward; and the iteration of the report that does not have redacted information.
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Karim Sahli was shocked that the authoritative document suppressed names and voting records; he wanted to see the basics on where to find the information; discussed lack of information on the vote for a racial apology; the pretext that information March 18, 2024
16 was left out in order to move forward; he wanted to see the non- redacted version of the document; he felt that in order to move forward it was important to know who did what and their intention at the time; he expressed concern about the ability of the next generation to get the information; and he asked that the redacted version be released.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the first vote moved by Council Members Eriksson and Vera to adopt the Glendale resolution that was more inclusive and did not include reparations as an issue; appreciation to staff and ARG for the study and to the prior City Council who supported the resolution to acknowledge the history of the City; the importance of acknowledging the truth of the past in order to move forward and of telling the accurate truth rather than the whitewashed version; people trying to t ell different versions of history; disagreements and confusion about what happened in the past; understanding the segregation and discrimination to multiple communities that shaped Culver City today; remnants of discrimination that still remain; undeniable progress made; the need to show leadership to address issues; balancing tensions; holding contradictory things at the same time; the need to do things differently in order to not keep repeating the same mistakes; dismantling the outdated system; collectively making a new system that allows everyone to be included and thrive; the potential for reconciliation and change; looking back at the present time in 100 years; taking responsibility for our past and future; incorporation of the study into the reparations study and the REAP; the living document; investigation into when Fox Hills was annexed into Culver City and whether students were allowed to attend schools via permit; neighbors in the past who wanted to ban Black people from playing basketball as it wa s deemed too noisy and recent issues with neighbors wanting to ban the playing of soccer in a Culver City park; a request to update the reference to the amended Use of Force policy in the third paragraph, second sentence on page 62 of the report to make it factually correct; the update of the policy in 2023; and SB50.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the conclusion of the report; progress made; response from disenfranchised groups; efforts made in the 1960s to make positive change; the need to tell the entire story, not just part of it; support for the apology letter; inclusivity; the Glendale resolution; the resolution made by Culver City in the 1960s; moving forward with the REAP; non -linear growth; the positive direction that things are going in; the ability to find March 18, 2024
17 the redacted information by looking in the footnotes of the report; and efforts made to grow and include all people.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding acknowledge ment that Mayor McMorrin was the first Black woman to become Mayor in 2023; systemic and cultural barriers informing who has opportunity, who is invited into a space, and who is taken seriously; what the portraits of former mayors hanging in Council Chambers communicate to the community; internalized messages; the importance of having a historical accounting of what has happened; the principle of Sankofa, learning from the past to know where we are going in the future; timeliness of the reparations conversation; the detailed report written by the Reparations Task Force; the act of making amends; support for reparations across the state; systemic
discrimination; looking at what is included or not included in the reports; policies, programs, employment , and se rvices contributing to less favorable outcomes for minority groups; inclusion of Culver City in the following books: The Color of Law and The Sundown Towns; the importance of highlighting racial terror that was a part of maintaining Sundown Towns; complicity and overall acceptance of the violence; the Equal justice Initiative; the importance of knowing and understanding the complicated history of the country in order to move forward; recognizing Dr. Daniel Lee, the first Black man elected in the City; the need for continued work; creating a pipeline of champions who ensure that everyone can be seen; clarification that anyone can be committed to equity and fai rness; the significance of the report; more firsts that will happen; new leadership needed in the community; power and privilege ; the importance of questioning who is being centered by certain decisions and choices; looking at who benefits and where the power is; concern with the decision to not include certain information; who benefits from the silencing; how hiding the truth benefits neighbors; disappointment in the choice made to not tell the full story in the historical context study; and placing the burden on people to look at the footnotes and find out more about the historical context.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding clarification that personal names were redacted, not events; availability of the report on the Equity page on the Culver City website; whether it is possible to vote to accept the ful l report without names being redacted; concern with people living in Culver City being burdened with the actions of their family members; the fact that even if things are not talked about, they still exist; former presidents who owned March 18, 2024
18 other human beings; disproportionate health and wealth outcomes; the California Reparations Task Force; impacts of slavery to future generations; the culture at the time; the need to acknowledge the difficult history; being honest about how things got the way they are; complic ity; the ease with which groups were harmed and marginalized; letting things happen to others because people were benefitting; targeted harms; the importance of being honest about the past; opening the door for history to repeat itself; concern with consciously skipping over the lack of acknowledgement; the relevant document describing American history taught in school on a local level; unintended
consequences with including names in the document; and next steps.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR O’BRIEN
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE THE REPORT OF FINDINGS
FROM ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH GROUP (ARG) REGARDING THE CITY OF CULVER CITY HISTORICAL CONTEXT STUDY.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: ERIKSSON, O’BRIEN, PUZA, VERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: MCMORRIN
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Item A-3
CC - (1) Discussion of Options to Pave Unpaved Alleyways Citywide as Recommended by the Mobility, Parking & Traffic Subcommittee; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate
Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director, provided a summary of the material of record.
Mate Gaspar, Engineering Services Manager, discussed
subcommittee meetings; recommendations ; alleys with the most amount of complaints; a product used 8 years ago to harden the soil that worked for several years; flooding; drought;
complaints; funding unavailable to pave alleys; and the recent paving of a commercial alley in concrete west of Sepulveda Boulevard and the 405 freeway offramp to where Swiss Motors is located.
March 18, 2024
19 Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the inability of the City Council to appropriate any funds at the current meeting; money allocated in the Capital Improvement budget for street resurfacing improvement; a suggestion to include traffic volume when considering rankings; the Pavement Condition Index (PCI); and consideration of alleys adjacent to schools.
Mayor McMorrin invited public input.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Jay Garacochea introduced his neighbors from Globe Avenue; thanked the City Council for their consideration; discussed the staff report; options presented; apartment owners; rent control laws; homeowners; cost to pave the alley; proposed tax increases to property owners to fund the project; different scenarios for funding the project; and current costs paid by the City to maintain the alley rather than fix it.
Mike LaGuardia discussed what happens to the alley each year after the first heavy rain; water pumped out of the alley; band- aids used by the City that created the problem; he presented photographs of asphalt under the dirt; he felt that the residents should not have to pay to fix the problem; discussed differences in elevation between the alley and the properties; properties that flood when it rains heavily; money spent to regrade areas; walls and fences; a suggestion to grade the alley to its original height; bad decision s made by a City official decades ago; lack of access to the alley from Globe; alley dust levels; health risks for residents; glue used in the alley; and he asked that the City repave the alley and come up with a comprehensive program to pave all the alleys over ten years.
Mariano Andre provided background on himself; indicated that he did not park in his garage as he might not be able to get out to go to his job; he expressed support for the City; discussed living in unhealthy conditions; pools of standing water in the alley; the plastic substance dropped in the alley by the City that worsened conditions; and he asked the City to please fix the alley properly so he could park in his garage.
Karim Sahli indicated that if the City Council decides to move forward, the new infrastructure need ed to be stronger to accommodate electric vehicles and to be able to cope with the heavier rain; he discussed maintaining water in the aquifer; March 18, 2024
20 looking at the budget to identify funding to address the issue; and the need to increase the budget for Public Works.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Membe rs regarding people living on a fixed income; the subcommittee recommended split of costs for the project; inaction by the City on a problem that needs to be addressed; costs for yearly maintenance; acknowledgement that the City cannot afford to foot the bill; a suggestion for a 50/50 split between the City and residents to repave the alley; extending the period to pay off the project; standing water; diseases caused by mosquitos; petition
requirements; landowners vs. residents; policy vs. law; costs imposed on owners; people who do not have a voice in the process; the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) with a lifeti me of 20 years; average length of ownership; participation of multiple owners in repayment; use of a two -track system; moving those who want to participate in an assessment district forward in the process; finding a more equitable distribution of costs; providing an equity framework; support for involved neighbors; determining how resources are allocated; the need for
independent assessment for sharing community resources; climate issues; investment in car infrastructure and dependence on cars; comparable investment in other neighborhoods; adding to property values with infrastructure improvements; average home value in Culver City; and support for the subcommittee suggestion for the 10/90 split at market interest rates.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding increased expenditures for homeless issues; competing interests; determining where to put money; impacts to reserves; cashflow; balancing the budget; selling property and allocating revenue; property owner participation; increased costs with the school bond; those who are house -rich but cash-poor; the need for matching by owners; responsibility of the City to maintain the alleys; appreciation to Public Works for their quick response to flooding; participation by the property owners as their properties are being improved; City priorities; allowing for a community decision for the Retting property; reassessing criteria for alley repaving; determining the split between the City and residen ts; a suggestion to put alleys into the work plan discussion; consensus regarding extending the repayment term; next steps; the need to assess competing interests; difficulty determining annual cost; determining the percentage the City is going to cover; an observation that the larger the amount of participation required of the property owner s, the slower the pace of the projects; the number of assessment districts set up; the fact that there will be no extra money March 18, 2024
21 available for alley projects; funding that would have to come out of reserves or another capital improvement will not be done; grants for regular street paving; annual SB 1 funding; small CalRecycle grants; Inflation Reduction Act funding for public infrastructure; Council direction to change the status quo; the decision regarding cost sharing; paving the identified alleys by reallocating funding from other planned projects ; concern with requiring residents to fund 90% of the project; determining which capital project to skip in order to do the alley or taking money from the reserves; clarification that money for patching comes out of the maintenance budget; using money from street paving allocation; patching potholes rather than repaving; support from Vice Mayor O’Brien and Council Members Eriksson and Vera for a 50/50 split with an extended term for repayment; prioritization by the order signatures are obtained;
consideration during the budget process; concern with the first- come first-served process as perpetuating a system of inequity; the limited impact of the repaving of alleys on the wider community for the amount of resources used for the projects; developing a framework for equitable allocation and distribution of resources and level of impact; work of the Equity
Subcommittee; collaboration with staff and the community; ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be in partnership with the City; ensuring fairness and consciousness of the impact of decisions; and the fact that decisions made would not commit the City Council to spend the money as a City Council vote would be needed to appropriate funds.
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Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
Mayor McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, reported that no additional requests to speak had been received.
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Items from Council Members
None.
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March 18, 2024
22 Council Member Requests to Agendize Future Items
Council Member Puza acknowledged the work of the City to end oil drilling on the Culver City portion of the Inglewood Oil Field (IOF); he received City Council consensus from Vice Mayor O’Brien and Council Member Puza to support blocking the referendum to overturn SB1137 establishing health and safety setbacks; and, responding to inquiry, he clarified that he had confirmed the proper procedure for moving forward with the item.
Mayor McMorrin received clarification that staff was looking into her request regarding signing on to an Equal Pay Pledge for the California Commission of Women and Girls , and she received City Council consensus regarding the Taste of the Nation event in May in Media Park and to consider the Juneteenth event, the Fireworks show, and the Martin Luther King Jr.
Committee on April 8
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding consideration of Taste of the Nation by the Special Events Manager and subcommittee, and funding considerations for special events.
Mayor McMorrin discussed the life and legacy of former state Assemblyman and state Senator Alan G. Sieroty and James Shearin, husband of Arames Shearin.
MOVED BY VICE MAYOR O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUZA
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED IN MEMORY OF ALAN G. SIEROTY AND JAMES SHEARIN.
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March 18, 2024
23 Adjournment
There being no further business , at 10:30 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 in memory of Alan G. Sieroty and James Shearin to a regular budget meeting to be held on March 20, 2024.
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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
YASMINE-IMANI MCMORRIN
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: _________________________