THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE
Special City of Culver City/Culver City Unified School District Liaison Committee Meeting
February 19, 2024 (5:00 P.M.)
Patacchia Conference Room and via WebEx
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 P.M. with all Members present.
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Pledge of Allegiance
Chair McMorrin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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PUBLIC COMMENT – Items NOT On The Agenda
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the Committee:
Crystal Alexander spoke as an individual expressing excitement regarding civic participation by students; she encouraged the School District to adequately monitor the use of digital assets; discussed City authorization of a group to solicit signatures to place an item on the November ballot; the importance of following State Education Code No. 7054; use of School District assets by Vote 16; the Centaur Weekly Update; the Culver City College and Career Center Instagram page; a violation on High School property during the previous City Council elections; the need to educate CCUSD (Culver City Unified School District) principals and
MEMBERS
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Mayor
Dan O’Brien, Vice Mayor
Triston Ezidore, Member - Board of Education
Stephanie Loredo, Member – Board of Education
STAFF
Brian Lucas, Superintendent
John M. Nachbar, City Manager
administrators regarding political activities on high school property; District policy; School Board policy; and she asked for institutional control over digital assets to ensure there is no political activity for Vote 16, City Council , or School Board campaigns noting that the public was monitoring activity.
Jack Galanty expressed support for connecting the Elenda Street project to the High School; discussed feedback from community members regarding inadequate bicycle parking at the High School; and safety and security concerns with overflow bike parking.
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Receipt of Correspondence
MOVED BY MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY MEMBER LOREDO AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY OF CULVER CITY RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Item C-1
Meeting Minutes
MOVED BY MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY CHAIR MCMORRIN AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY OF CULVER CITY/CULVER CITY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 13, 2023 AS SUBMITTED.
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Order of the Agenda
No changes to the agenda were made.
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ACTION ITEMS
Item A-1
Presentation on Homelessness by City of Culver City
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, introduced the item.
Dr. Daniel Richardson, Human Services and Crisis Intervention Manager, provided a report on families experiencing homelessness; discussed Upward Bound; families with CCUSD students; services provided; coordination between the Housing and Human Services Department and Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the Foster Youth Independent Initiative vouchers for transitional age youth; the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT); and invitations to the Mental Health Wellness Fair and MCT Launch Event on February 27, 2024 were distributed to meeting attendees.
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding rooms for families at Project Homekey; rooms set aside for emergency placement; referrals; connecting young people with support; and appreciation for the presentation.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated no requests to speak had been received and she reminded those speaking at the meeting to identify themselves.
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Item A-2
Presentation by Upward Bound on Youth Homelessness Services
Booker Pearson, Upward Bound, introduced Chief Executive Officer, Christine Mirasy-Glasco.
Christine Mirasy-Glasco, Upward Bound, discussed the successful partnership with Culver City; the shelter providing 18 units for families; assessment of needs by a case manager; collaboration with CCUSD; free services provided for the entire family; homelessness due to economic reasons; working families; the goal to increase income; mapping out career paths that lead to more sustainable jobs; the volatile nature of service industry jobs; focusing on jobs of the future; toxic stress experienced by the families; the number of families served annually; the inability to re-house in Culver City; and coordination of services.
Booker Pearson, Upward B ound, discussed the complex, in -depth services provided; collaboration with Culver City to help families stay in the City with vouchers and density bonuses ; work with CCUSD to meet student needs; the challenge of finding affordable housing in the City; making use of underused school facilities; work with the county; addressing the gap in housing for homeless families; the importance of focusing on children; and he offered to provide a tour of Upward Bound.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated that no public comment had been received.
Discussion ensued between Upward Bound representatives, staff, and Committee Members regarding the number of families served vs. the number that need services; tracking the progress of families after housing is secured; efforts to keep families in the City; CCUSD families served; families that have to move out of the area; facility visits; appreciation for the prese ntation; contact information and additional information for C ommittee Members; partnerships; upcoming retirements; the transition plan; key priorities; support for the work done and continued partnerships; expansion of the program; Committee Member eagerness to tour the site; and efforts of Upward Bound to explore s ites to keep people in Culver City.
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Item A-3
Presentation by Youth Forward on City Cannabis Revenue as a Funding Source for Youth Prevention
Jim Keddy, Youth Forward, thanked Chair McMorrin for the invitation; provided background on himself and on the organization; discussed work being done on cannabis, public health and helping children; investing local cannabis tax revenue in prevention; vaping; the synergy between nicotine and cannabis; dual use; the partnership with the Public He alth Institute; legalization of cannabis in 2016; the commercialized industry; the general belief th at cannabis is harmless; the growth of cannabis use in pregnant women; health risks associated with using today’s cannabis; birth weight and developmental delays; children ending up in emergency rooms due to eating cannabis edibles; adults using cannabis with high levels of THC; research indicating a link with higher levels of psychosis among young adults using cannabis with higher levels of THC; increased ad dictiveness with higher levels of THC; active marketing to children and young people; lobbying efforts to successfully defeat regulating the industry; progress at the city level vs. the state level; candy flavored edibles and vaping; branding; eliminating flavored cannabis products; advertising; intoxicating hemp products for sale without age restriction; undermining the legal market; Proposition 64; taxation and regulation; prohibitions on marketing; required warning signs; caps on THC levels; education fo r pregnant women; investment of cannabis tax revenue into prevention; the Sacramento Children’s Fund; budget research; the Cannabis Business Tax ; the surge in revenue during the pandemic; marketing to children; options for Culver City; and he provided resources and contact information.
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding decreased revenue from the cannabis industry for 2023 -2024; changes in the industry; the decision of Culver City to reduce the distribution tax rate from 2% to 0%; decreases in sales; home delivery vs. dispensary purchases; the unpredictable industry; and
state excise figures.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Committee:
Jack Galanty discussed reductions to taxes as a result of sales and he received clarification regarding the number of approved dispensaries in Culver City.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding unlimited THC content in hemp; high levels of T HC in traditional cannabis; increased likelihood of addiction, emergency room visits and psychotropic effects; advertising; support of state level legislative efforts from Los Angeles County Public Health; local action by other area cities; identification of harmful products; items in proximity to school campuses; illegal products being sold at vape shops; age restrictions; the role of schools and education in providing information about drug use; including cannabis in tobacco use prevention in schools; the relationship between tobacco and cannabis; people who start with cannabis and end up using tobacco; culture that promotes usage ; the City Council vote to ban the sale of flavored tobacco in the City; and availability of the presentation to the Committee along with follow up documentation.
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Item A-4
Presentation by Walk N Rollers on Safe Routes to School
Jim Shanman, Walk N Rollers, provided background on the organization; discussed Safe Routes to School; walk and bike to school days; on -campus education; community education; encouragement programs; engagement activities; outreach; collaboration with the CCPD community outreach representative on handouts; bicycle registration; the effective signage and striping project; sending the message that the City is trying to make the community safer; the Sawtelle bike lane; the new law requiring cars to park at least 20 feet away from the corner; new crossing guards; the upcoming traffic study of the tri-school complex area; the survey earlier in the year to determine how many are walking and biking; he acknowledged progress noting much work to be done ; and he expressed gratitude for jointly funded projects and the partnership between CCUSD and the City.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Shanman, staff, and Committee Members regarding bike racks at the High School; holding an event in the fall to direct traffic to force people who are driving in to walk the last few blocks around the tri -school area; parking solutions around the Elenda complex; a request for Culver City to take some of the burden of funding crossing guards during the next budget cycle; serving community needs ; budgeting issues faced by Culver City and by CCUSD ; City
Council consideration of funding crossing guards; previous discussion of having the School District be responsible for directing the crossing guards; the City’s mid-year budget discussion; consideration of funding for the comprehensive study by the City Council; the sensitive and politically active neighborhood with differing views on what needs to be done; community engagement; bringing all the stakeholders to the table to work through issues; ensuring that school will be in session when the study is undertaken; residents impacted by school traffic; the 2017 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding); the Walk N Rollers contract; ensuring that resources are included on the City calendar; appreciation for par ent education; engaging differently with public space that is designed for cars; ensuring that bringing children to school can be safer; the transit overlap; amplifying the free pilot program; support for safe street de sign; appreciation for new leadership and changes in the way the City approaches bike lanes and signage; the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC); the process for the study; treating the study as a special event; and having more frequent Committee meetings.
MOVED BY MEMBER O’BRI EN, SECONDED BY CHAIR MCMORRIN AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY OF CULVER CITY/CULVER CITY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE BRING BACK AN ITEM
FOR DISCUSSION PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
INCLUDING INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS THE BPAC, THE PTA AND TRANSPORTATION.
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Item A-5
Discussion and Presentation of CCUSD Cares/Culver Needs
Dr. Brian Lucas discussed the partnership between Culver City and CCUSD; appreciation for the cooperation and collegial approach; eliminating barriers to education; Culver Cares and Culver Needs; volunteers; service providers; different populations served; support services offered; partnerships with organizations supporting them; referrals; development of a website; and next steps to codify the process and improve communication.
Discussion ensued between the Dr. Lucas, staff, and Committee Members regarding School and Family Support Services; affiliates; coordination of services; the website coming online; and amplification of resources.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, reported no requests to speak.
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Item A-6
Next Steps, Items for Upcoming Agenda, Next Meeting Date/Time
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding sharing a calendar for the celebration of cultural awareness and proclamations; complementing efforts; the importance of collabor ation; Pride in the Park; agendizing a conversation of sharing resources; direction to work on the MOU; the Parks Master Plan process; the Feasibility Study; use of assets; the Joint Use Agreement; review of the Safe Routes to School MOU; small cell site a pplications from Crown Castle; minimum distances from parks and schools; consideration of the applications in a wholistic way; limited authority of Culver City; suggestions for alternative sites; demonstrating a gap in coverage; the number of applications around multiple schools; coordination with Public Works; agreement to provide information to the Committee; posting of public notice; consideration of mentoring; youth employment; connecting Culver City businesses and students; project labor agreement for building trades; youth engagement; a suggestion to have someone from Coro make a presentation; additional clarification regarding interest expressed at the last meeting in hearing a feasibility study discussion of voter pre-tax funds to the School District; direction to staff to look at 3-4 examples of what other cities are doing to support young people; staff agreement to share the breakdown of where property taxes go with Committee Members; the Joint Use Agreement; Safe Routes to School; and potential meeting dates for the next meeting.
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Public Comment – Items NOT On the Agenda (Continued)
None.
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Items from Members/Staff
None.
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ADJOURNMENT
At 7:19 P.M. the City Council/CCUSD Liaison Committee adjourned to April 25, 2024 at 5:00 P.M.
(City Clerk’s note: The April 25, 2024 meeting did not occur.)
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Jeremy Bocchino
SECRETARY PRO TEMPORE of the City Council/CCUSD Liaison Committee Culver City, California
APPROVED
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YASMINE-IMANI MCMORRIN
CHAIR of the City Council/CCUSD Liaison Committee
Culver City, California