THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE
Special City of Culver City /Culver City Unified School District Liaison Committee Meeting
June 4, 2024 (4:00 P.M.)
Louis Armstrong Conference Room, City Hall and via WebEx
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 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 member of the public addressed the Committee:
Crystal Alexander discussed a notice from an elementary school regarding a community event in Culver City that on ly mentioned two City Council candidates; concern with previous social media issues related to the School District; ensuring that every candidate is represented; state Education Code and Culver City Unified District (CCUSD) School Board policy prohibiting the use of funds, services, supplies, etc. , to support any ballot measure or candidate; and she expressed concern with issues of underlying fairness rather than issues with the specific school or candidates.
MEMBERS
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Chair
Dan O’Brien, City Council
Triston Ezidore, Member - Board of Education
Stephanie Loredo, Member – Board of Education
STAFF
Brian Lucas, Superintendent
John M. Nachbar, City Manager
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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 /CULVER CITY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
Item C-1
Meeting Minutes
MOVED BY MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY MEMBER LOREDO AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY OF CULVER CITY/CULVER CITY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19, 2024 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
Discussion and Recommendation on Funding for and Management of Crossing Guards by the City and CCUSD
Ted Stevens, Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director , provided a summary of the material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding allowing for public discussion; increased costs; shared facilities; mutual support; the importance of transparency when dealing with the public’s money; money already being spent by Culver City to support CCUSD ; community facilities that CCUSD has; the fact that the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) has not been updated; school
facilities that are closed and unused during off hours; helping Culver City as part of collaboration and partnership; fulfilling the MOU; previous CCPD (Culver City Police Department) responsibility for crossing guards; suggestions for locations that would benefit from a crossing guard; the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (DOT) policy that creates a clear line of expectation; othe r intersections that would be useful; an intersection where a crossing guard was deployed because a stop sign could not be installed; appreciation for upgrades made by Culver City; increased delineation and perceived safety; anecdotal evidence; and lack of equity or a comprehensive study.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding the comprehensive study through the neighborhood surrounding the tri-school complex to see what is needed where; available options; outreach; study costs; the stop-gap measure; additional requests for crossing guards; the focus on Elenda; creation of a formal process for engagement; making the best decision rather than being reactive; volume of pedestrians in intersection s; examining hot spots; the contract with ACMS; managing ongoing requests in a data -driven fashion; making a recommendation to the City Council regarding funding and management of crossing guards; the big ask that Culver City pay for the crossing guards; the ability to make a recommendation; the increased amount of the request; policy decisions made by the City Council; delays to the MOU; ensuring that Culver City gets credit; the need to be thoughtful when asking for funds; the need for reciprocal effort; making an argument for any intersection in Culver City; inattentive drivers; the fact that crossing guards cannot be added each time a community member makes a request; community access to CCUSD facilities; putting processes in place; the timeframe for completion of the study; the need to wait until the fall to gather data; addressing the crossing guard request at Virginia and Overland; and comparisons other Overland crossings.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding appreciation for the consideration and support; the study indicating the need for the additional crossing guard; the overdue addition; an anecdotal survey of neighboring school districts regarding responsibility for crossing guard costs; community feedback regarding the feeling of safety and security with crossing guards; ensuring a clear process is established; conducting a City -wide analysis for the 2025 -2026 school year; intersections that might be eliminated after the study; community support for the additional coverage; future explorat ion of whether Capital Improvements can change intersection conditions to eliminate recurring costs; support for having Culver City fund wider costs; contract management; parent perception that the School District manages the crossing guards; substitutes; use of a contractor; streamlining communications; neighbor feedback regarding responsiveness to concerns; and joint consideration of future requests.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated no requests to speak had been received.
MOVED BY MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY MEMBER EZIDORE AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY OF CULVER CITY/CULVER CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE:
1. APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST TO HAVE A CROSSING GUARD AT OVERLAND AND VIRGINIA; AND,
2. HAVE CULVER CITY PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THE GUARD ON TOP OF THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR $179,000; AND,
3. HAVE CCUSD TAKE ON MANAGEMENT OF THE ACMC CONTRACT; AND,
4. DIRECT THAT FUTURE CROSSING GUARD REQUESTS RETURN TO THE
COMMITTEE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE ANALYSIS IS COMPLETE AND SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE.
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Item A-2
Discussion of Upcoming Cultural Events and Sharing of Information
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, introduced the item.
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding acknowledging CCUSD efforts to ensure that various community members feel seen, heard, and supported; new Culver City Committees; identification of opportunities to partner; communication; add ing awareness to the community calendar; amplification of work being done; opportunities to partner; overlapping events and meetings; working so that events do not conflict with each other; and identification of a point of contact.
Dustin Kleeman, Culver City Communications and Public Information Manager, discussed work to improve engagement and education; social media; honoring students; collaboration on events; and he distributed his card to meeting attendees.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding upcoming events; outreach regarding events; having a presence; advertising events; student engagement in Transportation programs; providing a better understanding of equity and inclusion activities by the start of the school year; sharing information; quarterly meetings ; and staff agreement to add a standing agenda item.
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated no requests to speak had been received.
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Item A-3
Next Steps, Items for Upcoming Agenda, Next Meeting Date/Time
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated no requests to speak had been received.
Discussion ensued between staff and Committee Members regarding the standing agenda item on upcoming CCUSD and Culver City events; discussion of what CCUSD facilities can be used by Culver City and other MOU components; a suggestion for a joint meeting between the City Council and the entire School Board regarding the MOU; a suggestion to agendize consideration of a request for a Homecoming Parade; creation of an MOU reflecting agreed upon changes; and agreement on a date for the next meeting.
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Public Comment – Items NOT On the Agenda (Continued)
Chair McMorrin invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated no requests to speak had been received.
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Items from Members/Staff
None.
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ADJOURNMENT
At 5:24 P.M. the City Council/Culver City Unified School District Liaison Committee adjourned to July 30, 2024.
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Jeremy Bocchino
SECRETARY PRO TEMPORE of the City Council/Culver City Unified School District Liaison Committee
Culver City, California
APPROVED
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YASMINE-IMANI MCMORRIN
CHAIR of the City Council/Culver City Unified School District Liaison Committee Culver City, California