OFFICIAL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
June 30, 2025
6:00 p.m.
Mayor O'Brien called the special meeting of the City Council to order at 5:36 p.m. in Mike Balkman Council Chambers at Culver City Hall.
Present: Dan O'Brien, Mayor Freddy
Puza, Vice Mayor Bubba
Fish, Council Member*
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Council Member
*Council Member Fish arrived at 5:39 p.m.
Absent: Albert Vera, Council Member
oOo
Closed Session
Mayor O'Brien invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, reported that one person had signed up to speak but was not present.
Christian Lara was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
MOVED BY MAYOR O'BRIEN AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR PUZA THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTER:
AYES:
NOES:
MCMORRIN, O'BRIEN, PUZA
NONE
ABSENT: FISH, VERA
1 June 30, 2025
At 5:38 p.m. the City Council adjourned to Closed Session to consider the following Closed Session Item:
CS-1 CC - Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Re: Significant Exposure to Litigation - {l item)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956. 9 (d) (2)
oOo
Regular Session
Mayor O'Brien reconvened the regular meeting of the City Council at 6:04 p.m. in the Mike Balkman Council Chambers at City Hall with four Council Members present (absent Council Member Vera).
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, reported that Council Member Fish had joined the meeting at 5:39 p.m.
oOo
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor O'Brien led the Pledge of Allegiance.
oOo
Land Acknowledgement
Mayor O'Brien read the Land Acknowledgement.
oOo
Closed Session Report
Mayor O'Brien indicated nothing to report out of Closed Session. oOo
Community Announcements by Members/Updates from Commissions, Boards and/or Committees/Information Items from Staff
Council Member Fish discussed Pride Month and the successful Pride Ride event; expressed appreciation to Council Member McMorrin for starting the event five years ago and to Council Members for being there; discussed the kidnapping of Enrique Lozano off the streets of Culver City; Council Members and 2 community members protesting and standing
demand of his release; lack of due process;
community to support the family; and the Go
the family.
June 30, 2025
in solidarity in
commitment of the
Fund Me drive for
Council Member McMorrin echoed the comments of Council Member Fish; expressed gratitude to Vice Mayor Puza for organizing the rally for the Lozano Family; and she noted the importance of showing up for one another.
Vice Mayor Puza echoed comments wishing everyone a happy last day of Pride; discussed Enrique Lozano; the impacts of ICE raids in Culver City; and he indicated that further information would be provided when they have it.
Mayor O'Brien expressed appreciation for the community support for Pride Ride and for Enrique Lozano; discussed another community member taken on the same day; concern that the community is living in fear; and recent tragedy in his hometown of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
oOo
Joint Public Comment - Items NOT on the Agenda
Mayor O'Brien invited public comment.
City Clerk, read the City Council statement
speech and asked that anyone needing an
their comments to see her at the front desk or
Zoom.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Amy Kim noted that most public comment occurs when the community is unhappy with the City; thanked the City for their leadership and bravery during difficult times; appreciated the quick action of the City Council to take the first steps in making change; provided background on herself; discussed the welcoming City; collective trauma; building a City that protects and values immigrant community members; continuing to learn from other cities fighting back; funding committed by the City of
Montebello to help impacted community members; local police departments notifying next of kin of those taken; volunteer training for community members so that bystanders can safely engage; and working to address the complex problem.
3 Jeremy Bocchino,
regarding hate
interpreter for
use the chat on
June 30, 2025
Christian Lara was called to speak but did not respond.
Jeanine Lizotte provided background on herself; spoke on behalf of all students feeling scared and overwhelmed by the ICE raids in the community; discussed advocacy as a cornerstone of the school counseling profession; the purposeful actions taken by the federal government to overwhelm; local policies that can and should protect citizens within Culver City; she asked the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) to stop surveilling citizens; asked that the City's Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) be shut down and contracts with surveillance companies like Flock and Axon whose technology fuels the raids be terminated; discussed police departments across the state that have been illegally sharing information from ALPRs with federal agents; 100+ instances of southern California law enforcement agencies violating state law regarding sharing information from ALPRs with federal agents in May; 71 California law enforcement agencies that violated SB34; she indicated that Culver City could protect residents by stopping aid of ICE operations in Los Angeles through mutual aid agreements with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) ; and she asked the City to consider the implications of the various types of surveillance that Culver City uses.
Alice Collins was called to speak but did not respond.
Dr. Luther Henderson expressed appreciation to City Manager John Nachbar for his professional leadership through difficult economic times.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin expressed appreciation to the Mayor for calling the special meeting; expressed support for Items A l and A-2; discussed a post by Council Member McMorrin
suggesting that the City Council cancel or modify the July 5 drone show to redirect funding elsewhere; the safe, inclusive, environmentally and popular drone show event last year; bringing people together; the Pride Rally, Juneteenth, and other recent City events that moved forward without question; logistics; she felt that Independence Day should be celebrated; discussed the threat to the promise of America and work still to be done; the No Kings rally; taking Americans off the street without due process; and she asserted that people were not giving up, they were showing up.
Bernardo Garcia indicated wanting to speak on Item A-1. oOo
4 June 30, 2025
Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR PUZA
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY 3:00 P.M. ON JUNE 30, 2025.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FISH, MCMORRIN, O'BRIEN, PUZA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: VERA
oOo
Order of the Agenda
No changes were made.
oOo
Action Items
Item A-1
CC - Discussion and, if Desired, Adoption of a Resolution Condemning Aggressive and Non-Transparent Federal Immigration Enforcement Tactics, Reaffirming Commitment to Constitutional and Community Safety Principles, and Directing Proactive Local Response Measures
John Nachbar, City Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding civil rights documentation and reporting; illegal conduct; referring civil rights violations to appropriate legal and oversight authorities; scenarios that CCPD would be documenting; response to calls for service related to immigration activity within the City as appropriate; discussions with regional partners; recent developments with potential impersonators of federal agents; difficulty in identification of actual federal agents; instruction to, as legally permissible, identify and ensure that any agents are legitimate federal agents; differing situations; documenting incidents of civil rights violations; extreme examples; regular policy and protocol; the evolving environment; passage of SB54 in 2017; lack of CCPD involvement 5 June 30, 2025
in immigration enforcement activity; the focus on potential impersonators; bad actors who may take advantage; codification of existing policy; appreciation for the work on the item; data privacy; protecting resident privacy; providing clarity on the position of the City Council; and clarity of the conduct of City employees.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding documentation on the number of calls received regarding immigration; tracking calls for service; preamble to clauses in the resolution; non-cooperation vs. inaction; the request to schedule a special meeting to discuss adopting a resolution similar to the one adopted in Huntington Park; establishing the basis for the rest of the resolution; what can be done in addition to not cooperating; annual number of referrals to the DOJ {Department of Justice); standard operating procedures; misconduct by a federal agency; monitoring; recent direction to CCPD staff in terms of confirming legitimacy of individuals conducting enforcement activity in the community; uncharted territory; and doing what is best for the community in providing public safety and changes over the last few weeks.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding formal training bulletins and daily briefing topics for officers to implement the new directive; documentation of incidents; storage of information; dispatch notes; police reports for situations of clear misconduct; forwarding
information to oversight entities; legal remedies for violation of civil rights; litigation discussions involving other agencies regarding claims of unconstitutional activities; and continued monitoring of the multiple executive orders put out this year.
Mayor O'Brien invited public input.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, asked that anyone needing an interpreter for their comments see her at the front desk or use the chat on Zoom, and she indicated that signups to speak were being closed for Item A-1, but people were still able to sign up for Item A-2.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Margaret Peters, Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission Vice Chair, indicated speaking on behalf of herself in her professional capacity as a political scientist at UCLA who has studied immigration policy for almost 20 years; discussed attacks on immigrants by authoritarian governments; 6 June 30, 2025
de-naturalizations; working through different populations; the need to push back now to save democracy; honoring the oath to protect the U.S. Constitution; support for the proposed resolution with some amendments; she proposed discontinuation of using Flock; discussed data security; cancelling the 5th of July drone celebration and using that money to help families in need; the need to end mutual aid for protests and immigration enforcement; suggested consideration of an eviction moratorium to keep people housed; and she proposed investigating wage theft which has increased.
Jessica Hardwood expressed appreciation for the urgent attention to community safety during the crisis; discussed comparisons to what happened in World War II; concern that the proposed resolution did not respond to community demand; and she proposed adding the following elements: publicizing the Rapid Reporting phone number and safety information, providing Know Your Rights training to City staff and opt-in text alerts when ICE sightings are reported, supporting families with an emergency rent freeze, eviction moratorium, a rent relief fund, a weekly food bank or other assistance for families who are unsafe leaving their homes to work or buy food, fixing City and CCPD policies to fulfill the promise of sanctuary, reinstating the deleted CCPD policy 438.8 to ban immigration arrests and notification to ICE, expanding on cooperation policies to provide assurance that ICE will have no help in Culver City, directing CCPD to force federal officers to provide identification, including names and badge numbers, immediately turning off the network of license plate readers, ending contracts with companies like Axon and Flock whose surveillance technology and data help ICE conduct their raids, and stopping support of ICE raids in the city of Los Angeles by discontinuing mutual aid to LAPD.
Jessica Marin provided background on herself; discussed diversity as one of her favorite things about Culver City and one of their greatest strengths; concern with seeing the Latino immigrant community under attack; masked individuals who may or may not be ICE agents kidnapping community members; concern with normalizing violence in the community; she noted that the resolution was a start but needed more; requested implementation of an emergency rent freeze and eviction moratorium for as long as ICE is raiding Culver City and West LA; discussed people who are not going to work due to being terrified of leaving their homes; requested approval of a $200,000 emergency relief fund for local families impacted by recent federal immigration raids; and she asked that the City turn off any surveillance technology that could be accessed by ICE such as ALPRs.
7 June 30, 2025
Todd Goodwin discussed people who are not in the room because they are afraid to go out and get groceries, do laundry, and walk their dogs for fear of being taken away; being privileged to grow up in the U.S.; stories told about the greatness of the country; the land of opportunities; and he noted that immigrant families fit values of working hard more than the people who are trying to deport them.
Deborah Myers expressed appreciation for the emergency session; discussed kidnappings of fellow residents and workers by ICE within Culver City; basic governmental function to keep those who live or work within the city, state or country safe; she asked the City to expand on efforts to keep people safe; proposed opt-in text alerts for confirmed ICE sightings, publicizing the Rapid Response Reporting phone number, codification and expansion of non-cooperation policies, and directing CCPD to force federal officers to provide information including names and badge numbers; discussed families and ancestors arbitrarily targeted by authoritarian governments as scapegoats for the ills of society; and she indicated that she could not be silent as the same things happen again.
Christian Lara was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Naomi Zewde was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Rebecca Anderson was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Lisa Mosko Barros was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Maria V. was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Jeanine Lizotte was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Alice Collins was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Jeanne Black asserted that requiring agents to wear ID would not stop them from taking anyone; discussed the importance of turning off ALPRs immediately; missing the point by focusing on 8 June 30, 2025
City policy regarding data as Flock already has the data regardless of who Culver City decides to share it with; noted that policies to prevent from inappropriate use only protect from those who are willing follow policies; the inability of the constitution and judicial orders to stop the agencies of the administration; weaponization of social security and IRS data to identify their targets; FBI use of ALPR to identify and track January 6 rioters; descendants of immigrants who were discriminated against; the need to stand in solidarity with more recent immigrants; and she asked that the resolution be amended to turn off the cameras now.
Darryl Cherness opposed the deportation of immigrants who have been in the country for years, not violated the law, work for a living, and pay taxes, and he urged the City Council to support a humane immigration policy.
Lya Ferreyra, Culver City resident and attorney for the Immigrants Defenders Law Center, urged the City Council to support Culver City immigrant communities; discussed the importance of standing up for immigrant communities; use of fear and unconstitutional tactics by the current administration to terrorize the City; adopting a resolution condemning illegal federal immigration enforcement tactics; directing proactive local measures to support Culver City immigrants; and
authorization for the Mayor to sign letters of support for the No Secret Police and No Vigilante Police Acts.
Stephen Jones acknowledged frustration that Culver City still seems to be doing very little to keep people safe from ICE; questioned who set the agenda and why the majority of community concerns were not included; discussed the need for the City Council to direct the City Manager and CCPD; plans to share license plate surveillance with LA county; six law enforcement agencies in LA county running license plate searches on behalf of ICE; deletion of the policy about immigration detention and notification with no explanation or warning; the return of the policy that has been watered down; an incident in January 2022 where CCPD searched a man against his will for no reason other than he had an ICE warrant; data reported to the state of California by CCPD; people who are in serious danger; he asserted that the City Council needed to listen to constituents and turn off the cameras, terminate the contracts, stop giving LAPD mutual aid, and support local residents with money to keep them fed and in their homes.
9 June 30, 2025
Stephen Schaller was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Noah Zatz thanked the City Council for the special meeting; discussed a string of violent hate crimes committed in the community; probability that they will return to inflict further terror; the need for the City Council to respond to the extraordinary situation with strength, focus and creativity; the insufficient response to adopt the Huntington Park
ordinance; dangerous attacks; recent cases involving people being kidnapped because of their race and occupation; lack of warrants or individualized knowledge of immigration status; willingness to trump up criminal charges if the victim turns out to be a citizen; the threat to residents and anyone working visiting the City; he urged the City Council to amend the resolution to protect the dignity of everyone, not just residents; and he asserted that it was essential that CCPD not only fail to enforce immigration but to not provide protection to ICE that suppresses protests that are trying to stop or monitor the raids.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, thanked those who alerted staff that the chat was not working noting that IT (Information Technology) was working on the issue.
Melody Hansen thanked the City Council for calling the meeting and for their leadership; echoed previous concerns; discussed immigrant families living in fear as ICE continues to raid neighborhoods; the importance of training all City staff in Know Your Rights protocols; ensuring everyone who works for Culver City knows how to respond responsibly; the need to strengthen Sanctuary City policy; having CCPD require federal officers provide identification and valid judicial warrants; ensuring accountability rather than interfering; the job of CCPD to protect the community; the need for CCPD to stand with
immigrants who are vital to the community rather than looking the other way; acknowledgment of the financial impact the raids are having on people; and she stated that if Culver City was going to declare itself a Sanctuary City, it needed to act like one.
Maria Vivanco joined others in support of Items A-1 and A-2; thanked Council Members for calling the meeting; discussed the inadequate resolution proposed that does not meet community demands; the need to require that CCPD show in writing that they are not collaborating with ICE or obstructing the community from documenting the kidnappings; asked that the City create a fund 10 -
June 30, 2025
to provide legal services the community needs; discussed the attack on freedoms and the community; the importance of working together to ensure that the kidnappings stop now; the Huntington Park resolution as a good start; the need to do more; and she asked that the City turn off monitoring and tracking, especially of license plates to bridge the gap between community, City officials, and CCPD.
Brian McMahon echoed previous comments; noted comments by Maggie Peters that authoritarian governments always start by going after those least capable of defending themselves; he quoted a Commandment from Proverbs; and he thanked the City Council for meeting on such short notice.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated that the chat had been fixed.
Jack Galanty with one minute ceded, reported a traumatic encounter with ICE agents when he was 15 years old that he noted was not as bad as what is happening now; he discussed domestic terrorists paid to comply with mandates by the head of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to collect a set quota of anyone fitting racist and xenophobic descriptions; people being kidnapped off the street and put into cages, treated worse than shelter animals, and shipped to other states; and human trafficking citizens without any due process.
Julie Dargus provided background on herself; echoed previous comments made; discussed the deletion of the section of CCPD rules in February 2025 to allow collaboration with ICE; concern with trusting CCPD to keep people safe or help people; and she asked the City Council to stop contracts allowing surveillance and instead invest in mutual aid.
Dru Solari expressed support for adopting the resolution, for reinstating CCPD policy 438.8, and for Item A-2 in support of Senate Bills 627 and 805; echoed comments made by UCLA Professor Margaret Peters; discussed his Master's Degree in the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile; time spent in Chile interviewing the mothers of the disappeared; the importance of the role of the brave City Council and Police Chief Sims; unprecedented actions for Culver City, but not unprecedented in history or in other countries; the importance of standing strong and resisting the dictatorship in the making; the few residents against what is being proposed; and being a model for other cities that are struggling.
11 June 30, 2025
Jeannie Wisnosky Stehlin expressed strong support for Items A l and A-2; discussed affirming Culver City's commitment to accountability, transparency, and constitutional rights of everyone in the community; appreciation for posting Know Your Rights resources in English and Spanish on the City website; clear and accessible communication for the most vulnerable; her recent visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau; devastating consequences of fear, secrecy, and unchecked power; the need to speak up when seeing tactics that strip people of their dignity and protection under the law; and she asked the City Council to adopt Item A l as it is a step toward protecting the humanity and safety of all neighbors regardless of immigration status.
Gary Zeiss discussed his past opposition to the federal administration; the need to commit to supporting families and neighbors without regard to status; better ways to provide support without making a proclamation; the administration's lawsuit against Mayor Bass and Los Angeles; working with local faith communities and non-profits to ensure that those in hiding get food, medical care, and companionship; providing untraceable cell phones; development of pro bono resources; he echoed comments made by Amy Kim about tangible ways to help people and make a difference; and he supported truly helping the community rather than making Culver City a larger target for the
administration.
Vanessa Diaz, Professor of Chicano and Latino Studies at Loyola Marymount, discussed the long and complicated history with racist immigration policies; concern with the terror experienced by the communities and minimal response by Los Angeles area elected officials to racially motivated horrors; recommended that Culver City go beyond the Huntington Park resolution and direct the police to intervene in unlawful unauthorized operations; discussed abandonment of due process and standard legal processes with the raids and kidnappings; she echoed recommendations by previous speakers; wanted to see a more forceful stance to address requests; discussed the need for CCPD to work to stop the atrocities and uphold the constitution and Sanctuary City policies; applying the thoroughness of CCPD to stopping kidnappings; and she found it hard to imagine feeling safe in Culver City.
David Metzler asked that license plate data in public parking including at City Hall not be shared; discussed disappearing of 300 Terminal Island San Pedro Japanese immigrants by the FBI on the night of December 7, 1941; similarities with the internment of Japanese immigrants but differences in that there is no 12 June 30, 2025
foreign enemy or war except the war that American has declared on itself; those being disappeared; thugs who are afraid to show their faces, license plates, or legal identification; theft of civil rights; treating people who dress and act like vigilantes like vigilantes; he asserted that people needed help, not business as usual or clarification of policies; discussed the oath of the City Manager, City Attorney, Police Chief, and City Council to the Constitution, not to the Executive Branch; and he stated that they needed leadership, courage, and help in ways that they have never considered before because they had never experienced the current situation before.
Meghan Sahli-Wells thanked the City Council for bringing the item forward noting that the resolution was a start but the moment called for more; discussed the previous vote against license plate readers as they are an egregious overreach; privacy; the need to shut ALPRs down immediately and end the contract once and for all; the community process involved in creating strong language in the Sanctuary City ordinance in 2017; concern that the process and pieces of the ordinance have disappeared; and she noted the need to restore the Sanctuary City ordinance and restore the process to work with the corrununity.
Daniel Alvarez was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Karim Sahli discussed the last minute CCPD press release that he did not feel went far enough; the expanding ICE budget and increased federal pressure on local police; he asked that the contract be cancelled, the cameras turned off, and that the lenses be covered; and he pointed out the opportunity for Chief Sims to set a precedent, lead the nation in real privacy and corrununity trust, and send a clear signal to other Police Chiefs all over the nation that they cannot protect the country from the enemy within.
Stephanie Wade provided background on herself; asserted that the City Council and the Democratic Party could not save them, so it is up to people to save themselves; discussed masked secret police abducting people and shipping them to foreign gulags; the need for people to come together to say no, beyond the political process; sustained mass involvement required; and the need to talk to friends and get them to come out and do what Solidarity did in Poland and what the People's Revolution did in the Philippines.
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Erik Mar provided background on themself; discussed opposition to financing the use of masked para-military forces to detain, arrest, and/or disappear their own citizenry in the U.S. or any country; values of the country; support for following the example of Huntington Park; requiring ICE to use marked vehicles, show identification, and announce where they are operating; he asked to end the use of surveillance technology; and he proposed engaging in mutual aid for people in need in Culver City.
Soe R. expressed appreciation for the meeting; echoed previous comments that the resolution fell short; discussed condemnations and demands, but not actual actions; people in the community taking action to protect immigrant communities; the need for the City Council to listen to the community when they ask for what they need; requests including providing Know Your Rights training to City staff and contractors, turning off the license plate readers, an emergency rent freeze as people are not working in fear of ICE; clear policy for CCPD not to work with ICE; and she noted that community trust would be greatly affected by the choice to make amendments to the resolution and by the response of CCPD.
Lizette Hernandez was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Ray Newt was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Frances Rosenau expressed appreciation to the City Council for holding the meeting; discussed her advocacy for the Sanctuary City Resolution 8 years ago; stepping up to help the community; she read a passage from Leviticus and the Gospel of Matthew; noted that the situation was not new; and she hoped that they would rise to the occasion, turn off the cameras, and be a good neighbor.
Katy Krantz, former Artist Laureate, provided background on West Los Angeles Rapid Response; discussed assistance to vulnerable residents on the west side; people who may not be able to make rent this month and may be facing eviction; she urged the City to help in any way they could either with a rent freeze or monetary rental assistance; and she shared the 24-hour hotline (310) 513-5539 with operators available in Spanish and English.
Dr. Joanne Tortorici Luna provided background on herself; discussed unconstitutional tactics being used by the ICE agents 14 June 30, 2025
or those posing designed to terrorize the population;
neighborhood staging; blanket racial profiling; full face and head covering; refusal to provide names, identification, or badge numbers; violent kidnappings; disappearances; refusal to respect due process; and she urged Culver City to join with the Sanctuary Cities community to vigorously implement policies that interrupt unconstitutional and terrorizing activities.
Sara Bock was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Bernardo Garcia provided background on himself; discussed the community terrified by masked men kidnapping people; asked that Culver City take necessary steps to protect the most vulnerable in the community; and requested the City Council expand the resolution condemning the tactics of federal agents terrorizing the community and to fulfill the promise of being a Sanctuary City.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding Flock cameras; clarification of information coming from a source; the number of felony arrests resulting from Flock cameras in Culver City; the process to obtain and handle information collected by the cameras; the fact that 70% of crimes committed involve a car; individuals looking to commit additional crimes; responsibility for taking many guns, ghost guns, and rifles off the street; arrests of violent criminals; data retention; the significant role in the investigation of a recent shooting at the High School and subsequent arrest in Culver City; and the report forwarded to the Detective Bureau.
Members of the audience shouted out questions and were
instructed about meeting protocol.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the classification of firing a gun at another person as attempted murder; tracking of individuals involved by ALPRs; the arrest made within 24 hours; acknowledgement of concerns; recognition of the valuable tool in assisting crime solving and prevention; existing policy; community input that went into the program; the Chief's Advisory Panel; checks and balances in place to audit every search made to ALPR data; correct
utilization; ensuring that data is not shared with any federal agency for the purpose of immigration enforcement; concern about what other agencies are doing; data sharing within California; the significant amount of community concern; regular discussion with all Los Angeles county police chiefs and the California 15 June 30, 2025
DOJ; recognition of the current state of community concern; the decision today to temporarily stop sharing data with agencies outside of Los Angeles county; continued work toward best practices; value of the program in helping provide public safety; sharing Flock data with an immigration agency as breaking state law; and absence of cases prosecuting anyone for violating SB34 or SB54.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation to everyone who came to speak and to staff for their work; acknowledgement of the fear of the administration and what they are capable of; things that no one expected to see happen in their lifetime; feedback from the community that more than a strongly worded resolution is needed; ways the City can help residents; a request made for a report on privacy policies to better safeguard resident data made in February; body camera and ALPR data; extraction, use of and leveraging of data by outside actors; the amount of data in the hands of the state; the administration as a stark reminder of the risks of having all of that data readily available; creation of a searchable national citizen database in Palantir; concern with what tools might be seized from local government; the intent to attack and weaken local court systems; the Supreme Court decision to weaken the power of federal judges; lack of respect for the law; acknowledgement of the efforts of former Mayor Meghal Sahli-Wells to enact the 2017 Sanctuary City policy that was a great step in stopping proactive collaboration with ICE; information gathered by civil liberties groups released in January 2024 indicating that 71 California law enforcement agencies violated SB34 banning agencies from sharing license plate data with out of state agencies or federal entities; good laws on the books and good people in leadership that cannot prevent abuse of data; data collected by the cameras; the previous City Council that declined the use ALPRs; gross overreach; caution about how much information is collected about residents; examination of how and why information is used; taking action to make a meaningful impact; and support for starting the process to shut down the cameras.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the need for additional transparency around police policies and how they are formed; the request made in February to convert the Police Policy Committee to a Standing Safety Committee to increase transparency; consideration of immigration policy at the closed door meeting; allowing input on policies that directly impact safety in Culver City; what happens when power goes unchecked; the need to take actionable steps; community 16 June 30, 2025
requests to review contracts with Axon and other ways data is collected and have the cameras turned off; the request for a Know Your Rights training for residents; setting aside funding for impacted families; appreciation for having the interpreter at the meeting; potentially increasing the use of interpreters; and the importance of standing together.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation for the community input; being the child of immigrants; sadness at the stories and experiences of neighbors and the depraved actions of the federal
administration; cruelty; intentional harm being inflicted; fear and power to uphold status quo systems; a quote from Andrea Ritchie on Interrupting Criminalization; the process of criminalization; always framing certain people, groups, and actions as violent threats while enabling others to engage in extreme forms of violence with absolute impunity; resisting fascism and authoritarianism; the CalMatters story highlighting the 10 agencies that conducted searches in California; people violating state law; the fact that the federal administration is not playing by the rules and fascism is here; the need to acknowledge that the rules have changed and act accordingly; understanding the harm that is being wielded indiscriminately; looking at what can be done to ensure the safety of all community members; understanding that the targeted group will keep widening; the urgency to take action now; acknowledging that no one has asked for a resolution; clear demands from the community to move to ensure the safety of community members; interest in cancelling CCPD contracts that lead to additional surveillance of community members that could be accessed by federal agents; data breaches in California and other places; cancellation or modification of the 5 th of July celebration; sacrifices of ancestors made to fight for freedom; the need to support neighbors in meaningful ways, not just using words and
statements; differences between Pride and the 5 th of July celebration; growing transphobia; concern with how easy it is for narratives to pick up; the importance of standing with marginalized communities; celebrating the country by standing with immigrants; choices made; and an observation that more money is put into the 5 th of July event than is put into any other event supported by Culver City.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding support for an evaluation of mutual aid policies, particularly as it pertains to protests and immigration; nuance; guidance to ensure Culver City is supporting Sanctuary City policies and not mutual aid requests to contribute to any 17 June 30, 2025
federal actions; exploration of a rent freeze and funding for impacted families; and support for looking at things that can be done to help the community rather than making statements.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding devastating fear; unimaginable actions; non-standard law enforcement; state sanctioned fear; masked agents in unmarked vehicles taking people off the street without identifying themselves or showing a warrant; lack of accountability; power; using state machinery to punish, silence, and control;
appreciation for people who showed up to speak; concern that normalizing the behavior paves the way for a deeper erosion of civil rights for everyone; authoritarianism taking hold bit by bit under the cover of law, behind the mask of public safety; entitlement to due process; the civil rights emergency being experienced; consequences that reach far beyond immigrant communities; history that shows the path when the government learns that it can act in secret with force and without consequence; the feeling of powerlessness; things that can be done; support for hope and democracy; willingness to fight for the rights of immigrants and for safety and transparency in the community; action items; and willingness to discuss putting a pause on the use of ALPRs to evaluate usage in Culver City, investigate wage theft, look at a relief fund and/or rental assistance program, work with the community on the mutual aid policy, and support Westside Rapid Response and CHIRLA
(Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles).
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding actionable items; extended family members living in fear; actions that can be taken as a City; ALPRs; Flock; allowing staff to do necessary preparation to bring back information; querying Flock and the State DOJ to confirm or prove claims otherwise; misinformation or misunderstanding; the feeling that Flock has worked well to keep the community safe; use of Flock by adjacent jurisdictions; the need for City Council consensus to agendize taking action; trust issues with CCPD; communication with other City Councils and Mayors across the country; level of expectation for transparency measures in Culver City; the absence of Council Member Vera; support for providing rental assistance to struggling families rather than a blanket rent freeze; the current constitutional crisis; organizations in the community set up to help people with food insecurity;
acknowlegement of the comment by David Metzler about America being at war with itself; the seed of authoritarianism; and the proposed resolution.
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Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding support for focusing on action items more than adopting the proposed resolution; the responsibility to meet the moment with action; transparency of processes; outreach; gratitude for the work to hold a special meeting; memorializing things that are already being done in the resolution;
acknowledgment that much in the resolution is policy statements; and agreement not to pass a resolution.
Mayor O'Brien proposed a motion to agendize a conversation about Flock policies, ask staff to research claims, and look at next steps.
Council Member McMorrin proposed a substitute motion to hold another special meeting to look at pausing the Flock contract and pausing the cameras and surveillance in the community.
Council Member Fish proposed an amendment to the motion by Council Member McMorrin to include a presentation from a member of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or a privacy group to offer their knowledge and perspectives on the risks and drawbacks of the technologies being considered.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding concern with the ability for staff to adequately prepare for a special meeting; support for considering the items during the regular meeting time; the cancellation clause with Flock; the urgency of what is happening in the community and concerns about surveillance; practical considerations; and staff who had planned to be out on vacation.
Vice Mayor Puza and Council Members Fish and McMorrin expressed their support for holding another special meeting to look at pausing the Flock contract, pausing the cameras and surveillance in the community, and include a presentation from a member of the ACLU or a privacy group.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding scheduling the special meeting; allowing time to gather data; waiting until the regular meeting to discuss other components; the crowded July 14, 2025 agenda; the mutual aid policy; concern with making commitments when it is not clear who is available; the moratorium discussion; the importance of considering the cameras, mutual aid, and the eviction moratorium as soon as possible and moving other items to the regular July 14, 2025 meeting; a suggestion to turn off the cameras
immediately while looking at a long-term solution; the decision 19 June 30, 2025
of the Police Chief as to whether to turn off the cameras; research into the topic; collaboration with the California DOJ; changes made as of June 30, 2025; the ability of the Police Chief to make changes before the July 9, 2025 meeting if something comes up; clarification that the City Council cannot direct staff to place a moratorium on the cameras as the item was not on the current agenda; the need to research the eviction moratorium issue; examination of scope to avoid legal issues; agreement to bring back a discussion of both a rental assistance program and an eviction moratorium; the standing subcommittee option to allow a place to have conversations with the public other than in normal City Council meetings; redundancy with the Re imaging Public Safety Cammi ttee; bringing back the General Plan Element on Public Safety; keeping the issues separate; discussion of the subcommittee item on an upcoming agenda; a suggestion to refer the eviction moratorium and rental
assistance payments to the Housing and Homelessness
Subcommittee; the emergency that necessitates the item coming back to the full City Council; progress being made by the Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee; and concern with the pressure being put on staff.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding moving consideration of any items that are not possible to be agendized for July 9, 2025 to the July 14, 2025 City Council agenda; consensus on community suggestions; evaluation of wage theft in the community; potential exploration of collaboration with Westside Rapid Response or CHIRLA; previous support of other non-profits; finding new partners that are helping the community; bringing back staff Know Your Rights training on July 14, 2025; the number of Action Items already scheduled for July 14; investigation of i terns that could be moved around; allowing time for Housing and Homelessness staff to investigate the eviction moratorium; concern that people are deeply suffering; making a sacrifice to meet people where they are; honoring the time already taken for the special meeting; appreciation for the hard work happening; meaningful impact on those experiencing the cruelty; concern with the amount of work being put on staff in a short timeframe; and consensus from Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members Fish and McMorrin was achieved to agendize consideration of Flock cameras, mutual aid, a standing safety subcommittee to create a venue for further conversation, and allocation of a $50,000 fund to a non-profit that supports immigrants in need for the July 9, 2025 meeting with possible consideration of the eviction moratorium which can be moved to July 14, 2025 if it is not ready for the July 9, 2025 meeting.
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Mayor O'Brien expressed support for having the important conversations but concern with not allowing sufficient time for staff to prepare.
oOo
Item A-2
CC -Discussion and, if Desired, Authorization to the Mayor to Issue Letters in Support of California Senate Bill 627 (No Secret Police Act) and California Senate Bill 805 (No Vigilantes Act)
Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
Mayor O'Brien invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Christian Lara was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Darryl Cherness was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Lya Ferreyra was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Jack Galanty with one minute ceded, wanted to ensure that the important legislation passed; discussed armed terrorists pointing guns and kidnapping people; ensuring that people understand how to report those wearing clothes that look like federal officers; understanding what people are allowed to do where they will not get in trouble with the law when people are being kidnapped; posting signage in the City with guidance and community hotline phone numbers for anyone living in or visiting Culver City; increased instances of people being taken; and he asserted that it was not a matter of if, but a matter of when he and his family and friends would be taken.
Dru Solari expressed support for authorizing the letters of support for the important legislation; discussed concern with disappearing people; illegally picking people up off the street; safeguarding against attacks on legal federal agents; not wanting to add fuel to the fire of false claims; invocation of 21 June 30, 2025
the Insurrection Act; and he expressed support for authorizing the Mayor to support California Senate Bill 627 (No Secret Police Act) and California Senate Bill 805 (No Vigilantes Act.) Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
David Metzler indicated that he would have sent an email of support but missed the deadline so he vocalized his support for California Senate Bill 627 (No Secret Police Act) and California Senate Bill 805 (No Vigilantes Act) and he hoped the City Council would authorize the Mayor to write the letters of support.
Meghan Sahli-Wells expressed appreciation to the City Council for agendizing the item; she stated that both pieces of legislation were meaningful and took action on a statewide basis; thanked the City Council for the previous conversation; acknowledged the heavy lift and inconvenience during vacation; discussed the state of emergency; families being torn off of Culver City streets as calling for urgent action; she expressed gratitude to Council Members for their sacrifice in stepping forward and taking action; and appreciation for the effort to come together in the moment of tragedy and assault upon democracy.
Karim Sahli was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Sara Bock was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Ben Parnas spoke on behalf of himself to advocate for writing a letter to support the two bills; echoed previous comments; discussed transportation and suggested a fare reduction or temporary suspension or increased cycle times to help those at risk of being out on the streets; proposed better signage about what rights are as well as providing more resources; and he expressed appreciation to the City Council for the discussion.
Gary Zeiss discussed people running around wearing masks; state law; and doing research to ensure that additional conflict is not being created.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding appreciation to Marna Alvarez for bringing forward the first bill and to Council Member McMorrin for bringing forward the No Vigilantes bill.
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MOVED BY MAYOR O'BRIEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ISSUE LETTERS OF SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 627 (NO SECRET POLICE ACT) AND CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 805 (NO VIGILANTES ACT).
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
FISH, MCMORRIN, O'BRIEN, PUZA
NONE
ABSENT: VERA
oOo
Public Conunent - Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
Mayor O'Brien invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Darryl Menthe was called to speak but was not present in person or online.
Dulce Martinez was unable to unmute themselves.
Soe R. reported that Isreal had bombed a cafe today killing 27 people including journalist Ismail Abu Hatab and artist Franz
0. al-Salmi who created artwork for the flyer for an immersive exhibit of Ismail Abu Hatab's work at Jackson Market in April; discussed the ask as to how does what is happening in Gaza affect people in Culver City; bonds formed by Ismail through the making of the exhibit; providing understanding of what it's like for those in Gaza going through a genocide; the tent set up at the exhibit like those used in Gaza with similar items inside; photographs and videos of people living their lives under constant displacement; rescinding resolutions already made for Israel and Ukraine if Culver City does not want to be involved in international affairs; blood on their hands due to U.S. tax dollars and weapons used to bomb people daily; and concern that Culver City would not give the Palestinians the dignity of a resolution.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk reported that Dulce Martinez was unable to be unmuted.
Meghan Sahli-Wells reported that the Los Angeles City Council would consider the resolution on the Polluter Pays Climate 23 June 30, 2025
Superfund on July 1, 2025; discussed her day job at Elected Officials to Protect America and their request to local elected officials to support a resolution to have the legislature pass the Polluter Pays Climate Superfund; the motion in Los Angeles; she invited anyone interested to join them at the press conference at 9:15 a.m. at Los Angeles City Hall on July 1, 2025; she indicated that she would be happy to send the City Council a sample resolution; asked for nodding heads to agendize the passage of a Polluter Pays Climate Superfund resolution at a future meeting; and she offered to provide information on all the resolutions that have passed along with the model resolution in order to save work for staff.
Council Member Fish noted that the City Council had agendized support of SB684, the Polluter Pays Climate Superfund, on May 27, 2025 but he did not know when the item would come back. oOo
Items from Council Members (Continued)
Council Member McMorrin reported that Equator Coffee had posted a Know Your Rights poster by their cashier; discussed extending overall awareness to the business community; and she proposed including Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, and business associations in the conversation noting that Los Angeles was taking similar action.
John Nachbar, City Manager, indicated that they would share information with anyone and everyone, and he confirmed that no further action was required.
Vice Mayor Puza reported that the family of Enrique Lozano had requested an impact statement from the City Council and he noted that Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager Dove's Office had indicated willingness to meet about the issue and coordinate between Culver City and the Congresswoman's office.
Full City Council consensus was achieved to put together a proclamation and the Mayor indicated that he would consult with Shelly Wolfberg when she returns.
oOo
Council Member Requests to Agendize Future Items
City Council consensus was achieved on the following items:
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• consideration of Flock cameras
• consideration of mutual aid
• consideration of establishing a standing safety
subcommittee to create a venue for further conversation • consideration of allocating a $50,000 fund to a non-profit that supports immigrants in need
• consideration of an eviction moratorium
• providing Know Your Rights training for staff
oOo
25 June 30, 2025
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 9:40 p.m. the City Council adjourned to a special meeting to be held on July 9, 2025 oOo
EX-OFFICIO
remy Bocchino
Culver City, California
City Council, Culver City, California
Date: July 14, 2025
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