1 OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CULVER CITY
STANDING SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CULVER CITY October 9, 2025
STANDING SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE 6:00 p.m.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Vice Mayor Puza called t he special meeting of the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council to order at 6:08 p.m. in the Dan Patacchia Meeting Room at City Hall and online.
Present: Freddy Puza, Vice Mayor
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Council Member
Staff Present: Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager
Javier de la Cruz, Senior Civil Engineer
Wallis Nash, Public Works Senior Management
Analyst
Alicia Ide, Public Works Senior Management
Analyst
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Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Mayor Puza led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Community Announcement by Members
None.
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Information Items from Staff
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, discussed the grant for the electric battery project.
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Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council October 9, 2025
2 Public Comment - Items NOT On the Agenda
Vice Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
David Coles discussed an exposé on organic processing in California; problems with how the state law is being implemented; he questioned what happened to green waste generated by Culver City; proposed agendizing a report from staff; and he indicated that he would share a Los Angeles Times article about the subject.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding collection of organics in Culver City that is trucked to a facility in Sun Valley where it is made into mulch; treatment and separating of the loads; compost giveways; and plans to produce an organics Instagram video.
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Receipt of Correspondence
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, reported that no correspondence had been received.
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Consent Calendar
Item C-1
Approval of Minutes for the Sustainability Subcommittee Special Meeting of June 5, 2025
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR PUZA, AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON JUNE 5, 2025.
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Action Items
Item A-1
(1) Receive and Discuss a Report on Current Stormwater Projects
Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council October 9, 2025
3 Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager, introduced the item.
Javier de la Cruz, Senior Civil Engineer, provided an update on current stormwater compliance projects that are close to completion.
Sean Singletary, EPO Manager, discussed conceptual projects that Culver City is working on; treatment methods; funding; the feasibility process; the design phase; grants; DAC (Disadvantaged Communities) grants; proximity to disadvantaged areas; he provided a link to the Stormwater Quality Master Plan; noted that the largest projects would be located in the parks; and discussed the Citywide Stormwater Implementation Water Project.
Vice Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
David Coles expressed excitement about plans presented by Mr. De La Cruz; support ed green infrastructure rather than gray infrastructure; discussed concern with large concrete structures being built under parks; and he advocated for utilizing the increased efficiency provided by natural processes rather than awarding large contracts.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the presentation and for the public comment; concern with funding availability; impacts to Safe Clean Water Funds; property valuations; state funding sources; earmarked funds for Phase 2 of the Citywide Stormwater Bio retention Project; appreciation for the variety of projects; measuring efficacy; metrics; project intent; and the UV (ultraviolet) treatment proposed with the Washington Costco project.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the potential county-funded LA Clean Safe Water Program; funding the Culver Boulevard Project with state funds; partnership with Caltrans; funding from Measure CW; regional partnerships; costs to be part of the Marina del Rey Watershed Group and the Ballona Creek Watershed Group; the Santa Monica Bay Groundwater Sustainability Agency; oversight and inspections; foresight of the previous Planning Director; seed funding; concerns with the flow of construction trucks; an upcoming public meeting as part of the feasibility study; public outreach; the design phase; and support for the variety of projects.
Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council October 9, 2025
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Item A-2
(1) Receive and Discuss a Report Regarding Westwood Greenway, Inc.’s Right to Native Vegetation Model Legislation
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, introduced the item.
Jonathan Weiss, Westwood Greenway Inc., provided background on himself; discussed compliance with the Clean Water Act; building the Expo Line; fresh water from Beverly Glen; the proposal to create an engineered bioswale or creek; the Urban Integrated Regional Water Management Plan; flexibility; working with different grantors to follow through; unsuccessful stormwater management; first flush; use of native plants; the greenway with native plantings on either side of the right of way for the train; maintenance; training formerly incarcerated or homeless individuals in landscaping; a grant -funded certification program by DWP (Department of Water and Power); keeping people off the streets; union issues; hiring locally; paying livable wages; assistance needed in implementing changes to c ity documents; he invited Subcommittee Members to visit the greenway; discussed best management practices; looking at how to make the model legislation a reality; benefits of native plantings and sustainability; animals that depend on native plants; keeping fertilizer out of the ocean; education; the Safe Clean Water progra m; and creation of the non-profit organization in 2010.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding other cities interested in creating greenways; making a case for building greenways; public health; providing a recipe book for building greenways; taking care of native plants in public areas; contracted maintenance; rainwater as an important resource; the dry weather flow; and addressing heavy metals.
Vice Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
David Coles noted that the Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) departments were mostly planting grass and non-native trees; asked about what herbicides and pesticides were being used; discussed concern with the potential use of Roundup; the need to phase out toxic chemical use in public space; support for native landscaping; the climate crisis; the bio - diversity crisis; mass-extinction caused by humans; urban areas as Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council October 9, 2025
5 an opportunity to remedy the situation; the stormwater project on Elenda with bioswales; guerilla plantings of the state flower; concern that City crews come and mow plantings down;
subcontractors; support for native vegetation in the bioswales; the need for direction from leadership to promote native plantings; support for Westwood Greenway; appreciation that Phase 2 of the Expo Line has native plantings; appreciation for the work done; and he hoped the City would move forward.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding feasibility of implementation; City Council direction; involvement of PRCS Department; logistics; financial impacts; examining cost and timeline for training everyone; support for community sustainability efforts; and a request for information about prioritizing a commitment to sustainability.
Charles Miller, Westwood Greenway, discussed the sponsored education program to provide training on how to maintain native plants; ensuring that trained people are used to maintain any native plantings; potential cost to Culver City; targeting at-need groups with hands-on experience and training; he noted that a system was already in place and did not need to be created; and he indicated that Westwood Greenway wanted to act as a resource.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the work of Westwood Greenway; the shift toward native vegetation; a request for a staff report with an operations and business model to illustrate feasibility; use of a staff-based vs. volunteer -based program; and potential overlap with the LA River program.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding potential agreement to contract or train staff in native planting techniques, require native plantings on all public land, and to provide workplace incentives; and maintenance of City landscaping that includes native plantings.
Discussion ensued between representatives of Westwood Greenway, staff, and Subcommittee Members regarding priority given to contractors who use certified individuals; prioritizing formerly incarcerated individuals or those living on the street; the Theodore Payne program; partnerships with organizations to provide training and certification; the existing program; enacting contract requirements; meeting the demand for training; alignment with collective bargaining; funding sources; creating a fiscally positive program; use of volunteers; and operational insight.
Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council October 9, 2025
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Item A-3
Receive and Discuss a Presentation on New Sustainability Tools
Wallis Nash, Senior Management Analyst, discussed the Sustainable Solutions Tool available at sustainableculvercity.org; tips and tricks for integration of sustainable practices in daily life; accessibility; community events; games; and the mascot to promote sustainability.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the naming contest; use of QR Codes; updates; the standalone website; and educational resources available.
Vice Mayor Puza invited public comment.
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, indicated that David Coles was no longer online.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the resources and creative ways to capture younger audiences; helping people get into the habit of making more sustainable choices; appreciation for the updates to the EPO website; tracking engagement; inclusion of local photos on the website; creation of more opportunities; letting people know about ways to participate; and appreciation for meeting people where they are.
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Public Comment for Items NOT on the Agenda
Vice Mayor Puza invited public comment.
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, reported that no additional requests to speak had been received.
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Members Requests to Agendize Future Items
Council Member McMorrin discussed communication from the Sierra Club regarding interest from AQMD (Air Quality Management District) in a proposed resolution from Culver City to decarbonize boilers and combustion equipment to improve air quality and public