December 8, 2025
Council Member McMorrin echoed previous comments; thanked John Nachbar for his leadership and wished him a happy retirement; and she welcomed the new City Manager
Council Member Vera thanked Council Member Fish for his comments about the City Manager; expressed appreciation to John Nachbar for his years of service and thanked his family for their support; discussed innovative solutions to navigate challenging times; acknowledged his support of City staff; and he was looking forward to working with the new City Manager.
Vice Mayor Puza indicated that he would save his comments.
Mayor O'Brien indicated having the opportunity to share his thoughts on the City Manager at previous events; discussed John Nachbar' s weal th of knowledge and calm demeanor; leadership during challenging times; appreciation for advice, wisdom, and friendship shared; acknowledged support given to staff to allow them to grow; he thanked John Nachbar for his work noting that the Nachbars would be staying in Culver City; and he welcomed Odis Jones to Culver City.
MOVED BY MAYOR O'BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FISH AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPOINT ODIS JONES AS THE CITY MANAGER; AND,
2. APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT CONFIRMING SUCH APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 15, 2025; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
oOo
Item A-2
CC: FA: HA: PA: SA - ACTION ITEM: (1) Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor for a 12-Month Term; and (2) Confirmation by the Boards of the Financing Authority/Housing Authority/Parking Authority/ Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency that the Mayor and Vice Mayor of the City Shall Serve as Chair and Vice Chair of these Bodies, Respectively, for a 12-Month Term
MOVED BY MAYOR O'BRIEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA AND 9 December 8, 2025
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, FINANCING AUTHORITY
BOARD, HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD: ELECT FREDDY PUZA AS MAYOR OF CULVER CITY.
Council Member O'Brien indicated living in Culver City for 25 years; discussed the honor of serving as Mayor; the challenging job; responsibility of serving as Mayor vs. as serving as a Council Member; representing Culver City with honor and humility; decisions the City Council all agreed upon vs. those they did not; he expressed appreciation to his wife for her support during his year as Mayor; and he congratulated Freddy Puza on his new position and wished him well.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, discussed next steps.
Mayor Puza nominated Council Member Fish to serve as Vice Mayor.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
O'BRIEN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL,
FINANCING AUTHORITY BOARD, HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD: ELECT BUBBA FISH AS VICE MAYOR OF CULVER CITY.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
O'BRIEN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL,
FINANCING AUTHORITY BOARD, HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD: ADOPT RESPECTIVE
MOTIONS CONFIRMING THAT THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR SHALL SERVE AS
CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THESE BODIES, RESPECTIVELY, EACH FOR A 12-MONTH TERM.
The Mayor and Vice Mayor received their pins and their
photographs were taken.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following me mbers of the publi c addressed the City Council:
Jeffrey Prang, Los Angeles County Prope rty Ta x As sessor, congratulated the former Mayor, the new Mayor, and the ne w City Manager, and brought the m all proclama tions from the county .
Carlos Penilla, Senior Field Representative for Sena tor Lola S mallwo od Cuevas, presented five recognitions to all five Council Me mb ers .
10 December 8, 2025
former City Manager and welcomed the new one.
Indy Rishi Singh felt that Culver City was lucky to have Mayor Puz a; commented on the amount of walking Mayor Puz a does; discussed civic leadership; making Culver City a beacon; stories the community can tell; and he indicated that he was available to support Culver City.
Ryan Hanley congratulated Mayor Puza noting that he was the first openly LGBTQ+ Mayor of Culver City; discussed the importance of recognizing and celebrating such a moment; negative impacts due to recent politics; concern that the current climate is not safe for an openly LGBTQ+ person; the importance of representation; and he expressed pride in Culver City for electing Mayor Puza.
Dr. Kelly Kent thanked former Mayor O'Brien for his service; congratulated Mayor Puza; expressed pride and gratitude; discussed previous accomplishments and more ahead; and she indicated that she and others were there to support Mayor Puza through everything.
Council Member Vera thanked the former Mayor for his leadership and service, and his wife for her support; discussed the Olympics; eagerness to work with the new Mayor; he thanked the Vice Mayor for his leadership; and expressed appreciation to the former City Manager.
Council Member O'Brien echoed comments made by Council Member Vera; felt that Mayor Puza would do a great job; and he was sure that Vice Mayor Fish would represent Culver City well.
Council Member McMorrin thanked the former Mayor for his leadership; noted the truly historic night and was proud of Mayor Puza and Vice Mayor Fish; acknowledged the significance of what is happening in the community with the backdrop of what is happening in the world; and she indicated that she was there to support at any time.
Vice Mayor Fish praised former Mayor O'Brien for his leadership and dedication to Culver City; discussed his many
accomplishments and his acknowledgement of challenges;
congratulated Mayor Puza noting the importance of his
representation and thoughtful decision making; discussed helping shape Culver City by bringing people together;
appreciation for fellow Council Members; inspiring others to step into leadership roles; and he thanked his husband and in- 12 December 8, 2025
laws for being at the meeting.
Mayor Puza expressed appreciation to everyone for being present at the meeting; thanked his family, his chosen family, and his allies; discussed his gratitude to former Mayor O'Brien for his service; continued partnership with Olympics planning;
congratulated Vice Mayor Fish; discussed building a Culver City where everyone can participate; the civic assembly process; he thanked the outgoing City Manager for his leadership; welcomed the new City Manager; discussed serving as the first openly LGBTQ Mayor; he thanked former Council Members; noted that diversity was not a slogan, it was a strength; discussed equitable leadership that looks like the people it serves; foundational work by Council Member McMorrin; his commitment to establishing a Committee on Women and Girls; providing
resources, influence and support to lead; the history of Culver City as a Sundown Town; responsibility for building the future; decisions made this year that will echo for years; people who live in Culver City now and will be living in Culver City in the future; uncertainty and dread of what is happening at the federal level; efforts of city government to protect people; he asserted that they would not stand by while civil liberties were dismantled; discussed Sanctuary City status; ensuring that federal uncertainty does not become local insecurity; the focus on affordability and sustainability; the need for a stable funding mechanism for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund; the Climate Action Plan; continued work on the transportation network; pursuit of project labor agreements with the union; fiscal responsibility; ensuring Culver City has a budget that reflects priorities; the structural deficit; plans for a financial summit for the community and a strategic planning retreat for the City Council; building the profile of Culver City; ensuring Culver City is a destination; commitment to moving forward with the tourism website and branding project; success measured by permanence and belonging; City employees; the need for feedback from residents; he acknowledged his dogs at home; and invited everyone to celebrate at Meet in Paris. oOo
Public Comment - Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
None.
oOo
13 December 8, 2025
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 9:00 p.m., the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority Board, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board adjourned to a regular meeting to be held on January 12, 2026. oOo
Jeremy Bocchino
of Culver City, California
EX-OFFICI the City Council and SECRETARY of the
Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority Board,
Culver City Parking Authority Board, and
Culver City Housing Authority Board
Culver City, California
FR
MA
Ag
Re
Au
City, California and CHAIR of the Successor
to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board,
ev lopment Financing Authority Board, Culver City Housing h rity Board, and Culver City Parking Authority Board
Date: Januar y 12, 2026
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