OFFICIAL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL, CULVER CITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
CULVER CITY PARKING AUTHORITY BOARD,
CULVER CITY PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BOARD,
REDEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CULVER CITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
April 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.
The regular meeting of the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Culver City Public Finance Authority Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority Board, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board was called to order at 5:36 p.m. in Mike Balkman Council Chambers at Culver City Hall.
Present: Freddy Puza, Mayor
Bubba Fish, Vice Mayor
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Council Member
Dan O'Brien, Council Member
Albert Vera, Council Member
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Closed Session
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
April 27, 2026
Violet Morgan McIntosh was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
MCMORRIN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, CULVER
CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, CULVER CITY PARKING AUTHORITY
BOARD, CULVER CITY PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY, REDEVELOPMENT
FINANCING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CULVER CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.
At 5:37 p.m. the City Council, Culver City Housing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Culver City Public Finance Authority, Redevelopment Financing Authority Board, and Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board adjourned to Closed Session to consider the following Closed Session Items:
CS-1 CC - Conference with Labor Negotiators
City Designated Representatives: Dana Anderson, Chief Human Resources Officer; Stephen Agostini, Chief Financial Officer Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
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CS-2 CC - Conference with Labor Negotiators
City Designated Representatives: Odis Jones, City Manager; Dana Anderson, Chief Human Resources Officer; Stephen Agostini, Chief Financial Officer
Employee Organizations: Culver City Employees Association; Culver City Management Group; Culver City Police Officers Association; Culver City Police Management Group; Culver City Firefighters Association; Culver City Fire Management Group Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
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Regular Session
Mayor Puza reconvened the regular meeting of the City Council, Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority Board, Culver City Parking Authority Board, Culver City Public Finance Authority, and Culver City Housing Authority Board at 7:00 p.m. with five Council Members present.
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2 April 27, 2026
Recognition Presentations - 6:30 p.m.
Item R-1
CC - Presentation of a Commendation to the Friends of the Dog Park in Celebration of the 20t Anniversary of "The Boneyard" Dog Park
Mayor Puza, presented a Commendation to the Friends of the Culver City Dog Park in celebration of the 20t Anniversary of "The Boneyard" Dog Park.
Vicki Daly Redholtz, former Parks, Recreation and Community Services ( PRCS) Commissioner, expressed appreciation for the recognition; provided background on the creation of the Dog Park; introduced Board Members including former Mayor Alan Corlin; discussed support received from City staff in getting an EPA grant and redesigning the website; and encouraged people to donate to support the Dog Park.
Carol Schwab, former City Attorney, noted that the group was a role model for how community groups could form; discussed their efforts to obtain grants; and had excellent collaboration with the City.
Former Mayor Alan Carlin indicated that it was an honor to be back in Council Chambers and asserted that the project would not have happened but for people who saw the need and the work of staff.
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Item R-2
CC - Presentation of a Proclamation Designating May 2026 as Small Business Month in Culver City
Council Member O'Brien presented a proclamation designating May 2026 as Small Business Month in Culver City.
Darrell Menthe expressed appreciation for the
discussed small businesses; and people not at
because they are working hard.
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recognition;
the meeting
3 April 27, 2026
Item R-3
CC Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring May 2026 as National Bike Month in Culver City
Vice Mayor Fish presented a proclamation declaring May 2026 as National Bike Month in Culver City.
Jim Shanman, Safe Routes to School, Culver City Walk 'n Rollers, expressed appreciation for the proclamation; discussed
reenforcing the commitment to active transportation; the Elenda Earth Day program; encouraging more people to rethink their commutes to school; and announced upcoming activities for National Bike Month in May.
Mary Daval, Bike Culver City and Women on Bikes Culver City, discussed the origin of National Bike Month; celebrating the benefits of cycling; indicated that there would be many special events during Bike Month; and she encouraged people to take even one trip on a bike.
David Metzler, Bike Culver City, thanked anyone who rides a bike, walks to school, takes transit, drives and drops their children off several blocks away from school, and anyone who leaves three feet between their vehicle and a cyclist noting that he appreciated anyone that takes a few cars and trips off the road to make it better for everyone.
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Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Puza led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Puza read the oral statement of Land Acknowledgement. oOo
Closed Session Report
Mayor Puza indicated nothing to report out of Closed Session. oOo
4 April 27, 2026
Community Announcements by Members/Updates from Commissions, Boards and/or Committees/Information Items from Staff
Council Member O'Brien hoped to have a proclamation next month for Jewish American Heritage Month, and he announced the Annual Economic Outlook Forum at the Wende Museum on April 29 with additional information available at culvercitychamber.org.
Council Member McMorrin announced the Third Annual Mental Health Wellness and Resource Fair on April 29 in the City Hall courtyard; expressed appreciation for the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) , City staff, and community partner organizations participating in the event; announced the Fox Hills Specific Plan Open House on April 2 9, with details available on the Culver City Community Calendar; announced Envirofest on May 2 with giveaways and activities related to environmental
stewardship including composting and recyclables drop-off; noted that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; referenced recent high-profile incidents of intimate partner and domestic violence; cited statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization on the number of women who experience physical or sexual violence; and she called on the community to normalize conversations about these issues and to wor against the systemic conditions that contribute to these outcomes.
Vice Mayor Fish recognized Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated on April 25; encouraged residents to support local independent bookstores; congratulated the owners of COFAX Coffee on Washington Boulevard for receiving the Changemaker Award from LA Forward; announced two upcoming community budget engagement sessions on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Culver West Alexander Recreation Center, and on May 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the Culver City Senior Cente r; re cognized Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24 noting the length of time it takes to recognize state violence; acknowledged receipt of the Housing Hero Award from Abundant Housing; and expressed gratitude to City staff, community advocates, and City Council colleagues for housin g affordability achievements.
Mayor Pu za reported attending the Achie vable Gala with Council Me mb er O 'Brien; announced that the League of Conservation Voters and California Environmental Voters unveiled a new mural at 4940 Sepulveda Boulevard celebrating public lands in honor of Earth Day and National Parks Week; noted the upcoming procla mation for Jewish Heritage Month; and reminded the public that 5 April 27, 2026
proclamation and commendation requests may be submitted through the City's online proclamation request form.
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City Manager Update
Item CM-1
Update Related to the Budget Discussion Agenda Items A-1 and A- 2 at the April 27, 2026 City Council Meeting
Odis Jones, City Manager, noted that the City Manager's report had been included in the Council packet and was available to the public; offered to respond to any questions; in response to a request from Mayor Puza, he indicated that the proposed budget to be presented to the City Council on May 11 would include the childcare affordability initiative and exploration of a universal basic income pilot program, consistent with priorities identified at the City Council's strategic retreat; noted that an informational session for the City Council would be held prior to the budget presentation; and he expressed appreciation to staff at all levels for their efforts in preparing the budget. oOo
Presentations to the City Council
Item P-1
Presentation to the City Council by Los Angeles County's Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) Regarding May is CalFresh Awareness Month
Sebastian Cervantes, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), expressed gratitude for the recognition on behalf of DPSS Director Dr. Jackie Contreras, DPSS employees, community partners, Cal Fresh customers, and potentially eligible county residents not currently enrolled in the program; discussed the theme for Cal Fresh Awareness Month 202 6; their commitment to connecting residents experiencing increasing difficulty accessing proper nutrition with available resources; described DPSS's Restaurant Meals Program, which allows unhoused indi victuals, seniors, and persons with disabilities who are unable to store or prepare food to purchase ready-made meals using their CalFresh benefits; expressed appreciation for the partnership with Culver City; invited county residents to follow 6 April 27, 2026
DPSS on social media for Cal Fresh Awareness Month updates; encouraged sharing of the DPSS website at dpss.lacounty.gov with community members who may need assistance; and, responding to inquiry, he indicated that they work with community-based organizations and maintain a dedicated unit within their communications section for that purpose noting that printed CalFresh Awareness Month materials were available at the back of Council Chambers for any attendees who wished to take them.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, directed members of the public with additional questions about the program to contact the City Clerk's office at [email protected] .
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Joint Public Comment - Items NOT on the Agenda
Mayor Puza discussed implementation of new strategies to shorten meetings and improve management noting that the comment period would be limited to 20 minutes with an additional opportunity to provide comment later in the agenda; reported that a request for a group of additional speakers would be allowed at this time; asked that in the future requests be made in advance; and he received clarification from the City Clerk that the notice of public comment being limited to 20 minutes had been listed on the agenda for many years.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, read the statement on hate speech and guidelines to make public comment noting the ability for people to cede their time if someone else has already expressed the same comments.
Council Member McMorrin exited the dais.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Eric Rudinexpressed concern regarding proposed changes to major city streets supported by the City Council majority; discussed being advised to accept the project and propose smaller changes; elimination of parking; potential impact of the proposed street projects on accessibility for persons with disabilities; questioned whether the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) had been consulted; the possibility of ADA (Americans with
Disabilities Act) and related California statutory liability exposure; people who benefit from the changes; and he urged the City Council to reconsider the scope of the proposed changes. 7 April 27, 2026
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, asked that speakers direct their comments to the City Council.
Carolyn Libuser discussed requirements of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by Sony in 1993 in connection with a build-out at the Sony lot to mitigate increased traffic; noted that a similar mitigation was required in connection with the Culver Studios and Amazon build-out; and she cited the EIR's finding that the proposed project would result in travel delay at the Overland and Culver Boulevard intersection.
Debbie Gambino discussed a question posed to Mayor Puza at the Senior Center financial meeting; reported approximately 1,300 or more vacant apartment units in Culver; expressed opposition to a proposed 40-unit apartment building at the corner of Lafayette and Braddock on the basis that the volume of existing vacancies does not support the need; indicated submitting a formal request for a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) for the Lafayette and Braddock area to the City Council, City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, and Public Works Department on April 26; and expressed concerns about the proposed
building's dimensions, site coverage, lack of stormwater runoff provisions, and proximity to a sensitive receptor, the students at Linwood Howe Elementary School.
Stephanie Pryor reported speaking to numerous owners and employees of multiple businesses along the Overland and Sepulveda corridors who indicated they had not been informed about the Better Overland or Sepulveda Connects projects or their potential impact on employees and customers; expressed concern that the proposed changes could result in a vacancy rate of at least 20 percent and contribute to urban blight; and she urged the City Council to allow the public to vote on the matter .
Council Member McMorrin returned to the dais.
Monica Richardson expressed opposition to the Better Overland project; discussed concerns regarding a perceived connection between a Council Member and an advocacy organization focused on cycling infrastructure; the aggressive bicycle agenda being pushed by Streets for All who claim to have helped people get elected; called on Vice Mayor Fish and Council Member McMorrin to recuse themselves from related discussions; noted the disparity between bicycle and vehicle counts on the affected corridors; and expressed concern about the project's impacts on access for persons with disabilities, seniors, families, and small businesses.
8 April 27, 2026
Patrick Godinez expressed appreciation for the Culver City Resource Fair hosted by Grace Lutheran and Better Angels, and specifically thanked a volunteer at Visions Barbershop; requested that the City conduct an internal homeless count and implement a system for tracking unhoused neighbors entering and exiting the City's boundaries; suggested that the City Council receive regular reports including information on where
individuals are coming from; and expressed concern about the potential impact of federal and state budget cuts on the City's unhoused population and the burden on Culver City taxpayers.
Violet Morgan McIntosh was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Michelle Perkins was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
David Metzler discussed the design deficiency of 1970s station wagons as an analogy for the need to redesign streets that have not been updated since that era; argued that achieving Vision Zero required improved street design as well as improved vehicle design; and expressed support for modernizing street
infrastructure.
Blair Seibert provided background on herself; discussed SB 79; thanked the City Council for its unanimous March 16 vote to consider an alternative plan aligned with the Livable Ci ties Initiative (LCI) that focuses density along commercial
corridors; raised concern that the law takes effect July 1 while the City does not anticipate completing an alternative plan for approximately one year; noted that during the interim period residential neighborhoods would be vulnerable to out-of-scale development; and urged the City Council to accelerate adoption of the alternative plan concentrating density in already higher density areas and to keep affected neighborhood residents informed.
Ana Maria Maldonado expressed concern about the impact of parking removal on seniors who depend on family members for transportation, medical appointments, and grocery delivery; noted that residents in her building are distressed about the proposed changes; asked the City Council to exercise compassion for elderly and dependent residents; and requested help in ensuring their continued ability to access necessary services.
Adrian Killigrew expressed appreciation for City Council 9 April 27, 2026
recognition of National Bicycle Month; noted the success of a recent Earth Day event at Elenda; expressed support for street design that prioritizes people over vehicles; ensuring Culver City is a modern city engaging in best practices; noted that most residents park on side streets rather than on Sepulveda; and argued that improved bicycle infrastructure reduced overall vehicle traffic and benefits those who are unable to ride bicycles by creating less congested streets.
Marci Baun indicated being a PRCS Commissioner noting that her remarks represented her own opinion; expressed concern that proposing to eliminate driving as a primary mode of
transportation is not equitable given that many residents cannot ride bicycles; and she characterized the premise that all residents should transition away from car use as arrogant and elitist.
Gerardo Parra provided background on himself, noted the significant volume of traffic on Overland Avenue including emergency vehicle access to Fox Hills Mall; expressed concern that the proposed project would harm businesses as street changes elsewhere in the City have; acknowledged support for targeted improvements such as stop sign upgrades at El Rincon and a crosswalk near the Julian Dixon Library; and opposed the broader scope of the proposed changes.
Philip Lelyveld discussed budget approval for the office of the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) to conduct a community survey; noted that the survey was scheduled to be conducted in January with results presented to the City Council in February but was not completed; reported that new CFO, Steve Agostini, had indicated that City Manager Odis Jones is now responsible for the funds and effort; and requested that the City re-engage with the market research firm to conduct the survey, characterizing it as complementary to the Civic Assembly effort and useful as a tool for more data-driven community engagement.
Melissa Sanders expressed appreciation for City Council recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month; concern about the condition of sidewalks throughout the City, particularly near schools; discussed Council Members who received money from Streets for All; urged the City Council to prioritize sidewalk repair before pursuing protected bicycle infrastructure; discussed the three block challenge; and concern about the impact of proposed street changes on elderly, disabled, and mobility-impaired residents.
10 April 27, 2026
Sheila Korsi expressed opposition to the proposed narrowing of Overland Avenue noting affects to seniors, families, caregivers, and deli very personnel; asserted that residents received no prior notice of the proposed changes; discussed concerns with an encampment on Virginia Avenue; public safety challenges to the neighborhood; and urged the City Council to preserve existing street conditions.
Fran Marito was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Mayor Puza exited the dais.
Jane Fouler was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Grace Salzone asserted that the Better Overland project had not been well thought out and she asked that construction be halted; discussed concerns about the loss of parking along Overland Avenue resulting from the installation of protected bike lanes; potential impacts on curb access for pedestrians, seniors, persons with disabilities, and emergency vehicles; elimination of travel and turn lanes and the resulting increase in traffic congestion and pollution; negative outcomes resulting from a similar street project in downtown Culver City; and urged the City Council to halt the project and respond to residents' concerns.
Miriam Satterberg was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
James Richardson expressed general support for a balanced approach to street improvements; acknowledged both the need to accommodate persons with disabilities and seniors and the rationale for improving bicycle safety given the prevalence of vehicle-related fatalities; proposed exploring a lane design wide enough to accommodate bicycles alongside wheelchair users; and suggested the City Council consider a community currency exchange program as a mechanism for funding City projects and community engagement.
Mayor Puza returned to the dais.
Consuelo Roman was called to speak but was not present in Council .
Chambers or online.
Martha Lopez expressed concern about the loss of parking in 11 April 27, 2026
front of residential buildings on Overland Avenue; noted the reliance of building residents on street parking; and asked the City Council to take action to help residents and preserve parking access.
Marta Valdez asked the City Council to reconsider the proposal and rescind the vote on the Better Overland project; discussed improving the visibility of existing bike lanes through reflective or illuminated markings rather than implementing new infrastructure; urged repair of existing potholes on current bike routes; discussed Safe Routes to School; the underutilized bike path; and asked the City Council to listen to the public.
Paul Goodwin was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Judi Sherman commended CCPD for proactive public safety measures and community protection efforts related to potential threats created by global unrest.
Eric Lu expressed concern regarding the proposed 40-unit apartment building at the corner of Lafayette and Braddock; noted that the project included a significant number of two bedroom units and is expected to generate more vehicle trips and parking demand than the project's parking figures may reflect; raised concern about the capacity of Lafayette Place to absorb the resulting traffic and parking spillover; requested a more realistic traffic and parking impact analysis and, if the project moves forward, a clear mitigation strategy; and he noted a personal stake in the outcome as an expectant parent living in the adjacent Spanish bungalows.
Ronald Ostrin reported growing up in Culver City; expressed disappointment at disregard for the interests and expressed wishes of Culver City residents on the Overland project; raised concern about the influence of outside funding sources on the Council's policy agenda; and urged the City Council to consider the welfare of residents in its deliberations.
Ed Conway characterized the Better Overland and Sepulveda Connects projects as unnecessary and wasteful; urged the City Council to defer any further work on the projects until the matter is placed before the general electorate for a citywide vote; and stated that it is the Council's duty to represent the will of the people it was elected to serve.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, reported that the 20-minute time 12 April 27, 2026
limit had been reached.
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Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
MCMORRIN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY 3:00 P.M. ON APRIL 27, 2026. o0o
Order of the Agenda
No changes were made.
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Consent Calendar
Mayor Puza discussed new meeting management procedures for handling Council Member comments, and he invited public comment.
Council Member McMorrin exited the dais.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Marci Baun reiterated that she was sharing her own opinions that did not reflect the view of the PRCS Commission; discussed Item C-10 and concern about the condition of sidewalks throughout Culver City; minor sidewalk irregularities that can pose a serious fall risk for seniors who tend to shuffle when walking; emphasized that sidewalk repairs affect all residents regardless of their mode of transportation; characterized the current condition of sidewalks in Culver City as unacceptable; and urged the City Council to prioritize sidewalk repair over other street infrastructure projects currently under consideration because everybody uses sidewalks.
Council Member McMorrin returned to the dais.
Item C-1
13 April 27, 20 26
CC:HA:SA - Approval of Cash Disbursements for April 4, 2026 to April 17, 2026
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD: APPROVE CASH
DISBURSEMENTS FOR APRIL 4, 2026 TO APRIL 17, 2026.
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Item C-2
CC - Approva1 of Minutes of the Regular City Counci1 Meeting Held on April 13, 2026
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON APRIL 13, 2026.
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Item C-3
CC - Adoption of a Resolution Approving a General Services Agreement with the County of Los Angeles for the Period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2031; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-4
CC - Authorization of a Task Order in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $135,694 with RTI Consulting, Inc. for Engineering Design and Construction Management Services for the Replacement of the Roof and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (BVAC) System at 14 April 27, 2026
the Teen Center, Pursuant to the City's On-Call Agreement with RTI Consulting, Inc.; and (2) Authorization to the Public Works Director/City Engineer to Approve Amendments to the Task Order in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $30,000 to Cover Contingency Costs THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. AUTHORIZE A TASK ORDER WITH RTI CONSULTING, INC. IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $135,694 FORENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TEEN CENTER'S
ROOF AND HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM, PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ON-CALL AGREEMENT WITH RTI; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE TASK ORDER IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $30,000 TO COVER CONTINGENCY COSTS.
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Item C-5
CC - (1) Approval of Purchase Orders With ePlus Technology Inc., Dell , Lenovo, Super Micro or through one of the approved resellers and SHI International Corp. in a Combined Amount Not To-Exceed $800,000 for Procurement and Implementation of a Modern, Fully Supported Enterprise Data Center Hardware and Software to Replace Aging and Unsupported Infrastructure Supporting the Transportation Department and Citywide Systems; and (2) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Re quir ements for the Procur ement of the Server Equipment Pursu ant to Culve r City Municipal Co de Section 3.0 7.0 75.F.3
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE PURCHASE ORDERS WITH EPLUS TECHNOLOGY INC . DELL,
LENOVO, OR SUPER MICRO OR THROUGH ONE OF THE APPROVED RESELLERS FOR SERVER HARDWARE AND SHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. FOR SOFTWARE LICENSING IN A COMBINED AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $800,000 TO REPLACE
CRITICAL SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND CITY HALL; AND,
2. WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SERVER EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT PER CCMC SECTION 3.07.075.F.3.; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING OFFICER TO EXECUTE THE PURCHASE ORDERS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
15 April 27, 2026
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Item C-6
CC - Authorization for the City to Apply for a Grant Opportunity through Lowe's Companies, Inc. for Up to $300,000 to Install a Community Garden at Veteran' s Memorial Park
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO APPLY FOR A GRANT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC. FOR UP TO $300,000 TO INSTALL A COMMUNITY GARDEN AT VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARK; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-7
CC - Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 1 and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer's Report Thereon for Fiscal Year 2026/2027
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
TO LEVY AND COLLECT ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE WEST WASHINGTON BENEFIT ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF THE ENGINEER'S REPORT THEREON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027. o0o
Item C-8
CC - Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 2 and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer's Report Thereon for Fiscal Year 2026/2027
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
TO LEVY AND COLLECT AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE WEST WASHINGTON BENEFIT ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2 AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF AN ENGINEER'S REPORT THEREON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027. 16 April 27, 2026
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Item C-9
CC - Adoption of a Resolution Initiating Proceedings to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 3 and Ordering the Preparation of the Engineer's Report Thereon for Fiscal Year 2026/2027
Council Member O'Brien expressed excitement about work being done on the medians for stormwater capture and beautification.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION INITIATING PROCEEDINGS
TO LEVY AND COLLECT ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE WEST WASHINGTON BENEFIT ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 3 AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF AN ENGINEER'S REPORT THEREON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027. o0o
Item C-10
CC - Approval of Final Plans and Specifications and
Authorization to Publish a Notice Inviting Bids for the Sidewalk, Curb Ramp and Driveway Approach Project, PZ-428 Council Member O'Brien reported that 1,994 linear feet of sidewalks was being done and he encouraged the community to report concerns about sidewalks, potholes or streetlights needing repair.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding complaint-based sidewalk repair; clarification on the process; compilation of the list for sidewalk repairs; plans to hire interns to take inventory of items that need to be addressed; investigation of using robots such as other cities do; and consideration of the process when the CIP (Capital Improvement Project) returns.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVE
SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZE THE
THE FINAL
PUBLICATION OF
PLANS AND
A NOTICE
INVITING BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FOR THE SIDEWALK, CURB RAMP, AND DRIVEWAY APPROACH PROJECT, PZ-428.
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17 April 27, 2026
Item C-11
CC - (1) Approval of a General Services Agreement with Discount Installation Services in the Amount of $93,004 for the
Transportation Department Exterior Pedestrian Door Replacement Project; and (2) Authorization to the Chief Transportation Officer to Approve Amendments to the Agreement in an Additional Amount Not-to-Exceed $18,600 to Cover Contingency Costs THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DISCOUNT
INSTALLATION SERVICES OBA DISCOUNT DOORS AND WINDOWS IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,004 TO IMPLEMENT THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY PEDESTRIAN DOOR REPLACEMENT PROJECT; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF TRANSPORTATION OFFICER TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $18,600 TO COVER CONTINGENCY COSTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-12
CC - Adoption of a Resolution (1) Approving the Engineer's Report for Higuera Street Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District; (2) Declaring the Intention to Order the Levy of Annual Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and (3) Setting the Date, Time, and Place of the Public Hearing
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ( 1) APPROVING THE
ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR THE HIGUERA STREET LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT, (2) DECLARING THE CITY COUNCIL'S
INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027, AND (3) SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 22, 2026.
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18 April 27, 2026
Item C-13
CC - Adoption of a Resolution ( 1) Approving the Engineer' s Report for Landscape Maintenance District Number 1; (2) Declaring the Intention to Order the Levy of Annual Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and (3) Setting the Date, Time, and Place for the Public Hearing
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ( 1) APPROVING THE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR LMD #1; (2) DECLARING THE CITY COUNCIL'S
INTENTION TO ORDER THE LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027; AND (3) SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 22, 2026. o0o
Item C-14
cc - (1) Adoption of a Reso1ution to Accelerate the
Decarbonization of Industrial Boilers and Polluting Equipment to Improve Air Quality and Public Health in Culver City and Urge the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCA9MD) to Amend Rules 1146 and 1146.1; and (2) Direction to Distribute the Reso 1ution to SCAQMD and the Sierra Club
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCELERATE THE DECARBONIZATION OF
INDUSTRIAL BOILERS AND POLLUTING EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE AIR
QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN CULVER CITY, AND URGE THE SOUTH
COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SCAQMD) TO AMEND THEIR RULES 1146 AND 1146.1, WHICH WILL PHASE OUT NITROGEN OXIDES ("NOX") EMISSIONS FOR MEDIUM AND LARGE GAS-FIRED BOILERS AND WATER HEATERS; AND,
2. DIRECTION TO DISTRIBUTE THE RESOLUTION TO SCAQMD AND THE SIERRA CLUB.
o0o
Item C-15
CC - Approval of an Application for $19,070.00 in Grant Funds through the FY 2025 US Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Local
Solicitation to Partially Fund Purchase of 3D Laser Scanner for Documen tation of Traffic Collisions and Forensic Crime Scenes 19 April 27, 2026
Responding to inquiry, Assistant Police Chief Troy Dunlap indicated that he would forward information to Council Members regarding the typical number of traffic collisions the scanner would help with noting that information is available on the website in the Transparency Report.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,070.00 THROUGH THE FY 2025 US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LOCAL
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM TO PARTIALLY FUND THE PURCHASE OF A 3D LASER SCANNER TO DOCUMENT TRAFFIC COLLISIONS AND FORENSIC CRIME SCENES; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
oOo
Item C-16
CC - Approval of Additional Temporary Subsidies on Film Permit Application Fees to Incentivize Production Activity in Culver City
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVE ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY SUBSIDIES
ON FILM PERMIT APPLICATION FEES TO INCENTIVIZE FILM PRODUCTION IN CULVER CITY.
oOo
Item C-17
cc - (1) Authorization of a Six-Year Renewal of Enterprise Agreement with Accela Inc. for Culver City's Permitting System Not-to-Exceed the Amount of $1,166,079.30 During the Term of the Agreement; and (2) Authorization to the City Manager to Appxove Amendment(s) to the Agreement in an Additional Amount of 10% Per Year for the Term of the Agreement for Unanticipated Costs
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
20 April 27, 2026
1. AUTHORIZE THE SIX-YEAR RENEWAL OF AN ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT
WITH ACCELA INC FOR CULVER CITY'S PERMITTING SYSTEM IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $1,166,079.30 DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AMENDMENT(S) TO THE AGREEMENT IN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF 10% PER YEAR FOR THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FOR UNANTICIPATED COSTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
4. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY .
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERA AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVE ITEMS C-1 THROUGH C-17.
oOo
Action Items
Item A-1
(1) Presentation of the Strategic Planning Retreat Summary from Gorman Partners, LLC; and (2) Ratification of the City Council 2026 Strategic Priorities and Key Indicators
Lea Eriksen, Senior Assistant City Manager, introduced the item; discussed the City Council strategic retreat on February 14, 2026; review and refinement of existing City Council priorities; identification of key strategic priorities for 2026; she introduced Dr. Yolanda Gorman to provide a retreat recap and overview of the priorities and Key Performance Indicators (KPis); and noted that the item provided an opportunity for the City Council to ratify priorities, confirm that they are well defined, and provide direction to staff to incorporate KPis into the FY 2026-27 budget process.
Dr. Yolanda Gorman provided a presentation recapping the February 14, 2026 strate gic retreat; noted that the City Mana ger had framed the retreat context around four themes : fiscal accountability, economic viability, community trust , and infrastructur e innovation; de scri bed components of the retreat as in cluding a financial summit presented by Ernst & Young, a discussion of creating a Joint Powers Authority ( JPA) as a 21 April 27, 2026
strategic financing tool, a presentation on priority-based budgeting, City Council review and affirmation of priori ties established for the City Manager in 2025, and a discussion of 2026 priorities and agreement on KPis; discussed key findings including a structurally unbalanced budget in which expenditures exceed revenues, compounded by rising personnel costs,
homelessness services, and deferred infrastructure maintenance; annual expenditure growth compared to revenue growth; fiscal solvency vs. service solvency; current trends threatening the long-term sustainability of service levels; reserves projected to decline below the City's 30 percent policy target; increases in the workforce while the population remained flat; underfunded capital needs resulting in a backlog of deferred maintenance and infrastructure obligations; revenue volatility and
constraints; projected long-term deficits; priority-based budgeting framework emphasizing a shift from spending history to strategic outcomes; ensuring funding follows established priorities; leading by evidence-based departmental proposals; transparent trade-offs; evaluation and ranking of services based on alignment and performance; clear decisions about where to invest, repurpose, or reduce spending; City Council agreement on three strategic priorities for 2026 including strengthening long-term financial sustainability, investment in public infrastructure and community spaces, and enhancing overall affordability and addressing housing and homelessness;
implementation principles; equity-centered planning; data driven decisions; community engagement; long-term
sustainability; accountability; measurable outcomes embedded across all three priorities; and next steps.
Lea Eriksen, Senior Assistant City Manager, noted the intent to affirm and ratify KPis and specific measurable targets with additional indicators to be presented as part of the budget.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Melissa Sanders expressed concern that data-driven decision making was not consistently being applied by the City Council; expressed opposition to additional funding for affordable housing in the proposed budget; felt Culver City was not responsible for the unhoused population of the county; discussed concern with sending more money to the county; LAHSA ( Los Angeles Housing Services Authority); concern with money spent on consultants; and urged the City Council to concentrate budget resources on infrastructure, parks, and the tree canopy as 22 April 27, 2026
priorities most directly benefiting the community.
Patrick Godinez expressed enthusiasm about the direction of affordable housing work and the JPA; commended the City Manager's team; encouraged the City to pursue available grants for affordable housing in the FY 2026-27 budget, including through hiring a dedicated grant writer; suggested that grant pursuits be made transparent to taxpayers; and he proposed exploring the creation of a Culver City Community Corporation for affordable housing needs such as has been done in Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding clarification that strategic priorities were not ranked; categorization of Jubilo Village; proposed uses for the JPA; enhancing reserves; the fiscal stability measure and affordable housing initiative; money set aside for the Ballona Creek housing project and the West Hollywood Community Corp project; money that could have been put into other projects; equitable distribution of affordable housing projects; and appreciation for the detailed breakdown in the staff report.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding development of a public-facing performance dashboard for community accountability; the integrated approach with KPis presented as a component of the budget; interdepartmental collaboration; engagement of Ernst & Young to develop a financial plan and examine the City's reserve requirement; mapping out priority-based budgeting; civic assembly as a good measuring tool; using data to inform decisions; and the timeline and dashboard plan to be presented to the City Council within the next few weeks.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the goal to have all KPis accessible through a single centralized dashboard rather than distributed across individual department websites; the first set of KPis to be tied directly to the strategic priorities presented, with expansion over time as data sources are developed; the five year report previously provided by CCPD; tracking traffic violence incidents as a measurable KPI under the mobility and safety indicator; and including tracking of progress in resolving the long-standing transit operator shortage and improving reliability in the dashboard.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding gratitude to Dr. Gorman for work to distill discussions and 23 April 27, 2026
community input from the February retreat into the three priority areas and KPis; the importance of measurable outcomes; concern with misinformation and disinformation regarding City projects and initiatives; the importance of providing data and accurately communicating how Culver City is investing,
measuring, and delivering on identified priorities at
culvercity.gov; and plans for a communications and narrative strategy to accompany the KPI and dashboard work.
Dr. Yolanda Gorman acknowledged the importance of telling the story behind the numbers to provide a complete picture of performance.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding quantitative and qualitative data informing decisions and capturing the real experiences of Culver City residents affected by City operations and projects; commitment to accountability and transparency, and anticipation of what is to come; and ratification of the Council's strategic priorities and KPis.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR FISH AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. RECEIVE A STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT SUMMARY PRESENTATION FROM GORMAN PARTNERS, LLC; AND,
2. RATIFY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND KEY INDICATORS . oOo
Item A-2
CC:PFA-(1) Culver City Public Finance Authority Board Adoption of a Resolution Confirming the Board of Directors; Establishing Dates, Time, and Place of its Regular Meetings; and Adopting a Conflict of Interest Code; (2) Culver City Public Finance Authority Board and City Council Consideration of the Uses for the Bond Proceeds Resulting from Bond Issuance Which May Be Issued for an Am ount Not-to-Exceed $48,000,000, of Which the City Manager is Recommending a Total of $39,420,000 (Net Proceeds of $36,900,000) be Issued; (3) City Council Direction to the City Manager to Incorporate These Bond Proceed Uses in the Proposed Culver City Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget; and (4) Other D irection to the City Manager/Executive Director as Deemed App ropriate
24 April 27, 2026
Steve Agostini, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), provided a summary of the material of record; described the three groups of actions before the City Council and the Culver City Public Financing Authority; discussed establishing organizational structure of the PFA; consideration of the recommended uses for bond proceeds arising from the issuance of bonds by the Public Finance Authority; repayment of the General Fund for prior housing initiatives and funding public benefits; generating proceeds for one year of capitalized interest and administrative costs; and City Council direction to the City Manager to incorporate the agreed-upon uses of bond proceeds in the proposed budget to be presented on May 11 for City Council adoption on June 8.
Ryan Kaplan, Public Financial Management (PFM), provided an overview of the recommended bond proceed allocations; discussed total anticipated proceeds; use of taxable proceeds to
recapitalize the contingency reserve from approximately 21 percent to approximately 27 percent; repayment to the Housing Authority expenditures incurred over the project period, including a portion to defray Housing Authority costs that might otherwise be borne by the General Fund; funds designated for affordable housing for the Ballona Creek Affordable Housing Initiative and the project at 11029 Washington Boulevard; prior City Council action that required $1.5 million to be set aside as a loan to CCUSD (Culver City Unified School District); money allocated for administrative costs, including PFA operating costs and consultant work on long-term financial planning for the City and the PFA; tax exempt funds set aside for repair and renovation of Bill Botts recreational fields; funding for design and planning of potentially new recreational facilities; money allocated for tree canopy improvements, streets, median improvements, alley paving, City infrastructure, and deferred maintenance of existing streets, parks, and public facilities; total allocation; annual debt service estimates; the structure as lease revenue bonds involving a lease between the City and the PFA under which the City's lease payments cover debt service obligations; and the anticipated bond sale scheduled for the end of June allowing proceeds to be available at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council:
Adrian Killigrew expressed support for the JPA bond program and requested that a portion of proceeds be dedicated to Vision Zero 25 April 27, 2026
improvements, particularly in the Tri-School corridor serving approximately 5,000 students and employees.
Mary Daval requested that the JPA bond amount be increased by $5 million to include funding for Safe Streets projects; noted the absence of Safe Streets or Complete Streets funding in the current proposed uses; cited existing projects awaiting funding through grants or the Mobility Improvement Fund; discussed making streets safe for all ages and abilities; providing safer mobility options; and she urged the City Council to align bond investments with adopted policies including Vision Zero, the Complete Streets policy, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan, and the General Plan.
Christopher Michel requested that at least $5 million of bond proceeds be allocated to Complete Streets, active
transportation, or street safety improvements; noted the historical underfunding of pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure relative to vehicle infrastructure; and
expressed support for the Better Overland and Safer Fox Hills projects to connect the community safely and sustainably.
Leah Pressman expressed support for the inclusion of Safe Streets funding in the bond proceeds; noted the upcoming 10th anniversary of the City Council's adoption of a Vision Zero resolution; referenced specific recent incidents in which pedestrians were killed or seriously injured in the City while using crosswalks or designated routes where safety improvements had been planned but not yet implemented; and urged the City Council to treat Safe Streets as a funding priority.
Disa Lindgren commended the new City Manager for introducing the JPA as an innovative financing tool; expressed support for the existing proposed uses; and joined prior speakers in requesting that an additional $5 million be allocated for Safe Streets improvements to serve pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and transit riders.
Mayor Puza exited the dais .
Melissa Sanders discussed City Council decisions that led to the City's current financial situation; the Jubilo Village investment; stated that bond proceeds should be directed exclusively to projects benefiting the entire community, including sidewalks, parks, and greenery, and not to bicycle lane infrastructure; and she wanted to see the City Council listen to the consultants and City staff who were being paid. 26 April 27, 2026
David Metzler expressed support for the JPA; requested that at least $5 million be added for Complete Streets projects, with specific interest in the Tri-School area and the Fox Hills to Venice Boulevard connection; explained that street improvement projects are often grant-funded rather than General Fund-funded and noted that grant unpredictability has caused delays and project fragmentation; argued that allocating bond proceeds for Complete Streets would produce long-term cost savings and accelerate project deli very; and suggested the inclusion of community representation on the JPA board.
Tyler Koke expressed support for additional Safe Streets funding; cited the Better Overland, Safer Fox Hills, and Ballona Creek extension projects as priorities; and noted that improved north-south bicycle connectivity would meaningfully reduce his personal commute.
Greg Maron indicated speaking on his own behalf, commended the innovative approach; expressed support for including bicycle and pedestrian safety projects among bond-funded uses; discussed taking concrete action to modernize the City; and referenced a recent CCUSD EarthFest event attended by approximately 400 students and families as demonstrating community commitment to a more sustainable and connected city.
Mayor Puza returned to the dais.
Kira Pusch echoed previous comments in support of increased funding allocation for Complete Streets and Safe Streets; expressed support for efforts to balance the budget and the Council's housing and infrastructure investments; and argued that safer streets benefit all users by reducing vehicle traffic and improving livability.
Melanie Rivera requested additional funding for Complete Streets and Safe Street improvements; noted unsafe driving behavior throughout Culver City; and expressed support for infrastructure improvements that make streets safer for all users.
Travis Morgan expressed appreciation for City Manager Jones's introduction of the JPA; requested clarification on how the annual lease payments would be funded; asked about meeting the obligations on an ongoing basis; expressed support for an increase of $5 million for Safe Streets; stated that development of approximately 3,000 additional housing units in Fox Hills would add approximately 6,000 residents to the area over five 27 April 27, 2026
years; and noted the need for non-vehicular mobility connections from Fox Hills to the rest of the City.
Brandon Curran was called to speak but was not present in Council Chambers or online.
Austen Royer expressed support for the JPA and the flexibility it provides the City; commended City Manager Jones; discussed his experience as a transit, bicycle, and pedestrian-dependent resident; requested additional funding for Safe Streets and Complete Streets projects; cited Better Overland and the Ballona Creek corridor as priorities; and expressed support for additional north-south non-car connectivity improvements.
Discussion ensued between Ryan Kaplan, staff, and Council Members regarding plans to service the annual debt payments on an ongoing basis; covering the debt service for the first year by building capitalized interest into the bond proceeds to allow time to establish reliable revenue streams; costs to add $5 million; tax exempt issuances; identification of projected annual savings from elimination of duplicative functions; sales tax actuals coming in higher than what was projected; activation of the streaming tax component of taxes approved by the voters; gaining leverage with regard to liquidity by taking revenue enhancements throughout the year; appropriateness of a $3 million debt service level; and acknowledgement that the decision lies with the City Council.
Additional discussion ensued between Ryan Kaplan, staff, and Council Members regarding the Strategic Planning Retreat summary; the priority to present a balanced budget that does not require laying off of staff or a decrease in services; ensuring efficiencies; funding status of the Better Overland project phases; funding gaps; the carve-out for ADA-accessible parking; the Safer Fox Hills project; providing a minimal viable project; a preference for proceeding with the staff
recommendation as proposed without adding to the bond amount; the ability for the City Council to initiate a future bond issuance; length of the process; additional capital projects requiring funding; a desire for greater clarity on overall budget conditions before expanding debt obligations; and allowing the public the opportunity to see the full fiscal picture before additional debt is incurred.
Further discussion ensued between staff and
regarding responsibility for meeting ongoing
reporting obligations associated with the
Council Members
disclosure and
bond issuance;
28 April 27, 2026
clarification that the streets category in the proposed uses covers general street improvements and repairs; Arts District and downtown median enhancements intended to stimulate sales tax generation; exclusion of the Safe Streets component; the need to restart the bond issuance process to add Safe Streets later; support for expanding the bond amount to include Safe Streets as a permitted use; comfort level of the City Manager in the amount of debt service; room to add approximately $3 million in additional proceeds; the missing element of Safe Streets; the job of the City Manager to advise and the City Council to make policy decisions; consideration of the amount added to the debt service for each million added; the commitment made to Vision Zero to have zero fatalities by 2025; the present and urgent need to address issues; addressing problems created if each new resident coming into the City has to drive
everywhere; the plan for the City Manager to return with a budget outlining all categories; adding Safe Streets as a permitted use under the streets category without prescribing specific projects; giving staff the flexibility to identify where those dollars would be most impactful; and ensuring that the proposal reflects what the community has consistently requested.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding a reminder about the Third Annual Mental Health Fair on April 29 in the City Hall Courtyard; appreciation to the CFO, City Manager, and staff for the work presented; support for including a Safe Streets allocation in the bond proceeds; observations of high vehicle speeds and the hazard to pedestrians, families with strollers, and young children in Fox Hills; a Fox Hills community member killed in a crosswalk; existing Safe Streets projects funded through grants secured by staff despite ongoing resource constraints; and concern that failing to allocate bond proceeds for Safe Streets during the formation period would be a significant missed opportunity.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding factoring the City's long-term structural pension unfunded liability into financial projections and repayment planning; active review of the unfunded pension liability; examination of the reserve fund to support continued pension payments and a modest increase for the coming fiscal year; long term balanced budget projections; the goal of achieving fiscal balance over a two-to-five-year horizon given current economic uncertainty; clarification that the City's pension fund is currently fully funded and the reserve fund designated for pension obligations is governed by statute and may only be used 29 April 27, 2026
for that purpose; engagement of Ernst & Young for long-term financial planning; addressing multi-year projections; the current structural deficit; the mid-year projection; and balancing the budget with the expectation of delivering a budget that maintains an operating reserve to provide a cushion given anticipated uncertainty in the coming fiscal year.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding percentage of City revenue derived from the business sector; potential impact of certain policy proposals on business activity; concern regarding revenue projections; the importance of parking access to businesses; factoring in proposals to remove parking along major corridors to the City's revenue projections; the upcoming balanced budget presentation; providing the City Council with a full picture of projected overall business revenue; inclusion of anticipated revenue as an appendix, along with information on process improvement efficiencies and revenue enhancements; and looking at the total cost to City residents of repaying the bond obligation over the life of the debt as one looks at financing improvements to a home.
Ryan Kaplan, PFM Financial Advisors, advised that the
approximately a $39 million issuance at an estimated interest rate of approximately 5.3% would result in roughly $76 million in total principal and interest on both series of bonds over the 30-year term.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding providing residents with a specific figure; fiscal
responsibility; whether the Jubilo Village commitment
contributed to the City's current fiscal situation; the draw down of reserves for several years prior to the Jubilo project; challenges that the proposed financing is intended to address; typical project financing; the project being funded directly from reserves; the proposed action to allow removal of a reserve restriction associated with the Jubilo project; City reserves that once exceeded $130 million drawn down over time through various City Council actions; providing liquidity in the General Fund to allow for sustainability; the goal of the proposed financing as gaining efficiency in the reserve fund and the General Fund by shifting the Jubilo obligation to the JPA; variations in project costs; the job of councils to address the issues before them with the information and circumstances available at the time; earmarking proposed bond proceeds for specific purposes outlined in the staff report consistent with commitments made to the community through public outreach; and 30 April 27, 2026
a three-vote majority of the Council required to reallocate the funds.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the importance and appropriateness of such inquiries; appreciation to staff and the consulting team for their work on the budget and the PFA; the proposed action as an investment in the City; lifting of the fiscal emergency at the prior meeting; appreciation that the City is on track to deliver a balanced budget; proposed financing enabling investment in public parks and community spaces, tree canopies, affordable housing, sidewalks, roads, and other vital infrastructure as well as supporting repairs in business corridors and efforts to revitalize the business community; the prior proposal to allocate all of the Jubilo funding to CCUSD; the ultimate outcome as a win-win supporting affordable housing while maintaining the City's commitment to CCU SD; community input regarding mobility infrastructure and Vision Zero; Safe Streets as an important component of the overall investment; support for the proposed addition of $3 million to the streets category as consistent with allocations to other categories; and confidence in the City's ability to advance multiple priorities simultaneously.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding existing street safety funding allocations, including approximately $1.4 million for Safer Fox Hills Phase 1
construction and approximately $5.56 million for Better Overland Phase 2; an observation that the City does not routinely invest at a comparable level in basic sidewalks and street maintenance; Complete Streets as a category that encompasses sidewalks; and a motion and a second were reported.
Council Member O'Brien requested that the motion be bifurcated.
Vice Mayor Fish clarified his motion to approve the existing proposed use of bond proceeds with $3 million in additional funding to the streets category bringing that category to approximately $6. 5 million, and broadening the category to include Safe Streets projects; noted that the Better Overland project included sidewalk repair and signalization within its scope; and directing approximately $2 million of the existing streets allocation to street resurfacing and repair.
Council Member O'Brien acknowledged the clarification and indicated that no bifurcation of the motion was needed. 31 April 27, 2026
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, read the proposed motion language for the record, encompassing action by both the City Council and the Public Financing Authority; described the motion as directing the City Manager to incorporate the uses of bond proceeds resulting in the issuance of debt by the PFA in the total net amount of approximately $39 million, with $3 million added to the streets category updated to include Safe Streets into the proposed FY 2026-27 budget; and as authorizing the PFA to adopt a resolution confirming the board, establishing meeting dates, adopting a conflict of interest code, and considering the same use of bond proceeds.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the reference to Safe Streets rather than Complete Streets; a correction to the gross proceeds figure;
clarification that the addition of $3 million to the net proceeds would adjust the gross proceeds to approximately $42,420,000; the intent to add $3 million to the net proceeds, bringing the streets line item from $3 million to $6.5 million, with the gross amount adjusting accordingly; a recommendation that the motion focus on net proceeds; confirmation that the City Council goal is to ensure a not-to-exceed debt service amount of approximately $3 million, given that each additional $100,000 in borrowing corresponds to approximately $1 million in debt service; reliance on the City Manager's representation that a balanced budget could be delivered at that debt service level; and confirmation that the streets category would be broadened to include both Safe Streets and Complete Streets projects.
MOVED BY VICE MAYOR FISH AND SECONDED BY MAYOR PUZA THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY:
1. DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO INCORPORATE THE USES OF BOND
PROCEEDS RESULTING IN THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT BY THE PFA IN THE TOTAL NET AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $39 MILLION, WITH $3 MILLION
ADDED TO THE STREETS CATEGORY UPDATED TO INCLUDE SAFE STREETS INTO THE PROPOSED FY 2026-27 BUDGET ; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE PFA TO ADO PT A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE BOARD,
ESTAB LISHING MEETING DATES , ADOPTIN G A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE, AND CONSIDERING THE SAME USE OF BOND PROCEEDS.
T HE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES :
NOES :
FISH, MCMORRIN, O'BRIEN, PU ZA
VERA
32 April 27, 2026
oOo
Item A-3
CC - (1) Approval of a Collaboration with the Afro Village + Bahati House Sports Lab relative to the World Cup Screening in Downtown Culver City on July 19, 2026; (2) Update on the City's 2028 Olympics Planning Efforts; and (3) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate
Elaine Warner, Assistant City Manager, provided a summary of the material of record; discussed efforts to build branding; planned FIFA activities; and free and family-friendly screening events at parks.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
T'Ana Allen, Deputy City Clerk, indicated that no requests to speak had been received.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding available funding for an entertainment zone; continuing evaluation of feasibility of the entertainment zone; planned closure of Main Street for the evening of the screening subject to continued assessment of anticipated attendance and the proximity of concurrent events on private property;
consideration of structure and composition of the 2028 Olympic Games planning subcommittee; prior Council direction to staff to return with a recommendation regarding potential expansion of the subcommittee to include the full City Council; a suggestion that future subcommittee meetings be converted to special meetings of the full City Council; a similar transition made by the Metro Board of Directors as the Games approached; the Brown Act; clarification that the full City Council may meet to address any subject; prior City Council direction for staff to provide periodic updates enabling the full Council to weigh in; the ability to hold a special, highly noticed joint City Council and Subcommittee meeting; the possibility of scheduling special meetings dedicated to Olympic Games; planning as substantive matters arise; and the distinction between expanding the subcommittee's membership and the full City Council taking direct jurisdiction over Olympic Games planning matters.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the City's Olympic Games planning strategy; prior 33 April 27, 2026
experience of the City Manager in managing large-scale
international events in other municipalities; staff development of a comprehensive strategy addressing economic development, public safety, cost management, net benefits to the City, marketing, and citywide branding for presentation to the City Council; the importance of communicating both the benefits and risks of the Games to the public; acknowledgement of the substantial efforts of Council Member O'Brien and Mayor Puza in collaboration with staff; policy decisions; the intent of the upcoming super subcommittee meeting to review and distill recommendations generated in May 2024 in order to form the strategy referenced by City Manager Jones; work to develop a comprehensive plan for full City Council consideration; and evaluating which recommendations are realistic given current resources.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding acknowledgement of the work of staff and the Bahati Foundation; City-sponsored screenings at the Ivy Station; receipt of the Metro marketing designation; and Culver City as an official Metro transit-oriented fan zone for the FIFA World Cup at Ivy Station.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, read the motion by Mayor Puza and seconded by Council Member McMorrin to (1) Approve a
collaboration with· Afro Village and Bahati House Sports Lab related to the World Cup screening in downtown Culver City on July 19, 2026; and (2) Receive an update on the City's 2028 Olympic Games planning efforts to date.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding having future meetings of the subcommittee be special meetings of the City Council or meetings on the regular schedule; the need to be nimble and schedule meetings on short notice; challenges if every meeting has to be a full City Council meeting; providing report-outs to the full City Council; allowing all Council Members to provide regular input; the past practice of meeting on an as-needed basis; average number of subcommittee meetings held; a suggestion to hold calendar time for special meetings and execute them as needed; the two-year mark; willingness to make time for the meetings; adding a standing item on regular City Council meeting agenda;
presentations vs. action i terns; concern with contributing to meeting length; work that is done with subcommittees; Council Member commitment to being available; the value of special meetings in providing focused public time and Council dialogue 34 April 27, 2026
on complex, high-visibility matters; format and cadence of future Olympic Games planning meetings; a suggestion of a hybrid approach utilizing both regular meeting updates and special meetings depending on the nature of the item; unanimous consensus to conduct the June 9 super subcommittee meeting as a special meeting of the full City Council; confirmation of Council Member availability for June 9; meeting location; and agreement to include an agenda item at the June 9 meeting to determine the format for future Olympic Games planning meetings.
MOVED BY MAYOR PUZA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE A COLLABORATION WITH THE AFRO VILLAGE+ BAHATI HOUSE
SPORTS LAB RELATED TO THE WORLD CUP SCREENING IN DOWNTOWN CULVER CITY ON JULY 19, 2026; AND,
2. RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S 2028 OLYMPICS PLANNING
EFFORTS TO DATE
oOo
Item A-4
CC - (1) Discussion and Reconsideration of the Composition of the Ad Hoc Minimum Wage Subcommittee; ( 2) Discussion and Reconsideration of the Composition of the Ad Hoc Interactive Digital Kiosk Program Subcommittee, and Related Direction Regarding the Process for Consideration of the Digital Kiosk Siting Plan; (3) If Desired, Dissolve or Change the Composition of the Subcommittees; and/or (4) Other Direction to the City Clerk as Deemed Appropriate
Heather Baker, City Attorney, indicated that Council Member O'Brien was required to recuse himself from the item in light of an FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commission) advice letter regarding his position as Chamber of Commerce president and the conflicts of interest identified therein with respect to the Digital Kiosk and Minimum Wage Subcommittees.
Council Member O'Brien recused himself and exited the dais.
Heather Baker, City Attorney, discussed the FPPC advice letter and its findings; identified conflicts of interest for Council Member O'Brien specifically with respect to the Digital Kiosk and Minimum Wage Subcommittee matters; and provided a summary of the material of record.
35 April 27, 2026
Odis Jones, City Manager, recommended that the City Council take action on the location and siting of digital kiosks at the May 11 City Council meeting; noted that the siting represented a component part of the City's budget; and requested that the City Council move the process forward at the earliest opportunity.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public provided comment:
Greg Maron asserted that the conflict presented by Council Member O'Brien's role as Chamber of Commerce president
represented a broader, ongoing pattern of conflict between that role and his responsibilities as a Council Member; discussed a perceived threat in the question posed earlier in the meeting regarding the percentage of City revenue derived from the business sector; tension between business community interests and the broader community interest; revenue derived from customers; comments from Council Member Vera; the business community and their lobbyists putting their interests before those of the community; he called upon Council Member O'Brien to prioritize his obligations as a Council Member and fulfill obligations to the community that he took on when he ran for the City Council rather than serving businesses.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding consolidation of the Ad Hoc Minimum Wage Subcommittee into a new Affordability Standing Subcommittee once formally created by City Council action; dissolution of the Ad Hoc Interactive Digital Kiosk Program Subcommittee and return of the kiosk siting plan to the full City Council for action at the May 11 City Council meeting; assignment of committee roles before the City Council was informed of the new position taken by Council Member O'Brien as CEO of the Chamber of Commerce; concerns expressed by community members; consideration at the next meeting; residents who came out to support Council Member O'Brien; the matter of the appearance of a conflict of interest; timeline for events leading to the identification of Council Member O'Brien's conflict of interest; the appearance of conflict arising from the simultaneous representation of a business organization and service as a Council Member voting on items that may affect Chamber members, including items on the current meeting's consent agenda; the letter outlining some areas of conflict; bodies with a specific mission; continued issues; the inability of the FPPC to respond until something has been voted on; the duty to ensure that Council Members have 36 April 27, 2026
fidelity to the community; pushback when a Council Member raised the issue; the need to develop a conflict of interest evaluation rubric applicable equally to all Council Members to assist in identifying potential conflicts in advance; and continued highlighting of the issue with conflicts that will come up again and again.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding support for consolidating the Ad Hoc Minimum Wage Subcommittee with the Affordability Standing Subcommittee; gas prices; cost of living issues; looking at how to build trust in the community in a transparent way; difficulty of being the one saying uncomfortable things; ensuring accountability to the public; other conflicts with previous issues that were
considered; support for application of the proposed rubric to all Council Members; and putting the burden on the City Council to have to flag issues.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding reinitiating the Kiosk Subcommittee should a Phase 2 of the program be pursued; development of a rubric to identify concerns; the previous discussion where only one Council Member flagged a concern; the advice letter recently received; the City Attorney's Office's use of the existing conflict of interest regulations and associated questions to guide Council Members through self-evaluation; challenges of predicting how the FPPC will apply regulations to specific factual scenarios; prior FPPC advice letters that were broader than anticipated by the City Attorney's Office; different interpretations depending on the FPPC staff member making the determination; allowing Council Member O'Brien to indicate his plans for dealing with the conflict; the complicated issue; and efforts to protect Council Members from potential violations of the regulations.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding concern with the process becoming weaponized; Council Member self-evaluation of potential conflicts of interest; efforts of staff to refine existing questions; application of the questions to the facts; unwillingness of the FPPC to provide specific guidelines; applying law to the facts; the importance of making existing conflict of interest resources available on the City's website in a format accessible to the public; confusion about what a conflict of interest is; the request that FPPC advice be sought with respect to potential conflicts in connection with businesses and additional subcommittees and items, specifically referencing Olympic Games planning, film and media industry incentives, and the Special Events Grant Program; working with 37 April 27, 2026
a shared resource/best practices list; support for seeking input on subcommittees where there could be an appeararice of a conflict; the City Attorney's clarification that such requests are most appropriately initiated by the affected Council Member and that Council Member O'Brien had previously submitted, through the City Attorney's office, requests for FPPC advice on three items identified at the prior meeting; the importance of maintaining public trust and transparency in how conflict of interest issues are addressed as a governing body; and
clarification that the issue is not personal, but rather applies to all Council Members serving.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, read the proposed motion language for the record.
Heather Baker, City Attorney, clarified that direction to develop and publicly post the conflict of interest evaluation rubric did not require a formal motion, and committed to working with the City Clerk's office to make existing materials available on the Culver City website and to refine them where possible.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the ability of Council Member O'Brien to make a request to the City Attorney's Office to seek an opinion on items raised by the City Council; and adding the Special Events Grant Program to the list of items to be investigated.
MOVED BY MAYOR PUZA AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR FISH THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. DISSOLVE THE AD HOC MINIMUM WAGE SUBCOMMITTEE AND DIRECT
STAFF TO INCORPORATE MINIMUM WAGE SUBCOMMITTEE ITEMS INTO THE AFFORDABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE ONCE CREATED; AND,
2. DISSOLVE THE AD HOC INTERACTIVE DIGITAL KIOSK PROGRAM SUBCOMMITTEE; AND,
3. DIRECT STAFF TO BRING THE DIGITAL KIOSK SITING PLAN TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE MAY 11 MEETING
WITHOUT A SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR FULL CITY COUNCIL REVIEW.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
FISH, MCMORRIN, PUZA, VERA
NONE
38 RECUSED: O'BRIEN
April 27, 2026
Council Member McMorrin exited the dais.
Council Member O'Brien returned to the dais.
oOo
Item A-5
CC - Discussion and Direction Regarding Transitioning the Standing City Council Police Subcommittee to a Standing City Council Public Safety Subcommittee and the Discontinuation of the General Plan Subcommittee
Lea Eriksen, Senior Assistant City Manager, provided a summary of he material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding scope and purpose of the proposed Standing City Council Public Safety Subcommittee; the proposed new subcommittee as a forum for holistic public safety discussion encompassing areas including red light camera reform, the Mobile Crisis Team, lighting, ambassador programs, and comparable public safety services offered by other cities; Council Member interest in serving; and allowing for diversity of thought.
Council Member McMorrin returned to the dais.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding support for formation of the new subcommittee; allowing for meaningful consultation with CCPD in the
development of any Public Safety Element; the siloed manner in which the Public Safety Element was done; concern with efforts to remove Council Members from subcommittees; and support for allowing Council Member Vera to continue to serve.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the motion on the floor; appreciation for partnership during the meetings of the Police Policies Ad Hoc Subcommittee and the Police Policy Standing Subcommittee; the new entity being created with a broader view being taken; the slight delay on Webex; willingness of Council Member McMorrin to accept the invitation to serve on the new subcommittee; her enthusiasm for approaching public safety as a broad toolbox of opportunities and community investments, including the Mobile Crisis Team and other holistic services; appreciation for providing a forum and 39 April 27, 2026
opportunity to brainstorm together; looking at what other cities are doing; and the ability of CCPD to retain the existing Chief's Advisory Panel for policy outreach and stakeholder engagement independent of the subcommittee.
Council Member O'Brien proposed a friendly amendment to the motion to substitute Council Member Vera for Council Member McMorrin.
Council Member Vera reiterated previous comments in support of allowing diversity of thought on the subcommittee.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding expertise provided by each Council Member; the intent to move forward on specific goals and initiatives that Council Member McMorrin has a particular experience with and track record of supporting; and a reminder that everything considered by the subcommittee has to come before the City Council for discussion and will still benefit from diversity of thought.
Council Member O'Brien proposed an amendment to his amendment to instead appoint Council Members McMorrin and Vera to serve on the committee.
Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding a reminder that a new subcommittee is being created; the motion to transition and dissolve the Police Subcommittee and create a new Public Safety Subcommittee and dissolve the General Plan Subcommittee; and clarification by the City Attorney that the declined amendments did not alter the original motion.
Council Member Vera expressed objection to being excluded from the new subcommittee.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding; the original motion in the staff report to fold the previous subcommittee into a new one; historical context; exclusion from leadership on committees; excitement at the opportunity for the community; subcommittee recommendations made for City Council consideration; prior experience and perspective; background of the two Council Members selected to serve; collaboration with staff; departmental collaboration in new ways for public safety in the community; and public safety as a field of evolving practice and community investment.
MOVED BY VICE MAYOR FISH AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN 40 April 27, 2026
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. DISSOLVE THE STANDING CITY COUNCIL POLICE SUBCOMMITTEE; AND,
2. CREATE A STANDING CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE WITH VICE MAYOR FISH AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN AS MEMBERS; AND,
3. DISSOLVE THE GENERAL PLAN SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FISH, MCMORRIN, PUZA
NOES: O'BRIEN, VERA
o0o
Item A-6
CC - (1) Discussion and, if Desired, Recommendation of a City Council Position on SB 747 (Wiener) Civil Rights: Deprivation of Federal Constitutional Rights, Privileges, and Immunities; and (2) Direction to Distribute the City's Position Letter to State Legislators
Shelly Wolfberg, City Manager's Office, provided a summary of the material of record.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated that no requests to speak had been received.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR FISH AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ADOPT A POSITION ON SB 747, IF DESIRED; AND,
2. DIRECT THE DISTRIBUTION OF POSITION LETTERS FOR SB 747. o0o
Item A-7
CC - (1) Discussion and, if Desired, Recommendation of a City Council Position on AB 1537 (Bryan) Peace Officers: Secondary 41 April 27, 2026
Employment. (Introduced - 1/5/2026); and (2) Direction to Distribute the City's Position Letter to State Legislators Shelly Wolfberg, City Manager's Office, provided a summary of the material of record.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding confirmation that CCPD does not allow their police officers to work with immigration enforcement or security jobs outside of CCPD; appreciation to Assembly Member Bryan for authoring the bill; appreciation that CCPD has a policy against collaboration with immigration enforcement; ensuring that all police
departments in California are held to the same standard; appreciation for increased accountability and oversight of police departments across the state; gratitude to Shelly Wolfberg for her assistance advocating for Culver City
priorities; and adding to the legislative platform so that future bills do not require City Council consideration.
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk, indicated that no requests to speak had been received.
MOVED BY VICE MAYOR FISH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ADOPT A POSITION IN SUPPORT OF AB 1537; AND,
2. DIRECT THE DISTRIBUTION OF POSITION LETTERS FOR AB 1537.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding what could be added to the legislative agenda that would enable support letters to be sent for items that align with the City's legislative platform without coming to the City Council; items with a necessity for legal review; exposure to liability; additional cost for legal representation; conflicting policies; subcommittee discussion; incorporation of policy statements moving forward; the trickle down of authoritarianism in federal government; adding in police oversight reform and accountability as a type of reform supported on a state and federal level; and incorporation of items into a new policy point in the
legislative and policy platform that is scheduled to come before the City Council for consideration at the next meeting. oOo
42 April 27, 2026
Pub1ic Comment - Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
Mayor Puza invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council:
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin noted discussion of
conflict of interests and expressed concern with
done on the previously requested lobby registry.
oOo
Items from Council Members (Continued)
None.
oOo
Council Member Requests to Agendize Future Items
optics and
lack of work
Council Member O'Brien received consensus from Mayor Puza, Vice Mayor Fish and Council Member Vera to direct staff to return with ADA options for the Better Overland project when the final plans are brought back; he discussed an opinion he sought from the FPPC before accepting his role at the Chamber of Commerce; his basis for believing there is not a conflict of interest in his service on the City Council and working for the City Council; acknowledged the conflict of interest with the minimum wage item; he indicated being surprised at the conflict with the digital kiosks; pointed out numerous examples of Council Members who work for the Chamber of Commerce in California and across the country; discussed politics; the election year; his commitment to work hard for all stakeholders; the need to be attuned to any potential perceived conflict of interest; his efforts to look ahead and seek opinions for upcoming items; he noted that his role on the Chamber of Commerce did not change his views on policy; and he indicated that he would work to help everyone have confidence in his place on the City Council.
Vice Mayor Fish received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Members McMorrin and O'Brien to bring back the General Plan Public Safety Element discarded in 2022 for reconsideration in the Public Safety Subcommittee as part of General Plan 2045.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding clarification that CCPD would be part of the Public Safety Subcommittee. and consideration across multiple departments. 43 April 27, 2026
Vice Mayor Fish received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Member McMorrin to receive a report from the Human Resources Department to the Public Safety Subcommittee regarding union membership of upper management as compared to other cities; received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Members McMorrin and O'Brien to receive a report on options to expand the Culver City Bus Yard in order to accommodate buses already ordered; and he received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Members McMorrin and O'Brien to receive a report to the Governance Subcommittee on how Culver City is supporting local news outlets.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the importance of local news; agreements with one outlet; equity with how resources are spent; looking at which outlets are contracted with; the requirement to designate one written newspaper for paid notices; and agreement by the City Clerk to provide information on a previous review of procedures.
Vice Mayor Fish received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Members McMorrin and Vera that the City Council provide a letter of support for the staff of the Writers Guild who are on strike seeking fair wages and a fair contract noting that it did not need to be a discussion item if the legislative platform allows it.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding advisory letters and agreement from Council Member O'Brien to allow staff to submit letters for FPPC advice on the Olympic, Film and Media, and Special Events Grant Program Subcommittees.
The following items were agreed upon for future agendas:
• Receive a staff report on ADA options for Better Overland (O'Brien)
• Consideration of the General Plan Public Safety Element discarded in 2022 by the Public Safety Subcommittee as part of General Plan 2045 (Fish)
• Receive a report from the Human Resources Department to the Public Safety Subcommittee regarding union membership of upper management as compared to other cities (Fish)
• Receive a report on options to expand the Culver City Bus Yard (Fish)
• Receive a report to the Governance Subcommittee on how Culver City is supporting local news outlets (Fish)
44 April 27, 2026
• Direct staff to provide a letter of support for the staff of the Writers Guild who are on strike seeking fair wages and a fair contract (Fish)
oOo
45 April 27, 2026
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 12:01 a.m., April 28, 2026 the City Council, Housing Authority Board, 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 May 11, 2026.
oOo
Jeremy Bocchino
C f Culver City, California
EX-OFFICIO ERK of the City Council and SECRETARY of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board, Redevelopment Financing Authority, Culver City Parking Authority, Culver City Public Finance Authority Board, and Culver City Housing Authority Board
Culver City, California
f Culver City, California and CHAIR of the Successor
to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board,
Redeve opment Financing Authority, Culver City Housing
Autho r/ty Board, Culver City Parking Authority, and Culver City Public Finance Authority Board
Date: May 11, 2026
46