O N I N C R E A S I N G P U B L I C P A R T I C I P A T I O N
I N T H E B U D G E T P R O C E S S
R e p o r t P r e s e n t a t i o n - A u g u s t 1 0 , 2 0 2 6
C E N T E R F O R N E W
D E M O C R A T I C P R O C E S S E S
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
700 pages
100+ challenges,opportunities, & actions
30+ (new) strangers
3 (more) days...
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
2 Are we really doing
this again?!
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
3 JULY Assembly DEMOGRAPHIC TARGETS
# o f
P a r t i c i p a n t s
T a r g e t
M e t
A G E C O H O R T ( 1 8 + p o p . )
1 8 - 3 4
8 x
3 5 - 6 4
1 6
x
6 5 +
6 x
G E N D E R
F e m a l e
1 5
x
M a l e
1 3
x
N o n - b i n a r y / t r a n s g e n d e r / o t h e r 2 x
E D U C A T I O N A L A T T A I N M E N T
H i g h s c h o o l o r l e s s
6 x
S o m e c o l l e g e / A s s o c i a t e ’ s
6 x
B a c h e l o r ’ s d e g r e e o r h i g h e r
1 8
x
E M P L O Y M E N T S T A T U S
F u l l t i m e ( 3 5 + h o u r s / w k )
1 3
x
P a r t t i m e ( l e s s t h a n 3 5 h r s / w k ) 1 0
o v e r
D i d n o t w o r k i n p a s t 1 2 m o n t h s
7 x
# o f
P a r t i c i p a n t s
T a r g e t
M e t
H O M E O W N E R / R E N T E R
H o m e o w n e r
1 7
x
R e n t e r
1 3
x
P A R T Y A F F I L I A T I O N
D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y
1 9
x
R e p u b l i c a n P a r t y
3 x
I n d e p e n d e n t / N o n e / O t h e r /
U n a f f i l i a t e d
8 x
R A C E
A m e r i c a n I n d i a n a n d A l a s k a N a t i v e , N a t i v e H a w a i i a n a n d O t h e r P a c i f i c I s l a n d e r a l o n e , s o m e O t h e r r a c e a l o n e , 2 o r m o r e r a c e s / O t h e r
3 x
A s i a n a l o n e
5 x
B l a c k o r A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n a l o n e 4 x
H i s p a n i c o r L a t i n o ( o f a n y r a c e ) 6 x
W h i t e / E u r o p e a n - A m e r i c a n a l o n e 1 2
x
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
4 JULY Participant
NEIGHBORHOODS
N e i g h b o r h o o d o f r e s i d e n c e w a s n o t i n c l u d e d a s a c r i t e r i a i n t h e l o t t e r y p r o c e s s d u e t o t h e h i g h n u m b e r o f n e i g h b o r h o o d s , t h o u g h r e s i d e n t s w e r e a s k e d t o i n c l u d e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w h e n t h e y v o l u n t e e r e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e . © 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
0 1 2 3 4 5
B l a i r H i l l s
B l a n c o / C u l v e r C r e s t
C l a r k d a l e
C u l v e r / W e s t
D o w n t o w n
F o x H i l l s
J e f f e r s o n
L u c e r n e / H i g u e r a
M c L a u g h l i n
M c M a n u s
P a r k E a s t
P a r k W e s t
S t u d i o V i l l a g e
S u n k i s t P a r k
W a s h i n g t o n C u l v e r
5 MAY & JULY Additional
PARTICIPANT INFO
P r i o r P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n C i t y B u d g e t E v e n t Y E S
7 5 3
N O
S e r v i c e o n a C i t y C o m m i t t e e o r C o m m i s s i o n ( e v e r ) Y E S
3 5 7
N O
16 average number of yearsliving in Culver City
From 1up to50+ years
length of residency in Culver City
70%
of participants reported that they initially volunteered to support Culver City 59/60
of Assembly memberswould join again
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
6 Introduction to the City of Culver City Government
Culver City Finance Department & Budget Process
May Civic Assembly Participant Panel
Community Organization / City Department Panel A
Community Organization / City Department Panel B
JULY Learning Program
ELEMENTS
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
7 T h e J u l y A s s e m b l y s e l e c t e d c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d C i t y D e p a r t m e n t s t o s e r v e a s r e s o u r c e s o n t w o p a n e l s .
O r g a n i z a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i a n d s e l e c t e d d e p a r t m e n t s i n t r o d u c e d t h e i r w o r k a n d a n s w e r e d p a r t i c i p a n t
q u e s t i o n s .
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
8 M a y A s s e m b l y m e m b e r s s e r v e d a s p a n e l i s t s d u r i n g t h e J u l y A s s e m b l y . T h e y s h a r e d a b o u t t h e i r w o r k , t h e i r p e r s p e c t i v e s o n a n d e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h t h e C i t y a n d b u d g e t p r o c e s s , a s w e l l a s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r h o w t h e C i t y c o u l d w o r k t o i n c r e a s e p u b l i c
p a r t i c i p a t i o n w i t h i n t h e p r o c e s s .
C i t y S t a f f s h a r e d a b o u t t h e g o v e r n a n c e s t r u c t u r e , o p e r a t i o n s , a n d s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d b y t h e C i t y . T h e y a l s o i n t r o d u c e d p a r t i c i p a n t s t o t h e b u d g e t , b u d g e t p r o c e s s , a n d d i s c u s s e d h o w c o m m u n i t y n e e d s i m p a c t a n d s h a p e t h e C i t y ’ s b u d g e t a n d b u d g e t p r o c e s s . © 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
9 MAY & JULY Participant Evaluation:
INFORMATION
I learned a lot about the budget
process and the challenges and
opportunities the city faces.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
D isagree Strongly
D isagree
N eutral
A gree
A gree Strongly
The inform ation I received helped m e
to participate effectively in the process.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
D isagree Strongly
D isagree
N eutral
A gree
A gree Strongly
The presenters delivered useful
inform ation.
0 10 20 30 40 50
D isagree Strongly
D isagree
N eutral
A gree
A gree Strongly
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
10 July participants reviewed challenges, opportunities, and actions related to increasing public participation in the budget process identified by the May Assembly.
They then deliberated and weighed competing tradeoffs in order to prioritize top actions. © 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
TOP ACTIONS
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
42 potential actions to increase participation in the budget process voted on by the July Assembly
REVIEW REFINE PRIORITIZE
participants in the July Civic Assembly reviewed, modified/added, and prioritized actions 12 Top Actions for
CHALLENGES:
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
FEEDBACK LOOP & IMPACT DOCUMENTATION
4 10
3 2
1 7
2 8
5 6
9 MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
BUDGET SIMULATION ACTIVITY
SPECIFIC / DIRECT ASKS
NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS, CHAMPIONS, OR GROUPS
TARGETED ENGAGEMENT WITH SUBGROUPS
BUDGET RECAP / CHANGES / COMPARISONS
EXTEND THE BUDGET PROCESS TIMELINE
DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES & INFORMATION
BUDGET CIVIC ASSEMBLY *tied
10 10
INCENTIVIZE INPUT / PARTICIPATION *tied
RESIDENT ORIENTATION SESSIONS *tied
13 Examples of Top Actions for CHALLENGES:
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
1 2
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
Hold events at locations where people are
already gathering and/or using city
services, such as block parties,
neighborhood book clubs or coffee clubs,
school assemblies, high school classrooms,
parent teacher associations, parks, “Culver
Steps” events, the farmer’s market, or
meeting people in bars, restaurants, malls,
and other businesses. Conduct budget and
budget process outreach and engagement
through different channels by which our
voices can be heard rather than having in-
person opportunities driven by people
going to Council meetings.
FEEDBACK LOOP & IMPACT
DOCUMENTATION
Document how feedback and input shapes
the budget and is incorporated throughout
the budget process. This could include
concrete and clear examples of
acknowledging resident complaints or
suggestions, publishing the results of
deliberations and votes before and after key
meetings and discussions, and providing
examples of how resident feedback affected
budget decisions so that the public is aware
of and knows how their feedback helps to
shape budget priorities.
14 Top Actions for
OPPORTUNITIES:
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
N E I G H B O R H O O D A M B A S S A D O R S , C H A M P I O N S , O R G R O U P S 4 1 0
3 2
1 7
2 8
5 6
9 M E E T P E O P L E W H E R E T H E Y A R E
B U D G E T R E C A P / C H A N G E S / C O M P A R I S O N S
D E P A R T M E N T - S P E C I F I C A C T I V I T I E S & I N F O R M A T I O N
F E E D B A C K L O O P & I M P A C T D O C U M E N T A T I O N
T A R G E T E D E N G A G E M E N T W I T H S U B G R O U P S
D A S H B O A R D , K E Y P E R F O R M A N C E I N D I C A T O R S , & M E T R I C S
S P E C I F I C / D I R E C T A S K S
B U D G E T C I V I C A S S E M B L Y
U S I N G S O C I A L M E D I A T O I N C R E A S E A W A R E N E S S 15 Examples of Top Actions for OPPORTUNITIES:
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
1 2
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
Hold events at locations where people are
already gathering and/or using city
services, such as block parties,
neighborhood book clubs or coffee clubs,
school assemblies, high school classrooms,
parent teacher associations, parks, “Culver
Steps” events, the farmer’s market, or
meeting people in bars, restaurants, malls,
and other businesses. Conduct budget and
budget process outreach and engagement
through different channels by which our
voices can be heard rather than having in-
person opportunities driven by people
going to Council meetings.
NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS,
CHAMPIONS, OR GROUPS
Coordinate paid and/or volunteer
neighborhood ambassadors, champions, or
groups who examine more localized
concerns, serve as sources of information
and points-of-contact for bi-directional
information flow, and go out to certain
areas to gather qualitative feedback so that
it is more equitable and fills in gaps in the
budget process.
16 MAY & JULY Participant Evaluation:
EXPERIENCE & PROCESS
I felt comfortable sharing my opinions.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Agree Strongly
I felt comfortable asking questions.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Agree Strongly
CNDP encouraged me to think
independently and make up my own
mind.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Agree Strongly
I had an equal opportunity to
participate in the deliberations.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Agree Strongly
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
17 The Participants’ Experiences
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
18 WHAT’S NEXT?
© 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
Dissemination of Civic Assembly
Participants’ Report (ongoing)
City begins to incorporate
Assembly Recommendations into
upcoming Budget Process
City further evaluates items with
budget impacts and returns to
City Council with implementation
options
19 © 2026 Center for New Democratic Processes
T H A N K Y O U !