1 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY
THE CULVER CITY STANDING SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CULVER CITY June 23, 2026
STANDING SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE 6:00 p.m.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Council Member McMorrrin called the special meeting of the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council to order at 6:03 p.m. in the Dan Patacchia Meeting Room.
Present: Freddy Puza, Mayor
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Council Member
Staff Present: Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst
Wallis Nash, Senior Management Analyst
James Gorbin, Deputy Building Official, Planning
& Development Department
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Pledge of Allegiance
Council Member McMorrin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Community Announcement from Members
None.
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Information Items from Staff
James Gorbin, Deputy Building Official, reported that there was one business in Culver City with a boiler, therefore changes to boiler regulations made by AQMD (Air Quality Management District) would only affect that business; he noted that in general, the Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
2 City does not enforce AQMD regulations; discussed the work of AQMD to amend their rules; letter from Culver City in support of the amendment; and support for enhancing monitoring of emissions generally.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the report; impacted businesses; businesses that might not be registered with the City; and AQMD enforcement.
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Public Comment - Items NOT On the Agenda
Council Member McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
David Coles reiterated a previous request to agendize a presentation from Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) regarding Culver City’s use of herbicides and pesticides; discussed potential impact to Ballona Creek and public health; and the opportunity to consider best practices and doing things as safely and healthfully as possible.
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Receipt of Correspondence
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, indicated that no correspondence had been received.
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Consent Calendar
Item C-1
Approval of Minutes for the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee Meeting of March 12, 2026
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMORRIN, SECONDED BY MAYOR PUZA AND
UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE STANDING SUSTAINABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MARCH 12, 2026.
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Action Items
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
3 Item A-1
Receive and Discuss a Presentation by Support + Feed Regarding the Organization and Work in and Surrounding Culver City
Maggie Baird, Founder, Support+Feed, provided background on herself and the organization; discussed services provided; partnerships; helping people understand climate impacts of their actions; and she described ways that they could help in Culver City.
Discussion ensued between Support+Feed representatives, staff, and Subcommittee Members regarding support for the Goole-based map of Culver City plant-based restaurants; other ways to augment the farmers market; helping to serve the community; work with Bell Gardens; the educational component; hot meals; the impact of a plant-based diet on the environment and the climate crisis; plant- based diets as the low hanging fruit of the climate movement; preparation for the Olympics; supporting venues; replacing one or two meals per week with a plant-based diet; the New Zealand Hospitality House; other countries that may have a location in Culver City; substitutions that people do not even notice; helping people have a basic understanding of the impact of choices made; taking care in language used; climate savings with changes made; the importance of fiber in addition to protein and adding fruits and vegetables to make the community healthier; measuring impacts; impacts of City policies; focus on food waste in the Olympics community; and impact of animal food waste vs. plant food waste.
Additional discussion ensued between Support+Feed representatives, staff, and Subcommittee Members regarding appreciation for the presentation and for the work of the organization; participation in community engagement at the mall; the opportunity for education; the summer concert series; providing gentle opportunities for people to broaden how they eat; living closer to values; the recent signing of the Plant-Based Treaty; appreciation for the opportunity; connecting with Economic Development; Fiesta La Ballona; the kitchen at the Senior Center; refurbishment of the kitchen at the Teen Center; allowing a table at the summer concert series; the opportunity to sign up volunteers; and staff agreement to connect with Support+Feed representatives to provide contact information with suggested departments and community groups.
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Item A-2
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
4 Receive and Discuss a Presentation by the Better Food Foundation, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Plant Based Treaty Organization Regarding Meeting Culver City’s GHG Reduction Goals Through Plant-Based Food Policy and Advancing to Goals of the Plant-Based Treaty
Sam Lau, Plant Based Treaty, introduced the presentation on Phase 2 implementation; discussed helping Culver City be a leader; the endorsement from Culver City; Phase 1; the public information campaign; and community outreach.
Juli Schultz, Better Food Foundation, provided background on the Plant-Based NGO network; discussed changing institutions as an important way to transition toward a more climate-friendly diet; the request for a resolution for a plant-based default policy for City-sponsored events; implementation in West Hollywood; GHG (greenhouse gas) accounting; allowing the choice for attendees to opt into animal-based options; providing climate-friendly ratio guidelines as part of special event permitting; potential language; encouraging behavior shifts; staff training; and lowering food waste.
Leah Kelly, Center for Biological Diversity, discussed
sustainability; calculating food impacts; other cities that have implemented similar policies; calculating GHG emissions from foods; a request to pass a resolution for default plant-based policy for City-sponsored events and meetings; and amending City guidelines for special events permits.
Sam Lau, Plant Based Treaty, discussed ways they can help to support the proposed initiatives.
Council Member McMorrin invited public comment.
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, reported that no requests to speak had been received.
Discussion ensued between the presenters, staff and Subcommittee Members regarding permitting; providing pathways for the 2 to 1 ratio; creating guidelines to help the transition; providing tools; finding caterers and local restaurants that can provide plant-based food; sustainable fashion and transportation routes; follow up; the dichotomy of serving meat at a sustainability event; food waste; government guidance that can help organizations who feel that they must serve meat; normalizing a plant-based approach with policy; introducing the concept so that staff understands it; creating a shift; clarification that City-planned and City- sponsored events are included in the resolution; providing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
5 guidelines for City-permitted events; consultation with Special Events Manager Edgar Varela; requirements vs. guidelines; the need for collaboration with Economic Development; backlash; a suggestion to start with guidelines before requirements; behavioral science; case studies of previous implementation; potential inclusion in the Culver City Sustainability
Certification Program; the small number of City events; interest in the results of the West Hollywood events; GHG accounting for cities; cost savings; health and climate benefits; rationale for cities that have chosen target reductions; reducing purchases; changing demand; meat and dairy reductions that create faster results; policy; reduction goals to meet the Climate Action Plan; internal strategies to commit to reductions; external-facing actions; different ways to get to the same goal; social norming plant-based food; support for taking a dual approach; and appreciation for the partnership moving forward.
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Item A-3
(1) Discussion of Restrictions on Outdoor Smoking, Including Enforcement Strategies, Smoking Zones, and Multi-Family Housing; (2) Guidance to Staff; and (3) Recommendations to City Council
Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager, provided a summary of the material of record.
Council Member McMorrin invited public comment.
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, indicated that no requests to speak had been received.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding smoking zones; enforcement; a suggestion to bring the item to the Westside Council of Governments (COG) to allow for a regional approach; establishing neighborhood zones; providing an application process for businesses and residents to create designated smoking areas; the model used in Calabasas for businesses; creating a hybrid model; alignment with stated values of Culver City; education; goals; feedback; noticing; outreach; effectiveness of social media; capturing people who are not on social media; robocalls to alert people of meetings; ensuring that all neighbors are accommodated; people who smoke in their cars; compliance; addressing civilian enforcement; and the phase-in process.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
6 Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding options for moving forward; identification of potential locations for consideration at the next meeting; allowing people to propose the locations; providing the opportunity for public input; and the timing of community outreach.
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Recess/Reconvene
Council Member McMorrin called a brief recess from 7:26 p.m. to 7:28 p.m.
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Item A-4
(1) Discussion of Restrictions on AstroTurf; (2) Direction to Staff; and (3) Recommendation to City Council.
Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Manager, provided a summary of the material of record; discussed identification of locations; and current artificial turf restrictions.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding consideration of non-plastic artificial options; updating the code to define what artificial turf is; the intent to cut down on microplastics; and sustainability goals.
Council Member McMorrin invited public comment.
The following member of the public addressed the Subcommittee:
David Coles discussed creating ecological dead zones when artificial coverings are put on the ground; permeability to rainwater; cooling; people who install without permits; and retroactive enforcement.
Discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding concern with microplastics getting into the waterways; supporting the overall ecosystem; allowing carveouts for other products that do not create harmful byproducts; concern with retroactive enforcement; education; enforcement moving forward; permeability of alternative turf; concern with continuity of allowing artificial turf in back yards but not in the front; support for sustainability and climate goals across the City; and clarity on residential and commercial standards.
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
7 Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding changing turf technology; lack of funding for enforcement officers; possibility of grant and incentive conversion programs; education to help people make sustainable choices; the shelf-life for AstroTurf; providing incentives to make better choices rather than penalizing people; defaulting to sustainable choices; staff direction to find and close policy loopholes and return with information about alternate materials; ensuring that Planning Department makes requirements clear during the various stages of ordinance development; providing product options; looking at pros and cons; allowing for an administrative exemption if needed; and adding clarity to the code.
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Public Comment for Items NOT on the Agenda
Council Member McMorrin invited public participation.
Alicia Ide, Senior Management Analyst, indicated that no additional requests to speak had been received.
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Items from Staff
None.
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Items from Subcommittee Members
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Subcommittee Members regarding the date for the next meeting and upcoming agenda items including bringing in Community Development to talk about event options for requiring plant-based food, inviting PRCS to discuss plant-based policies for parks programs, the Special Event process, smoking options, artificial turf regulations, native planting training and certification, and receipt of a presentation on the City’s use of herbicides and pesticides for parks and streetscapes.
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Adjournment
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council
June 23, 2026
8 There being no further business, at 7:51 p.m., the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council adjourned to August 26, 2026 in the Patio Room.
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Alicia Ide
SECRETARY of the Culver City Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council Culver City, California
APPROVED
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin
COUNCIL MEMBER, Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council Culver City, California