City Council Meeting Summary, January 13, 2025

Published on January 17, 2025

City Council Approves Community Conversation on Israel-Palestine, Adopts New Fee Schedule, Jubilo Village Joint Application

Conversation Event on Middle East Approved

The City Council approved a request by the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) to hold its next Courageous Conversation Event, “Spark Healing through Conversation: How the Middle East Crisis Affects Me,” in February. This event is an alternative solution following requests from the community for the City to draft a Cease Fire Resolution regarding the war in Gaza. The purpose is to give community members the tools to have a productive interactive discussion. EHRAC is continuing to secure professional neutral facilitator services, conduct outreach to the community and finalize the program.

Mayor Dan O’Brien, Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, and Council Members Albert Vera Jr. and Bubba Fish voted in favor of the motion. Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin abstained from the vote. The Committee was formed in 2020 to “recommend programs, policies, and activities that promote positive human relations and equitable outcomes and opportunities in all aspects of community life.”

The City will provide more details and invite the public to join once a location and facilitator are determined.

City Council Adopts New Fee Schedule

In the first time in more than 10 years, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting new Citywide User Fees. In a study completed by NBS, a government data analytics firm, it reviewed various fees for City services. The study identified an estimated $24.6 million in eligible costs for recovery from fees for service compared to approximately $13.4 million the City is currently collecting each year from fees.

The intent of the proposed fee schedule is to improve the City’s recovery of costs incurred to provide individual services, as well as adjust fees to align with the average costs of service calculated in the study, where the fees charged exceed the average costs incurred.

NBS assisted with modeling the “recommended” or “target” level of cost recovery for each fee, established at either 100% or any amount less than the calculated full cost of service. Targets and recommendations reflect discretion on the part of the City based on a variety of factors, such as existing City policies and agency-wide or departmental revenue objectives, economic goals, community values, market conditions, level of demand, and others.

The fee changes can be found throughout departments and can be found on the City’s website. For example, a sign permit for businesses has a current fee of $202. It will now increase to $589, which is a 39% cost recovery. Some fees went down, like curb painting, which was $204, now lowered to $50 to reduce financial burden on residents and businesses.

These fee rates will begin in the new Fiscal Year starting July 1, 2025.

Jubilo Village Joint Application Approved

The City will submit a joint application for the 95-unit Jubilo Village following unanimous approval by the City Council. The application will be in partnership with Community Corporation of Santa Monica (Developer), seeking a grant request of $22,962,000, under the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Homekey + Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

The Jubilo Village (Project) will be a 100% affordable new construction housing development located at 4460-4464 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230. The Project will be comprised of 95 multi-family apartment units including 43 units designated for Permanent Supportive Housing reserved for people experiencing homelessness, 50 general affordable units, and two units reserved for on-site property management.

Based on Homekey+ eligibility criteria, funding will be sought for only 43 units of the 95 project units that are designated for people experiencing homelessness. Other funding sources will be sought to finance the non-Homekey+ units.

The Project will be service-enriched and provide onsite supportive services through a partnership between the Developer and Upward Bound House (UBH), a Culver City local emergency shelter for homeless children and their families.

Project amenities include property and case management offices, a community room and fully equipped kitchen, bicycle storage, a children’s play area and a quiet garden space. The Developer will provide on-site property management services.

The Developer will build the Project in partnership with the property owner, Culver Palms United Methodist Church, and will include a mixed-use project on the church property. Once completed, the Project will be the City’s largest 100% affordable mixed-used project. The City has not produced a 100% affordable mixed-use project in over a decade since the completion of the Tilden Terrace Project located on Washington Boulevard in 2013.

As part of the joint application, the City will continue its $5 million dollar commitment to the Project in loan and grant funding. City Council requested the item come back in mid-year budget presentations as it will consider the potential of providing $16 million toward the Project in the next fiscal year.

Organizations Selected for 2025 Performing Arts Grant Program

City Council awarded 21 organizations $202,223 for the 2025 Performing Arts Grant Program in music, theater and dance events. The Cultural Affairs Commission and staff have implemented Culver City’s Performing Arts Grant Program (Program) since its inception in 1994. A Peer Review Panel consisting of seven independent individuals with professional performing arts expertise and non-profit arts experience scored the applications.

The 2025 Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program Subcommittee recommended that 21 of the applications receive 90% of their requested funding as follows:

• Music: 13 total applications; 9 awards recommended, $82,580
• Dance: 10 total applications; 6 awards recommended, $64,800
• Theatre: 10 total applications; 6 awards recommended, $54,843

Sony Pictures Entertainment donated $30,000 designated in support of the 2025 Program.

Awards & Proclamations

The City Council began the night with awards and proclamations. Monday, January 2025 will be “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” in Culver City. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. tireless advocacy for nonviolent resistance and social change continues to resonate globally, serving as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive transformation. The City of Culver City recognizes the need to model Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s pursuit of unity and justice to prevent all forms of discrimination including systemic racism. The City’s diverse and growing population provides an opportunity to grow and develop concurrently with Dr. King’s dream of equality. We will commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by recognizing individuals at the Veterans Memorial Complex during Black History Month who participate in the rescheduled Day of Service Project and Freedom & Beyond Video Contest planned by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee.

City Council also awarded a Certificate of Recognition to Ellzey Grace who won the title of Miss Friendship at the 2024 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant. The title is awarded to those who exude friendliness, support, positivity, and genuine kindness throughout the pageant. The City Council thanked her for being a role model and inspiring younger generations in Culver City and beyond.

Additional Council Decisions 

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

• Approved cash disbursementsfrom November 30, 2024, to January 3, 2025.
• Approved minutes of the City Council Meetings held on December 9, 2024.
• Authorization to award $202,223 to 21 organizations for the 2025 Performing Arts Grant Program and designation of related performances as City-sponsored.
• Awarded construction contract in the amount of $7,362,160 to Mladen Buntich Construction Co Inc. for the Diversion Sewer Pipes to Abandon Fox Hills Sewer Pump Station. City Council also approved several other portions of the item including; authorization the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve change orders, if necessary, to the Mladen Buntich contract, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,100,000 (15%), approved a professional services agreement with NV5 in an amount not-to-exceed $494,435 for construction management and inspection services, authorized the Public Works Director to approve amendment(s), if necessary, to the NV5 agreement, in an amount not-to-exceed $98,887 (20%) to cover contingency costs, as well as approve a related budget amendment.
• Approved the final plans and specifications and authorized the publication of notice inviting bids for the Sawtelle Sidewalk Improvement Project. The project will focus on Sawtelle Boulevard improvements including replacing damaged and uplifted sidewalks. The total estimated project cost is $199,000.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Prohousing Designation Program. The Program offers recognition of a jurisdiction’s policies that support the state’s housing goals. The designation allows jurisdictions to apply for certain grant funds to increase the availability of housing and to end homelessness, and to receive priority processing or additional points for other grants, such as programs for sustainability, infrastructure, and transportation.
• Awarded a contract of $468,000 to West Valley Investment Group, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the Transfer Station West Push Wall Project. City Council also authorized the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve change orders in an amount not-to-exceed $70,000. Learn more about the project on the City’s website.
• Approved the final plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for construction of the Robertson Boulevard Complete Street Project. The construction is tentatively scheduled to start in Summer 2025 and cost an estimated $1.1 million. The Project scope incudes:
  • Separated bikeway along Robertson Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Washington Boulevard.
  • Bus only lanes along Robertson Boulevard.
  • Establishment of bus boarding islands.
  • Pedestrian improvements including lighting, sidewalks, crosswalks, ADA compliant curb ramps, canopy trees, and street furniture.
• Authorized acceptance of grant funds from the Open Streets Grant Program Cycle 5, in the amount of $500,000 for the CicLAvia Culver City Meets Venice event Program and approved a related budget amendment to appropriate the grant funds. The CicLAvia Culver City Meets Venice event will take place on Sunday, August 17, 2025, along a 6.75-mile route that will begin in the Culver City Arts District and connect western portions of the City of Los Angeles to the beach.
• Approved a Residential Permit Parking Request for the 11100 block of Franklin Avenue, 11100 block of Farragut Drive, 4500 block of Star Circle, 4500 block of Commonwealth Circle; and the west side of Harter Avenue between Braddock Drive to the Culver City limit.
• Adopted a resolution approving the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Adopted a resolution approving the Successor Agency Administrative Budget from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Authorized the Executive Director to make such payments on behalf of the Successor Agency.
• Approve an agreement with Merrimac Energy Group for the provision of bulk unleaded and diesel fuel for City vehicles in an amount not-to-exceed $2,935,000 for the period ending January 31, 2029.
• Authorized the submission of a competitive grant application to the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program for a City-Wide Mobility Hub Guideline and implementation Plan with an 11.47% local match commitment in the amount of $46,000. Approved a letter in support of the application for the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to be signed by the Mayor. If awarded, the grant would enable staff to develop an implementation playbook of standardized design and amenity approaches for existing and new stations. These guidelines will allow the City to better gauge, plan for, and provide critical amenities for mobility hubs across the system. You can learn more about the specifics of the plan on the City’s website.
• Awarded a $10,000 Off-Cycle Special Events Grant and designate the Pan African Film + Arts Festival (PAFF) as a City-sponsored event. Every year, PAFF’s Film Festival showcases over 200 new high-quality Black films. The festival runs from February 4, 2025, to February 17, 2025, at The Culver Theater and Westfield Mall Culver City.
• Awarded a construction contract in the amount of $3,025,824.51 to Toro Enterprises, Inc. for the 2024/25 Pavement Rehabilitation Project. Thirteen streets, following an evaluation, were selected to be resurfaced with new asphalt. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2025 and will be substantially completed by Summer 2025. You can read which streets will be resurfaced on the City’s website.
• Approved the final plans and specifications and authorized the publication of a Notice Inviting Bids for the Fire Station #1 HVAC Replacement Project.
• Adopted a resolution adopting City Council Policy Statement No. 3004 regarding public meeting teleconference attendance options and guidelines for members of legislative bodies.
• Adopted a resolution approving salary schedules for the Culver City Fire Management Group (FMG) and the Culver City Firefighter’s Association (FFA), City Manager, City Attorney, and City Council Members, as well as the a resolution approving the salary schedule for non-benefited employees.
• Introduced ordinance to dissolve the Committee on Permits and Licenses (COPL). The bulk of historical COPL activities has been to review special event permits with some business license evaluation, of which both are supported by modern and effective administrative processes that compliment and achieve the legislative intent.

Additional information about each of the topics heard at the City Council meeting can be found in the staff reports and backup attachments for the items, which are posted along with the agenda to the City’s website. The video of the City Council meeting is available on the City’s website for viewing.

The City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27^th. Please note that the next two City Council meetings will take place at the Senior Center while improvements are made to the Mike Balkman Council Chambers.