City Council Meeting Summary, April 14, 2025

Published on April 17, 2025

National Arab American Heritage Month .jpg

City Council Declares Fiscal Emergency and Sets Sales Tax Ballot Measure for August, Future of Former Gun Store Property Discussed

City Council Declares Fiscal Emergency, Will Place Sales Tax Ballot Measure in August

The City Council unanimously voted to declare a fiscal emergency on Monday night. The resolution was in response to structural budget deficient that has widened since it was first identified in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget.

The Fiscal Year 2024/2025 General Fund projected city budget deficit is $35.5 million. The structural imbalance in the City’s General Fund is on an unsustainable trajectory and without action the City will exhaust nearly all reserves within the next 20 years.

In consideration of the fiscal emergency, the City Council placed a tax measure before Culver City voters at an all-mail election to be held on August 26, 2025.

The current sales tax rate in Culver City is 10.50% (which includes state and local sales taxes). The proposed 0.25% sales tax measure would increase the rate to 10.75%.

A ballot measure would need to be approved by greater than 50% of Culver City voters in order to pass. Should the voters approve a 0.25% sales tax ballot measure, an additional $5,600,000 in sales tax revenue is estimated to be generated annually.

You can read the full staff report on the fiscal emergency item on the City’s website.

Future of Former Gun Store Property Discussed

The City Council considered the public’s input on the future use of the City-owned property at 11029 Washington Boulevard. Between 1953 and 2023, the property was used as the Martin B. Retting gun shop. In September 2023, the City Council approved purchase of the property for $6.5 million. The property is a 0.2777-acre parcel containing a 4,660 square foot, one-story building with a former retail and office use built in 1953.The site is a corner lot with 20 parking spaces.

During the public input period, the public submitted 103 unique ideas for what the City should do with the property. Affordable housing, a community recreation center, commercial development, arts center, park or open space, and social services topped the list of ideas.

Members of the City Council directed staff issue a request for proposals from the City for a project that would include affordable housing, retail, and community space.

Motion to Establish a Pilot Tenant Right to Counsel Program Fails

The City Council did not pass an interim ordinance establishing a Tenant Right to Counsel pilot program for Culver City rental tenants with an income at or below 80% of the area median income. The program would have required additional funding of $1,070,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The City currently contracts with Bet Tzedek to provide free legal services to Culver City tenants. Bet Tzedek is a private, non-profit organization offering a variety of legal services in LA County-and specifically provides free legal services, including and up to full representation, to Culver City residents.

The motion, introduced by Council Member Bubba Fish, included adoption of the pilot program and to have staff return with data regarding both the right to counsel and the rental assistance needs for consideration. Fish and Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin voted in favor, Vice Mayor Freddy Puza abstained, and Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted no.

Following the vote, City Council directed staff to return with more information about other types of legal assistance and rental assistance programs that would be less expensive. Bet Tzedek provides weekly virtual clinics for Culver City tenants.  If you are a Culver City tenant in need of legal assistance related to your rental housing, email culvercityhousing@bettzedek.org or leave a voicemail at (323) 549-5891.

City Council Presents Four Proclamations

The City Council presented four proclamations including: April as Records and Information Management Month, April 22nd as Earth Day, April as Arab-Americans Month, and April 25th as Arbor Day in Culver City.

Records and Information Management Month 2025 - Records and information are vital assets of any organization and essential for accountability, transparency, good governance, and effective service delivery. Records and Information Management (RIM) Month, first recognized in 1995 as National Records and Information Management Day, is observed annually in April to recognize the critical role that records professionals play in maintaining and protecting information as well as the significance of efficiently organizing records. Records and information management professionals in Culver City, throughout each city department, contribute daily to the efficiency, organization, and integrity of city operations, helping to safeguard public trust and ensure compliance with laws and city procedures. The goals of Records and Information Management Month include raising awareness about the importance of promoting best practices in document handling and retention, proper information management, and celebrating the professionals who support the responsible stewardship of data and records. We encourage all residents, businesses, and city departments to recognize and support the importance of effective records and information management practices.

Earth Day 2025 - The global community faces challenges such as health issues, food and water shortages, pollution, and economic struggles. All people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a right to a healthy, sustainable environment with economic growth and opportunity. We are all caretakers of our planet and have an obligation to combat climate change and environmental degradation to preserve the earth’s beauty and resources. It is necessary to broaden and diversify this global movement to achieve maximum success. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Earth Day movement, and the City of Culver City encourages all businesses, institutions, and individuals to celebrate the Earth and commit to caring for the planet and its resources. The theme for 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet,” with a focus on renewable energy, and there are many ways to take action including special events, participating in “clean-ups,” or creating your own “Act of Green.” We encourage people in Culver City to combat climate change and environmental degradation, support green economy initiatives, and to encourage others to undertake similar actions.

National Arab American Heritage Month - For over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society: in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture. Since migrating to America, men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends, while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants. They brought with them to America their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed that have added strength to our great democracy. The history of Arab Americans in the U.S. remains neglected or defaced by misconceptions, bigotry, and anti-Arab hate in the forms of crimes and speech, which must be combatted through education and awareness. Arab Americans lend their rich heritage to enhance our community, playing a vital role and contributing to all aspects of life in Culver City. We all desire to see a peaceful and diverse society, where every individual is treated equally and feels safe. We celebrate the diaspora and honors the generations of residents and immigrants who have enriched our nation’s narrative.

Arbor Day 2025 - In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. This holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska and is now observed throughout the nation and the world. The City of Culver City has received Tree City USA recognition since 2017 from the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters, and is one of 3,600 recognized communities from all 50 states. Through its Urban Forest Master Plan, Culver City has expressed its commitment to fostering a robust and resilient urban forest today and in the future, so that our community will continue to enjoy the important environmental and social benefits. Trees moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil, and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, cut heating and cooling costs, and beautify our community. Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal and a hope for the future. The City Council of the City of Culver City proclaims Friday, April 25, 2025, as “Arbor Day” in Culver City.

Additional Council Decisions 

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

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, April 28th.

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