Published on April 17, 2025
Culver City's monthly newsletter provides a recap of the last month and shares opportunities to get engaged.
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.
Culver City marked a significant milestone for emergency preparedness as public safety leaders proudly announced the implementation of the Hi-Lo Audible Warning System (Hi-Lo). This effort emphasizes the importance of a unified approach to emergency evacuations, ensuring our communities receive timely notifications when they need it most.
The Hi-Lo is designed to cut through the noise of daily life, grabbing the attention of residents with its distinct and easily recognizable audible warning. The sound consists of a high-pitched tone followed by a low-pitched tone, which will be activated by patrol vehicles when navigating impacted evacuation areas. When you hear Hi-Lo, it signifies immediate action is required — it is time to go. This system will be exclusively employed for evacuation purposes during critical emergencies, such as wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and other urgent situations.
Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Hi-Lo Audible Warning System by visiting culvercitypd.org and to create and continually update their household and workplace emergency plans. It is especially important to ensure that loved ones with disabilities or mobility challenges are enrolled inCulver City Community Connect. To stay informed, you can also sign up for emergency alerts by texting “CCPD” to 888-777.
Remember, when you hear the Hi-Lo, it is time to go. Together, let’s ensure that Culver City remains a safe and resilient community for everyone.Watch the video explaining the Hi-Lo System on YouTube.
Join us in celebrating mental health with local partners and providers and explore the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and art. These booths will offer resources and insights to enhance our community's mental health and well-being. Activities will include sound baths, mindfulness, meditation, and art.
This event is free and open event to the public. We encourage you to take time in the middle of your week to prioritize your mental health, enjoy a break, and learn about the resources available in our community.
Let's come together to celebrate a community that values mental health and provides support when it's needed most. Your presence at this event is a step towards building a healthier, happier Culver City.
Culver CityBus is launching automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement, known as the ABLE Program, systemwide to reduce parking violations obstructing public transit and improve safety, accessibility, and public transit reliability for riders. This program utilizes camera systems installed on Culver City transit buses to detect and enforce instances of vehicles illegally parked in bus stops and bike lanes, which impacts safety and accessible transit service.
Drivers illegally parked along the MOVE corridor mobility lanes and at bus stops throughout Culver City will receive warning notices in the mail.Citations will be issued starting May 19th, at which time, violations captured through ABLE technology will be subject to a $293 fine. These are existing violations and fines that are currently only administered when an enforcement officer witnesses the violation. The use of ABLE technology will provide a more robust opportunity to deter these violations.
All evidence packages of parking violations detected by the automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement camera systems will be reviewed manually by Culver City. Low income payment plans will be available, in compliance with California state law.More information about the low income payment plan, and about the program as a whole, is available on the Culver CityBus website
The Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department is changing fees in a more equitable way for activities and services.
On Thursday, April 17th, the public is invited to listen to the presentation that will highlight how PRCS will subsidize services and where cost recovery will occur. The PRCS Commission will meet at 7 PM in the Mike Balkman Council Chambers located on the 1st Floor of City Hall.You can review the PRCS meeting agenda on the City's website.
The review is part of a citywide effort to identify costs recovery goals and determine new ways to shift its subsidies to cost recoveries.
Thursday's presentation will be the second in several with a planned community meeting set for May 1st at the Senior Center. Stay tuned for more details on the open house as we work to provide the best services for our community members.
Elenda Street will be closed to cars for a car-free school commute in celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22nd.
For one morning, CCUSD students in the area will be able to experience a car free route to school. Students will be able to walk, bike, skate, scoot or use transit without cars.
Culver City High School, Culver City Middle School and Farragut Elementary will be hosting Earth Day celebrations to promote climate-conscious decisions. Culver CityBus, Culver City PD and Culver City’s Sustainability Team will be distributing educational information in front of the high school as part of the celebration. Students will be encouraged to register beforehand and pledge to use alternative transportation that day.
The open streets event is part of the City-wide Culver City Safe Routes to School program that encourages families to rethink their commutes to school in an effort to reduce traffic and create safer, cleaner school communities. The event is supported by Culver City Police Department and Culver CityBus.
The first of its kind, two-hour, open streets event will allow for kids to have one day with a car free route to school along CCUSD’s busiest school commute corridor.
The street will be closed to car traffic starting at 6 AM and reopened at 9:30 AM. Parents that need to drive are encouraged to use side streets as alternatives, drop their kids off a few blocks from the school or use transit and avoid driving in this area altogether. Residents who will need to use their cars that morning are encouraged to park outside the event zone the night before.For more information on the Earth Day event, visit the Culver City Walk and Rollers event page.
Want to wait out that rush hour, post-work day traffic? Skip the gridlock and vibe with us! ✨✨
Unwind after work with live beats, refreshing alcohol-free drinks and golden hour fun at "Vibes After Five" in the Fox Hills neighborhood.
Be part of the vibe! Tag @ Culver City & use #VibesAfterFive for a chance to be featured.
Want to learn more about how Culver City is working to build a more equitable and inclusive experience for our community? Want to know how you can help the City move onward? Attend one of our Racial Equity Action Plan information sessions listed below to find out!
As the City works to embed equity into its framework, we want to hear your experiences as a resident of Culver City. By sharing your stories, both past and present, along with a close look at our policies and decision-making processes, we aim to create a Culver City Community free from inequitable practices, and/or barriers to programs and/or processes.Find out More about the Racial Equity Action Plan on the City's website.
The County of Los Angeles (LA County) invites the public to provide input on environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the EIR. LA County will conduct a virtual public scoping meeting for the purpose of soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties. The public comment period began on March 27, 2025 and ends on April 26, 2025, by which time written comments should be emailed toKen Warner at LA County DRP at ordinance@planning.lacounty.gov.
The Ordinance project and anticipated environmental issues are more fully descripted in the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Initial Study (IS), which are available for review.For more information, pleasevisitLA County Department of Regional Planning. ViewCity of Culver City information on the Inglewood Oil Field project.
Join the Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Division of Public Works in celebrating Arbor Day, Earth Day, and International Composting Week with Enviro-fest! Please join us at the Wende Museum and take part in the following activities!
EPO will be co-hosting an e-waste collection and paper-shredding event with Homeboy Industries. Dispose of your old electronics in a socially and ecologically responsible way. Drive up, drop off and drive away. Staff can assist to remove from car. Allelectronics will be accepted except: refrigerators, alkaline batteries, thermostats, light bulbs and air conditioners.
EPO will also be giving away compost, fruit trees, vegetable plants and kitchen pails while supplies last.This is a self-haul event so bring a shovel - residents are responsible for shoveling and bagging their own compost in garbage bags, yard waste bags, reusable containers, pick-up bed, or trailer.
Come meet the City and our sustainable partner organizations:
Learn more about Enviro-Fest 2025 on the City's event page.
Now is your chance to get involved with the City of Culver City and make your voice heard. The City Clerk’s Office is currently accepting applications to fill upcoming vacancies for Culver City Commissions, Boards, and Committees (CBC).
Application deadline is Monday, May 12, 2025.There are 27 openings available.You can find the list of CBC openings on the City's website.Applications will be accepted online, by mail, or electronically via email tocity.clerk@culvercity.org.
Important dates to note if you apply:
The 21st AnnualCulver City Car Show, hosted by the Culver City Exchange Club and sponsored by the City of Culver City, is coming to the streets of Downtown Culver City on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The free event will feature live entertainment. More than 600 cars are expected to be on display.
Convenient parkingis available in the Watseka, Cardiff and Ince Parking Structures located in Downtown Culver City. Please do not park in residential areas. Plan ahead and consider taking the bus or using other mobility options to attend the event, including the City’s Circulator that connects to the Culver City Expo Station! Call 310-253-6500 or visit theCulver CityBus websiteto map your trip. The City’sNext CCBus Appprovides real time bus locations, trip planning and bus occupancy levels.
The recent updates toFire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)in California provide a more precise assessment of wildfire risks using modern climate data and advanced fire modeling. These updates impact theLocal Responsibility Areas, influencing fire prevention measures, including defensible space, building codes, and real estate disclosure requirements.
In March, the Office of the State Fire Marshal issued the 2025 Recommended Local Responsibility Area FHSZ maps for Los Angeles County.Learn more about the Fire Hazard Severity Zone updates and how you can provide feedback by visiting the Culver City Fire Department website.
The City of Culver City released the latest numbers in the Residential Pipeline and Commercial Pipeline Development Reports. These online reports, which are updated monthly, provides residents and stakeholders with an up-to-date, transparent view of housing and commercial projects currently under development review. It also details key information on each project, including its type, status, and the number of units, with a breakdown of affordable versus market-rate housing units.
The latest numbers show the pipeline includes 36 active residential projects across the City, totaling 4,280 units, of which 614 are designated as affordable housing. This month's report showed a 14 unit increase since the last update.You can view the complete residential report on the City's website.
The latest figures in the report will continue to be updated for download and review on the Planning Department webpage.
Join Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) for its first Teen Mental Health Expo on Saturday, May 17th, from 8 AM to 3 PM at Veterans Memorial Building. This expo was created to offer teens an opportunity to socialize within their community and to provide supportive information to use as they navigate their daily lives.
At this event, Teen participants ages 12 - 17 are welcome to learn from various local organizations and PRCS staff about the importance of prioritizing one’s mental health through educational sessions for life-long learning, community conversations, and creative activities. Our sessions will cover information focused on emotional awareness, managing stress, utilizing positive outlets for self-expression and safety.
Breakfast will be provided by PRCS at the start of our event and snacks will be available throughout the day for teens. Lunch will be provided by LACDMH. If interested in attending, please register online and note your lunch preference. This event has a fee of $15.Registration for our Teen Mental Health Expo is open now.
For more information, please contact Recreation & Community Services Coordinator, Melanie Morales by email atMelanie.Morales@culvercity.orgor by calling (310)253-6677.
The Culver City Parks, Recreation & Community Services (PRCS) Department is excited for this year’s Fiesta La Ballona taking place the weekend of August 22 through the 24th.
The application for potential live performers is now open!The deadline to submit your application is Friday, April 18th, at 5 PM. Please be sure to allow yourself time to complete the application fully.
The applications will be reviewed by a panel and the artists selected will be notified on or before Friday, June 6th.
Applicants, please do not follow-up on the status of your application until after that date and be aware that submission of an application does not guarantee selection or a right to perform.
Fiesta La Ballona 2025 will be hosted at Veterans Memorial Park at 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, 90230. Community members look forward to the popular carnival rides and games, live music and dance performances, a diverse variety of food vendors, a beer & wine garden, craft and retail shopping areas—plus local community and non-profit booths.
For questions about Fiesta la Ballona visit the Fiesta website.
The City of Culver City is now accepting applications for a local non-profit to become the Beer and Wine Garden Operator at its annual Fiesta La Ballona event for the next 4 years, beginning with the weekend of August 22-24, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Park. If chosen, the operator is committing to follow all rules and regulations as outlined in the application. Culver City's Fiesta La Ballona offers carnival rides and games, live performances, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, a food court and various booths spotlighting artisan wares and local organizations.
Submit your application no later than Thursday May 8, 2025 at 5 PM. Visit the Fiesta La Ballona website for more information on operating the Beer and Wine and to access the online application.
In March, the City of Culver City held a Community Budget Information Session in the Mike Balkman Council Chambers at City Hall.
The annual process of creating the city budget ensures that public resources are put to the best use to meet the collective needs of our community. This meeting provided insight to how the City budget works.
The presentation was presented by Culver City's Chief Financial Officer Lisa Soghor. You can watch the hour-long presentation on the City's budget on our YouTube page.
The City of Culver City is working to upgrade the elevators at Watseka, Ince, and Cardiff Parking Garages. While the elevator will be out of service, the parking garages will remain open.These upgrades will be done separately. Please see the dates below to adjust your parking and mobility needs accordingly.
Public parking is also available at City Hall during regular business hours located at 9770 Culver Boulevard. The first one hour is free and each additional 30 minutes is $1.00 with a $12 maximum per day. Visa, Master, Amex, Discover, Cash, and Tap (Google & Apple Pay) are acceptable payment options.
Parking is available from 8 AM to 2 AM Mondays through Thursdays, 8 AM to 3 AM Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 AM to 1 AM.
Public parking is also available at City Hall during regular business hours located at 9770 Culver Boulevard. Have questions? Contact us at(310) 253-5767.
Childcare is now available for people attending City Council meetings. This is to encourage in-person public participation. The service will continue through July 14, 2025. The City also offers virtual options for the community to participate in City Council meetings. The next meeting is Monday, April 28th.
Children from 5 to 15-years-old are eligible. You must register your child for each meeting you wish to attend at least24hours prior to the meeting. Two trained Parks, Recreations and Community Services staff members will be on hand to conduct thechildcarein the City Hall Patacchia Room, located on the first floor next to Council Chambers.
Learn more and enroll at the PRCS sign-up page.