City Council Meeting Summary, October 27, 2025

Published on November 05, 2025

City Council Approves Civic Assembly Effort to Identify Opportunities for Public Involvement in Budget Process, Small Business Assistance Program, and Receives Updated on Homelessness Efforts

Moves Forward with Civic Assembly Efforts to Boost Public Participation in Budget Process

In an effort to increase public participation in the annual budget process, the City Council approved moving forward with a civic assembly initiative to recommend strategies to spur engagement.

The City Council also approved the Standing Governance Subcommittee’s suggested strategies to improve the budget process in the short-term, including: a CFO-hosted questions and answers session with the public about the facts presented in the Mid-Year Budget Report; a public forum with all City department heads to discuss their current work plans, and hear resident priorities prior to the March Work Plan Presentations; and a second CFO-hosted questions and answers session about the facts presented in the Proposed Budget in May.

A budget questionnaire will also be completed by all City departments, similar to the one used by the City of Nashville but tailored to Culver City. The questionnaire exercise will be for departments to fill out to standardize the way budget information is collected and presented to City Council and the public.

Staff will return to the City Council at its November 10^th meeting regarding the selection of a consultant to conduct a civic assembly.

Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, and Council Members Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Bubba Fish voted in favor. Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted against.

Approves Small Business Assistance Program

The City Council unanimously voted to approve two small business assistance pilot programs for $95,000.

The first initiative, a Small Business Technical Assistance and Grant Program in partnership with the SBDC, will offer a four-month cohort-based training and support program for up to 30 businesses per year. Participants will receive workshops on financial fitness, AI-driven marketing, supplier development, and preparation for major regional events such as the Olympics, along with up to four hours of one-on-one advising. Eligible businesses must be locally owned, for-profit, and operating for fewer than two years. Upon completion of the program, businesses will receive a small grant and recognition at a City-hosted celebration. Estimated annual costs include $15,000 for program management and up to $30,000 in grants.

The second program, a Permit Fee Reimbursement Program, will help reduce startup and expansion costs by reimbursing up to $5,000 in City permit fees for as many as 10 brick-and-mortar or independent small businesses. Actual program cost will depend on the number of participants.

The Small Business Technical Assistance and Grant Program will require $45,000 per year and the Permit Fee Reimbursement Program will require $50,000 (for 10 businesses with a grant of up to $5,000 each). Funding will come from the City’s General Fund.

Agrees to Development Agreement Amendments for Mixed-Use Project Next to Kirk Douglas Theatre

The City Council unanimously voted in favor of a request for an amendment to the Disposition and Development Agreement with Rethink, LLC, related to the construction of a mixed-use project at 9814 Washington Boulevard, next to the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The changes to the agreement include:

Remove Requirement for Arts Related Space - The ground floor commercial space had been originally envisioned for potential use by Center Theatre Group (CTG), which has since declined to use the space. Rethink may now lease the space at market rate to any use permitted under the Zoning Code. As part of related coordination between the City, Rethink, and CTG, the City also provided conceptual approval to relocate the existing HVAC system to a portion of City sidewalk adjacent to the theater, with a future easement to be granted by the City Manager.
The Council tentatively approved extending the existing outdoor dining area along Culver Boulevard to allow it to continue behind the Kirk Douglas Theatre pursuant to provision of detailed plans and coordination with CTG. This expansion is intended to support project tenants and create a more competitive and welcoming environment. Tenants will be required to comply with existing outdoor dining standards, and access for shopwork, loading, and trash enclosures will be maintained.
The Council also approved a modification to the affordable housing unit mix. Rethink will continue to provide six affordable units, but the mix will shift from five studios and one one-bedroom unit to six studios. The units, approximately 390 square feet each, will remain designated as two Very Low-Income and four Moderate-Income units and will be furnished with essential appliances, including a combination washer-dryer.

Lastly, the Council authorized reserving construction parking for up to 30 vehicles per day in the Watseka and Cardiff parking structures for the estimated 17-month construction period. Rethink will pay the applicable market-rate lease, with projected revenue of approximately $61,000 based on current rates.

Receives Update on Homelessness Emergency

The City Council listened to an update from Dr. Dan Richardson, Culver City's Human Services and Crisis Intervention Division Manager and leader of the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT). In his presentation, Richardson said MCT is working to expand its hours of operation to seven days a week, from 9 AM to 9 PM in 2026 by adding personnel.

For the last 15 months, the MCT has responded to 1,364 crisis line/homeless outreach requests and engaged 840 people. The Culver City Police Department have requested assistance 56 times, and the Culver City Fire Department have requested assistance 24 times.

As of October 2025, Project Homekey’s permanent supportive housing side is serving 36 people, while the interim portion of PHK serves 33 people. Currently the Motel Master Lease Program is helping a total of 39 people. The Wellness Village Program is providing shelter for 16 people.

Staff will return with more data at the City Council meeting on November 10^th.

Additional Council Decisions

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

Approved cash disbursements from October 4, 2025 to October 17, 2025.
Approved minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on October 13, 2025.
Approved a five-year general services agreement with Multi W Systems, Inc. as the primary company selected to perform emergency repairs to the City's wastewater pumping equipment in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000 annually for an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $500,000 over the five-year term of the agreement. Also approved a five-year general services agreement with Powers Brothers Machines, Inc. as the secondary company selected to perform emergency repairs to the City's wastewater pumping equipment in an amount not -to-exceed $55,000 annually for an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $275,000 over the five-year term of the agreement.
Approved the final plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the Overland Ave High Friction Surface Treatment Project.
Received and filed Measure CC and Measure C Sales Tax Status Reports (FY 2024-2025, Third Quarter) and Real Property Transfer Tax Status Report (FY 2024-2025, Fourth Quarter), as approved by the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) on September 10, 2025.
Approved a general services agreement with Trueline Construction & Surfacing, Inc. in the amount of $264,617 for the resurfacing of courts at multiple park locations. This project initially listed the following courts for resurfacing to provide safe, and playable surfaces.
- Culver West Alexander Park: 1 tennis court, 2 paddle tennis courts, 3 hand ball courts
- Culver City Park: 1 basketball court
- Fox Hills Park: 1.5 basketball courts, 3 tennis courts, 4 paddle tennis courts
- Lindberg Park: 1 tennis court
- Syd Kronenthal Park: 1 basketball court, 1 tennis court, 2 paddle tennis courts
- Veterans Memorial Park: 2 tennis courts, 3 paddle tennis courts
Approved a general services agreement with RDM Electric Co., Inc. in the amount of $871,700 for a comprehensive high-mast lighting retrofit at multiple park locations and authorized the City Manager to approve amendment(s) to the agreement in an additional amount not-to-exceed $174,340 for unexpected costs, for a total amount not-to-exceed $1,046,040.
Approved an amendment to an existing general services agreement with Creative Zen, Inc. for maintenance of the City’s Japanese Garden in an additional amount of $33,050 for a total not-to-exceed $82,050 through June 30, 2026.
Adopted a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to submit claims to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Transportation Development Act, State of California State of Good Repair and State Transit Assistance funds for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
Approved the guiding principles for the Sepulveda Connects Project. Also authorized acceptance of grant funds from the Metro Measure M Subregional Equity Program in the amount of $960,654 and approved a related budget amendment to appropriate the grant funds to CIP PS017 (Tactical Mobility Lane).
Authorized the acceptance of a grant funding award in the amount of $257,108 from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency through the Westside Cities Council of Governments under the Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention Program. Also approved the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee recommendations on the uses of the grant award and approved a related budget amendment to appropriate the grant funds.
Adopted a Resolution adopting Council Policy 3406 (Donor/Contributor Naming and Sponsorships of City Facilities); adopted a Resolution combining Council Policies 4003 and 4006 into an updated Council Policy 4006 (Code of Ethics; Acceptance of Gifts and Gratuities) and rescinding Council Policy 4003; adopted a Resolution amending Council Policy 1001 (Adoption of Council Policy Statements); and adopted a Resolution rescinding redundant and outdated or obsolete Council Policies 3203 (Relationship Between Council Members and Employees), 3205 (Administrative Resolutions of MOU Interpretation Problems), 4401 (Service Awards), and 4701 (Intergovernmental Liaison). More details of each updated City Council policy can be reviewed on the City’s website.
Adopted a resolution approving participation in Year 4 and Year 5 of the Local Housing Allocation Program through the Los Angeles County Development Authority. Also authorized the continued use of this funding to provide rental assistance for participants transitioning from the City’s homeless interim housing programs; approved of a related budget amendment appropriating the Year 4 funds.
Adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 9.01, Animals and Fowl, of the Culver City Municipal Code to add a new subchapter prohibiting the sale and use of glue traps citywide.
Authorized the acceptance of New Framework to End Homelessness Measure H Grant Funds in the amount of $1,220,560 from the County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office-Homeless Initiative.
Ratified the purchase of the recommended Fiscal Year 2025-2026 insurance policy renewals for Project Homekey and Wellness Village with an aggregate premium amount of approximately $297,952, as presented by the City’s insurance broker Alliant Insurance Services Inc.
Approved an amendment to the City’s Homekey Standard Agreement with the California Department of Housing and Community Development to include the return of $338,320 in grant funds to HCD.
Adopted a resolution confirming the Downtown Culver City Business Improvement District Advisory Board’s 2026 Annual Work Plan and Levy of Assessments; and appointed members to the DCCBID’s 2026 Advisory Board.
Adopted the proposed resolution confirming the Culver City Arts District Business Improvement District 2026 Work Plan and the levy of assessments; and appointed members to the BID Advisory Board for Calendar Year 2026.
Conducted a public hearing pursuant to the requirements of Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and adopted a resolution to approve the issuance of revenue bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority to assist in the financing or refinancing of the 4464 Sepulveda Blvd., known as Jubilo Village, in Culver City. The City is not issuing the bonds and this will not cost the City any money. The City approved the deposit of approximately $19,183.40 in issuance fees to the General Fund.

Additional Information

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 next regular meeting of the City Council will be on Monday, November 10^th. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.