City Council Meeting Summary, November 10, 2025

Published on November 20, 2025

Approves Changes to Incentivize Film Production in Culver City

The City Council unanimously approved several changes to help incentivize film production in Culver City including temporary financial incentives on film permit fees, as well as extending the suspension of business tax collection of itinerant motion picture and television producers for an additional 10 years.

At its meeting on Monday, November 10^th, the City Council approved the following actions:

Temporary incentives for film permit fees to attract production activity in Culver City.
A $500,000 cap on total incentives for a 12-month period to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Free production parking, as available, at Veterans Memorial Park, the Culver City Senior Center, and Downtown parking structures.
Development of a film location familiarization tour in partnership with FilmLA to highlight iconic Culver City filming locations and assets.
Creation of a film-specific business directory to connect productions with local vendors and service providers.
Launch of a public awareness campaign showcasing Culver City’s film-friendly incentives and programs.
Adoption of a resolution extending the suspension of business tax collection for itinerant motion picture and television producers for an additional 10 years.
Direction to the City Manager to implement supportive program elements and report results following the pilot period.

There were 126 FilmLA permits issued in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 resulting in $174,800 in collected revenues. There were 108 FilmLA permits issued in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 resulting in $147,900 in collected revenues.

These changes will take effect December 1, 2025. Visit our Filming in Culver City webpage to learn more about these efforts.

Updates Rent & Tenant Protections Ordinances

The City Council introduced an ordinance approving a series of cleanup amendments to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Tenant Protections Ordinance (TPO) to improve clarity, consistency, and alignment with State law. These revisions do not change policy direction but streamline language, update department names, and reorganize sections for ease of use.

Rent Stabilization Ordinance

Renames “Rent Control Ordinance” to “Rent Stabilization Ordinance.”
Updates all references to the new Housing Services Division and Housing and Human Services Department.
Clarifies the City’s authority to extend tenant protections beyond State law.
Refines definitions to ensure housing service restrictions apply across all service arrangements.
Adds and updates sections on applicability, exemptions, and landlord registration requirements.
Reorganizes procedural requirements for rent adjustments, capital improvement pass-throughs, and tenant petitions.
Moves Rent Registry requirements to the Tenant Protections Ordinance.
Authorizes hearing officers to set hearing dates.
Clarifies that allowed rent increases will be announced on a yearly basis, starting July 2026.

Tenant Protections Ordinance

Updates department names and clarifies authority to extend tenant protections beyond State law.
Adds and refines definitions, including “Rental Complex.”
Reaffirms that eviction protections apply after 12 months of tenancy and clarifies associated notice requirements.
Removes outdated provisions from the 2020 adoption period.
Strengthens landlord occupancy rules and limits eligibility to specified natural persons.
Clarifies minimum buyout amounts, and documentation provided to tenants.
Removes expired rent registration certificate provisions.

There will be more adjustments at a future meeting. Mayor Dan O’Brien, Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, and Council Members Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Bubba Fish voted in favor. Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. abstained from the vote.

Culver City Police Department Presents Annual Report on Military Equipment Use, City Council Votes to Remove Armored Vehicles from Community Events

The Culver City Police Department presented AB 481 Military Equipment Annual Report which details the inventory, procurement, use and misuse of military equipment items. None of the equipment in CCPD’s inventory has been obtained by the military nor is it solely designed for military use. Over the last year, an internal review revealed no violations of CCPD personnel unlawfully deploying or discharging military equipment.

The City Council directed CCPD to remove armored rescue vehicles from community events. Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Bubba Fish voted in favor. Mayor O’Brien and Council Member Vera, Jr. voted against.

Creates Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Civic Assembly Proposals

At its October 27^th meeting, the City Council voted to conduct a civic assembly to examine how to increase public participation in the budget process with budget cap of $250,000 including the City’s costs and solicit additional proposals for this work. At its meeting on Monday, the City Council approved creating an ad hoc subcommittee to evaluate proposals from several organizations that have experience in conducting civic assemblies or similar deliberative processes with demographically representative groups. It will make a recommendation to the City Council for its special meeting set for Monday, December 1^st.

Following the selection of the organization, staff will return to Council to discuss and approve the demographic criteria for the civic assembly participants and other aspects of the assembly scope. Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members McMorrin and Fish voted in favor. Mayor O'Brien voted against. Council Member Vera, Jr. was absent from the vote.

Approves Pilot Program of Robotic Delivery Devices

The City Council approved a pilot program for robotic delivery devices. Staff was directed to draft an ordinance and regulations permitting operations and review with the Mobility Subcommittee before returning to Council.

Both Coco Delivery and Serve Robotics are requesting to deploy in Culver City, at the earliest opportunity, particularly in the commercial corridors, such as Washington/Sepulveda and Culver/Washington, as well as into the adjacent neighborhoods. If an ordinance is ultimately adopted, it could potentially go into effect and companies could begin permitting and then begin operations as early as late spring 2026.

Mayor O’Brien, Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members McMorrin and Fish voted in favor. Council Member Vera, Jr. was absent from the vote.

Presentations to the City Council

The City Council received three presentations on Monday, including the recognition of the Culver City Fire Department’s 2025 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.

This national honor highlights the department’s exceptional commitment to providing evidence-based, life-saving care for patients suffering from heart attacks (STEMI) and strokes. The Gold Award signifies that CCFD consistently meets the highest national standards for emergency cardiac and stroke care — from the moment 911 is called, through on-scene treatment, transport, and coordination with receiving hospitals.

The Culver City Sister City Committee members also shared highlights from the recent delegation visit to Sister City Kaizuka, Japan. The Committee shared news of a new water wheel replacement for the Friendship Garden located at the Julian Dixon Library, which is expected to be shipped from Japan to Culver City in the coming months.

In the final presentation, Culver City staff announced the launch of a new Homeless Reporting Dashboard, a webpage dedicated to data metrics on homeless services. The joint initiative improves how service providers and programs are collected, reported, and shared to the public, giving the community a clear view of housing and homelessness programs. After 31 years of government services, including 24 in Culver City, Housing and Human Services Director Tevis Barnes also announced her retirement at the end of the year. Planning and Development Director Mark Muenzer will oversee HHS until a new director is hired.

Proclamations & Commendations

The City Council presented five proclamations and one commendation including:

Proclamation Declaring the Month of November 2025 as Movember, in Culver City.
Proclamation in Recognition of Veterans Day on November 11, 2025.
Proclamation in Recognition of World Kindness Day on November 13, 2025.
Proclamation in Recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, 2025.
Proclamation Designating November 29, 2025 as Small Business Saturday 2025.
Commendation celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Culver City High School.

Additional Council Decisions

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

Approved cash disbursements from October 18, 2025 to October 31, 2025.
Approved minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on October 27, 2025.
Adopted a resolution that urges the United States of America to support a Plant Based Treaty and authorized City staff to provide educational outreach about the benefits of plant based diets, as well as authorized City staff to include language on special event permits.
Adopted an ordinance that repeals and replaces specific subchapters and chapters of the Culver City Municipal Code to incorporate local amendments into the 2025 California Building Standards Code. Key amendments include enhancements to seismic performance, water conservation, single exit stairways, and hazard mitigation. These are reasonably necessary due to local climatic, environmental, geological, or topographical conditions. Additionally, administrative revisions include updated code sections, edition changes, and the removal of the shipping container amendment, which has been incorporated into the code.
Approved an agreement with GameTime for the playground equipment and installation at Culver West Alexander Park in an amount not to exceed $759,352.95, in accordance with the grant designating Culver West Alexander Park as a National Demonstration Site.
Approved Amendment No. 3 to an existing general services agreement with Technology Artists for sound and lighting services for various City events to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $84,880 for an aggregate not-to-exceed annual amount of $127,453 for the first year of the amendment with the options for two one-year extensions with a 4% increase, and a change in the scope of service to include events hosted by any City Department.
Approved a professional services agreement with Kosmont Companies to prepare an Economic Study of Hospitality Land Uses in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Approved a five-year general services agreement with Clean Energy for the maintenance and repair of the compressed natural gas Refueling Station in an amount not-to-exceed $1,301,592.
Approved a general services agreement with E.J. Ward, Inc. for the replacement of 10 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the City’s Transportation Facility in an amount not-to-exceed $70,000.
Approved allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 application for funding from the CDBG program.
Adopted a resolution setting the regular meetings of the City Council for the calendar year 2026.
Adopt an ordinance amending and restating Sections 9.02.0059.02.060 and adding Section 9.02.065 (“California Fire Code Adoption and Amendments”) of Chapter 9.02 of Title 9 of the Culver City Municipal Code.
Adopted a Resolution accepting $2,375 in 2024 State Homeland Security Program Grant funds for overtime and backfill for Culver City Fire Department personnel to attend Unified Response to Violent Incidents training, and providing Proof of Authority of the governing body as required by the California Office of Emergency Services; and approved a budget amendment to record the revenue of $2,375 and appropriation of $2,375 in expenditures in Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for the SHSP grant program.
Approved an application for grant funds in the amount of $13,649.62 through the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership.
Ratified an amendment to the general services agreement with Crosstown Electric for electrical service installation at Virginia Avenue for Wellness Village site in the amount of $124,200.43 with a contingency of $25,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $149,200.43.
Approved the maximum number of special events allowable in a calendar year pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 17.520.015.B for The Culver Steps, Town Plaza and the Ivy Station properties; designated events occurring at the Culver Steps and Town Plaza as City-Sponsored Events; and authorized the City Manager to approve applicable City permits and licenses needed to conduct events.

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 City Council will meet for a special session on Monday, December 1^st. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.