City Council Meeting Summary, July 14, 2025

Published on July 21, 2025

City Council Approves Agreement with Digital Kiosks Provider, Considers Culver City Unified School District’s Request for Funding, Updates Sign Ordinance

Agreement Approved with Digital Kiosk Program Provider

The City Council approved an interactive digital kiosk program along sidewalks and public right of way that will provide information on meetings, events, transportation services, local business directories, tourism, wayfinding and emergency updates among other things. The program will also include commercial advertising with revenues shared between Ike Smart City and the City. The Phase I deployment of 15 kiosks will be for a 20-year period with the option to add an additional 15 kiosks, for an additional term, if the City Council desires.

The City will receive a $500,000 installment bonus once the first kiosk is operational and an annual minimum guarantee of $50,000 per each operational kiosk. The program will also feature a local business advertising program that will provide up to $500,000 annually of advertising space to eligible businesses. The vote included regulations and requirements that will be added to the agreement such as dimming capabilities, advertising exemption for sponsored Metro Bike Share, disabled cameras and WIFI services, and prohibiting advertising of cannabis, online gambling, or alcohol. The City Council will also have a discussion in the future about earmarking a portion of the revenue generated from the kiosks once an affordable housing fund is established.

Ike will provide regular maintenance to ensure the units remain in “good and operable” condition with reasonable wear and tear five days a week and will also respond within 24 hours to any notice regarding damage or disfunction. A community meeting to discuss the kiosk placement will be held at a later date.

Mayor Dan O’Brien, Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, and Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted in favor of the motion. Council Member Bubba Fish voted no, stating his dissent was due to a lack of options considered, in hopes that the City could solicit proposals for smaller formats such as bus shelter ads before moving forward. Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin was absent from the meeting.

Considers Culver City Unified School District’s Request for Funding

The City Council discussed the Culver City Unified School District’s (CCUSD) request for City funding to help fill its budget shortfall. CCUSD presented two potential City funding scenarios, either $7.5 million or $2.5 million, that begin this fiscal year and are both for three years. CCUSD described the impact of the City’s funding as giving it time to implement creative revenue generating solutions while maintaining a positive budget certification from the State, continuing benefits for employees, and retaining priority interventions. Currently, the City provides CCUSD services and programs worth over $1 million annually.

City Council did not make a decision on the issue but directed staff to return with a list of $2.5 million in city capital improvement projects that could be cut in order to provide CCUSD with funding, as well as to examine how providing the funding would affect reserves, in order to make a decision at a future meeting.

Introduces Ordinance to Update Culver City’s Sign Code

The City Council approved introducing an ordinance that replaces the current Sign Ordinance in its entirety. The Sign Ordinance was last updated in 2005. Since that time, new case law has clarified how sign code regulations must be written to be “content neutral.” The Sign Code update incorporates the latest sign terms/definitions and best practices for sign regulations, as well as simplifies and clarifies provisions by re-organizing, reformatting, and adding graphics to illustrate terms and standards. It establishes sign regulations that are content-neutral, clear, and flexible, and reflect best practices and evolving technologies, while maintaining a high-quality design aesthetic in the City.

You can read more about the changes to the Sign Code on the City’s website.

July Proclaimed as Parks Make Life Better! Month 2025

The City Council proclaimed July 2025 as Parks Make Life Better! Month. Parks and Recreation promotes physical, emotional, and mental health and wellness through organized and self-directed fitness, play, and activity. It supports the economic vitality of communities by partnering with local businesses and non-profits and offering events for resident’s engagement. It creates memorable experiences through youth sports and enrichment activities, teen centers and programs, senior activity centers, adult fitness, and enrichment programs, free community events and beyond. Parks and Recreation fosters social cohesiveness in communities by celebrating diversity, providing spaces to come together peacefully, modeling compassion, promoting social equity, connecting social networks, and ensuring all people have access to its benefits. It supports human development and endless learning opportunities that foster social, intellectual, physical, and emotional growth in people of all ages and abilities. Parks and Recreation strengthens community identity by providing facilities and services that reflect and celebrate community character, heritage, culture, history, aesthetics, and landscape. The City of Culver City recognize the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health, wellness, development, inspiration and safety of all residents.

Additional Council Decisions 

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

• Approved cash disbursements from June 14 to July 4, 2025.
• Approved minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on June 23, 2025, and the Special City Council Meeting held on June 30, 2025.
• Approved an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with AECOM, modifying the scope of services for the Hayden Tract Specific Plan (HTSP) for an additional amount not-to-exceed $100,000.
• Awarded a construction contract to GA Technical Services as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the amount of $111,896.27 for the East Washington Fiber Optic Upgrade Project. It also authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders to the contract in an amount not-to-exceed $16,784.44 to cover contingency costs (15%). Fiber optic cables will allow for remote monitoring and configuration of all traffic signal devices as well as access to traffic data. This project covers Washington Boulevard between National Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard, and National Boulevard between Washington Boulevard and Eastham Drive.
• Adopted an addendum to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project. Awarded a construction contract to Stacy & Witbeck, Inc., as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the amount of $14,459,640 for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project, and Median Improvements. Authorized to the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve an additive bid item to the contract in an amount not-to-exceed $2,332,000, subject to grant funding becoming available. Authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders to the contract in an amount not-to-exceed $2,518,746 to cover contingency costs. Approved an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Michael Baker International for Construction Management & Inspection Services in an amount not-to-exceed $400,000. Approved of a related budget amendment appropriating $2,000,000 from Clean Water/Clean Beach (Fund 434) Fund Balance to the Project. And approved a related budget amendment appropriating $2,490,000 Costco Wholesale Corporation Cost Share to the Project. Learn more about the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project on the City’s staff report.
• Approved a combined spending authority with Logicalis Inc and Golden Star Technology Inc for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in an amount not-to-exceed $250,000 for the purchase of replacement hardware and network infrastructure.
• Approved a professional services agreement with Fehr and Peers for the Tri-School Traffic Study Project for $248,000 with a 15% contingency of $37,200 for a total amount not-to-exceed $285,200. The Tri-School Area Traffic Study (Study) aims to assess current traffic patterns, safety concerns, pedestrian and cyclist activity, and school-related traffic impacts in the area around Farragut Elementary, Culver City Middle, and Culver City High Schools. Extensive community and public outreach will be integral to the process to ensure input from residents, school administrators, students, and other stakeholders is incorporated into the analysis and recommendations. The overall goal of the traffic study is to achieve community consensus on a set of traffic improvements for the neighborhood. The Study will incorporate various City policies, including the Complete Streets Policy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan, and Local Road Safety Plan.
• Adopt a resolution granting an alcohol use permit to the Culver City Exchange Club to conduct a Beer and Wine Garden in Veterans Memorial Park during the 2025 Fiesta La Ballona.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing staff to submit applications for a funding initiative through GameTime and establish Culver West Alexander Park as a National Demonstration Site that prioritizes inclusion, nature integration, and physical activity.
• Authorized the release of a request for proposals for the resurfacing of various courts at multiple parks.
• Adopted an ordinance adopting Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones by amending and restating in its entirety Section 9.02.400 of the Culver City Municipal Code regarding the designation of Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
• Approved the final plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the construction of Citywide Bioretention Basin Project.
• Approved a purchase order with Motorola for the purchase of replacement portable radios in an amount not-to-exceed $534,529.85, including all fees and taxes.
• Adopted a Resolution authorizing the sale of 20 surplus Motorola APX 1000 Two-Way Radios to the City of Glendora, California, at a price of $350 per radio, for a total sale amount of $7,000 and authorizing the future sale of additional surplus radios to the City of Glendora at the same or better price.

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 July 14th City Council meeting is available on the City’s website for viewing.

Next City Council Meeting

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be on Monday, August 11^th. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.