City Council Meeting Summary, August 11, 2025

Published on August 15, 2025

City Council Approves Funding for Culver City Unified School District, Creates Resolution Supporting Southern California Hospital Workers, Approves Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Event

City Council Approves $2.5 Million to Assist Culver City Unified School District

The City Council unanimously approved a one-time $2.5 million contribution to the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) on Monday. Funding will come from defunding some City capital improvement projects and modifying the source of funding for other City capital improvement projects.

Under funding conditions set by the City Council, CCUSD will:

Seek a parcel tax for the June 2026 ballot to raise ongoing funding needed to bridge CCUSD’s budget gap.
Explore potential housing on district property to meet Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals.
Approve a Culver City Finance Advisory Committee Member be a member to CCUSD’s Community Budget Advisory Committee.
Allow City staff to attend Los Angeles County Office of Education meetings with CCUSD.
Report on CCUSD finances to the CCUSD - City Council Liaison Subcommittee.
Create a plan for how to retain students and market schools to residents.

Expanded public use of CCUSD facilities will be documented in the City’s Memorandum of Understanding with CCUSD, which is currently in the process of being negotiated.

Expresses Support for Workers at Southern California Hospital with Resolution

The City Council adopted a resolution, expressing support for the workers at Southern California Hospital in their efforts to maintain fair wages, protect employee and patient well-being, and uphold good working conditions at the hospital.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City serves as a vital healthcare institution for the residents of Culver City and surrounding communities. Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., operates 16 hospitals, including Southern California Hospital at Culver City, and has 166 clinics across California and the Northeast. Earlier this year, it filed for bankruptcy, leading to concerns by hospital staff regarding wage levels, staffing shortages, and working conditions.

The resolution expresses formal support for the hospital workforce in their efforts to secure:

Fair wages that reflect the rising cost of living and the value of their essential services.
Safe and supportive working conditions, including reasonable staffing levels, physical and mental health support, and appropriate work hours.
A high standard of care for patients, which depends significantly on staff morale, experience, and retention.
Continued engagement in good-faith dialogue and transparent negotiations with workers and their representatives to ensure fair outcomes that prioritize public health and equity.

The City Council amended the resolution language prior to the vote. The final version will be made available online once it is signed. Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members McMorrin and Fish voted in favor of the resolution. Mayor O’Brien and Council Member Vera, Jr. voted against.

Annual City-Produced Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Approved

The City will create a stand-alone City-produced event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in September. The Economic Development Department will produce a free family-friendly film and panelist event, in coordination with CauseConnect to showcase films featured on Artbound via PBS SoCal. The celebration will include food, music, and dance that is culturally relevant to Hispanic Heritage Month.

The event will likely take place at the Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center. Once the date and plans are finalized, the City will announce and invite the community through its communication channels including email, website, and social media.

Outgoing CBC Members Commended for Service to Community

The City Council awarded five commendations to outgoing members of various Commissions, Boards, and Committees.

Brenda Williams – Cultural Affairs Commission (Since 2017)
Andrew Reilman – Planning Commission (Since 2017)
Palvi Mohammed – Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (Since 2017)
Dane Twichell – Culver City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Since 2016)
Dorothy Wheeler Sadd – Culver City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Since 2023)

We thank them for their dedicated service to the Culver City community. If you are interested in applying to a CBC, please visit to Culver City website to learn more.

Additional Council Decisions

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

Approved cash disbursements from July 5 to August 1, 2025.
Approved minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held on July 9, 2025, and the Regular City Council Meeting held on July 14, 2025.
Awarded a construction contract to FS Contractors, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the amount of $131,800 for the Huron Avenue Sidewalk and Drainage Improvement Project and authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders to the contract in an amount not-to-exceed $32,950 to cover contingency costs. This project will replace uplifted curb and gutter, portions of uplifted asphalt pavement, broken and uplifted sidewalk, and restore the corner biofiltration basin. These improvements will help alleviate flooding that occurs on the west side of Huron Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Matteson Avenue during heavy rain events.
Awarded a construction contract to CJ Concrete Construction, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the amount of $92,582 for the Higuera Street Sidewalk Improvement Project and authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders to the contract in an amount not-to-exceed $23,145 to cover contingency costs. The Higuera Street Sidewalk Project will construct a new sidewalk on the south side of Higuera Street, between Hayden Avenue and Shaefer Street. These improvements will provide a continuous paved path of travel on the south side of Higuera Street between Schaefer Street and Hayden Avenue.
Waived competitive bidding requirements pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code and approved a five-year professional services agreement with Occu-Med for occupational health services in an amount not-to-exceed $150,000 per year.
Approved a professional services agreement with SWA Group in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000 for a feasibility study of a potential new bicycle and pedestrian ramp and pathway connecting Ince Boulevard to Ballona Creek and a potential new bicycle and pedestrian bridge across Ballona Creek connecting Jefferson Boulevard to Ince Boulevard.
Approved additional purchase orders with SHI in an aggregate amount-not-to-exceed $185,000 for prior services rendered and purchase of Rubrik cloud backup storage and related technology services.
Approved a professional services agreement with YWR Architects Inc. to prepare construction documents, estimate building costs, and oversee construction of City facilities improvement projects at City Hall and the Teen Center in an amount not-to-exceed $62,000 and authorized the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve amendments to the agreement in an additional amount not-to-exceed $15,000 to cover contingency costs.
Approved a general services agreement with Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. for Solid Waste, Recyclables, Organics and Demolition Waste Transport Services Utilizing Alternative Fuel Tractor-Trailers for a term of five years with an approximate annual cost of $2.8 million in the first year and authorized the City Manager to approve two additional one-year terms.
Approved a purchase order with Gillig, LLC. to supply six compressed natural gas buses in an amount not-to-exceed $6,133,275.
Adopted an ordinance replacing the current Sign Ordinance in its entirety, adding definitions to the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Title 17 - Zoning, and adding related references to Municipal Code Chapter 13, as outlined in Exhibit A, and adopting an exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Approved an amendment to the Development and Construction Contract between the City of Culver City and Culver Public Market, LLC, related to the construction of a public parking structure affiliated with the commercial project at located at 12337 - 12423 Washington Boulevard, 4061 - 4063 Centinela Avenue, and 4064 Colonial Avenue known as “Culver Public Market.”
Created an Ad Hoc Film and Media Policy City Council Subcommittee and appointed Mayor O’Brien and Vice Mayor Puza as Members of the Subcommittee. The objective of the Subcommittee will be to review current challenges facing productions and provide potential recommendations to encourage increased filming opportunities in Culver City. Local filming/production supports the economy, creation and retention of jobs, small businesses and the entertainment industry and related sectors at large.
Approved the certification and submission of the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Awarded a general services agreement to ACCO Engineered Systems in the amount of $327,343 for the Data Center HVAC System located at City Hall and authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders in an amount not-to-exceed $65,468 to cover contingency costs.
Introduced an ordinance to amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) to add a new Chapter 3.12 regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies for Challenges to Fees, Charges, and Assessments on Real Property. The ordinance is partly intended to protect the City from lawsuits over fees, charges, and assessments that sometimes can arise over simple errors which would have been corrected or avoided if someone raised an objection at the proper time. The ordinance will require that any errors be brought to the City’s attention before the fees, charges, or assessments are adopted, so that the City has a chance to correct them or explain why no error actually has occurred.
Adopted a resolution approving the salary schedule for City Manager, effective retroactively to July 28, 2025. The City Manager’s salary adjustment will increase to reflect the four percent salary increase in accordance with the Executive Compensation Plan.

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, September 8^th. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.