City Council Meeting Summary, September 14, 2026
Published on September 25, 2026
City Council Establishes Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Services Classification and Standards, Update on Pre-LA28 Netherlands Visit, Celebrates 2026 Sustainable Business Certification Recipients
Introduces Ordinance Establishing Regulations for Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Services
The City Council introduced an ordinance establishing a new land use classification, standards, and approval procedures for Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Services and adopted an exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The item followed the City Council’s August 10 discussion of AV fleet facilities, when a proposed 45-day moratorium did not pass and staff was directed to return with a regulatory framework addressing how and where these facilities could operate. The proposed regulations are intended to address potential land use impacts associated with AV fleet facilities, including noise, lighting, vehicle circulation, proximity to residential areas, and around-the-clock operations.
During the September 14 discussion, Council Members considered protections for residential areas, appropriate locations for AV fleet facilities, mixed-use development, noise and lighting impacts, and feedback from residents and industry representatives. Agreed-upon changes included limiting the new AV fleet service classification to electric vehicles, extending the 100-foot residential buffer to residential areas in the City of Los Angeles adjacent to Culver City, allowing certain enclosed facilities within mixed-use developments, and clarifying permitted uses in Fox Hills zoning districts.
An initial motion to adopt the regulations as an urgency ordinance failed to receive the required four-fifths vote. Mayor Freddy Puza, Vice Mayor Bubba Fish, and Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin voted in favor, Council Member Albert Vera voted against, and Council Member Dan O’Brien recused himself.
A subsequent motion to introduce the regular ordinance passed with Mayor Puza, Vice Mayor Fish, and Council Members McMorrin and Vera voting in favor. Council Member O’Brien recused himself.
Receives Update on Pre-LA28 Netherlands Visit and Partnership Opportunities
The City Council received a presentation on Culver City’s recent Pre-LA28 delegation visit to the Netherlands, where City representatives joined a broader Los Angeles regional delegation to learn from Dutch approaches to mobility, innovation, sustainability, major-event planning, and public-private partnerships.
The presentation highlighted opportunities to strengthen Culver City’s international partnerships ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Among those opportunities is the proposed Netherlands-Los Angeles Hub, envisioned as a long-term bridge connecting Dutch government, businesses, sports organizations, and innovation partners with the Los Angeles region, with Culver City serving as a potential home base.
The delegation presented Culver City as a potential location for the Netherlands House during LA28. The City Council reached consensus for staff to begin negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with Team NL to advance the possibility of locating the hospitality house in Culver City.
The City Council discussion also focused on lessons from the Netherlands related to people-centered mobility, crowd management, the use of data and technology to support planning, and the importance of privacy, ethics, transparency, and public trust. Council Members emphasized using LA28 as an opportunity to create partnerships, investments, and community benefits that extend beyond the Games.
Closed Session Report
The City Attorney reported that the City Council unanimously directed the City to participate as amicus curiae in the case of Apartment Association of Los Angeles County v. City of Los Angeles, Case No. B336071.
The City Council also provided negotiating instructions regarding 9050 Washington Boulevard. Regarding 9300 Culver Boulevard, also known as The Culver Steps, the City determined that it would not pursue property acquisition. No negotiating instructions were provided for the remaining properties listed under that closed session item.
The City Attorney reiterated that any future City Council action to purchase or acquire properties listed on the agenda would be discussed and acted upon during an open public meeting.
Receives Update on Automated License Plate Recognition Technology Review
The City Council received an update on the City’s review of Automated License Plate Recognition technology and its relationship with Flock Safety.
The update followed previous Council direction to further examine the technology, including concerns related to privacy, data governance, security, and public safety. The City Council reached consensus for the City Manager to facilitate additional discussion among stakeholders, including Flock Safety, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the Culver City Police Department.
Staff reported that additional time is needed to complete a vendor-neutral assessment of ALPR technology. The assessment will return to the City Council for consideration as part of a broader discussion of public safety benefits, privacy concerns, data governance, security safeguards, and potential options moving forward.
Celebrates 2026 Sustainable Business Certification Recipients
The City Council received an update on the eighth year of the Culver City Sustainable Business Certification Program, which helps local businesses reduce waste, conserve resources, lower operating costs, and support the City’s sustainability and climate action goals.
For 2025–2026, the program recognized 12 businesses.
Certified businesses included:
- Beach Now LLC
- Curanim Pilates
- Hi Lo Liquor Market
- HLB Lighting Design
- Temple Akiba of Culver City
- The Bike Center Culver City
- Village Well Books & Coffee
- Walk n Rollers.
Certified Innovators included:
- Poon Design Inc.
- Reformation Culver City Store
- Reformation Culver City HQ
- Trulove Post, Inc.
This year’s certified businesses are estimated to save approximately 46,000 gallons of water and 6,560 kilowatt-hours of energy annually, divert 12,000 pounds of solid waste, and avoid approximately 2,300 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Since the program began in 2017, 112 businesses have been certified or recertified. Collectively, those businesses are estimated to save nearly 4.95 million gallons of water and more than 560,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually, while diverting more than 1 million pounds of solid waste and avoiding more than 7 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about the Sustainable Business Certification program on the City’s website.
Recognitions, Commendations & Proclamations
The City Council proclaimed September 15 through October 15, 2026, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Culver City, recognizing the history, culture, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. The proclamation highlighted the 2026 theme, “Unidos, Somos Más,” or “Together, We Are More,” and encouraged residents, businesses, community members, and visitors to celebrate the diverse stories, accomplishments, and service of Hispanic and Latino communities.
The City Council also recognized the recipients of the 2026 Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee Awards:
Student Award – Lailanie Azam
Lailanie Azam was recognized for her mental health advocacy, multicultural understanding, and humanitarian efforts. Her service includes providing peer-to-peer crisis support through Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services’ Teen Line, promoting intercultural understanding through her school’s Muslim Student Association, and raising funds for organizations supporting education and health care in underserved communities.
Individual Award – Sameen Ahmadnia
Sameen Ahmadnia was recognized for her advocacy on behalf of Culver City’s immigrant community. An immigration attorney and asylum law expert, Ahmadnia has provided legal assistance to immigrants facing persecution, supported local families with immigration-related questions, and organized a “Know Your Rights” presentation to help community members understand available protections and resources.
Business Owner Award – Jennifer Casper, Village Well Books & Coffee
Jennifer Casper was recognized for creating an inclusive and welcoming community space through Village Well Books & Coffee. Her work includes hosting ICE awareness events, Spanish-language story times, open mic nights, and other programs that encourage dialogue, connection, and understanding among community members.
Nonprofit Award – Joelle Kirtley, Mass Liberation
Joelle Kirtley, founder and CEO of Mass Liberation, was recognized for her leadership and service supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, including Culver City residents. Mass Liberation provides assistance with housing, employment readiness, education, financial opportunities, technology, health insurance, identification documents, and other resources to help individuals successfully reenter their communities.
Additional Council Decisions
Additional items approved by the City Council include:
- Approved cash disbursements for August 1 through September 4, 2026.
- Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on August 10, 2026.
- Ratified approval of Consent Calendar Items C-1 through C-9 and Action Item A-1 from the July 27, 2026, City Council meeting agenda.
- Awarded a construction contract to CJ Concrete Construction, Inc., as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the amount of $613,242 for the Annual Sidewalk, Curb, and Driveway Approach Improvement Project, PZ-428, and authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders in an amount not to exceed $153,310.50.
- Adopted respective resolutions authorizing designated representatives to deposit and withdraw funds and make account changes with the State Local Agency Investment Fund on behalf of the City of Culver City, Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency, and Culver City Housing Authority.
- Approved membership in the Westside Cities Affordable Housing Trust Joint Powers Authority and appointed City Council Members to the WSCAHT Board of Directors.
- Adopted a resolution modifying Special Events Grant Program Policy 2502.
- Received and filed the biannual written report submitted by the Disability Advisory Committee.
- Adopted a resolution updating the City Fee Schedule for Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department fees for Fiscal Year 2026–2027, reducing the Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program fee to $51 per participant per week, reflecting the CCARP fee in place prior to the increase adopted on May 26, 2026.
- Approved a five-year agreement with Vertosoft LLC to provide Swiftly, Inc. products and services for a cloud-native CAD/AVL platform in an amount not to exceed $2,524,000 and authorized the City Manager to approve amendments for enhanced system specifications and support in an additional amount not to exceed $350,000 for an aggregate contract amount not to exceed $2,874,000.
- Approved a construction agreement with Toddco Landscape Co. Inc., as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in an amount not to exceed $85,277.50 for demolition work at Culver City Park Fields 1–3.
- Authorized a task order in an amount not to exceed $220,000 with RTI Consulting Inc. for construction management services for the Citywide Bioretention Basin Project, PW006, pursuant to the City’s on-call agreement with RTI Consulting, Inc.
Future Council Meeting Information
The next City Council Meeting will be held on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 7 PM at Mike Balkman Council Chambers, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Validated parking is available in the parking structure beneath City Hall, accessible from Duquesne Avenue.