Culver City Newsletter - July 2025
Published on July 23, 2025
Culver City's monthly newsletter provides a recap of the last month and shares opportunities to get engaged.
Culver City Homelessness Drops for Third Straight Year
The number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Culver City continues to decline in the Heart of Screenland. On July 14th, the City of Culver City's Housing and Human Services Department released data from the 2025 Point In Time Count conducted in February.
Teams identified 105 unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness in Culver City, down nearly 9% from its count of 115 persons in 2024. This reflects continued progress in connecting our neighbors with the shelter, housing, and services they need. In 2022, Culver City counted 229 unsheltered persons during its count, meaning Culver City has achieved a 54% decrease in unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in the past several years. Currently 165 unhoused persons are receiving shelter in Culver City, which is a significant increase from the 38 people who were receiving shelter in 2023.
See the latest homelessness statistics on the City's website.
City Council Addresses Immigration Policies in Special Meetings
The City Council met for two special meetings to discuss the City's policies and efforts on immigration rights. In its July 9th meeting, the City Council requested the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) provide new public reports about mutual aid responses provided by CCPD to other agencies, or other agencies to CCPD, including the costs associated with those responses. It also voted to suspend sharing data from its Flock Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) with any outside agency. City Council approved two grants totaling $50,000 to two Culver City non-profit organizations that assist immigrants impacted by recent federal immigration enforcement.
The City Council also approved issuing letters in support of California Senate Bill 627 (No Secret Police Act) and California Senate Bill 805 (No Vigilantes Act) at its June 30th meeting. You can view available immigration resources on the City's website.
City of Culver City Joins Legal Action Against Unlawful Raids in L.A.
Earlier this month, the City of Culver City joined a class action lawsuit “Perdomo v. Noem,” alongside Mayor Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, the City of Los Angeles and other Southern California cities, which was brought on behalf of people who have been unlawfully stopped or detained by federal agents. The lawsuit alleges that federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have engaged in unconstitutional and unlawful immigration raids by targeting Angelenos based on their perceived race and ethnicity and also denying detainees constitutionally-mandated due process.
On July 11th, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to put a stop to the raids. In addition, the court ordered that people detained at the downtown Federal Building are entitled to legal visitation for a minimum number of hours every day and are entitled to have free unrecorded phone calls with their attorneys. You can view available immigration resources on the City's website.
Sexual Abuse Investigation Involving Former City Employee
On July 16th, the Culver City Police Department arrested a suspect in connection with a sexual abuse investigation involving a former employee of the City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department.
On July 7, 2025, the Culver City Police Department was notified of an allegation involving potential criminal sexual conduct with a minor by a former PRCS employee. Upon receiving the report, the Culver City Police Department launched an immediate investigation. Stephen Martinez, 43, of Los Angeles was formerly employed as a Senior Recreation Leader with Culver City PRCS from June 8, 2020, to June 26, 2025, working in youth programming at various City facilities and park locations during that time. He was terminated from his position with the City due to an unrelated matter prior to the report of this crime.
PRCS is actively working to contact all parents and guardians of children who may have come into contact with the suspect through City programming in the past. Anyone with concerns regarding an interaction that a child had with this former employee, or anyone with information that may assist the investigation, is urged to contact the Culver City Police Department’s Investigations Bureau Lieutenant Ryan Thompson at (310) 253-6302 or email Ryan.Thompson@CulverCity.gov.
City Council Approves Agreement with Digital Kiosks Provider, Considers Culver City Unified School District’s Request for Funding, Updates Sign Ordinance
In its latest meeting on July 14th, 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 City Council also 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.
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.” You can read the more about the July 14th City Council meeting on the City's website.
Measure CL Ballots Headed to Mailboxes Soon
Culver City will hold a Special All-Mail Ballot Election on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, for one ballot measure. The election is for one general tax ordinance to be submitted to the qualified voters that imposes a general sales tax at the rate of 1/4-cent per dollar.
If approved, Measure CL would provide funding for general City services including: maintaining three fully staffed fire stations/ 911 emergency response times; retaining firefighters, paramedics, police officers; homeless reduction services/ encampment prevention; improving parks/ fields; repairing potholes/ streets/ storm drains; senior/ youth services and other General Fund uses, by enacting a ¼ cent sales tax, providing approximately $5,600,000 annually until ended by voters. This also requires all funds be locally controlled with audits and public spending disclosures.
Registered voters can expect to receive ballots at the end of July, early August. Election information, including ballot drop-off locations, can be found on the Culver City website.
Culver City Website Addresses Change to .Gov
The City of Culver City website, as well as Culver City Fire Department website and Culver City Police Department website, has moved from .org to.gov to improve trust, security, and transparency in our digital services.
The .gov domain is reserved for official U.S. government entities. The federal government requires thorough authentication before approving .gov domain requests which helps the public easily recognize that they are accessing a trusted and secure government website.
All existing .org links will continue to work and will automatically redirect to the new .gov domain, ensuring a smooth transition for all users.
Benefits for Residents:
- Clear identification of official city websites
- Enhanced protection against fraudulent sites and phishing attempts
- Continued access to all current services with automatic redirects from existing domains
Need to reach a City employee? Email addresses will also shift to .gov, though .org endings will still reach staff.
You can visit the main Culver City website at CulverCity.gov, the Culver City Fire Department website at CulverCityFD.gov, and the Culver City Police Department at CulverCityPD.gov. The Culver CityBus website will remain with a .com address.
Community Survey - Make Your Voice Heard with the City Manager Recruitment
The City of Culver City is in the process of selecting its next City Manager—a vital leadership role responsible for overseeing day-to-day city operations, managing City departments and services, and helping achieve the City Council’s goals for our community.
We want to hear from you! The City Council values community input to ensure the next City Manager understands the priorities, challenges, and expectations of the people who live and work here. Your feedback will help guide the selection process and shape the qualities, skills, and priorities we look for in candidates.
The survey asks about:
- The most important challenges facing Culver City in the coming years
- The qualities and skills you think the next City Manager should have
- The top priorities you’d like them to focus on in their first year
- How you’d like to engage with City leadership
We also invite you to share any additional thoughts or ideas to help us choose the best person for this important role. Your participation is important. Thank you for helping us make Culver City an even better place for everyone. Fill out the community survey with the online form.
Summer Sunset Music Series Continues
About a thousand people turned out for the kick off of the 2025 Summer Sunset Music Series, presented by he City of Culver City and sponsored by the Culver City Arts Foundation and The Culver Steps. Start your weekends early by joining us for live music from 6 to 9 PM in Town Plaza.
- Thursday, July 24th
Nashville Country Music Party: Dani Rose & Friends
- Thursday, July 31st
Jazz at Sunset: Nicole McCabe Quartet and Ponpon Chen
- Thursday, August 7th
Latin Dance Party: The Yari Moré Latin Band
- Thursday, August 14th
SWING! : Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander
- Thursday, August 21st
A night of Mariachi: Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Mariachi Alta California
- Thursday, August 28th
A Caribbean Dream: Upstream
Seating is limited and available on a first come first served basis for view of the stage. Small picnic blankets and low back chairs are welcome in designated areas as capacity allows. We invite you to explore our numerous restaurants in and around the Culver Steps! Alcoholic beverages and smoking are not permitted at the concerts. All nights begin at 6 PM with a pre-show presentation by the Culver City Arts Foundation. Main concert is from 7 to 9 PM.
Check Out Amazing Cultural Arts Performances This Summer
The Culver City Division of Cultural Affairs is proud to sponsor and promote the rich cultural performances going on throughout Culver City. It is a perfect time to support local art on the stage.
Culver City Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2025
The biggest annual business networking event in Culver City is back, hosted by the Culver City Chamber of Commerce at Ivy Station.
A high-energy event designed to connect and empower local entrepreneurs through networking, exposure, and opportunity. With interactive exhibits, live entertainment, and exciting raffles, the Expo creates a vibrant platform to showcase Culver City’s thriving business community.
Learn about amazing products and services, enjoy food samples, raffles, and networking. With free admission and complimentary parking, this is an event you don’t want to miss. This year’s expo is sure to be a great time. Visit the Culver City Chamber of Commerce's website for more information about the event.
Culver City E-Waste Collection & Paper Shredding Event
Dispose of your old electronics in a socially and ecologically responsible way at Syd Kronenthal Park on Saturday, August 2nd from 9 AM to 1 PM. Drive up, drop off and drive away. Staff can assist to remove from car.
We want all of your electronics. (We do not accept refrigerators, thermostats, and air conditioners.)
Your e-waste will be handled in a way that protects the planet, keeps your data safe, and creates jobs for people facing serious barriers to work.
All hard drives and data storage devices will be destroyed according to NIST standards.
Homeboy Recycling is a certified electronics recycler offering recycling, data destruction, asset recovery and repair services.
Paper is shredded per Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards. A maximum of six boxes of shredding will be accepted per vehicle. Box dimensions cannot exceed 18"x12"x10".
Culver City Announces Movies in the Park for Parks Make Life Better! Month
Movies in the Park continues with two opportunities left for families to enjoy a beautiful evening at our parks. Join us for a family-friendly night.
Saturday Movies in The Park Schedule:
- July 26th - Wicked at Veterans Memorial Park
- August 2nd - Mufasa at Culver West Alexander Park
Gates will open at 7 PM and movies will begin at dusk.
CicLAvia Coming to Culver City Streets on August 17th
Get ready to explore the streets! Join us for CicLAvia on Sunday, August 17th from 9 AM to 4 PM. Presented by Metro, this is the 61st Los Angeles Open Streets event hosted by the nonprofit CicLAvia.
The route connects Culver City, Mar Vista, and Venice, transforming streets into a car-free park for the day. Walk, jog, bike, roll, skate, or just enjoy the scene—this free event is open to all ages and abilities.
CicLAvia isn’t a race. Start anywhere and move at your own pace! Only people-powered modes of travel are allowed, with accommodations for those with disabilities. Learn more, including details on e-bike rules and safety guidelines, at the CicLAvia website.
Party in the Park Returns: Fiesta La Ballona
Come join us for a fun-filled day at Veterans Memorial Park for Fiesta La Ballona 2025! Get ready for live music, delicious food trucks, exciting carnival rides, and so much more. Bring your friends and family for a day of laughter and memories.
Fiesta weekend offers:
- Carnival rides and games
- Live performances
- Beer and wine garden
- Food trucks
- Various booths spotlighting artisan wares
- Local organizations
Visit the Fiesta La Ballona website for all of the details and purchase wristbands.
A Night to Unite - Save the Date for National Night Out 2025!
National Night Out brings together the entire community of Culver City for a celebration of unity on Tuesday, August 5th.
Hosted by the Culver City Police Department, the event will have fun for the whole family. There will be free food, music, vehicle and equipment displays, community resources, prizes, kid's zone with art activities and face painting, and more!
You won't want to miss the K9 Demonstration at 6:30 PM. Bring your family, neighbors, and friends and come have some fun!
Free Childcare Offered at Culver City City Council Meetings
Childcare is now available for people attending City Council meetings. This is to encourage in-person public participation. The next City Council meeting is Monday, June 23rd at 7 PM. The City also offers virtual options for the community to participate in City Council meetings.
Children from 5 to 15-years-old are eligible. You must register the child for each meeting you wish to attend at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Two trained Parks, Recreations and Community Services staff members will be on hand to conduct the childcare in the City Hall Patacchia Room, located on the first floor next to Council Chambers.
Learn more about childcare at City Council meetings and enroll at the PRCS sign-up page.