Published on September 10, 2026
Throughout my first Culver City summer, I found myself in awe of the community’s support for our programs, events and public spaces. From the World Cup watch parties to the Juneteenth Celebration, the Summer Sunset Music Series, National Night Out and Fiesta La Ballona, this is a summer my family and I will not soon forget.
As students return to school and City Council meetings resume on September 14, we are looking ahead to a busy fall and continuing the work of serving this community. I hope you will find time to stay engaged with us in the months ahead.
Here are a few highlights from the past month and a look at what’s ahead.
Emergency preparedness is built before a crisis happens. In August, we held our first Emergency Operations Tabletop Exercise in several years, a training designed to strengthen the City’s readiness, coordination and response capabilities in the event of an emergency.
As a City, we must always be prepared and ready for disaster. This exercise gave staff an opportunity to test procedures, identify what is working, address where improvements are needed and ask critical questions before a real emergency activation. It also helped staff build greater familiarity with their roles and responsibilities during a crisis.
Thank you to the Culver City Fire Department’s Emergency Operations Team and CPARS Consulting for leading this important exercise and helping sharpen our skills.
September is National Preparedness Month. I encourage you to visit the City’s Emergency Preparedness web page and take time to make a plan, build a kit and stay informed before, during and after a disaster. You can also register your phone numbers, email addresses and home or business addresses with CulverAlerts, the City of Culver City’s official emergency alert system.
We continue to make progress in expanding housing opportunities for residents of all income levels.
In August, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Culver City as one of 13 California communities to earn the state's coveted Prohousing Designation and $11.3 million in new state funding to aid our work in new affordable housing.
This designation from the California Department of Housing and Community Development opens more doors for Culver City, making us eligible for the PIP program and other state funding opportunities.
I'm proud of our staff for their continued work to expand affordable housing opportunities and for earning this important recognition from the state.
Our first Civic Assembly provided valuable ideas on how the City can better engage residents and the community during the budget process. You can review the Civic Assembly participant report on the City’s website.
We are reviewing the recommendations provided by Civic Assembly participants and identifying opportunities to incorporate that feedback into our broader community engagement efforts.
As part of that work, we are ramping up our Community Conversations this fall. Please speak with your family, friends and neighbors and encourage them to subscribe to the City’s email updates so they can stay informed and involved.
August was Black Business Month, and the City was proud to bring together dozens of business owners and leaders for our inaugural Black Business Leadership Roundtable.
The evening brought together people, ideas and important conversations about how the City can better support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Culver City. As your City Manager, I am determined to hear directly from local businesses about what is working, what isn't and how the City can be a better partner in supporting a healthy, inclusive and connected local economy.
Culver City is a diverse, vibrant community. This month, we also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. I invite you to join us for our annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration, a family-friendly afternoon at Tellefson Park on Saturday, September 26, from 12 to 3 PM.
The City Council will also issue a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month at its September 14 meeting. The community is invited to attend.
Culver City continues to find practical ways to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.
With $164,000 in support from Clean Power Alliance’s Innovation Fund, the City implemented a new Portable Battery Pilot Program designed to replace gas-powered generators at community events and City operations.
The program has already made an impact, reducing approximately 13,000 pounds of carbon emissions in its first five months of operations. From March through July, the City deployed 219 batteries across 33 community and special events.
After the pilot period, the City will consider continuing the program and may request a modest rental fee to help sustain it while keeping the equipment affordable.
To learn more about Clean Power Alliance and its work with Culver City, visit the City’s Clean Power Alliance web page.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I encourage you to join us at these upcoming community events.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. I look forward to continuing this work together and building on our progress in the months ahead.
Odis Jones City Manager