City Council Appoints New Mayor & Vice Mayor, Moves Forward on Park Feasibility Study, Approves Mural on Former Gun Store Building

Yasmine-Imani McMorrin Voted as New Culver City Mayor; Dan O’Brien to be Vice Mayor

In a historic first, the City of Culver City appointed its first Mayor of color and sixth woman in the role. A large crowd in the Council Chambers broke out into applause when the City Council voted unanimously to elect Yasmine-Imani McMorrin as Mayor. She is the first woman of color to hold the position of Mayor and the sixth woman in the City's 106-year history. Council Member Dan O’Brien was unanimously voted to be Vice Mayor. McMorrin will serve as Mayor for a 12-month term. Culver City's City Charter calls for the City Council to annually elect one of its members to serve as Mayor. The Vice Mayor performs the Mayor’s duties if the Mayor is absent. McMorrin will lead the next scheduled City Council meeting on January 8, 2024.

Prior to the vote, then-Mayor Albert Vera provided words of encouragement for his colleague. “I am truly blessed by all the support I received. I want to wish Yasmine much success and good fortune as she assumes the role as Mayor in this coming year,” Albert Vera said. “I look forward to what Culver City will accomplish in this coming year. The future is bright.”

Earlier in the evening, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell attended the meeting to send her well wishes to McMorrin, reinforcing the partnership between her office and the City.

City Council Listens to Park Feasibility Study, Moves Forward

The future of Veterans Memorial Park and Bill Botts Field took another step forward as the City Council listened to a presentation on the preliminary report from the City’s ongoing feasibility study for the two parks. The Council voted 3 to 2 to move forward with the report, with additional polling of the community to gauge price points and concerns, as well as an economic feasibility study of a proposed amphitheater at Bill Botts Fields. Vice Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Members Albert Vera and Göran Eriksson voted in favor. Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Council Member Freddy Puza voted against.

The report, which began “discovery” in September, is now it the “options” phase. Recommendations will come as soon as February 2024. Monday’s presentation comes after extensive outreach efforts with the public, including two public meetings, a community survey, as well as outreach to stakeholders and interest groups. Architect firm Johnson Favaro shared the feedback it received. Participants requested plans that would accommodate a wide-range of indoor and outdoor recreational activities at both sites. Expanded and consolidated parking at both sites were also discussed. At Bill Botts, public participants requested separate facilities for soccer and Little League, enhanced natural conditions and nature trail, sport courts and a gymnasium. Over at Veterans Memorial Park, participants in the study want expanded aquatics facilities, additional open space, and improved performing arts facilities.

Johnson Favaro reminded the audience that a feasibility study is about “capacity and fit, scope and priority, diagrams and visualizations. It is not a design, the last word, or compulsory.” The next in-person presentation is set for February 8, 2024. More information, including proposed concepts at completion for Veterans Memorial Park and Bill Botts Fields, can be found on the project’s webpage.

Temporary Mural Approved at Former Gun Store

The City Council unanimously approved a proposed temporary art mural on the former Martin B. Retting Gun Store. The work will be done by Culver City Artist Laureate Katy Krantz. This week, crews will begin to paint the building. It is expected that Krantz will begin her proposed mural in January 2024. With community input, new words and graphics would be painted on the building in the same font styles and approximate locations as those of the former gun store. For example, “Guns” could become “Hugs” and “Knives” would come “Friend”. A brighter color palette would be used, but a visual link to the history of the building would be retained.

Statement of Land Acknowledgement to Be Revisited

After discussion, the City Council unanimously agreed to revisit the creation and adoption of a Statement of Land Acknowledgement. According to the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian, “a land acknowledgement is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native nations and communities. Today, land acknowledgements are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live.”

At the March 27^th, 2023 City Council meeting, then-Vice Mayor McMorrin received City Council consensus from Council Members O’Brien and Puza to agendize consideration of making a formal land acknowledgement to the original Gabrieleño Tongva Indians at the beginning of each City Council meeting. In Monday’s meeting, City Council agreed to receive engagement and feedback from Native and Indigenous people before revisiting the issue.

Homelessness Emergency Update

The City Council received another update from Tevis Barnes, Director of Housing and Human Services, on Culver City’s homelessness emergency. Barnes introduced Dr. Dan Richardson, Culver City’s Crisis Intervention Division Manager, who is leading the Mobile Crisis Team, to provide an alternative crisis response to potential mental health-related situations across Culver City, while freeing up first responders to handle other calls for service. Richardson said the team will offer empathic response to crisis while providing care, support, and safety, helping connect clients with appropriate resources. The team will go live in 2024 with a mental health wellness fair. The team has remained in training the past several months including field training. Among the four-person team is Dr. Nicole Alexander, Mental Health Clinician; Ben Vu, Mental Health Specialist; Deshellia Jones, Case Manager and Dispatcher; and Robert Parga, Case Manager and Dispatcher. The presentation concluded with a look at the van the team will use to respond to situations across Culver City.

Culver City Honors Assistant City Manager & Commendation for City’s Finance Advisory Committee

At the beginning of the meeting, the City Council commended retiring Assistant City Manager Onyx Jones. City Manager John Nachbar commended Jones for the significant, lasting improvements to the City’s financial condition. Nachbar also praised her leadership as she helped the City navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. The City Council then presented a commendation in honor of the 10^th anniversary of the City’s Finance Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to ensure tax dollars are collected and spent in a responsible, transparent manner.

Additional Council Decisions

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

• Approval of cash disbursements from November 4^th through December 1^st, 2023.
• Approval of minutes from the November 13^th City Council meeting and the Special City Council Meeting on November 28^th, 2023.
• Approval to award $244,960 to 30 organizations for the 2024 Performing Arts Grant Program, approval of related grant contracts, as well as designation of performances as city-sponsored.
• Approval of a services agreement with Nelson/Nygaard Engineering, Inc. for planning, design, public outreach, and data analysis services for MOVE Culver City project for $1,285,032 in downtown, Sepulveda, and Jefferson corridors. Amendments to the agreement for contingency costs total $257,006. By a vote of 3-2, the City Council approved division of the contract into three phases , starting with Downtown, followed by Sepulveda, and lastly Jefferson Boulevard. Council Members Vera, Eriksson, and O’Brien voted in favor; Council Members McMorrin and Puza were opposed. Approval of ongoing costs with Tyler Technologies for the annual maintenance and support fees for the City’s existing Enterprise Resource Planning Program for $420,000. The agreement will continue until it is terminated or substantially changed by either party.
• Approval of agreement with Olin for preparation of a parks master plan for $726,187. The City Manager can approve amendments to the agreement for an additional $23,813 for unexpected costs.
• Approval of a one-month rent forgiveness for The Brothers Sushi located at 9240 Culver Boulevard totaling $7,432.
• Approval of budget amendment appropriating the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget for the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG).
• Awarded construction contract to Concept Consultant Inc. for $167,255 for the Blair Hills Park Basketball Court Replacement Project. The approval included a waiver of a minor irregularity in the bid. Public Works can approve change orders to cover contingency costs not to exceed 15% or $25,103.
• Approval to amend an existing agreement with Southland Industries for building automation software upgrade for the Transportation Facility for an amount not to exceed $30,000. Contingency costs can be authorized for no more than $10,000.
• Approval to amend the existing agreement with KOA Corporation for an amount not to exceed $24,076 for additional construction management and inspection services at Project Homekey located on Sepulveda Boulevard.
• Approval of purchasing of one new vehicle for CityBus from National Auto Fleet Group for $76,705.
• Adoption of a resolution approving the salary schedule for the City Attorney. The adjustment will increase to reflect a 7% salary increase effective December 2023.
• Approval of on-call service agreement with five firms to provide map review services from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028 for an aggregate amount of $125,000. The firms include Sikand Engineering Associates, Ladayu Consulting Group, RKA Consulting Group, NV5 Inc., and PSOMAS.
• Approval to amend an existing agreement with Schindler Elevator Corporation for repair services not to exceed $20,000.
• The City Council also approved adoption of an ordinance confirming the Downtown Culver City Business Improvement District Advisory Board’s (DCCBID) 2024 Annual Report and levy of assessments which will be an increase of 4% to the existing assessments. The City also approved the appointment of members to the DCCBID’s 2024 Advisory Board.
• The City Council gave consensus to consider at a future City Council meeting a letter in support of a potential housing project at West Los Angeles College.

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 will be made available on the City’s website for viewing. 

The City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 8^th.

About Culver City

Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 40,779 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport.  Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries. 

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Culver City Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell pose for a photo.

Dan O'Brien was elected Vice Mayor on Monday night.

The City Council honored Assistant City Manager Onyx Jones who will retire at the end of the year.