City Council Approves Red Light Camera Enforcement Equipment & Body-Worn Camera Contracts, Increase of Council Member Salaries, Supports Measure A on November Ballot

Culver City Police Department Receives Approval for Red Light Camera Equipment & Body-Worn Camera Contracts

Following a public hearing, City Council unanimously approved a five-year agreement with Verra Mobility for an amount not-to-exceed $4,554,000. The City’s Automated Enforcement Program using red light cameras to capture violators as they drive their vehicles through an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red began in 1998. It is currently in place at 12 intersections.

Data has shown the Automated Enforcement Program to be successful at reducing the number of drivers running red lights and a major factor in reducing accidents associated with running red lights. Between 2017 and 2023, after red light cameras were installed at these intersections, there was a 12.6% decrease in red light violations despite a 33.7% potential violation volume increase. In 2023, 41,573 citations were issued from all 12 intersections.

The City Council also took action in approving a ten-year agreement with Axon Enterprises to provide Body-Worn Cameras, In-Car Cameras, Less Lethal Electronic Control Devices (Taser Systems), and software products in an amount not-to-exceed $4.9 million. The agreement passed in a 3 to 2 vote. Vice Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Members Goran Eriksson and Albert Vera Jr. voted in favor. Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Council Member Freddy Puza voted against.

In 2017, CCPD received approval for funding to purchase, install, and implement a body-worn camera and In-Car camera program. Police Department staff have been utilizing the same camera equipment since that time. The BWCs currently being used by CCPD staff are at their end of life and lack advanced technological features found in modern-day cameras. The contract includes 100 Axon 4 Body-Worn Cameras, 30 In-Car Fleet Cameras, 30 Taser 10-series electronic control devices, and software products. Installation and maintenance of all equipment will be provided by Axon Enterprises.

City Council Approves Ordinance Increasing Council Member Compensation

The City Council introduced an ordinance that increases Council Member compensation from $485.10 per month to $1,261.26 per month. Mayor McMorrin, Vice Mayor O’Brien, and Council Members Eriksson and Puza voted in favor. Council Member Albert Vera Jr. abstained. The proposed salary increase is authorized pursuant to Government Code Section 36516(a)(4), which allows an increase of 5% for each calendar year from the operative date of the last adjustment. No ordinance may include automatic future increases. Upon approval, on October 14, 2024, the salary increase will become effective on December 16, 2024. The current compensation for Council Members in Culver City is lower than in surrounding cities such as Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, and Manhattan Beach.

Statement of Land Acknowledgement Adopted

The City Council voted to adopt a Statement of Land Acknowledgement, including a written statement and an abridged version to be read at future City Council meetings. The full statement will be memorialized in the Mike Balkman City Council Chambers.

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.”

The Gabrieleño Tongva, a Native American people, have a long history in and around the area that is now Los Angeles. They were the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin and the islands of Santa Catalina, San Nicholas, San Clemente, and Santa Barbara. They are also known as the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, because they were forced to join Mission San Gabriel when it was founded in 1771 by Spanish colonizers following the 1769 order of King Carlos III of Spain to settle California. The Tongva language, which belongs to the Uto-Aztecan family, was once spoken by the Gabrieleño Tongva, but it has become extinct.

The Statement of Land Acknowledgement to be displayed in the Council Chambers is as follows:

“The City of Culver City formally acknowledges that the land we inhabit today is the ancestral land of Indigenous peoples who have lived here for millennia. The tribes who have historically inhabited, and continue to inhabit, this region include the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation, the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California, the Gabrielino Tongva/San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation, and the Gabrielino Tongva Tribe. This region holds profound historical and cultural significance for these tribes, who called it home long before the arrival of settlers. Members of the area’s Tongva tribes refer to this land as Tovangaar, acknowledging it as the original homeland of the Gabrieleño-Tongva people. The Kizh Nation refers to this area as Saangna, meaning ‘the place of the pitch tar,’ and identifies it as the ancestral home of the Gabrieleño people, who were named after the San Gabriel Mission. The City of Culver City honors the Gabrieleño people-past, present, and future-and recognizes their enduring connection to this land as its original caretakers. We are committed to supporting and uplifting the Gabrieleño people and to fostering a deeper understanding of the histories and identities of all Indigenous peoples in this region. We encourage all residents and visitors to join us in respecting and caring for this land. The City affirms its support for the rights of these Indigenous communities and for the preservation of their cultural legacies.”

The vote was 4 to 1 in favor of the motion. Mayor McMorrin, Vice Mayor O’Brien and Council Members Puza and Vera Jr. voted in favor. Council Member Eriksson voted against.

City Council Votes to Support Measure A on November Ballot

The City Council voted to support Measure A: The Citizens’ Initiated Los Angeles County Affordable Housing, Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance, which will appear on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot.

In June, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to place an initiative on the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot that would repeal and replace Measure H, the County’s 0.25% sales tax for homeless services which is set to expire in 2027. The new initiative, Measure A, is a 0.50% sales tax for affordable housing production/preservation and homeless services, is a permanent tax with no sunset provision. The effective sales tax rate in a specific California location consists of three parts: the state sales and use tax rate, the local sales and use tax rate, and any district transactions and use tax rate(s) in effect. The current base statewide California sales tax rate is 7.25% The City of Culver City has also approved two sales measures, Measure C, a 0.25% tax and Measure CC, 0.50% tax, both to support general City services. The total effective tax rate in Culver City is therefore 10.25%.

If approved by the voters in Los Angeles County, Measure A would:

• Repeal Measure H’s sales tax rate of 0.25%;
• Impose a permanent 0.5% district tax rate on all retailers in the incorporated and unincorporated area of Los Angeles County to reduce and prevent homelessness, while providing affordable housing;
• Measure A would continue the 0.25% funding for addressing homelessness services which Measure H provides and Measure A would provide 0.25% funding to the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency for constructing affordable housing.

The goal of the Measure A is to significantly reduce and prevent homelessness in Los Angeles County by:

• Significantly increasing and accelerating the availability of affordable housing;
• Significantly increasing the availability of immediate housing and interim housing options;
• Significantly increasing mental health treatment for people experiencing homelessness;
• Significantly increasing substance abuse treatment for people experiencing homelessness;
• Addressing large scale and individual encampments, people living in RVs and automobiles, or otherwise living in public spaces by creating connections to housing; and
• Preserving currently affordable housing

The additional 0.25% sales tax in Culver City is estimated to generate an additional $5.7 million annually for the County. Based on the City’s analysis of the legislative text, Measure A is expected to generate approximately $97 million in Local Solutions Fund (LSF) revenues which are required to be allocated to cities via formula based on a City’s Point-In-Time (PIT) count. Based on this analysis, using the City’s 2023 PIT count, Culver City would receive approximately $330,000 annually; however, this estimated amount may change as the City’s PIT count changes.

The City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of the motion. Mayor McMorrin, Vice Mayor O’Brien and Council Members Puza and Vera Jr. voted in favor, with Council Member Eriksson voting against the motion. The decision to support Measure A will inform the City’s Westside Cities Council of Governments Delegates when this item is considered at their next Board Meeting.

City Council Proclamations

The City Council began Monday’s meeting by proclaiming October as National Arts & Humanities Month. The arts are a national asset and should be available everywhere to everyone. National Arts & Humanities Month, which has been celebrated for over 30 years, is an opportunity to reinforce the crucial role of the arts and humanities in promoting individual wellbeing, addressing trauma, connecting cultures, highlighting inequities, and making our communities healthier and stronger. The arts and humanities embody so much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind. The creative industries remain among the most vital sectors of the American economy - providing new opportunities for developing cities, creating jobs, and economic activity within their own industry and across sector. According to the latest data, the national economic impact of just the nonprofit arts and culture industry alone boasts $151.7 billion in economic activity annually and generates $29.1 billion (about $87 per person in the U.S.) in federal, state, and local government revenue in communities across the country supporting over 4.9 million jobs. City Council calls upon our community to celebrate and promote arts and culture, and specifically encourages greater participation in taking action for the arts and humanities.

The City Council also proclaimed October as Pedestrian Safety Month. The City of Culver City, a city of nearly 40,000 residents, the home of many major companies with thousands of employees commuting daily to work, and the destination of visitors from around the world, strives to be a safe city for all forms of transportation. Culver City residents, workers, and visitors can experience the pleasure of walking, and by walking the City’s streets, explore the City’s neighborhoods and natural, cultural, and historic resources. According to Walk Score®, Culver City’s average Walk Score of 76 is very walkable. The Culver City Public Works Department is implementing a variety of improvements Citywide, including high-visibility pedestrian crosswalks, speed humps, pedestrian refuge islands, and curb extensions, that will make walking a logical, safe first choice. The City of Culver City regularly conducts public education campaigns to raise awareness and to educate its residents on pedestrian, bike, and active transportation safety. The City Council encourages all residents to make pedestrian safety a regular habit.

In a similar move, the City Council proclaimed October as “Walktober” 2024. Creating a walkable community provides many benefits, including supporting a strong local economy, improving traffic safety, reducing pollution, and improving residents’ health, well-being, and quality of life. Walking to school has been shown to increase student learning, improve physical fitness, and reduce traffic congestion near schools. Culver City has a strong partnership with the Culver City Unified School District to support walking, biking, and rolling to school. The Culver City Walk & Rollers program owes its success to dedicated volunteers and community advocates who organize walk-to-school days, track student participation, and promote community awareness. Culver City continues to pursue projects and programs to become even more walkable and encourages all community members to reap the benefits of walking as a form of transportation and exercise. The City Council of the City of Culver City, hereby proclaims October 2024 as “Walktober” and “International Walk to School Day.” Walk and Rollers are planning events with the schools.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of those whose ancestors were native to North, Central, and South America, and whose cultural, educational, and economic vitality is reflected in every aspect of our community. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson, and subsequently expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The timeframe of September 15th to October 15th is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Heritage Month theme for 2024 is Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together, encapsulating the “spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience.” We greatly benefit from the various contributions of Hispanic and Latino individuals who serve as civil rights leaders, community organizers, teachers, business owners, farmworkers, healthcare professionals, entertainers, and first responders in our community. Hispanic and Latino communities have faced insurmountable hardships and challenges and have successfully embraced the opportunities of the American Dream which serves as reminder for us all to acknowledge our continued pursuit toward a more equal and just society. Together, we recognize the Hispanic and Latino community in the City of Culver City, whose heritage, traditions, sacrifices, and accomplishments have made our City a better place to live, work, and play. The City Council encourages all residents, businesses, and community members, to honor the rich diversity of the Hispanic and Latino communities and celebrate their legacy of service and dedication to our City.

October 7^th will be Clean Air Day in the City of Culver City. Air pollution adversely affects health and individual well-being, contributing to higher rates of cancer, heart, and lung diseases, and other illnesses and conditions. Emissions from vehicles, industry, and even household sources significantly affect the natural environment and air quality. Individual actions such as taking transit, not idling vehicles, walking, biking, carpooling, and conserving energy at home and at work can directly improve air quality in our region. Everyone can play a role. The City of Culver City is committed to protecting the health of its residents, employees, visitors, and community at large. Californians will be joining together across the state to help clean the air on October 2, 2024, the 7th Annual Clean Air Day including in Culver City. All residents, businesses, employees, community members, and City staff are encouraged to participate in Clean Air Day.

Additional Council Decisions 

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

• Approved cash disbursements from August 31 to September 13, 2024.
• Approved minutes of the City Council Meeting held on September 9, 2024.
• Approved amendment to the existing agreement with Commline, Inc. for support and maintenance services for the Mobile Data Computers, Body Worn Cameras, and the Panasonic Arbitrator 360 HD In-Car Mobile Audio/Video Systems in the police vehicles in an additional amount not-to-exceed $120,677.61 and extending the term through August 31, 2025. The services under the agreement include troubleshooting any hardware/software related issues, replacement of non-repairable hardware, and software upgrades.
• Approve an agreement with Southland Industries in the amount of $1,150,367 for the City Yard Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Replacement Project, CIP No. PF-041 Public Works City Yard HVAC Replacement in combination with PZ-132 Building Repairs. It also authorized the City Manager to approve amendments to the agreement in an amount not-to-exceed an additional $115,037 (10%) to cover contingency costs. The City Yard’s existing HVAC package units, exhaust fans, and natural gas Make Up Air (MUA) furnaces are over 25 years old, have become unreliable, breakdown frequently, and require replacing. The scope of work includes removing nine existing HVAC natural gas heating/electric cooling package units, five MUA furnaces, and 23 exhaust fans located inside the various shops and replacing them with 14 new HVAC all-electric heat pump package units and 23 new exhaust fans. Implementation of the Project furthers the City’s building decarbonization objectives by replacing existing natural gas space heating units with all electric equipment, which will reduce the facility’s emission of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) by 24.7 metric tons annually.
• Adopted a Resolution amending the City’s Conflict of Interest Code pursuant to the Political Reform Act, incorporating, by reference, the terms of the Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) Model Conflict of Interest Code, as set forth in Title 2 of California Code of Regulations Section 18730, and rescinding Resolution No. 2023-R026. The Political Reform Act (Government Code §§ 81000, et seq.) prohibits a public official from using their official position to influence a governmental decision in which they have a financial interest. It was determined that the City’s current Code needs to be amended due to positions that have been created, eliminated, or revised. You can read the Resolution on the City’s website.
• Approved the final plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the construction of Diversion of Sewer Pipelines to Abandon Fox Hills Sewer Pump Station, PW003. The City of Culver City currently owns and maintains six sewage pump stations. These sewage pump stations are necessary in order to pump sewage from low-lying areas into gravity systems at higher elevations that ultimately flow to the City of Los Angeles Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. These pump stations are maintained by the Culver City Public Works Department Maintenance Operations Division. The electrical components, sewer pumps, wet wells, valve vaults, and force mains, need to be monitored and maintained to assure proper function. The new sewer pipeline will be about 30 feet deep and will require microtunneling technology for construction. The existing Fox Hills Sewer Pump Station will then be decommissioned and demolished.
• Ratified the recommended Fiscal Year 2023-2024 insurance renewal program with a premium of approximately $4,352,142.84, as presented by the City’s insurance broker AON Risk Insurance Services West, Inc. It also waived competitive bidding procedures pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC). It approved an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with AON Risk Insurance Services West, Inc., to continue providing broker services for the City’s insurance programs through December 31, 2024. AON has marketed the City's insurance program to carriers and has solicited pricing that, if approved, is $427,132.98 (11%) more than the current year while providing the same level of coverage.
• Appointed Sonia Romero as the selected artist for the art component of the Farragut Connector (aka Snicket) Project as recommended the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC). Approved an agreement with Sonia Romero for the completion of the art component of the Project in an amount not-to-exceed $60,000. You can look at the mural proposal on the City’s website.
• Approved a general services agreement with ABM for exhaust fan replacement services in an amount not-to-exceed $115,593. The Transportation Department’s Fleet Services Division’s six of 16 exhaust fans are past the expected service life. With the work that is being performed in the maintenance building, it is essential that the ventilation system is up-to-date and performing at full capacity. Exhaust fans are an integral part of a building’s ventilation and fire life safety system.
• Approved an amendment to the existing agreement with Vital Medical Services, LLC, to provide in-house medical service provisions for arrestees (pre-booking medical clearances) and management of the Department’s Naloxane HCI (Narcan) Program, by increasing compensation by an additional amount not-to-exceed $190,000 for an aggregate contract amount-not-to exceed $715,000. The financial savings of using Vital Medical Services as opposed to a hospital emergency room visit is considered substantial. Staff estimates that the use of Vital Medical Services saves patrol officers approximately 600 hours of field time on an annual basis, directly resulting in a positive impact on the Department’s ability to respond to calls for service in the field as well as addressing overtime expenditures. Based on the in-house medical service usage, the final year of the five-year contract requires an increased contract amount of $190,000.
• Adopted a Resolution approving the update to the Culver CityBus Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Rollout Plan. The Rollout Plan is considered a living document and is meant to guide the implementation of a zero-emission fleet and help transit agencies work through many of the potential challenges and explore solutions. You can read more of the analyses on the City’s website.
• Awarded a $1,000 Off-Cycle Special Events Grant for in-kind staff time to Braham Entertainment and designate the Micheaux Film Festival as a City-Sponsored Event. Founded in 2018, The Festival serves as a dynamic showcase of cultural expression and honors Oscar Micheaux who was a visionary filmmaker that challenged Hollywood’s norms during the early 20th century. The Festival has grown into one of the fastest-expanding international film festivals, welcoming over 15,000 guests and 1,000 filmmakers.
• Approved direction to City Manager’s Office to inquire if Hope Parrish, current Culver City Historical Society President, would be interested in becoming the honorary City Historian. The previous City Historian, Julie Lugo Cerra, passed away on March 27, 2023. The City Council named Ms. Cerra the Honorary Culver City Historian in September 1996, a role in which she served until her death in 2023. The role is honorary, the historian is not a City employee nor paid by the City. Vice Mayor O’Brien and Council Members Eriksson, Puza, and Vera Jr. voted in favor. Mayor McMorrin abstained.
• Approved Vice Mayor O’Brien at the City’s Voting Delegate, and Council Members Eriksson and Puza as alternates, for the 2024 League of California Cities Annual Conference in October. It also approved supporting the League of California Cities resolution on Fair and Equal Treatment of All Governmental Officials at All Levels, submitted by the City of Glendora. This Resolution states that the League of California Cities shall call upon the Governor of the State of California and the elected members of the California Legislature, including all members of the Senate and Assembly to adopt the following policy: “The California State Legislature shall not enact, and the Governor shall not sign into law, any law or regulation that applies solely to elected officials of California cities and counties, unless such law or regulation also applies equally to members of the California State Assembly and Senate. This prohibition shall not apply to laws or regulations affecting the inherent powers of the legislative branch under the California Constitution.” Vice Mayor O’Brien, and Council Members Eriksson and Vera Jr. voted in favor. Mayor McMorrin and Council Member Puza abstained from the vote.

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, October 14^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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The City Council proclaimed October 2nd Clean Air Day.