City Council Directs Staff to Draft Declaration of Fiscal Emergency, Considers Sales Tax Ballot Measure in August
In February, the City Council received the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 mid-year budget update. During the presentation, the City Council was informed that based on current General Fund revenues and expenditures, the City’s 10-year forecast shows that the structural deficit first identified in the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 budget has widened. If prudent measures are not taken, General Fund reserves are projected to be reduced from $151.4 million in the current year to $10.4 million in Fiscal Year 2034/2035. The Fiscal Year 2024/2025 General Fund projected deficit is $35.5 million. The structural imbalance in the City’s General Fund is on an unsustainable trajectory and without action the City will exhaust nearly all reserves within the 10-year forecast window.
With that information as background, the City Council at its March 17 meeting unanimously directed staff to draft a declaration of fiscal emergency. The declaration, which will return at a future meeting for City Council approval, allows the City Council to decide to place a tax measure before Culver City voters as soon as August 2025. The City Council also directed City staff to conduct scientific polling to gauge interest in a 0.25% sales tax ballot measure.
The current sales tax rate in Culver City is 10.50% (which includes state and local sales taxes). The proposed 0.25% sales tax measure would increase the rate to the new, post-AB 1679 statutory maximum of 10.75%. No additional sales tax increases would be allowed without further action from the state legislature.
A ballot measure would need to be approved by greater than 50% of Culver City voters in order to pass. Should the voters approve a 0.25% sales tax ballot measure, an additional $5,600,000 in sales tax revenue is estimated to be generated annually.
Approved Ordinance Enhances Contractor Transparency
The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring contractors and subcontractors to disclose specific information when applying for permits for certain larger construction projects in Culver City. Contractors must disclose whether they have any pending or final determinations of state or federal labor violations and whether they paid any penalties to any government agencies related to such violations. The violation disclosure period is five years. It also requires disclosure of the State contractor license number, the State contractor license category, and a City business license. The disclosures are required prior to permit issuance. If there is a change in the information after the permit is issued, the City must be notified within 72 hours of the contractor becoming aware of the change. Failure to comply with the ordinance results in one or a collective of the following actions as determined by the Building Official: stop work order, revocation of the permit, and penalties in the amount equal to the original permit fee.
Pilot Program to Provide Free Legal Support to Rental Tenants Established
The City Council introduced an ordinance establishing a Tenant Right to Counsel pilot program for Culver City rental tenants with an income at or below 80% of the area median income. Mayor Dan O'Brien, Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, and Council Members Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Bubba Fish voted in favor. Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted against.
The Tenant Right to Counsel Program would provide income-qualified Culver City tenants with an attorney during eviction proceedings. If the ordinance is adopted by the City Council at the April 14th City Council meeting, the Tenant Right to Counsel Program would take effect in May and run for one year. During that year, staff would study the effectiveness of the Program and will report back to the City Council if the costs exceed the amount already allocated to the contract with Bet Tzedek.
The City currently contracts with Bet Tzedek to provide free legal services to Culver City tenants. Bet Tzedek is a private, non-profit organization offering a variety of legal services in LA County-and specifically provides free legal services, including and up to full representation, to Culver City residents. Bet Tzedek provides weekly virtual clinics for Culver City tenants. If you are a Culver City tenant in need of legal assistance related to your rental housing, email culvercityhousing@bettzedek.org or leave a voicemail at (323) 549-5891.
City Council Reviews Council Recognition Policy
The City Council adopted a resolution amending its Council Recognition policy. City Council Policy 3402 was established for the primary purpose of honoring individuals, organizations and groups who have made or have demonstrated significant contributions to the community; honor dignitaries; and recognize significant achievements, milestones or events. The Council unanimously approved an amendment that requires individual Council Members who issue and/or participate in non-City recognitions to include a disclaimer that their title is for informational purposes and/or that such recognition is not associated with the City or the City Council.
The disclaimer will read: *Council Member’s title is included for informational purposes only. This recognition is not associated with the City of Culver City or its City Council.
Two Public Hearings Intended to Streamline Housing Development Approved
The City Council held two public hearings related to planning. In the first public hearing, the Council approved a Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA) for Objective Design Standards (ODS) that apply to Residential and Mixed Use projects citywide. The proposed Objective Design Standards implement the goals and measures of the Housing Element, General Plan, and applicable State laws, and are intended to streamline housing development approvals by providing clear direction and expedited processing.
As proposed, the ODS would supersede any existing neighborhood design guidelines. The proposed Objective Design Standards will apply to all new construction projects, as well as additions consisting of more than 50% demolition of the existing and/or more than 50% additional floor area (but at least 1,500 additional square feet).
In the second public hearing, the Council adopted an updated Density and Other Bonus Incentives (DOBI) ordinance, replacing the current one in its entirety. This improvement will help the City meet its affordable housing goals. The new Density Bonus code section, generally modeled after the Density Bonus program recently adopted by the City of Los Angeles, incentivizes the production of affordable housing by introducing enhanced local bonuses, and bonuses for community benefits like larger units, open space, and childcare facilities.
Culver City Farmers Market Presentation
The City Council listened to a presentation highlighting the work and impact of Culver City’s Farmers Market, a year-round, certified farmers market that operates from 2 PM to 7 PM every Tuesday, rain or shine on Main Street in Downtown Culver City. The market is managed by Sustainable Management Services and sponsored by the City of Culver.
The Culver City Farmers Market attracts 30,000 shoppers annually. It has partnered with local businesses to provide farm to table options. Shoppers can find more than 40 vendors providing access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other quality provisions.
In 2024, a pilot program to test new WIC and Senior WIC program cards was implemented. The presentation also highlighted $50,000 Market Match dollars spent, $7,000 WIC dollars spent, as well as $70,000 in EBT benefits spent.
You can learn more about the Culver City Farmers Market on the City of Culver City’s website.
Commendation Awarded for Service to the City of Culver City
The City Council awarded a Commendation to Jane Leonard, a 33-year Culver City resident and active community member. Leonard was appointed to the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission in 2022, serving as a member from 2022 to 2024 and as Chair since 2024. Leonard also served the City of Culver City for 19 years from 2002 to 2021, starting briefly as an Associate Analyst in the Fire Department, then being promoted to Management Analyst in the Transportation Department in Fleet and Facilities Management from 2002 to 2012, then to Senior Management Analyst for Transportation Finance, Grants and Intergovernmental Affairs from 2012 until her retirement in 2021. Her leadership experiences include representing Culver CityBus on LA Metro’s Bus Operations Subcommittee, Culver City Management Group Board, the Finance Advisory Committee, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the City’s Emergency Operations Center Team, Unity of Westside Church, Culver City Rotary Club and more. The City of Culver City is grateful for her diverse, dedicated service to the Culver City community and wishes her well in future endeavors.
Additional Council Decisions
Additional items approved by the City Council include:
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Approved cash disbursements from March 1 to March 7, 2025.
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Approved minutes of the City Council Meetings held on March 3 and March 4, 2025.
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Adopted a resolution approving and confirming the findings from the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report. This data is used to assess jurisdiction-specific progress in meeting Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. In 2024 the City issued permits for 87 housing units. In total for 2021-2024 the City has issued permits for a total of 531 units, and there are 2,810 units remaining to meet the total RHNA allocation.
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Approved a professional services agreement with Willdan Engineering for the Design of the Citywide High Voltage Streetlight Conversion project in an amount not-to-exceed $655,615. The project would include replacing the high voltage series circuits with low voltage multiple circuits and adding smart nodes to some services pedestals or streetlights, which allow for web based monitoring and control, sensors, and dimming control.
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Waived competitive bidding procedures and approved a general services agreement with Southwest Lift & Equipment, Inc. for transportation vehicle lifts maintenance and repair services in an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $250,000 ($50,000 Per Fiscal Year). The Transportation Department’s Fleet Services Division utilizes 17 vehicle lifts for equipment maintenance purposes. Over the past three years, the City has replaced each of the lifts, which are used to service and maintain the City’s fleet.
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Received and filed Measure CC and Measure C Sales Tax Status Reports and Real Property Transfer Tax Status Reports. The City’s Measure CC and Measure C actual tax receipts decreased by 3.2% from the same period in 2023. RPPT revenue from the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 has remained low due to the soft residential and commercial real estate markets.
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Awarded an in-kind, off-cycle special event grant to the Nike Women’s Series/The Night After Dark Los Angeles 13.1 Run in an amount not-to-exceed $1,000, designated the Nike Run as a City Sponsored Event, and approved a License Agreement for related street closures and reimbursement of City costs exceeding sponsorship.
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Adopted a resolution initiating proceedings to levy and collect annual assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 1 and order the preparation of the Engineer’s Report thereon for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
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Adopted a resolution initiating proceedings to levy and collect annual assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 2 and to order the preparation of an Engineer’s Report thereon for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
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Adopted a resolution initiating proceedings to levy and collect annual assessments for the West Washington Benefit Assessment District No. 3 and to order the preparation of an Engineer’s Report thereon for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
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Awarded an in-kind, off-cycle special event grant in the amount of $1,000 to the Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) for the Fentanyl Awareness Community Forum and designate the event as a City-sponsored. The Fentanyl Awareness Community Forum is slated for April 8, 2025 at the Veterans’ Memorial Complex.
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Adopted a resolution declaring the City-owned property at 10401 Virginia Avenue as Exempt Surplus Land and approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation to negotiate the lease of the City-owned property for the construction of a mixed-use affordable housing project. The Project is currently proposed as a 6-story, 77-unit all-affordable housing development, with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units, all of which would be affordable to lower income households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. It would contain an artist-focused community space on the ground floor, as well as community gardens and open space that is publicly accessible to Ballona Creek, as well as a private roof top deck. Parking is proposed on the ground floor as a mix of standard and tandem parking spaces. The City would need to either close or move Wellness Village before construction were to begin on the Project. The timing of the closure or movement of the Wellness Village could be discussed with AFHDC during lease negotiations and memorialized in the lease.
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Approved related agreements with TruePoint Solutions and Symbium Corporation for multiple enhancements to the City’s Accela Civic Platform, covering fee schedule updates, solar permitting integration, and ACA BridgePay payment processing adaptation in an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $86,700.
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Ratified General Fund expenditures to HP Communications to provide fiber maintenance for Culver City-owned fiber networks used by Public Works and Information Technology. City Council also approved annual expenditures of $101,000 from the Public Works Department and $101,000 from Information Technology Department to HP Communications to provide fiber maintenance through March 31, 2028.
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Awarded an in-kind, off-cycle special event grant in the amount of $1,000 to the Lumiere Runway for the Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring/Summer event and designate the event as a City-sponsored. The event is slated for March 22nd. Lumiere Runway is the fashion events platform for Meler Productions, a fashion runway production company based in Hong Kong with offices in Los Angeles.
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Approved a General Services Agreement with HASA Inc. to provide pool maintenance supplies in an amount not-to-exceed $255,000 through June 30, 2027.
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 is available on the City’s website for viewing.
The City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 14th.
The City Council awarded a Commendation to Jane Leonard.
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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