[0:18] .
[0:18] All righty.
[0:19] Good evening Mayor, vice Mayor
[0:21] and council members welcome to
[0:21] the OCTOBER 27th, 2025 regular
[0:25] meeting of the City Council
[0:26] successor agency to the Culver
[0:29] City Redevelopment Agency Board
[0:30] Culver City Parking Authority
[0:33] Board Redevelopment Financing
[0:33] Authority and Culver City
[0:37] Housing Authority Board.
[0:39] The time is now.
[0:40] 533 and I'll go ahead and do a
[0:47] roll call by Council member
[0:50] Rivera present Council member
[0:50] McMahon Yeah, Council Member
[0:54] Fish You're Vice Mayor Plaza
[0:54] PRESIDENT And Mayor o'Brien
[0:57] Represent members are present
[1:01] You have a quorum okay Thank
[1:01] you.
[1:02] Do we have any comments on
[1:02] closed session?
[1:05] There are none.
[1:05] Okay.
[1:06] We have a motion to adjourn the
[1:12] court session Please.
[1:13] I have a motion by council
[1:16] member Fish and a second from
[1:17] council member parent or during
[1:21] a closed session maybe Can
[1:26] voting My motion passes
[1:26] unanimously and we are
[1:44] and like
[1:58] that
[2:07] okay I thank you.
[2:07] Good evening everyone.
[2:10] Welcome back.
[2:11] This is the regular meeting of
[2:15] the city council meeting.
[2:18] City council.
[2:19] I just want to report for the
[2:21] record that we adjourn to a
[2:25] closed session at 530 for Okay.
[2:25] Good evening, everyone.
[2:28] We actually do not have any
[2:29] proclamations or recognitions
[2:32] so I'd like to get started with
[2:33] a pledge of Allegiance If
[2:39] you're able please stand for
[2:40] the pledge allegiance to the
[2:43] flag.
[2:47] I get anything I was just an
[2:56] individual So maybe just be and
[3:00] I'm going to read the city's
[3:01] statement of land
[3:01] acknowledgment to the city of
[3:04] Culver City formally
[3:05] acknowledges that the land that
[3:06] we inhabit today is the
[3:08] ancestral land of indigenous
[3:09] peoples who have lived here for
[3:09] millennia.
[3:13] The city of Culver City honors
[3:13] the Gabrielle Union people
[3:16] past, present and future and
[3:16] recognizes their enduring
[3:17] connection to this land as its
[3:20] original caretakers.
[3:21] We are committed to supporting
[3:24] and uplifting the Gabrielle
[3:24] know people and to fostering a
[3:25] deeper understanding of the
[3:28] histories and identities of all
[3:28] indigenous peoples in this
[3:29] region.
[3:32] We encourage all residents and
[3:33] visitors to join us in
[3:33] respecting and caring for this
[3:36] land.
[3:36] The city affirms its support
[3:37] for the rights of these
[3:39] indigenous communities and for
[3:40] the preservation of their
[3:43] cultural legacies and there is
[3:48] nothing to report out of closed
[3:51] session So we will begin with
[3:54] do we have any anything from
[3:55] commissions, committees or
[3:58] boards or staff and none.
[3:58] Okay.
[3:58] Thank you much.
[4:02] Have any reports or
[4:02] announcements from Council
[4:05] Councilmember Fish?
[4:05] Hey everybody.
[4:09] Good to be with you all.
[4:10] I'm surprised to see even this
[4:14] many folks during a Dodger game
[4:15] So thanks for taking the time
[4:17] to to come join us.
[4:21] I think it was 4 to 2 last
[4:21] time.
[4:24] Yes, I checked.
[4:28] I just wanted to give a quick
[4:29] reminder to put in your Prop 50
[4:32] ballot by NOVEMBER 4th I
[4:35] believe And you have many drop
[4:39] off boxes across across the
[4:40] city Julian Dixon Library,
[4:43] Culver West Alexander Park, Fox
[4:46] Hills Park at the West L.A.
[4:47] College And there are two
[4:48] voting centers here at City
[4:50] Hall and West L.A. College has
[4:54] also really grateful to attend
[4:55] the opening of the Robertson
[4:55] Boulevard Complete Street
[4:58] Project with Mayor o'Brien that
[5:02] it's a fantastic project that
[5:02] our public works team DR.
[5:06] Dimitri You guys really did a
[5:06] fantastic job.
[5:10] It creates bike lanes or two
[5:11] bike lanes one bike separated
[5:13] bike path, one protected bike
[5:14] lane and a bus lane on
[5:18] Robertson And it's only 700ft
[5:19] long but it's really
[5:19] transformative and allows
[5:22] people to access the station
[5:25] safely easily.
[5:26] And yeah, I'm hoping that we
[5:29] can continue the progress that
[5:30] we've made.
[5:30] I didn't have much to do with
[5:31] that project.
[5:33] It started long before I got
[5:34] here but it was really
[5:37] wonderful to to be able to you
[5:37] know, just celebrate its
[5:38] opening.
[5:41] I also wanted to share that our
[5:42] first police policy
[5:42] subcommittee with Councilmember
[5:45] Rivera and myself is tomorrow
[5:46] at 4 P.M. And that's Memorial.
[5:49] We're going to be going over
[5:50] two very important documents.
[5:55] The first is the 8481 481
[5:58] military equipment disclosures.
[5:59] And the second is the Ripper
[6:02] Annual reports the Racial
[6:03] Identity Profiling Act reports
[6:06] and that the court that our cpd
[6:07] is releasing I believe they
[6:10] released that a couple of hours
[6:10] ago.
[6:11] So if you would like to hear
[6:14] about those reports and give
[6:14] your feedback, please do.
[6:18] And then we have the Fox Hills
[6:18] specific planned community
[6:21] meeting If you're interested in
[6:22] hearing what is planned for the
[6:26] Fox Hills community and giving
[6:26] your input.
[6:28] That's Tuesday, OCTOBER 28th
[6:32] from 6 to 8 And just wanted to
[6:35] say a happy almost Halloween.
[6:36] Be careful.
[6:37] Just a reminder to be careful
[6:39] for for drivers especially
[6:42] because it is one of the
[6:43] deadlier nights for you know
[6:46] for pedestrians, especially
[6:47] children, you know, child
[6:47] pedestrians unfortunately.
[6:50] So for drivers just you know,
[6:51] slow down, stay alert
[6:54] especially in residential
[6:54] areas.
[6:54] Roll down your windows.
[6:57] Listen, you know, check
[6:58] mirrors, all that stuff.
[6:59] Be aware of kids backing out of
[7:01] driveways and things like that
[7:05] and have a happy Halloween.
[7:05] That's all.
[7:05] Thanks.
[7:05] Thank you.
[7:08] Council member Mike Morning.
[7:08] Thank you.
[7:09] I feel so good to be back at
[7:12] the dias and I just want to
[7:13] lift up and acknowledge the
[7:14] Berkeley Young Democrats for
[7:16] having a successful I think of
[7:17] all at the California
[7:19] African-American Museum this
[7:20] past weekend and they lifted up
[7:24] a young leader Brandon Lamar,
[7:25] who had been who has been doing
[7:27] a lot of work around the fires
[7:27] and working to support folks in
[7:31] Pasadena and Altadena who lost
[7:31] everything.
[7:35] So really grateful to have been
[7:35] there to support that.
[7:37] I also want to uplift that
[7:38] OCTOBER is Domestic Violence
[7:39] Awareness Month and every
[7:43] OCTOBER organizations and
[7:43] individuals unite across the
[7:47] country and a national effort
[7:47] to uplift the needs, voices and
[7:51] experiences of survivors For
[7:52] this year the theme is with
[7:56] survivors as always and this
[7:56] theme allows us to explore what
[7:59] it means to be in partnership
[8:00] with survivors towards safety,
[8:03] support and solidarity.
[8:04] So I wanted to lift that up And
[8:07] we know that our federal
[8:08] government is still formally
[8:11] shut down that impacts families
[8:12] here in Culver City and L.A.
[8:15] County and countless other
[8:15] Americans and many different
[8:19] ways and namely you know, I've
[8:19] been doing a lot of airport
[8:22] travel so I've been linking our
[8:23] tsa employees who have been
[8:23] working without pay for quite
[8:27] some time but did want to lift
[8:28] up and reference to snap And
[8:30] our nutrition benefits.
[8:34] There are mutually resources
[8:34] popping up.
[8:35] I know L.A. County has also
[8:38] been uplifting opportunity for
[8:39] folks to tap in and receive
[8:39] additional support And because
[8:43] we know families are being
[8:43] impacted So there are community
[8:47] spaces where support is being
[8:47] generated and I'll be
[8:50] continuing to uplift those on
[8:50] my social media as well.
[8:53] And there are lots of events
[8:54] happening definitely just a
[8:57] general plug for Culver
[8:58] city.Gov community calendar
[9:01] There's shredding coming up
[9:01] either Halloween events and
[9:05] things of that nature So
[9:05] definitely want folks to plug
[9:06] in on that And as Councilmember
[9:09] Fisher already loved it I
[9:09] remember to vote and no matter
[9:14] how you vote on Prop 50 on or
[9:15] before NOVEMBER 4th and there's
[9:15] more information about vote
[9:18] centers on L.A. Vote.Gov.
[9:22] Thanks so much for the time.
[9:22] Thank you, Councilmember.
[9:25] Very good.
[9:25] That's my pleasure.
[9:26] Yeah.
[9:27] Last week I attended the
[9:28] California retreat for aarp to
[9:29] talk about the power of local
[9:33] government and how we can work
[9:34] together to create age friendly
[9:37] communities where everyone
[9:37] belongs as shared The work that
[9:41] we're doing here in Culver City
[9:41] through our age friendly
[9:42] initiative which was started by
[9:45] former mayors Megan Sally Wells
[9:46] and Alex Fish and the
[9:48] importance of collaboration
[9:49] between cities, community
[9:53] partners and advocates And
[9:53] thanks to Director Stevens and
[9:57] Francisco Cassio and Parks
[9:57] Recreation and Community
[9:58] Services for their leadership
[10:01] in this work I also attended
[10:03] the 2025 Violet Visionary
[10:04] Awards which celebrates lgbtq I
[10:07] a-plus leaders, mentors and
[10:08] changemakers leading the way
[10:11] for the next generation.
[10:12] The award recipients were Leah
[10:15] Thomas the us swimmer and
[10:16] trailblazer Trailblazer for
[10:19] trans inclusion and athletes
[10:20] and a Lupe who is a writer,
[10:23] performer and advocate And I
[10:23] was particularly inspired by
[10:24] their reminder about the
[10:28] radical power of self-love and
[10:30] embracing all of our parts of
[10:31] ourselves and how the first
[10:35] step in any movement is to heal
[10:35] ourselves first and to heal our
[10:39] own individual trauma and pain.
[10:42] I also attended the Art Walk
[10:43] and Roll two weekends ago.
[10:44] Congrats to the Arts District's
[10:47] bid and neighborhood and all of
[10:47] the organizers.
[10:48] I see some of the participants
[10:51] here tonight are from skate
[10:51] side.
[10:54] They're amazing bands
[10:55] performers, vendors, community
[10:56] partners and food.
[10:58] So congratulations on a very
[10:58] successful event.
[10:59] I know Mayor o'Brien was there
[11:02] as well.
[11:03] And last but not least and I
[11:03] know we share this information
[11:06] last week but the e-waste
[11:07] collection and paper shredding
[11:09] event is this Saturday,
[11:13] NOVEMBER 1st from 9 A.M. To 1
[11:14] P.M. And it's in in said Cronin
[11:16] Ball Park.
[11:16] Thanks man.
[11:16] Thank you.
[11:21] I'd also like to yes I was at
[11:24] the Robertson bike and bustling
[11:25] grand opening just a few days
[11:28] ago with Councilmember Fish And
[11:30] at that event I also with
[11:31] several members of the press
[11:35] there announced our support
[11:36] that we voted on unanimously
[11:38] here four options four and five
[11:39] for the support of the transit
[11:39] corridor.
[11:42] That's the which choices of
[11:46] five different choices of rail
[11:47] to for Metro to vote upon next
[11:50] year four and five have the
[11:53] highest ridership projections
[11:54] of all the options and they
[11:58] also stop at ucla which is
[12:01] critical And you know these are
[12:01] really important connections
[12:05] for you know, people who work
[12:06] at ucla people people who are
[12:09] students at ucla and clearly
[12:09] some of the statistics are
[12:09] incredible.
[12:12] It takes about 100 minutes with
[12:12] current public transportation
[12:15] to get from the west side to
[12:18] Van Nuys and this will make it
[12:19] 20 minutes And then for cars
[12:22] it's up to 80 minutes.
[12:23] It can go more than that.
[12:23] We all know that.
[12:26] But what's great about the rail
[12:30] system is that it's predictable
[12:30] and in this scenario it's
[12:31] actually faster than all the
[12:31] other options.
[12:33] So that's really exciting.
[12:34] There's something else It's
[12:37] exciting.
[12:38] I don't think I ever talked
[12:39] about it but in AUGUST we
[12:42] hosted the consul general It's
[12:43] called the Los Angeles Consul
[12:46] Corps.
[12:48] There's 93 consuls general, 93
[12:49] different nations Consul
[12:52] general in L.A. And 28 of them
[12:52] came to Culver City and we
[12:53] talked about Olympics and about
[12:55] bringing business here.
[12:56] And from that at that time we
[13:00] knew about New Zealand coming
[13:02] here for their hospitality
[13:03] house and one of several
[13:03] nations that was excited about
[13:06] that was the nation of Senegal
[13:09] and their consul general and
[13:10] reached out and asked to, you
[13:13] know, connect on that And I
[13:14] brought together my co
[13:17] subcommittee member, the
[13:21] Olympics based Mariposa and the
[13:21] Senegal Mat only wants to have
[13:25] their nation in Culver City but
[13:25] they want to have a Pan-African
[13:29] Olympic house in Culver City.
[13:32] So I'm asking for nodding heads
[13:33] to agenda is presentation by
[13:36] them Ideally in JANUARY so that
[13:40] we can hear that and kind of go
[13:41] through the same process we
[13:41] went through with New Zealand.
[13:42] So if I can get my hands on
[13:43] that would be great.
[13:44] Okay, fantastic.
[13:47] And then two other quick points
[13:51] in the at the next meeting we
[13:55] will be having a couple of
[13:56] agenda items that have been
[13:56] brought up by the Governance
[13:58] subcommittee about kind of
[13:59] related and how we can
[13:59] streamline our city council
[14:03] meetings and if everyone's okay
[14:03] with that I'd also like to add
[14:06] to those items that are coming
[14:10] up a discussion about how we
[14:10] can streamline the process of
[14:13] proclamations and recognitions
[14:14] If we can add that if everyone
[14:15] can agree to put that on the
[14:18] same agenda I talked to staff
[14:19] it's it's no extra work for
[14:21] them.
[14:21] Okay, great.
[14:24] And then finally some sad news.
[14:25] Some of you MAY have noticed
[14:28] our city clerk Jeremy Bo Chino
[14:28] is not here tonight.
[14:28] Who?
[14:29] I was notified this morning
[14:32] that her mother passed away on
[14:33] Saturday And I like to get you
[14:36] know, vibrating heads to
[14:36] adjourn tonight's meeting in
[14:40] her memory, her mom's memory.
[14:41] Margo Green, thank you.
[14:47] And Jose, can I also can I add
[14:50] to your request in terms of I
[14:51] haven't Yeah And so sorry for
[14:54] Jeremy's loss but also in
[14:55] addition to that if we can
[14:57] adjourn in honor in remembrance
[15:01] of Deputy Andrew Nunez, San
[15:02] Bernardino County Sheriff's
[15:02] Department who was
[15:05] unfortunately fatally shot in
[15:06] the head today and died six
[15:06] year veteran.
[15:09] The department leaving behind a
[15:09] two year old daughter and a
[15:10] pregnant wife if we can please.
[15:13] I remember them and include
[15:13] them in our internment.
[15:16] Appreciate it.
[15:17] Thank you.
[15:17] In that vein, Yeah.
[15:21] We also adjourn in honor of
[15:21] Melanie Winter.
[15:24] She was the executive director
[15:28] of the River Project and
[15:28] formerly friends of the Los
[15:29] Angeles River.
[15:32] She just gave a presentation to
[15:32] the Sustainability subcommittee
[15:33] and recently just died of
[15:39] cancer
[15:39] .
[15:39] Yeah.
[15:40] All right.
[15:43] Thank you everyone.
[15:44] Okay, now we have a
[15:47] presentation on the update for
[15:47] the homeless emergency
[15:51] including Project homekey So
[15:52] camping and other housing
[15:58] programs
[16:09] .
[16:09] Good evening.
[16:10] Honorable mayor, vice mayor and
[16:13] city council members for the
[16:13] benefit of the public.
[16:17] My name is Dan Richardson and
[16:17] I'm the Human Services and
[16:20] Crisis Intervention Manager and
[16:21] also the supervisor of the
[16:24] Mobile Crisis Team.
[16:25] So we are going to present the
[16:28] Housing and Human Services
[16:28] Homeless Services update Next
[16:31] slide please.
[16:32] So firstly I'd like to provide
[16:36] an update on the mobile crisis
[16:38] team and the mobile crisis team
[16:39] operations began in MAY 2024.
[16:43] And so at this point we've been
[16:45] running for nearly 18 months.
[16:46] The team continued to be busy
[16:49] in the community and we're
[16:49] currently working with human
[16:52] Resources Department to hire a
[16:53] new personnel which will enable
[16:56] the team to expand the hours of
[16:56] operation.
[16:59] We hope to have the hirings
[17:00] completed at the beginning of
[17:03] next year and once the new
[17:04] staff are onboarded and they
[17:07] complete the crisis team
[17:07] training module, the proposed
[17:11] new hours of operation will be
[17:13] seven days a week from 9 A.M.
[17:14] Till 9 P.M. So we can now play
[17:18] a short video that shows the
[17:19] new office space for staff and
[17:22] provide some details about the
[17:22] Homeless outreach request
[17:26] portal going for 18 months We
[17:30] have a staff of four and we are
[17:33] expanding so it's great that we
[17:33] now have a new space.
[17:34] We still have the office at
[17:37] City Hall which is our hub but
[17:38] now we have a satellite office
[17:41] here at Project Monkey on over
[17:42] the boulevard in the heart of
[17:45] Culver City and that enables us
[17:45] to respond from here over to
[17:49] calls on the west side of the
[17:49] city and to to get there
[17:49] faster.
[17:53] So the team are actually in the
[17:53] community and of course they
[17:56] can provide assistance to to
[17:57] the folks residing in these
[18:00] programs right here.
[18:01] So we now have this great new
[18:04] tool the homeless reporting
[18:04] portal which enables residents
[18:08] to let us know to to go online
[18:09] and let us know where there MAY
[18:12] be a situation The person who
[18:12] is unhoused who seems like they
[18:16] MAY need some assistance having
[18:16] this portal enables us to to
[18:20] hear directly from the
[18:20] residents and where that need
[18:21] is.
[18:24] We are very proud of what we
[18:24] have achieved and I'm very
[18:25] proud of the team members and
[18:28] how they've worked to get this
[18:29] program off the ground and to
[18:32] provide the services to the
[18:32] community.
[18:35] And you know, it's all about
[18:36] the quality of the individuals
[18:37] that we have on the team And I
[18:39] can't say enough about that.
[18:43] >> Their work.
[18:43] Thank you.
[18:50] Next slide please
[18:50] .
[18:50] Okay.
[18:54] This and the next few slides
[18:55] will provide the data for the
[18:56] programs that are part of the
[18:58] Copa Cities homeless continuum
[18:59] of care.
[19:01] So the first slide here
[19:02] provides the field response
[19:05] data for the mobile crisis Team
[19:09] from the period of JULY 2024 to
[19:11] OCTOBER 2025 and that's roughly
[19:11] 15 months.
[19:15] So during that time period the
[19:18] Mobile Crisis team received
[19:23] 1364 crisis response requests
[19:23] which come from a variety of
[19:24] sources including the mqtt
[19:28] crisis phone line, the homeless
[19:31] outreach portal email or staff
[19:32] requests and of course from the
[19:35] police and fire departments as
[19:39] a code response during that
[19:39] time Mobile crisis team is
[19:42] engaged with 840 individuals
[19:45] and we have received 56 code
[19:46] response requests from the
[19:49] police department and 24 code
[19:50] response requests from the fire
[19:52] department.
[19:56] Excellent.
[19:56] So this slide gives the data
[20:00] for the city's project Homekey
[20:00] program which is divided into
[20:04] an interim site and a permanent
[20:04] housing site.
[20:07] Now this is a snapshot of data
[20:08] which is from this month
[20:11] OCTOBER 2025.
[20:14] We can see that there are 36
[20:15] individuals are receiving
[20:18] housing and case management
[20:19] services as part of the
[20:22] permanent housing program and
[20:22] that 33 individuals are
[20:23] receiving housing and case
[20:26] management services through the
[20:26] interim housing program.
[20:30] Both programs are able to house
[20:31] couples and allow residents to
[20:33] have emotional support animals.
[20:37] Next.
[20:38] So continuing with the housing
[20:41] program data, we can see that
[20:44] in OCTOBER of 2025 the Motel
[20:44] Master Lease a nutrition
[20:48] program housed a total of 39
[20:50] individuals divided between the
[20:50] two hotels.
[20:51] This program also serves
[20:54] couples and families.
[20:57] And during OCTOBER we have
[20:58] provided 4973 meals at the
[21:02] hotels and at Wellness Village.
[21:05] I'm moving on to wellness
[21:06] Village on the right of the
[21:06] screen.
[21:09] We can see that during OCTOBER
[21:10] 2025 we are housing and
[21:13] providing services to 16
[21:13] individuals which includes one
[21:16] couple and at least three
[21:17] emotional support animals.
[21:20] I'm sorry to interject as a
[21:21] strategist for the month of
[21:24] OCTOBER for the entire year
[21:24] 2025 just the month of OCTOBER.
[21:25] Thank you.
[21:27] Yeah.
[21:32] So I will now turn this over to
[21:35] Kristina Stoffels who is our
[21:35] project manager to provide
[21:38] information on the progress of
[21:42] the homeless plan Update.
[21:43] All right.
[21:46] I would like to provide a brief
[21:47] update on the Culver City
[21:50] Homeless plan.
[21:50] On SEPTEMBER 8th, 2025, the
[21:55] council approved a contract
[21:55] with Jennifer Cary Swan and
[21:57] Associates to update the Culver
[22:01] City's 2018 homeless plan.
[22:02] The consultant team will meet
[22:03] with the Advisory Committee on
[22:05] Housing and Homelessness on
[22:08] NOVEMBER 18th to review the
[22:08] 2018 Homeless plan, identify
[22:12] key lessons and priorities and
[22:12] discuss participants for the
[22:16] community engagement process in
[22:19] late NOVEMBER and DECEMBER of
[22:20] 2025 the consultant team will
[22:24] launch a community engagement
[22:24] process to gather input on what
[22:25] is working.
[22:28] Remaining challenges and
[22:28] community priorities.
[22:32] They will utilize interviews,
[22:33] focus groups and written
[22:36] feedback offered in person and
[22:40] virtually to ensure full and
[22:41] easy participation from
[22:41] unhoused residents.
[22:44] Community members, business
[22:48] owners, city staff and service
[22:48] providers.
[22:52] The update is expected to take
[22:52] about six months and will
[22:56] result in a new strategic
[22:56] roadmap to guide the city's
[22:59] homelessness response.
[23:00] This reflects Culver City's
[23:00] commitment to data driven
[23:03] community informed approach.
[23:05] Now I will now turn it back to
[23:06] DR. Richardson.
[23:10] Thank you.
[23:11] And I'd like to give the
[23:15] councilmembers and vice mayor
[23:15] and council members an
[23:15] opportunity to ask any
[23:16] questions.
[23:19] I'm sorry I didn't offer that
[23:20] Just before I move on to the
[23:24] next item.
[23:25] Random questions.
[23:25] That's right.
[23:28] Thank you.
[23:29] Really quick I know it's been a
[23:30] while since you all did an
[23:33] update adding go back in my
[23:36] notes to check But is are we
[23:36] expecting for the public to
[23:37] review their public dashboard
[23:40] for updates outside of the
[23:40] month of OCTOBER?
[23:44] Yes that data is is held on the
[23:45] website that yes.
[23:46] Okay perfect Thank you.
[23:50] Thank you.
[23:51] Thanks Mayor.
[23:52] I just wanted to and thank you
[23:54] for the presentation DR. Dan
[23:54] and Christina.
[23:55] Have we moved yet?
[23:58] I know part of our budget In
[23:58] our budget conversations it was
[24:02] determined that the mobile
[24:03] crisis team would become a 12
[24:03] hour.
[24:06] Was it 27 days a week?
[24:06] 12 hours a day?
[24:06] Right.
[24:08] 10 to 10.
[24:09] Have we moved into that yet?
[24:09] Yes.
[24:12] That time we were not actually
[24:13] doing those hours of operation
[24:16] but with the new staff coming
[24:17] on we hope to be having those
[24:20] new hours of operation at the
[24:21] beginning of the year.
[24:22] So seven days a week from it's
[24:25] going to be from 9 A.M. Till 9
[24:25] P.M. Still to 12 hours but
[24:26] slightly different.
[24:27] Fantastic.
[24:27] Awesome.
[24:28] Thank you.
[24:31] Thank you.
[24:32] So the question is if a
[24:36] question is picking up on
[24:36] Councilmember McMahon's
[24:36] question, the website hasn't
[24:39] been updated since MARCH of
[24:40] 2025.
[24:43] What's the frequency that it's
[24:44] going to be updated?
[24:44] You know, I'm going to have to
[24:45] check back on that.
[24:48] I can't give you an answer
[24:48] right now.
[24:51] I believe it was supposed to be
[24:51] updated every quarter and so we
[24:52] MAY be in the process of an
[24:54] update right now.
[24:55] Okay.
[24:56] I can actually speak to that.
[24:58] So typically it is updated
[24:59] every quarter and it's getting
[25:02] a facelift as we speak.
[25:05] So we are coming I think it's
[25:06] NOVEMBER 10th which is the next
[25:06] meeting to provide you guys
[25:10] with an update on what the new
[25:10] dashboard looks like along with
[25:13] the new data.
[25:13] Great.
[25:13] Thank you.
[25:14] Thank you.
[25:16] Thank you.
[25:20] So now we'd like to provide you
[25:23] some information about the
[25:23] Foster Youth two Independents
[25:24] program which is a housing
[25:27] choice voucher program.
[25:28] So according to the Los Angeles
[25:31] Homeless Services Authority or
[25:35] lahsa, 92% of homeless youth in
[25:35] Los Angeles County had a
[25:39] fragile social network and more
[25:41] than half 57% of youth in in
[25:45] the coordinated entry system
[25:45] reported having had some type
[25:48] of contact with the foster care
[25:49] system.
[25:49] So the us Department of Housing
[25:53] and Urban Development hud
[25:53] announced a funding opportunity
[25:57] for public housing authorities
[25:57] to assist transitional age
[26:01] youth as youth aged between 18
[26:02] and 24 years old through the
[26:04] Foster Youth to Independents
[26:05] program.
[26:09] On APRIL 8th, 2024, the Culver
[26:09] City Council authorized the
[26:12] submittal of a grant
[26:12] application to hud to fund a
[26:16] foster youth to Independence
[26:16] voucher program that will
[26:19] provide rental assistance to
[26:20] foster care connected
[26:20] transitional age youth
[26:24] experiencing homelessness or at
[26:27] risk of becoming homeless.
[26:28] So through the Foster Youth to
[26:31] Independence Program, hud will
[26:32] provide rental assistance
[26:34] vouchers to five five
[26:37] individuals five individuals
[26:38] who meet the eligibility
[26:40] criteria.
[26:41] Hud is investing in local cross
[26:44] system collaborative efforts to
[26:45] prevent homelessness amongst
[26:48] youth with a current or prior
[26:49] history of child welfare
[26:52] involvement.
[26:56] I'd now like to focus our
[26:56] attention on the video.
[27:00] The organization a sense of
[27:00] Home Assists foster youth to
[27:03] independence participants to
[27:03] independent living.
[27:04] And after the video I will
[27:07] introduce the director of
[27:12] programs for for the sense of
[27:12] home Brody Butler.
[27:18] But first we'll watch the video
[27:18] .
[27:22] It's quite difficult to live
[27:25] without any furniture or
[27:26] refrigerators.
[27:26] Also big thing that you have to
[27:30] either eat and you can't have
[27:30] anything cold like you can't
[27:33] really live like that.
[27:34] I was kind of staying in the
[27:37] living room because having no
[27:37] furniture it's like kind of
[27:41] makes it more scary to be alone
[27:47] because it's like so empty
[27:48] Today we came out, we learned
[27:53] about a sense of home.
[27:53] And I thought really
[27:54] interesting a hands on support
[27:57] from community And when we
[27:57] heard about support from the
[27:58] pharmacy we're really excited
[28:01] to bring our club out here to
[28:01] help Cody on her journey and
[28:07] our next step in her life.
[28:10] >> So that's always nice to
[28:13] have you and I used to be a
[28:14] person that would tell me that
[28:17] no matter what you know like
[28:18] you feel like having a group of
[28:22] people that just want to be
[28:22] here.
[28:31] It's really meaningful to
[28:32] have
[28:32] that of the name of your
[28:36] organization because it is to
[28:36] have a sense of home coming
[28:37] from foster care.
[28:39] You haven't had something to
[28:43] call your own in the comfort
[28:44] and security to help you and
[28:48] the path you know your next
[28:48] journey And for Chloe to be
[28:51] able to go to school, come
[28:52] home, be able to stand in a
[28:58] quiet place and face actually
[28:59] having something so
[29:02] personalized I never imagined
[29:03] that someone could get to know
[29:06] me so well so quickly.
[29:07] Every single thing has been
[29:10] something I looked at already
[29:13] online or love immediately and
[29:20] everything is extremely spot on
[29:24] .
[29:25] So great that they were so
[29:26] passionate that they have done
[29:28] so quickly.
[29:35] >> It was so amazing for me to
[29:39] see a recipient receive
[29:39] something that you've worked so
[29:40] hard in putting together and
[29:43] pulling the club together now
[29:44] It's fantastic.
[29:47] The club wants us to do more
[29:47] opportunities like this and
[29:50] creating something together is
[29:51] so important and that's what I
[29:54] does and this is such a
[29:55] wonderful opportunity for us
[30:04] all the more
[30:04] this is important
[30:08] for our club to do this and
[30:11] changing lives changes here and
[30:12] that's what you will do when
[30:15] you start nursing and can
[30:19] actually officially move on.
[30:20] I can be able to focus on my
[30:23] next of like two weeks of
[30:27] school and and have a good
[30:30] strong finish in a nice and
[30:31] apartment where I can you know
[30:34] use my desk and see everything
[30:38] and not have to be like and I
[30:39] sit there and I have to stay in
[30:43] the van You're so grown up now
[30:46] And then I thought this would
[30:46] happen.
[30:49] I never thought that you'd have
[30:49] everything you've been through
[30:50] that you rise above everything
[30:53] and be so much better than
[30:54] everyone that I know You're the
[30:54] best person.
[30:57] You're so smart and you're so
[30:58] beautiful inside and out and
[31:00] you're going to do amazing
[31:01] things.
[31:02] This is just the start of it
[31:05] and we have all of you guys to
[31:08] thank you guys for looking at
[31:12] your people and you don't do
[31:16] this to me and this the
[31:19] incredible the simplest thing
[31:20] that you talked to it and
[31:20] changed her life.
[31:24] I just I can't thank you guys
[31:24] enough but I can't thank you
[31:25] more.
[31:28] It'll probably and I love you
[31:28] so much I want to thank
[31:29] everybody that came through
[31:32] today and all these people that
[31:35] I just met a few hours ago and
[31:39] we all wanted to come and be
[31:43] here and do all this for me.
[31:46] It's amazing that you wanted to
[31:46] do that.
[31:50] I mean just a random day in
[31:51] your life that you wanted to
[31:51] come out here and do all this
[31:51] for me.
[31:54] I think you guys have all
[31:57] really impacted I guess even
[32:01] just for a few hours it's going
[32:04] to forever be a memory of life
[32:05] and live here and be able to
[32:12] think about all of you guys
[32:33] .
[32:37] Thank you.
[32:38] And at this point I'd like to
[32:41] introduce Brody Butler who is
[32:42] the director of programs for
[32:44] the organization a sense of
[32:48] Home.
[32:48] Hello everyone.
[32:52] My name is Brody Butler and I'm
[32:53] the director of programs head
[32:55] of Sense of Home with a
[32:56] beautiful video That was that
[32:56] was Chloe.
[33:00] She has an fbi voucher.
[33:01] The five vouchers are mentioned
[33:03] previously.
[33:04] She's also one of our pay
[33:04] forward ambassadors.
[33:07] So since receiving her home
[33:08] creation just a few months ago,
[33:09] she's already paid it forward.
[33:11] Another member is Home
[33:12] Creations which is just such a
[33:15] special thing and a sense of
[33:15] home.
[33:19] Our mission is to fully furnish
[33:20] homes and provide a sense of
[33:23] community for former foster
[33:24] youth who aged out of the
[33:24] system.
[33:26] And so as you saw in the video
[33:27] ,we bring in a group of
[33:27] volunteers to fully furnish the
[33:28] home.
[33:30] And each home is personalized
[33:31] to the individual.
[33:34] So we really get to know them
[33:37] in the intake process who they
[33:38] are as a person, what they
[33:39] enjoy doing, what their goals
[33:41] are and be fully furnished the
[33:45] home according to them.
[33:45] That's really just the
[33:46] beginning though From there we
[33:49] provide ongoing resource
[33:49] navigation.
[33:53] We have a scholarship program.
[33:54] This is our third year of the
[33:54] program.
[33:57] And we provided this year 18
[33:58] members with $20,000 to go
[34:02] towards their educational
[34:02] journey.
[34:03] We also have our pay for
[34:03] Ambassador program which I
[34:06] mentioned previously.
[34:07] Through that they can also gain
[34:09] access to exclusive events,
[34:10] public speaking opportunities
[34:10] that are compensated so they
[34:14] can allow their voice to be
[34:14] heard.
[34:15] And we have other events as
[34:17] well and much more to come from
[34:17] that.
[34:20] One of our new programs is
[34:21] there for our program So now we
[34:24] are working with fbi voucher
[34:27] holders and something new is
[34:27] that now we're helping them
[34:28] getting housing in the first
[34:28] place.
[34:31] So it's not something that we
[34:31] did previously but I have a
[34:32] background in in house and how
[34:35] services is of the people
[34:35] concerned.
[34:36] So I have experience with
[34:39] housing case management in both
[34:40] Skid Row and Santa Monica.
[34:40] So really leveraging those
[34:43] skills to navigate the housing
[34:46] authority processes and working
[34:47] with property managers.
[34:48] And we really like to focus on
[34:50] building those connections with
[34:51] the property managers, not
[34:54] knowing the units will come
[34:54] from that.
[34:55] And so because of the
[34:58] connections we've been able to
[34:58] develop through our Housing and
[35:01] Resource Navigator we now have
[35:01] access to 235 affordable
[35:05] housing units for us to refer
[35:05] recipients to.
[35:08] And so as it relates to the f y
[35:09] I program will receive
[35:12] referrals from dcfs.
[35:13] They'll connect us to the
[35:17] recipient and to their icm us
[35:17] case manager, their intensive
[35:20] case manager.
[35:21] And we will then work with them
[35:21] to get the housing to do the
[35:24] intake to receive services from
[35:25] us and then they'll receive all
[35:25] the same aftercare that all of
[35:28] our recipients would receive.
[35:29] So this has been a really,
[35:32] really powerful program made
[35:32] such a big impact.
[35:33] Really the goal with this is to
[35:36] prevent homelessness.
[35:37] And so our average age of those
[35:39] that we service previously was
[35:40] 25.
[35:40] Now we're seeing after
[35:43] establishing their flier
[35:44] program it's going down to 23.
[35:45] So we're see that we're closing
[35:48] the gap there and reaching
[35:48] people sooner to close the gap
[35:50] of them experiencing
[35:50] homelessness.
[35:51] And we want to just continue to
[35:54] grow and build more connections
[35:55] with property managers.
[35:56] We're hoping that more housing
[35:58] authorities will issue more
[35:59] vouchers so we can just
[36:02] continue to serve more and
[36:03] provide more a sense of home
[36:04] and really use that using that
[36:07] Maslow's hierarchy of needs to
[36:07] set the foundation for them
[36:11] giving them a sense of
[36:11] belonging, sense of safety.
[36:14] So that way they can just have
[36:15] this launch pad to achieve
[36:15] their highest potential.
[36:19] So thank you so much for your
[36:19] time today.
[36:19] Really appreciate it.
[36:20] Thank you.
[36:23] I've never been to one of these
[36:23] before because I'm English.
[36:26] So any questions Is that
[36:27] typical thing you want Any
[36:27] questions?
[36:30] Okay.
[36:30] Thank you.
[36:33] I did attend the kind of
[36:34] landlord meet up with the the
[36:37] potential candidates for
[36:41] housing the transitional Youth
[36:42] 18 to 26 I believe so I think
[36:43] that's a huge range.
[36:45] Yep.
[36:45] And really great young people
[36:53] And at that event I learned
[36:53] that, you know, Culver City was
[36:54] the first city to jump into
[36:57] this program and there are many
[36:58] I don't know what the I can't
[37:00] remember the number but it's
[37:01] not a few other cities but many
[37:04] other cities have followed our
[37:05] lead on this.
[37:07] So it's really great that it's
[37:08] impacting the region.
[37:11] It looks like and also
[37:12] something I don't think was
[37:12] mentioned.
[37:16] It's really neat is that as the
[37:19] rents or as the the young
[37:19] person begins to earn more
[37:23] income I don't think their rent
[37:26] goes up But money is set aside
[37:27] in a in an account for them a
[37:28] savings account.
[37:31] And I want to say that the
[37:31] person who was making the
[37:34] presentation said that the
[37:34] largest amount someone had
[37:38] saved once they age out of the
[37:39] program was something like 30
[37:39] or $40,000.
[37:42] So to have that in that account
[37:43] that they can take with them
[37:45] and you know, build begin that
[37:46] the beginnings of independence
[37:49] is huge.
[37:50] I don't know how many people
[37:51] who were not in foster care who
[37:53] had, you know, that much money
[37:54] to go out into the world with.
[37:57] So it's great.
[37:57] Great.
[37:57] Thank you.
[38:00] Thanks.
[38:04] And that concludes our homeless
[38:04] emergency update.
[38:05] Thank you.
[38:05] Thank you.
[38:11] Thank you for all the work.
[38:14] Okay, now we are on to Drake
[38:15] for public comment for items
[38:18] not on the agenda.
[38:22] Many speakers we currently have
[38:22] ten speakers signed up.
[38:26] Okay let's do 90s.
[38:29] 90s.
[38:30] All right.
[38:30] And then while we get set up
[38:33] I'll go ahead and read our
[38:33] statement regarding hate
[38:33] speech.
[38:37] Members of the public have a
[38:38] right to speak on matters that
[38:39] are within the subject matter
[38:42] jurisdiction of the City
[38:42] Council.
[38:45] However, this Council strongly
[38:46] denounces hate speech and does
[38:46] not tolerate destructive
[38:49] behavior in our meetings.
[38:50] Culver City prides itself on
[38:53] its diverse community and
[38:54] inclusion of all persons.
[38:57] We are committed to creating a
[38:58] safe space in the city and in
[39:01] these chambers where members of
[39:02] our community feel included and
[39:08] respected.
[39:11] And I will call on the first
[39:12] five speakers.
[39:12] They are Jeff Schwartz, Angelo
[39:15] Mike Jeffrey Pinsky, Marcy Bond
[39:22] and Lamar Betts, Jeff Schwartz
[39:26] ,the L.A. County Democratic
[39:27] Party recently gave MR. O'Brien
[39:27] an award named for Franklin and
[39:30] Eleanor Roosevelt.
[39:33] The legacies of our greatest
[39:34] PRESIDENT And first lady should
[39:34] not be invoked casually.
[39:37] I don't know what your favorite
[39:39] fdr speeches but mine is the
[39:40] 1944 State of the Union.
[39:44] It's easy to look up so you
[39:44] don't need to take my word for
[39:45] any of this.
[39:48] The speech concluded with what
[39:49] fdr called the Economic Bill of
[39:49] Rights.
[39:51] While it has not yet been
[39:51] implemented in this country,
[39:52] when Eleanor Roosevelt chaired
[39:55] the U.N. Committee that wrote
[39:56] the Universal Declaration of
[39:59] Human Rights, she incorporated
[39:59] it into this fundamental
[40:00] document of the rules based
[40:03] postwar international order.
[40:04] When the nations of Western
[40:04] Europe rebuilt their
[40:07] governments social democracies,
[40:08] they included it in their
[40:11] constitutions as did those in
[40:11] Africa and elsewhere as they
[40:14] liberated themselves from
[40:14] colonial rule.
[40:17] The Economic Bill of Rights has
[40:18] also been frequently cited by
[40:19] American Democratic Socialists
[40:21] including Martin Luther King
[40:22] and Bernie Sanders.
[40:25] It calls for full employment at
[40:26] a living wage and protection
[40:29] from business monopolies.
[40:30] It declares that housing,
[40:33] health care, education and a
[40:34] secure retirement are human
[40:37] rights to be guaranteed by the
[40:37] government and that the
[40:38] struggle for economic justice
[40:41] domestically was the same
[40:45] struggle as for freedom safety
[40:45] and dignity.
[40:45] As the antifascist war then
[40:48] being waged in Europe and Asia,
[40:49] fdr said in the speech that
[40:53] quote We have come to a clear
[40:54] realization of the fact that
[40:56] true individual freedom cannot
[41:00] exist without economic security
[41:01] and independence inspired a
[41:02] legacy as a gift and a burden.
[41:04] This one is not trivial.
[41:05] That MAY have been true as I
[41:07] challenge you to take note.
[41:12] Next we have Angela Mike
[41:18] followed by Jeffrey Penske
[41:19] .
[41:19] The city Council's unanimous
[41:23] vote to host New Zealand for
[41:23] the Olympics was like a knife
[41:23] through my heart.
[41:26] That's how you all treat
[41:27] homeless people.
[41:27] You trip over them with a
[41:30] wheelbarrow full of money not
[41:31] for the benefit of New Zealand
[41:31] athletes but for the
[41:32] millionaires and billionaires
[41:34] at the ioc and their trillion
[41:34] dollar corporate sponsors.
[41:35] Apparently there's nothing
[41:38] urgent about people sleeping in
[41:38] the cold.
[41:39] We've had 50 degree
[41:39] temperatures at night.
[41:42] I can tell you what it's like
[41:43] to sleep in that it's torture.
[41:45] It's rained here recently.
[41:46] I've never slept in rain but
[41:47] I'd venture to guess it's
[41:47] torture.
[41:49] I prefer never to hear that
[41:50] capitalist feelgood story about
[41:50] a homeless person being
[41:54] someone's kid who fell through
[41:54] the cracks when you are the
[41:54] cracks.
[41:55] Because what I learned from
[41:58] being homeless for two and a
[41:58] half years is when you're
[41:58] homeless you're not someone's
[41:59] kid.
[42:01] You're someone else's kid.
[42:02] When you all voted for that ioc
[42:03] giveaway, you didn't vote for
[42:05] your kid to go homeless.
[42:05] But the Olympics always cause
[42:09] razed rents Gentrification and
[42:09] displacement which will make
[42:10] someone else's kid go homeless.
[42:12] Nobody wants to MISS Out on the
[42:13] cultural exchange and economic
[42:13] boost from the Olympics and
[42:14] nobody does.
[42:17] That's who you are when you're
[42:17] homeless you're nobody.
[42:18] There's a homeless family
[42:20] that's been begging outside
[42:21] Trader Joe's down the street
[42:21] recently and nobody works out
[42:24] great for sex predators to have
[42:25] a bunch of nobodies to exploit.
[42:26] I can tell you from experience
[42:28] you house the people love to
[42:29] judge all homeless people for
[42:32] what any one homeless person
[42:32] does wrong.
[42:33] When you're savages you're the
[42:33] pimps and panders who profit
[42:36] from homeless people's
[42:36] dispossession all while you
[42:40] drive past homeless people with
[42:40] your heated seats and
[42:41] entertainment centers secure in
[42:43] the knowledge that you'll never
[42:44] be in the position my mom was
[42:45] in when she could look at a
[42:47] homeless person and say That's
[42:47] my kid.
[42:48] It's not too late to take this
[42:49] back and let's cancel the
[42:51] Olympics while read it.
[42:52] Thank you for your attention to
[42:55] this matter.
[42:55] Your time has expired.
[42:56] Thank you.
[42:58] Jeffrey Penske.
[42:59] Good evening.
[43:03] I'm a longtime resident of Crow
[43:03] City.
[43:05] I live at 5830 Green Valley
[43:06] Circle which is a large
[43:09] apartment building in Fox
[43:09] Hills.
[43:10] I've lived there for 12 years
[43:13] with my wife and my now ten
[43:14] year old daughter.
[43:17] Since we have lived there the
[43:17] landlord has not complied ever
[43:20] with the nonsmoking ordinance
[43:21] which has emboldened a lot of
[43:25] the residents to smoke
[43:25] marijuana.
[43:25] The worst offenders have moved
[43:26] next to us.
[43:29] We have a shared wall.
[43:30] It's an old well, it's porous.
[43:30] If we close the windows and
[43:33] they smoke it comes directly
[43:33] into my bedroom, into my
[43:34] bathroom to the point where we
[43:34] have to flee.
[43:37] We have made them aware of this
[43:38] issue.
[43:38] They laughed off it to a group
[43:41] of young adults that use it as
[43:41] their smoking den.
[43:45] We have provided this with our
[43:45] property manager.
[43:46] They are two heavy smokers.
[43:48] They're not going to enforce an
[43:48] ordinance against themselves.
[43:49] They really haven't done
[43:52] anything but a cursory offer to
[43:53] move us to another unit.
[43:56] And they have read the
[43:57] ordinance which I provided for
[43:57] them.
[43:58] They said they can still smoke
[44:00] inside which is a total
[44:00] misinterpretation.
[44:04] The owner is not incentivized
[44:04] to do anything.
[44:05] We are a long time tenant.
[44:08] We have a below market rent.
[44:08] They want us out.
[44:11] If I sue them and leave for
[44:11] 12,500 they win.
[44:14] So I mean they're a business.
[44:15] They need your permission to do
[44:18] business in the city.
[44:19] You can surely revoke that
[44:22] business until they become
[44:22] compliant with the ordinance.
[44:23] I asked for your help.
[44:25] Thank you.
[44:26] MR. Prince.
[44:26] Q Can you share information
[44:29] with the city clerk and show
[44:29] for that along to our code
[44:30] enforcement?
[44:30] Thank you.
[44:30] It's been a nightmare.
[44:33] We have to leave every in the
[44:33] middle of the night.
[44:34] Thank you.
[44:35] Your time has expired.
[44:37] Sorry.
[44:38] I just got a message that maybe
[44:41] the YouTube might not be
[44:41] working, so I just want to flag
[44:45] that for staff in case their
[44:48] son thinks he's Prince Pastor
[44:49] or information On to Tiana
[44:49] here.
[44:49] Thank you.
[44:58] Next we have Marci Seaborn
[45:10] more
[45:10] than you do.
[45:10] Great.
[45:13] Thank you.
[45:14] My name is Marci Bond.
[45:18] I am a Parks and RECs
[45:18] commissioner but I am speaking
[45:19] on my own behalf tonight and
[45:21] none of my opinions reflect the
[45:25] view of the Commission.
[45:26] On Saturday I went over to the
[45:29] prca Halloween celebration and
[45:30] as I was walking through the
[45:33] park I noticed that there were
[45:37] kids in the park but there were
[45:40] also people with their dogs.
[45:44] A number of them unleashed.
[45:48] While they MAY be well-behaved
[45:49] ,the issue is is that you have
[45:52] kids running around and you do
[45:53] not know how if a kid's going
[45:56] to run up to a dog startle
[45:56] them, they're going to end up
[45:57] biting them.
[45:59] This is just a dangerous
[46:00] situation.
[46:01] The dogs are not supposed to be
[46:03] brought into the park.
[46:04] They're not supposed to be
[46:04] unleashed in the city at all.
[46:07] Please, please, please, please
[46:11] keep your dogs on a leash.
[46:12] Do not run them in the park.
[46:15] We do have a dog park.
[46:16] And one more thing to remind
[46:19] everybody about is that the
[46:22] fund is a public pool.
[46:23] It is not our own personal
[46:23] pool.
[46:27] There is no such thing as my
[46:31] lane in a public pool because
[46:31] it is for everybody to use.
[46:36] So if you are in a lane and you
[46:36] are solo and someone wants to
[46:39] come in and join you be nice,
[46:43] smile at them and just let them
[46:43] come in and both of you will
[46:44] have a great time.
[46:49] Thank you.
[46:49] Your time has expired.
[46:50] Thank you.
[46:55] Next we have Lamar Betts
[47:00] followed by the next five
[47:00] speakers who are Melissa
[47:03] standards bad Monica
[47:04] Richardson, Patrick Godinez and
[47:07] Michael Colby.
[47:07] Right.
[47:11] Hello everyone.
[47:11] Hello, counsel.
[47:12] My name is Lamar Betts.
[47:13] I'm the co-founder and owner of
[47:14] the skate side.
[47:15] We run a youth skateboarding
[47:16] roller skating program here in
[47:19] Culver City as well as in
[47:19] neighboring cities as well.
[47:23] And since 2015 we've taught
[47:23] over 10,000 students how to
[47:26] skate a roller skate through
[47:26] our program.
[47:29] And although we've had students
[47:30] that have gone on to be Olympic
[47:31] skateboarders for Olympic
[47:34] teams, we're most proud because
[47:35] students in our program have
[47:37] found a sense of self and a
[47:38] sense of community.
[47:39] And I'm here today to talk
[47:42] about Skateboard fest.
[47:43] The Skate Cif-ss our annual
[47:45] giveback event that we do We
[47:48] had 1 in 2019 as well as 2024
[47:49] which was our return event.
[47:52] And we also had 1 in 2025 this
[47:52] year in MAY.
[47:56] And thank you to the Culver
[48:00] City Parks Recreation as well
[48:00] as the city.
[48:03] We were able to have a special
[48:03] events permit grant that was
[48:07] able to assist us with creating
[48:08] a larger impact for the event.
[48:15] And I am asking to agenda as
[48:15] for a future meeting a request
[48:20] for an extra $5,000 because for
[48:21] 2026 we want to have a two day
[48:21] event.
[48:25] We had over 2000 people show up
[48:25] for our 2025 event.
[48:28] We had a roller skating zone, a
[48:29] skateboarding skate park zone
[48:32] and a family fun zone.
[48:35] This is a family fun event that
[48:36] our participants have come out
[48:36] to.
[48:40] We close out all of our other
[48:40] areas for everyone to enjoy the
[48:40] event.
[48:41] So we're asking to organize
[48:43] that event for an official time
[48:43] has expired.
[48:48] Thank you, MR. Betts.
[48:48] You're going to apply for the
[48:49] grant, right?
[48:51] We've applied for the grant
[48:54] which the asking for additional
[48:55] $5,000 since it's to the event
[48:57] the commercial events
[48:58] Subcommittee Vice Minister on
[49:01] that Will we go through that
[49:01] and decide that at that level?
[49:04] So and we know you're coming
[49:04] up.
[49:04] Okay.
[49:05] Thank you.
[49:05] Appreciate it.
[49:08] Thanks.
[49:09] Next we have Janine with North
[49:11] Ski.
[49:12] I apologize.
[49:15] Melissa Sanders.
[49:18] You're unmuted.
[49:19] Go ahead.
[49:22] Thank you.
[49:23] And MR. Mike, whatever his name
[49:26] was needs to realize we already
[49:29] spend way over $15 million on
[49:29] the unhoused and he needs to
[49:33] find a new city to complain to.
[49:36] I just wanted to briefly talk
[49:37] about tomorrow's meeting with
[49:37] the police.
[49:41] Since I will not be able to
[49:41] attend since I will be on a
[49:44] school board meeting.
[49:48] And I really appreciate that we
[49:48] have our own police department.
[49:49] I really appreciate that.
[49:52] I can get to know my police
[49:52] department.
[49:53] I really appreciate that They
[49:56] will come if I hear a weird
[49:57] noise in the middle of the
[49:59] night and appease me.
[50:03] What I don't appreciate is when
[50:04] people want the police to be
[50:07] defunded what I don't
[50:07] appreciate is when they think
[50:11] that they make purposeful and
[50:12] racist and other things which I
[50:16] personally have never
[50:16] experienced.
[50:17] I have not met anyone who has
[50:20] ever experienced with rc cpd.
[50:23] What I do appreciate is that
[50:24] they probably need more staff
[50:24] than less staff.
[50:28] We are five square miles and we
[50:31] as a city deserve to be
[50:34] protected to have the best
[50:35] available to make sure our kids
[50:38] and families are protected, to
[50:39] protect the people who work
[50:42] here, who decide to actually
[50:43] shop and dine in play here.
[50:47] Our kids go to school here.
[50:50] All of this is important and
[50:51] should be realized how
[50:54] important it is to have our own
[50:55] police department fully staffed
[50:55] Fully funded.
[50:58] Thank you.
[50:59] Your time has expired.
[51:02] Thank you.
[51:09] Next we have Beth
[51:13] Dear City of
[51:17] Culver City members, council
[51:18] members houses presenting an
[51:21] update for the rent control
[51:21] rules.
[51:22] We ask that before any steps
[51:25] are made to accept this
[51:25] proposed changes that the city
[51:26] holds a meeting with property
[51:29] owners.
[51:29] Many of the proposed changes
[51:33] open a can of worms for example
[51:33] forbidding property owners to
[51:37] move in or senior parents or
[51:41] ailing parents to a apartment
[51:41] that they own.
[51:42] I have personally I have a
[51:45] senior parent that the doctor
[51:46] said in the next six months to
[51:49] a year will need to move closer
[51:49] to me.
[51:50] And what I'm being told by
[51:53] these proposed changes the city
[51:56] of Culver City will not allow
[51:57] my parent to move closer to me,
[52:00] closer to ucla and Cedars and
[52:01] to leave my parent living alone
[52:04] at risk.
[52:04] That should not happen.
[52:05] It creates an even bigger
[52:07] problem.
[52:11] Secondly is another aspect is
[52:12] insurance for our rental is
[52:15] going up 300 a month come
[52:15] JANUARY.
[52:18] Car insurance has gone up 200 a
[52:19] month and that doesn't count
[52:22] the cost of labor and other
[52:22] costs.
[52:23] So please keep that in mind
[52:24] When you think about rent
[52:26] control and making it even
[52:26] stricter.
[52:30] The other aspect is utilities
[52:31] as that section is very unclear
[52:34] and clear but water water the
[52:35] tenants need to know how to
[52:38] manage the water and they do If
[52:39] they pay there's part else The
[52:42] tubs are running freely.
[52:43] We've had nightmare situations
[52:45] I'd be happy to share with you
[52:45] one on one.
[52:46] The other part is roommates.
[52:49] I was able to buy my place
[52:50] because I had roommates for
[52:53] many years and I had guns
[52:54] pulled on me.
[52:56] I had people bring in spousal
[52:57] abusers.
[53:00] I'm sorry times are okay.
[53:01] Thank you.
[53:07] Next we have Monica Richardson
[53:07] .
[53:07] Hi there.
[53:08] I was a long time resident of
[53:11] Culver City for 21 years and a
[53:12] homeowner still for 20 years.
[53:15] I own a 1950s classic house
[53:16] that's 1400 square feet.
[53:20] I just I've noticed a lot of
[53:20] racist comments.
[53:23] I guess you talk a lot of talk
[53:24] about gender and race with this
[53:26] council open in Culver City a
[53:27] very long time.
[53:30] Some of the council members
[53:30] have been there just a few
[53:31] years.
[53:34] So it's like you've come in and
[53:34] now you think you want to
[53:35] change Culver City or you want
[53:38] to criticize Culver City for
[53:39] how it is or what it is.
[53:42] We are the United States of
[53:42] America.
[53:45] We're not the United States of
[53:45] the Democratic Party or the
[53:49] United States of the Democratic
[53:50] Socialist Party.
[53:50] There are other people who have
[53:53] different opinions from maybe
[53:54] three of you.
[53:57] Five people here do not
[53:58] represent or maybe four of you
[53:58] how other people feel.
[54:02] So as United States when a lot
[54:02] of people want to call certain
[54:05] people tyrants and all this
[54:05] sort of thing, what I'm seeing
[54:09] in Culver City is a really,
[54:10] really heavy shift to the left.
[54:13] Left, left, left.
[54:13] Like I don't even recognize it.
[54:16] 1991 is when I arrived in
[54:19] Culver City with a newborn and
[54:20] I felt safe And I want to
[54:20] support the police.
[54:23] We don't want to defund them.
[54:24] I just want to say to you every
[54:27] time a couple of you talk all
[54:27] you talk about is gender and
[54:28] race.
[54:31] And lastly, we don't want men
[54:31] in the bathroom.
[54:35] No men in the shower in the
[54:35] plunge.
[54:39] I think you should think about
[54:40] how you talk when you start the
[54:40] meetings.
[54:42] >> Thank you.
[54:43] >> Your time has expired.
[54:45] Thank you.
[54:55] Patrick Godinez, give me your
[54:59] Hello everyone.
[55:01] I come to stand before you as a
[55:04] culver City housing participant
[55:04] and for the sake of the public
[55:08] I also sit on the Advisory
[55:08] Committee on Housing and
[55:08] Homelessness.
[55:11] I would like to publicly
[55:11] comment.
[55:12] The city has done an amazing
[55:15] job providing shelter and
[55:15] services to hundreds of
[55:19] unhoused neighbors over the
[55:19] years.
[55:19] Hats off to Director Barnes
[55:22] staff and all the providers
[55:23] involved.
[55:23] Now that the city is shifting
[55:26] focus to developing more
[55:27] affordable housing, I believe
[55:30] it is imperative that the city
[55:31] ship a portion of the
[55:34] department's dollars to the
[55:34] Culver City Housing Trust Fund.
[55:37] Maybe $1 million a quarter.
[55:41] These dollars could be replaced
[55:41] by programs grants not only to
[55:45] build but also for services.
[55:46] For example, the L.A. City
[55:51] agreed to provide 12,915 beds
[55:51] by 2027 just recently.
[55:55] Finally, please inform the City
[55:55] Housing and Homelessness
[55:59] consultant why we were denied a
[56:00] $60 million grant for Julio
[56:00] Village.
[56:03] That way we could or they could
[56:04] possibly reapply or apply that
[56:07] information to another large
[56:09] grant with a similar project.
[56:13] Thank you.
[56:18] And lastly we have a Michael
[56:21] copy.
[56:21] Good evening y'all.
[56:25] Back a year or so ago when all
[56:28] those people over Sartell and
[56:29] Colbert filed complaints with
[56:29] the mark moons are asking him
[56:32] to enforce the city policies we
[56:36] got we realized after a while
[56:36] that he was going to do
[56:37] nothing.
[56:38] He never even sent them a form
[56:39] letter, never investigated the
[56:40] problem at all.
[56:40] That's with 60 de facto
[56:43] affidavits sitting on his desk
[56:44] and written letters.
[56:44] Certainly after that I got a
[56:48] phone call from an official at
[56:48] City hall.
[56:51] It was without email asking me
[56:52] if I had the time and didn't
[56:55] ask me when when I picked up
[56:56] the phone if I had the time
[56:58] then I Mychal Bell also first
[56:59] name never talked to this guy
[56:59] before.
[57:01] Hi Michael.
[57:02] It's John Mack Bar the city
[57:02] manager.
[57:05] What can I do for you?
[57:06] I'm calling because you're
[57:09] upset with our planning manager
[57:09] Mark Messenger.
[57:10] Yeah.
[57:13] You don't understand, Michael.
[57:14] We like Mark.
[57:17] We think Mark does good.
[57:17] You shouldn't be upset with
[57:18] him.
[57:18] He's part of our team.
[57:21] Oh, my GOD.
[57:22] I couldn't believe what I was
[57:22] hearing.
[57:25] This is the city manager.
[57:29] That's the guy who runs City
[57:29] Hall.
[57:30] I'm thinking this guy and I
[57:33] have to be blunt is an idiot.
[57:33] What I'm thinking at the time I
[57:36] got off the phone later on I
[57:36] started laughing.
[57:37] My wife said What?
[57:37] Who was that?
[57:40] I said Is the city manager does
[57:40] a.
[57:44] He went on I took command of
[57:45] the conversation and guys
[57:48] you're getting a new city
[57:51] manager be demanding, be
[57:52] resolute, be cynical When you
[57:55] interview.
[57:56] Good luck.
[57:59] Sincerely Your time has expired
[57:59] .
[57:59] Thank you.
[58:03] And that was the final speaker.
[58:03] Okay.
[58:03] Thank you.
[58:06] We have a motion to receive and
[58:12] file correspondence
[58:17] .
[58:17] Thank you.
[58:18] I have a motion by council
[58:21] member McMahon and second from
[58:25] Mayor o'Brien.
[58:31] Maybe can voting
[58:32] a
[58:36] councilmember?
[58:37] I think it's broken those so
[58:41] maybe someone can come fix it.
[58:41] Thank you.
[58:41] All right.
[58:44] The motion passes unanimously.
[58:44] Okay, great.
[58:47] Thank you.
[58:48] We're on to our consent
[58:51] calendar.
[58:52] Do we have any speakers for
[58:54] consent Calendar?
[58:55] We have seven.
[58:58] Okay.
[59:07] You tell me what items c 12.14
[59:10] 17 for ten one.
[59:13] Okay.
[59:14] Thank you.
[59:15] And then colleagues, you have
[59:18] any synonyms and pull outside
[59:18] of those kinds of things.
[59:21] Oh yeah.
[59:26] C five and c five and c 13
[59:27] 2013.
[59:27] Yeah.
[59:27] Yeah.
[59:30] I asked if you could advocate
[59:31] for c ten and maybe have the
[59:34] speakers speak separately.
[59:35] I need to recuse myself from
[59:36] that item and I'd like to speak
[59:39] as a resident on that item also
[59:41] so we can pull that one to
[59:41] discuss everything else and
[59:42] then I'll excuse myself.
[59:44] Okay, great.
[59:45] Thank you.
[59:47] Why don't we start with c ten
[59:48] and then actually let's let's
[59:51] hear all the comments first and
[59:54] save the c ten item for last
[59:55] and we'll have council members
[59:58] step down at that point.
[1:00:02] Yes And the speakers are
[1:00:05] Crystal Alexander, Marci Bon,
[1:00:06] Melissa Sanders, Patrick
[1:00:10] Godinez, Jacob Shaw and d
[1:00:12] Lindgren.
[1:00:16] Also Mayor staff would like to
[1:00:22] pause item c 11 for an update
[1:00:23] and update on information on
[1:00:31] the use of funds for c
[1:00:32] and how
[1:00:39] much time 90s 90s Thinking.
[1:00:45] Crystal Alexander
[1:00:46] I'm not
[1:00:51] seeing her online or in the
[1:00:51] chambers so we're going to move
[1:00:58] on to marcy bon marcy or
[1:00:59] unmuted.
[1:01:02] Thank you again I am a Parks
[1:01:03] and Rec commissioner.
[1:01:03] Anything I say is my own
[1:01:04] opinion.
[1:01:06] It does not represent the
[1:01:07] commission.
[1:01:07] Just wanted to let you guys
[1:01:08] know I heard a bunch of
[1:01:11] screaming from my neighbors So
[1:01:11] something's going on with the
[1:01:14] Dodgers game.
[1:01:14] Anyway I hope it's good
[1:01:18] news for all of you Dodgers
[1:01:18] fans.
[1:01:21] So first off, I want to just
[1:01:22] just tell you guys how excited
[1:01:25] I am about you guys getting to
[1:01:28] the point where you have an
[1:01:29] actual code change for the
[1:01:31] donor and sponsorship.
[1:01:32] I think this is very exciting.
[1:01:36] I think it's going to do
[1:01:36] wonderful things for our parks
[1:01:39] and fingers crossed this goes
[1:01:40] through it will vote for it and
[1:01:43] we start getting donations So
[1:01:44] that we can actually move
[1:01:44] forward with our general our
[1:01:47] parks general plan.
[1:01:48] Knock it off.
[1:01:51] Sorry my cats.
[1:01:55] Then I wanted to talk about the
[1:01:55] glue traps.
[1:01:56] I'm concerned about that
[1:01:59] because a lot of people and not
[1:01:59] necessarily that I use glue
[1:02:03] traps for animals or rats and
[1:02:03] whatnot I would rather use the
[1:02:06] snap trap.
[1:02:07] I refuse to use the poison trap
[1:02:11] because those I feel like well
[1:02:14] the glue traps are inhumane.
[1:02:15] The poison traps kill a lot of
[1:02:18] other animals including hawks
[1:02:19] and owls and all of these
[1:02:19] important predators.
[1:02:26] Whereas the rodents they
[1:02:30] because they are prey they
[1:02:30] propagate very quickly.
[1:02:34] So please consider this whole
[1:02:34] thing about those.
[1:02:37] Thank you.
[1:02:38] The traps that are I know I've
[1:02:40] run my time out but the poison
[1:02:41] traps please can.
[1:02:44] Thank you.
[1:02:48] Next we have Melissa Sanders.
[1:02:53] She's speaking on c-10 And can
[1:02:56] we say good bye?
[1:02:56] I'm sorry.
[1:02:58] I'm actually picking up my 1050
[1:02:59] bucks on.
[1:03:02] My concern is about the and I
[1:03:06] think it was c four mainly that
[1:03:06] I was unclear if this was
[1:03:07] something to do with the
[1:03:10] ridicule this bike lane part of
[1:03:11] overland or if you guys are
[1:03:14] planning to do upgrades to
[1:03:15] Overland prior to trying to do
[1:03:18] the grant.
[1:03:19] Either way we stop if it's just
[1:03:22] to improve overland the
[1:03:22] pedestrian stuff.
[1:03:22] Great.
[1:03:26] I hope that works but do not do
[1:03:30] anything with the bike lane.
[1:03:31] Do not do anything that's going
[1:03:31] to remove parking.
[1:03:34] Do not do anything That is an
[1:03:35] ada alliance issue.
[1:03:35] Don't do anything that's going
[1:03:38] to make living in this area any
[1:03:41] more difficult.
[1:03:41] Just stop.
[1:03:42] So I apologize.
[1:03:45] I missed some parts of things
[1:03:46] that are not quite focused at
[1:03:49] the moment but I assume we get
[1:03:52] to speak on c ten separately
[1:03:53] but maybe fix them up them out
[1:03:54] in front of my address.
[1:03:55] Sorry.
[1:03:59] You know, move to the.
[1:03:59] Yeah.
[1:04:00] Can you hold on If you're going
[1:04:00] to speak on c ten.
[1:04:01] Hold on to them.
[1:04:02] There we go.
[1:04:15] Well so I think Patrick Godinez
[1:04:16] .
[1:04:17] Hello.
[1:04:20] I wanted to comment on c when I
[1:04:24] read the the rest and the items
[1:04:27] for the cash distribution that
[1:04:28] you are on.
[1:04:31] I'll give access to the public
[1:04:32] for you know if it's possible
[1:04:35] if you could put it in the
[1:04:36] departments and categories you
[1:04:38] know as opposed to one less I
[1:04:39] think that would be helpful for
[1:04:42] the public to really understand
[1:04:42] the spending that's going on.
[1:04:48] Thank you.
[1:04:55] Next we have Jacob Shaw
[1:04:59] .
[1:05:00] Good evening Council.
[1:05:03] My name is Jacob Shaw.
[1:05:04] I'm here on behalf of People
[1:05:04] for the Ethical Treatment of
[1:05:04] Animals.
[1:05:07] And I just wanted to thank you
[1:05:08] so much for taking on this glue
[1:05:10] trap And just a briefly address
[1:05:11] what one of the previous
[1:05:12] speakers said in case there was
[1:05:15] any confusion about this.
[1:05:15] Glue traps actually do catch an
[1:05:18] enormous number of animals
[1:05:19] beyond just mice and rats.
[1:05:21] There's a group called Wild One
[1:05:22] or rather a data aggregation
[1:05:25] center called Wild One that's
[1:05:26] run by the Wildlife Center of
[1:05:28] Virginia that keeps track of
[1:05:29] glue trapping take from animal
[1:05:29] hospitals and wildlife
[1:05:30] rehabilitator around the
[1:05:33] country.
[1:05:34] And over the last ten years
[1:05:36] they've received reports of 180
[1:05:37] different species being caught
[1:05:37] in glue traps.
[1:05:40] So the number of actual animals
[1:05:41] is in the hundreds of thousands
[1:05:44] if not millions.
[1:05:45] So I really just wanted to
[1:05:48] thank you so, so much for
[1:05:48] banning these traps.
[1:05:49] They really are torture
[1:05:49] devices.
[1:05:52] It's the reason every animal
[1:05:52] advocacy organization, every
[1:05:56] environmental organization
[1:05:56] supports banning these traps.
[1:05:57] So one day people are going to
[1:06:00] think how did we ever tolerate
[1:06:01] these traps being sold and used
[1:06:03] and they will always look back
[1:06:04] and know that Culver City was
[1:06:07] one of the first to act and do
[1:06:07] the right thing for animals and
[1:06:08] for all of us.
[1:06:08] So thank you so much.
[1:06:14] I really appreciate it.
[1:06:15] That's it.
[1:06:18] Okay.
[1:06:19] Are we going to bring back MS..
[1:06:21] Sanders to talk?
[1:06:22] Okay, Councilmember, you can
[1:06:22] step out.
[1:06:26] Will you want to vote on all
[1:06:26] the other ones or.
[1:06:29] I think we will.
[1:06:30] Okay.
[1:06:30] Yeah.
[1:06:31] So let's go ahead and do you
[1:06:33] want to update for item c 11
[1:06:33] from staff?
[1:06:38] Yeah So so let's say see ten
[1:06:38] provides that.
[1:06:38] Okay.
[1:06:43] So so we're starting with c one
[1:06:44] or these are the ones that are
[1:06:46] commented on and then council
[1:06:47] vice chair approves the wanted
[1:06:52] c five and always the other one
[1:06:57] and c 13 and then do we need to
[1:06:57] pull any of the others for
[1:07:00] anyone?
[1:07:07] Okay Council member You're
[1:07:07] going to want to see ten pulled
[1:07:08] and so you could speak on it as
[1:07:10] a member of the public.
[1:07:10] Okay.
[1:07:14] So we have a c five, c 11 c 13
[1:07:17] and then we'll do c ten and
[1:07:23] then
[1:07:30] we see one or c five.
[1:07:33] I think we're going to do c
[1:07:33] five.
[1:07:37] I will just say that for the
[1:07:40] disperse the disbursement list
[1:07:41] there's that's a standard list
[1:07:44] that we prepare in the finance
[1:07:44] department for all the checks
[1:07:48] that are cut checks can be
[1:07:52] found on the clear gov portal.
[1:07:55] The transparency portal And
[1:07:56] I'll make sure with staff that
[1:08:00] we clearly point to that But I
[1:08:00] believe that you can download
[1:08:04] that into Excel and then sort
[1:08:07] those items.
[1:08:08] So thank you for that.
[1:08:10] Sure.
[1:08:15] And in regards to c five, I'll
[1:08:15] take any questions.
[1:08:19] This is our quarterly report on
[1:08:23] the measure c, c and c sales
[1:08:26] tax reports.
[1:08:29] Again, because our information
[1:08:33] comes delayed through the state
[1:08:34] ,the report that is a part of
[1:08:36] this item is for the third
[1:08:37] quarter of the fiscal year.
[1:08:46] So it is JANUARY through APRIL
[1:08:51] air through MARCH actually and
[1:08:54] the real property transfer
[1:08:54] taxes.
[1:08:55] The other piece of this and
[1:08:58] that is for the final quarter
[1:09:02] of the prior fiscal year during
[1:09:02] those great couple of questions
[1:09:05] will there be any forecasts
[1:09:06] that will include We're
[1:09:09] expecting thousands of
[1:09:13] residents to come into the city
[1:09:13] within or forecast that will
[1:09:16] include that information.
[1:09:20] So that is difficult to
[1:09:20] address.
[1:09:24] I mean there's and are you
[1:09:25] thinking that that is related
[1:09:28] to the revenue that they will
[1:09:28] potentially generate?
[1:09:32] There's also going to be costs
[1:09:35] associated with them when the
[1:09:35] general plan was brought
[1:09:39] forward there was a financial
[1:09:43] report that a consultant repair
[1:09:44] prepared specifically related
[1:09:48] to the full build out
[1:09:52] anticipate added in 2045 that
[1:09:56] talked about potential revenues
[1:09:56] and costs.
[1:10:00] It wasn't broken down obviously
[1:10:01] in a shorter term, you know our
[1:10:03] forecast is only looking ten
[1:10:06] years.
[1:10:07] We can look at those numbers
[1:10:10] and try to see what we can
[1:10:11] bring into the ten year
[1:10:14] forecast.
[1:10:17] We're working on that right now
[1:10:17] .
[1:10:18] We're waiting to close the
[1:10:21] fiscal year.
[1:10:22] We're working with our auditors
[1:10:25] currently and we hope to bring
[1:10:28] that forecast back to the
[1:10:29] council when we talk about the
[1:10:32] contingency reserve And we're
[1:10:33] we're hoping to do that in
[1:10:33] JANUARY.
[1:10:36] That way we'll have all the
[1:10:40] data from the prior fiscal year
[1:10:40] and that included additionally
[1:10:44] we will include now that
[1:10:47] measure seal has passed and we
[1:10:48] have an additional quarter cent
[1:10:51] it's looking likely although we
[1:10:52] don't have complete
[1:10:55] confirmation from cdp, tfa but
[1:10:59] that the quarter cent is is
[1:10:59] likely to start this JANUARY.
[1:11:03] So we will get half a year and
[1:11:04] we will include that as well
[1:11:07] And that the measures they'll
[1:11:07] be included in with all these
[1:11:07] other reports.
[1:11:11] And then just on that note, I
[1:11:11] know that reports could be
[1:11:13] coming that that ten year
[1:11:14] forecast but with the
[1:11:17] structural deficit with this
[1:11:17] new measure seal and with the
[1:11:21] possible offline end of the
[1:11:24] wellness village and 27 ish,
[1:11:24] how will that will that when
[1:11:28] will we expect our structural
[1:11:31] deficit to, you know, level out
[1:11:31] ?
[1:11:35] So I based on the budget
[1:11:41] forecast the adopted budget
[1:11:45] yeah, we can see that probably
[1:11:46] with it starts to decrease
[1:11:51] certainly in fiscal year 2728
[1:11:52] because that was when Wellness
[1:11:59] Village is slated to go offline
[1:12:00] and also then we will be
[1:12:03] receiving the additional tax
[1:12:03] sales tax revenue.
[1:12:07] And so probably again not
[1:12:11] having done a full analysis,
[1:12:15] what it looks like is in that
[1:12:19] fiscal year 29, 30 and 3031
[1:12:23] things get to even write again.
[1:12:24] All things being equal and we
[1:12:27] don't know what what else will
[1:12:27] happen.
[1:12:27] Yep.
[1:12:28] Okay.
[1:12:28] Thank you.
[1:12:28] That's it, Mary.
[1:12:31] Okay.
[1:12:32] One one additional question on
[1:12:32] this one.
[1:12:35] Thank you for pulling it, Vice
[1:12:35] Mayor and thanks for the
[1:12:35] report.
[1:12:39] See us over the the sales tax
[1:12:42] revenues.
[1:12:43] I asked if they had been
[1:12:45] inflation adjusted the ten year
[1:12:46] and you said no and it doesn't
[1:12:47] say it was That makes sense.
[1:12:49] Can can we see that going
[1:12:49] forward Because I was noticing
[1:12:53] that over ten years it's up but
[1:12:55] then over the last four years
[1:12:56] it's down our sales tax
[1:12:56] revenue.
[1:12:59] So I was just wondering like I
[1:13:03] want to be able to know in that
[1:13:04] I think it'll be helpful for us
[1:13:04] to know in that glance Like if
[1:13:07] it's if the value of the money
[1:13:10] is actually decreasing that
[1:13:11] makes sense or if what
[1:13:14] inflation you know changes that
[1:13:18] view I guess is that easy to do
[1:13:18] ?
[1:13:19] I can ask the consultant I'm
[1:13:22] not sure but I will say and
[1:13:26] then they did on the that third
[1:13:29] attachment the dotted red line
[1:13:30] sort of is looking at what
[1:13:34] would be norm Mall based on a
[1:13:34] normal projection on where you
[1:13:38] think you would land Of course
[1:13:38] every quarter is different
[1:13:38] right?
[1:13:42] The spikes in that graph are
[1:13:45] the DECEMBER holiday quarter
[1:13:46] which is typically when sales
[1:13:49] taxes at its greatest and other
[1:13:56] dips are you know the JANUARY,
[1:13:57] FEBRUARY, MARCH quarter tends
[1:14:00] to be low because people
[1:14:01] basically spent a lot of money
[1:14:02] for the holidays and then
[1:14:04] really tighten their belts in
[1:14:05] the beginning of the year And
[1:14:08] you can see that the the graph
[1:14:11] really does do that.
[1:14:12] I'll I'll see about the
[1:14:12] inflation.
[1:14:15] i will just say about the last
[1:14:16] four years there was a
[1:14:19] tremendous spike that happened
[1:14:23] coming out of the pandemic.
[1:14:24] Everybody had stimulus money in
[1:14:27] their pockets.
[1:14:28] They were spending on things in
[1:14:31] a way that they hadn't spent.
[1:14:35] They they they batten down the
[1:14:35] hatches and then they started
[1:14:38] they really started spending.
[1:14:39] And so the increases that you
[1:14:42] see there are because of that.
[1:14:46] And then as things started to
[1:14:47] even out and open up, people
[1:14:50] started paying for experiences
[1:14:50] more, right?
[1:14:51] Like they went out and did
[1:14:53] things that they hadn't been
[1:14:53] able to do.
[1:14:55] We don't get sales tax on those
[1:14:58] service says we get sales tax
[1:14:59] on goods And so when they
[1:15:01] stopped buying actual products
[1:15:06] and paid more for experience
[1:15:06] that has affected our sales
[1:15:06] tax.
[1:15:10] So a lot of things in the works
[1:15:13] there and certainly the kind of
[1:15:14] the ups and downs of the
[1:15:17] economy recently haven't helped
[1:15:17] either.
[1:15:20] People are and and tariffs and
[1:15:24] there's a lot but this this
[1:15:25] sort of is predicted that it
[1:15:25] was kind of course correcting
[1:15:28] and we'll see what happens
[1:15:32] we're cautiously optimistic for
[1:15:32] just very measured growth
[1:15:36] moving forward but we'll see.
[1:15:36] Okay, great.
[1:15:36] Thank you.
[1:15:37] Yeah, I just wanted to know if
[1:15:40] like the increases that we're
[1:15:40] seeing or the decreases we're
[1:15:43] taking that into account in
[1:15:43] case Yeah.
[1:15:44] She said another clue.
[1:15:44] Thank you.
[1:15:47] Okay.
[1:15:48] And I mean to piggyback on that
[1:15:54] I is inflation essentially
[1:15:55] accounted for when you're
[1:15:58] looking at projecting costs you
[1:15:58] know our expenditures I mean
[1:15:59] we're those are you're
[1:16:02] projecting yeah yeah that's how
[1:16:03] it's in our in our costs we do
[1:16:06] include that we doing we
[1:16:06] included in our forecast some
[1:16:10] measure of inflation both on
[1:16:11] revenues and expenditures We
[1:16:14] look at you know our model
[1:16:17] looks at history but it also we
[1:16:17] can adjust it based on things
[1:16:21] that we know that are happening
[1:16:21] that okay yeah, yeah.
[1:16:24] This one was just about the ten
[1:16:25] years prior not the forecast.
[1:16:25] Yes.
[1:16:26] But yeah.
[1:16:26] Correct.
[1:16:30] Yeah Yeah.
[1:16:30] Okay great.
[1:16:39] Next is c 11
[1:16:51] .
[1:16:55] Good evening Honorable mayor,
[1:16:56] vice Mayor and members of the
[1:16:56] Council.
[1:16:59] For the sake of the public my
[1:17:00] name is Travis Barnes.
[1:17:03] I am the housing and human
[1:17:03] Services Director.
[1:17:04] Staff has requested that this
[1:17:07] item be pulled based upon
[1:17:11] information that we learn from
[1:17:11] the county of Los Angeles.
[1:17:15] I want to thank Council members
[1:17:16] McMoRan and Fish for meeting
[1:17:19] with staff as part of the
[1:17:20] Standing Housing and
[1:17:23] Homelessness Subcommittee to
[1:17:27] discuss how to utilize the
[1:17:30] funds of 257,108 that we
[1:17:34] received from the County of Los
[1:17:34] Angeles Affordable housing and
[1:17:41] solution Agency or La Casa and
[1:17:41] the subcommittee has
[1:17:45] recommended that 20% of the
[1:17:49] funds go for legal services
[1:17:52] which is an allowed expense and
[1:17:53] that 20% will be used to
[1:17:56] supplement the contract with
[1:17:56] pathetic and to work with
[1:18:00] tenants who are experiencing an
[1:18:03] unlawful detainer.
[1:18:04] The subcommittee also had
[1:18:07] recommended that the 40% for
[1:18:11] rental assistance that half of
[1:18:13] those funds are 50
[1:18:14] approximately 51,000 be used
[1:18:17] for emergency rental assistance
[1:18:18] and flexible financial
[1:18:21] assistance And they have also
[1:18:24] recommended that the additional
[1:18:25] other 50% go towards temporary
[1:18:28] rental assistance for folks as
[1:18:32] defined under the program.
[1:18:32] And the program defines
[1:18:35] households that are
[1:18:36] experiencing a loss of
[1:18:39] employment, a natural disaster
[1:18:43] or an unlawful detainer and
[1:18:47] unexpected events that causes
[1:18:48] folks that are housed.
[1:18:51] These funds can only be used
[1:18:52] for folks that are housed to
[1:18:54] keep folks in housing.
[1:18:59] An additional 40% can be used
[1:19:02] at the discretion of the
[1:19:02] council.
[1:19:05] So the subcommittee instructed
[1:19:06] staff that 50% would be used
[1:19:09] for financial assistance for
[1:19:13] households impacted by
[1:19:13] immigration enforcement and
[1:19:17] they wanted the balance of
[1:19:21] 52,000 to support the city's
[1:19:24] housing trust fund.
[1:19:25] The county has informed us that
[1:19:28] we cannot use funds to support
[1:19:29] the housing trust fund.
[1:19:32] You can only use funds for
[1:19:36] direct client assist funds and
[1:19:37] they want the funds that are
[1:19:40] available to hit the streets as
[1:19:40] fast as possible.
[1:19:43] So Staff one wanted to inform
[1:19:46] the body that the county does
[1:19:47] not allow the use of funds for
[1:19:50] the housing trust funds and we
[1:19:50] would like to seek direction
[1:19:54] from the council of the Balance
[1:19:54] of the 52,000.
[1:19:58] How will the Council like to
[1:19:58] utilize those funds?
[1:20:02] Thank you for that.
[1:20:05] I would like to request that it
[1:20:06] goes into our rental assistance
[1:20:09] program.
[1:20:10] That's an area of need.
[1:20:13] This is not directly orange.
[1:20:16] You know I'm not going to
[1:20:17] disagree with that.
[1:20:17] Yes.
[1:20:20] And I think the subcommittee
[1:20:21] was very thoughtful in their
[1:20:25] deliberations and under the
[1:20:28] rental assistance program they
[1:20:31] would like to give one months
[1:20:32] of rental assistance which is
[1:20:38] 3500, which is a good chunk to
[1:20:39] assist folks And it's a one
[1:20:42] time But then we there also is
[1:20:43] a second component where they
[1:20:47] will give rental assistance of
[1:20:50] 1000 per month per adult for up
[1:20:50] to six months.
[1:20:51] So staff would just need to
[1:20:54] know which pocket do you want
[1:20:55] to put that in?
[1:20:58] The one time for 3500 or the
[1:21:01] thousand per month per adult
[1:21:03] for up to six months.
[1:21:07] I'd like to ask the opinion of
[1:21:10] the subcommittee members on
[1:21:11] that.
[1:21:11] Thanks.
[1:21:12] And I'm happy with that.
[1:21:15] I'm wondering if we can maybe
[1:21:18] split that between the program
[1:21:21] that specifically serves our
[1:21:26] immigration and our families
[1:21:26] targeted by immigration
[1:21:29] enforcement and then our our
[1:21:30] main program for the emergency
[1:21:33] rental as directed by I'm just
[1:21:34] saying in the temporary rental
[1:21:34] assistance maybe we could do
[1:21:37] like half and half.
[1:21:38] i don't know what is my
[1:21:38] colleague on the committee
[1:21:41] think?
[1:21:41] COUNCILMAN Martin Thank you
[1:21:42] Director Byrnes You and your
[1:21:45] entire team for your quick
[1:21:48] action and due diligence in
[1:21:52] getting back to us on that and
[1:21:52] that update on what the
[1:21:53] permissible use of the funds
[1:21:56] would be as it pertains to what
[1:21:57] we should do with this new
[1:22:00] information.
[1:22:01] I would be in favor of sort of
[1:22:03] splitting it between the two
[1:22:04] programs that we've identified.
[1:22:08] Again and as I sort of always
[1:22:09] say just kind of seeing where
[1:22:11] the need is as as needs come in
[1:22:15] and maybe we can make
[1:22:15] adjustments.
[1:22:16] I know we said we would check
[1:22:20] back in as a subcommittee as as
[1:22:20] things were progressing and we
[1:22:23] were noticing you know, you
[1:22:24] know, where the needs in our
[1:22:24] community are and just
[1:22:27] hopefully we can be nimble and
[1:22:27] flexible and really support our
[1:22:31] neighbors And remaining housed
[1:22:32] in Culver City which I know is
[1:22:35] a goal of everyone here in the
[1:22:35] Dyess.
[1:22:38] So and maybe for now we split
[1:22:39] And again just try to be data
[1:22:42] driven as we move forward.
[1:22:43] Thank you, Kent.
[1:22:46] To that end, could it be used
[1:22:47] as almost like a contingency
[1:22:53] bucket for these three separate
[1:22:54] You know, it's almost like we
[1:22:54] have three because they have
[1:22:55] the emergency rental and
[1:22:57] flexible assistance, the
[1:22:57] temporary rental assistance and
[1:23:01] then the immigration the family
[1:23:01] families targeted by
[1:23:01] immigration enforcement is
[1:23:04] there like can we have this as
[1:23:05] like council members saying
[1:23:08] like a sort of a a bucket that
[1:23:09] could fill where the need is
[1:23:11] the most between those three?
[1:23:14] The council can give staff that
[1:23:15] direction If I am understanding
[1:23:18] you correctly, we're noticing
[1:23:22] that more folks are in need of
[1:23:23] that one time rental assistance
[1:23:26] versus say the you know, folks
[1:23:30] impacted by immigration and
[1:23:30] Foresman that we would then
[1:23:34] rely upon that additional money
[1:23:35] to assist those folks.
[1:23:38] But if we notice that it's
[1:23:39] trending in that way we would
[1:23:41] convene the subcommittee to let
[1:23:42] you know what's happening and
[1:23:46] to see what direction you want
[1:23:47] us to go And if you want us to
[1:23:48] come back to the full body I'm
[1:23:49] okay with that as everyone
[1:23:52] else's.
[1:23:53] Yes.
[1:23:56] Okay.
[1:23:56] Directions clear.
[1:23:57] Thank you.
[1:23:58] I appreciate that.
[1:24:02] Okay, great.
[1:24:03] No further questions on that
[1:24:03] item.
[1:24:06] See 13 and then we'll do a vote
[1:24:13] on those with minus c ten.
[1:24:14] I don't need the staff report.
[1:24:17] I just curious how many grants
[1:24:21] have been made and how many
[1:24:22] participants have obtained
[1:24:26] housing and remained in housing
[1:24:26] And what happens if
[1:24:27] participants leave before one
[1:24:31] year?
[1:24:35] So for the public again this is
[1:24:36] tough as far as how the any
[1:24:39] human services director Vice
[1:24:43] Mayor Pusa is asking with
[1:24:46] regards to the it's called the
[1:24:47] permanent Local housing
[1:24:54] allocation program r p l h h a
[1:24:57] We have been awarded year
[1:25:00] three, four and five.
[1:25:01] Similar to our previous
[1:25:04] discussion this money is
[1:25:04] prescribed for certain
[1:25:08] eligibility eligible activities
[1:25:12] under year three Council gave
[1:25:15] direction that we would utilize
[1:25:15] our funds as rental assistance
[1:25:19] for folks transitioning out of
[1:25:23] our interim housing program So
[1:25:23] part of the recommendation is
[1:25:26] that we continue to use years
[1:25:27] four and five for folks
[1:25:31] transitioning out of our
[1:25:31] program for year three.
[1:25:34] We are currently still in the
[1:25:35] process of developing a by name
[1:25:38] list meaning that folks that we
[1:25:42] believe can benefit from this
[1:25:42] program and please understand
[1:25:46] this is temporary rental
[1:25:46] assistance.
[1:25:47] So we really need to work with
[1:25:50] households that can live
[1:25:50] independently And once the
[1:25:54] funds are removed or moved away
[1:25:58] or reduced they are able to
[1:26:01] maintain that housing without
[1:26:02] that assistance because we
[1:26:03] don't want anyone to fall back
[1:26:06] into homelessness.
[1:26:07] So currently we are identifying
[1:26:13] households that we believe
[1:26:16] could thrive in a situation and
[1:26:20] living this independent and
[1:26:21] we're also using funds to
[1:26:25] provide additional years of
[1:26:25] rental assistance.
[1:26:28] The first iteration was just
[1:26:28] only one year of rental
[1:26:31] assistance which most of us
[1:26:32] realize that's not enough.
[1:26:35] And so with we went to the
[1:26:35] county and said Hey, can we get
[1:26:36] more money?
[1:26:39] And they agreed.
[1:26:39] So now we will be able to
[1:26:43] provide folks with up to three
[1:26:44] years of rental assistance to
[1:26:47] help them transition to be able
[1:26:48] to pay the rent on their own or
[1:26:51] hopefully maybe find another
[1:26:54] resource such as a Section
[1:26:54] eight housing voucher.
[1:26:57] So currently we have six folks
[1:27:01] on our by nameless We are
[1:27:01] working with them and getting
[1:27:04] them prepped and ready to be
[1:27:05] able to live in an apartment on
[1:27:08] their own And of course working
[1:27:09] with them with life skills and
[1:27:12] money management So that way
[1:27:13] when they make the transition
[1:27:16] that they are strong and well
[1:27:17] suited to do so.
[1:27:17] All right.
[1:27:20] And then you did ask what
[1:27:21] happens if they don't stay for
[1:27:23] a year?
[1:27:27] We will just move to the next
[1:27:28] person on the by nameless who's
[1:27:28] ready to go.
[1:27:29] Got it.
[1:27:31] Thank you.
[1:27:32] And things are going over the
[1:27:35] program and back up.
[1:27:36] So tonight is correct that we
[1:27:38] talked about three rentals
[1:27:40] assistance programs, three
[1:27:41] different Yes we have So we
[1:27:45] have one rental assistance for
[1:27:48] the unhoused and that's the p l
[1:27:52] h a program And then we discuss
[1:27:52] to rental assistance program
[1:27:53] through that And I'm sorry to
[1:27:56] do this to the public This is a
[1:27:59] lot of alphabet that what is
[1:28:04] that the the r a okay even I am
[1:28:07] having difficulty here it is
[1:28:08] the rental housing homeless
[1:28:11] prevention program the
[1:28:13] difference between the one the
[1:28:14] two programs one is for folks
[1:28:18] who are housed to keep them in
[1:28:19] their housing and the other one
[1:28:22] is for folks who are unhoused
[1:28:22] to get them into housing.
[1:28:25] So the p l h a is for the
[1:28:26] unhoused to get them into
[1:28:30] permanent housing and then the
[1:28:30] other two programs for folks
[1:28:34] who are already housed to keep
[1:28:34] them maintained in their
[1:28:38] housing because they were
[1:28:38] dealing with some type of
[1:28:38] crisis.
[1:28:41] So we are dealing with three
[1:28:41] different programs.
[1:28:41] Right.
[1:28:42] Thank you, Director Burns.
[1:28:45] And just for clarification for
[1:28:45] members of the public because I
[1:28:48] think there's some confusion
[1:28:48] that we don't provide rental
[1:28:49] assistance programs anymore.
[1:28:52] They've been eliminated.
[1:28:53] So I just want to make sure
[1:28:55] that the public knows that the
[1:28:56] city is still providing those
[1:28:56] very important programs.
[1:28:59] Thank you.
[1:29:00] And don't forget we also still
[1:29:00] have our Section eight rental
[1:29:03] assistance program.
[1:29:04] We're still working with that
[1:29:08] program as well on the federal
[1:29:08] side.
[1:29:08] Okay.
[1:29:09] Thank you for that addition.
[1:29:11] Thank you.
[1:29:11] Okay.
[1:29:11] Thank you.
[1:29:14] So with that thank you Director
[1:29:18] Branch, let's go ahead and vote
[1:29:22] on consent item c one through
[1:29:30] 17 while pulling out c ten
[1:29:35] I
[1:29:40] have a motion by Council member
[1:29:41] Farah a second by Mayor o'Brien
[1:29:44] to approve the consent calendar
[1:29:49] item c 139 and c 11 through c
[1:29:53] 17th MAY be in voting.
[1:29:54] Yeah I can no I still can't
[1:29:57] vote or make motions but I vote
[1:29:58] I thank you Council member Fish
[1:30:01] Maybe if we can get j hours or
[1:30:08] someone Johnny here
[1:30:08] that motion
[1:30:12] passes unanimously okay and for
[1:30:13] the public council member is
[1:30:15] going to step into the back
[1:30:16] because he has a perceived
[1:30:20] conflict of interest on c ten
[1:30:24] and once the staff report is
[1:30:24] complete and any further public
[1:30:27] comment or comments from the
[1:30:32] Dyess are over, he is going to
[1:30:33] be called out to speak on the
[1:30:37] item as a member of the public
[1:30:41] sector chain.
[1:30:45] All right, good evening, Mayor,
[1:30:45] vice mayor and city council
[1:30:48] members, this is Diana Chang,
[1:30:49] City's chief transportation
[1:30:49] officer.
[1:30:52] We're here tonight to recommend
[1:30:53] to city council to approve the
[1:30:53] guiding principles for the
[1:30:56] supply that connects project to
[1:30:57] authorize acceptance of grant
[1:31:00] funds for the Metro measure and
[1:31:01] sub regional equity program In
[1:31:04] the amounts laid down the staff
[1:31:04] report and approve a related
[1:31:07] budget amendment to appropriate
[1:31:08] the grant funds to the project.
[1:31:12] We also have a presentation
[1:31:13] available to introduce the
[1:31:15] project and walk through the
[1:31:16] guiding principles If the
[1:31:16] Council would like a
[1:31:23] presentation yes please.
[1:31:26] Thank you.
[1:31:30] So if you can next slide please
[1:31:30] support Our next is a mobility
[1:31:33] project that envisions a
[1:31:34] corridor where everyone can
[1:31:38] move better safely comfortable
[1:31:38] and reliably and find the
[1:31:41] opportunity to improve people's
[1:31:42] experience along the corridor.
[1:31:45] This project is a community
[1:31:46] center design effort that will
[1:31:49] lead to the construction of low
[1:31:50] cost meaningful improvements
[1:31:53] that benefit transit writers
[1:31:53] and other street users.
[1:31:57] Next slide We're focused on
[1:31:57] some of that because it's
[1:32:01] critical mobility corridor for
[1:32:02] Culver City and neighboring
[1:32:02] West Side communities serving
[1:32:05] many important regional
[1:32:06] destinations such as L.A. X and
[1:32:09] ucla and many local
[1:32:10] neighborhood services and
[1:32:13] businesses.
[1:32:14] Our general plan identifies
[1:32:15] support for that as a transit
[1:32:17] priority corridor a place where
[1:32:18] we prioritize improvements to
[1:32:21] our streets and signals to make
[1:32:21] busses operate more reliably
[1:32:25] and to make the customer access
[1:32:28] in waiting experience safer and
[1:32:29] more enjoyable.
[1:32:30] So with all our capital
[1:32:32] projects support for that call
[1:32:33] next we'll look to improve the
[1:32:37] experience and reliability for
[1:32:37] people traveling by all modes.
[1:32:40] Next slide the Complete Streets
[1:32:44] Design Standard Establish a set
[1:32:45] of street design elements that
[1:32:48] must be included when budget
[1:32:49] allows in all key roadway
[1:32:52] projects with the goal of
[1:32:53] incrementally making our
[1:32:56] streets more complete support.
[1:32:56] Our connects is a transit
[1:33:00] priority project at its core
[1:33:00] but staff will look to include
[1:33:04] other design elements from the
[1:33:04] complete street design
[1:33:05] standards when it's financially
[1:33:07] feasible to do so.
[1:33:11] Next slide.
[1:33:12] Funding for this project comes
[1:33:15] in part from the West Side
[1:33:15] City's Council of Government
[1:33:19] which has dedicated measure and
[1:33:19] funds to build the bus priority
[1:33:22] on three key corridors
[1:33:23] including support for the
[1:33:23] boulevard The West cog
[1:33:26] supported by our staff will be
[1:33:27] designing and implementing
[1:33:30] quick built bustling under
[1:33:31] segment of support of the north
[1:33:34] and south of Culver City in
[1:33:34] combination with our project.
[1:33:38] These improvements will shape a
[1:33:38] meaningful transit priority
[1:33:41] corridor that supports our
[1:33:42] highest ridership bus line bus
[1:33:45] line and an important corridor
[1:33:46] for the l.A or 2028 games.
[1:33:53] Next slide the project team has
[1:33:54] been working during the first
[1:33:56] three quarters of 2025 to
[1:33:57] develop a clear understanding
[1:34:00] of baseline conditions in the
[1:34:00] corridor including developing
[1:34:01] analysis tools that will be
[1:34:04] used to model traffic and
[1:34:05] transit outcomes from various
[1:34:08] design scenarios to be
[1:34:09] developed during next phases of
[1:34:13] the project In OCTOBER we
[1:34:15] launched our engagement process
[1:34:16] with our first c pac or what we
[1:34:19] call community project Advisory
[1:34:20] Committee and door to door
[1:34:22] visits with corridor
[1:34:23] businesses.
[1:34:26] We're scheduled to hold our
[1:34:26] first public design workshop
[1:34:29] starting in mid-NOVEMBER.
[1:34:30] These will support a community
[1:34:31] centered design process that
[1:34:34] will continue through the first
[1:34:35] quarter of 2026.
[1:34:38] We will return to the City
[1:34:38] Council at that time with
[1:34:39] design alternatives for
[1:34:41] direction.
[1:34:42] Our scheduled target contract
[1:34:46] construction date will be in
[1:34:46] late 2026 with an opening
[1:34:50] anticipated in 2027.
[1:34:53] Next line So in effort to
[1:34:56] ensure a smooth design process
[1:34:57] ,these draft guiding
[1:34:57] principles have been developed
[1:35:00] to guide our work with
[1:35:01] community stakeholders leading
[1:35:04] to solutions that meet
[1:35:04] community goals.
[1:35:05] The following guiding
[1:35:08] principles reflects these goals
[1:35:09] codified in the general plan
[1:35:12] and will be used to ensure
[1:35:12] project design activities
[1:35:15] uphold the city's commitment to
[1:35:16] meeting these community crafted
[1:35:16] goals.
[1:35:20] These are similar to the design
[1:35:20] guidelines we have for the
[1:35:21] downtown corridor.
[1:35:24] They lay out what the project
[1:35:25] is and what it isn't and how to
[1:35:28] resolve issues that come up
[1:35:28] during design.
[1:35:29] It makes sure that everything
[1:35:32] we're doing is fulfilling the
[1:35:32] project's mission.
[1:35:35] Next slide.
[1:35:36] With a limited budget we will
[1:35:39] have to prioritize street
[1:35:39] improvements that best align
[1:35:42] with our general plan policies
[1:35:43] and mobility needs.
[1:35:46] Our guiding principles are
[1:35:46] organized to help inform
[1:35:47] project development in decision
[1:35:50] decision making.
[1:35:51] General plan policies and user
[1:35:54] needs dictate that transit
[1:35:55] improvements are the core of
[1:35:57] support with our connects.
[1:35:58] As we plan for these
[1:35:59] improvements, the team will
[1:36:02] seek to make travel more
[1:36:02] reliable for all road users and
[1:36:06] for fulfill the intent of the
[1:36:06] bike and pedestrian action plan
[1:36:10] by creating additional
[1:36:10] connections within the bike
[1:36:10] network.
[1:36:13] These are other critical
[1:36:14] mobility principles Any time we
[1:36:17] make transportation investments
[1:36:18] it presents an opportunity to
[1:36:21] improve our community.
[1:36:21] For kids walking to school,
[1:36:22] people accessing local
[1:36:25] businesses and those who spend
[1:36:26] time on the corridor and in
[1:36:29] adjacent neighborhoods.
[1:36:30] Finally, our designs were aimed
[1:36:34] to balance cost effectiveness
[1:36:34] with quality impermanence and
[1:36:37] now going to a little bit in
[1:36:38] the future slides Next slide.
[1:36:42] The content of support for our
[1:36:45] connect is to build transit
[1:36:45] priority infrastructure and
[1:36:46] support that to speed up busses
[1:36:49] and help them stay on schedule.
[1:36:50] These improvements will be
[1:36:53] coordinated with
[1:36:53] recommendations from Culver
[1:36:54] City Your way to enhance
[1:36:57] service levels.
[1:36:58] For those of you who are not
[1:37:01] familiar Culver City your Way
[1:37:01] is another initiative that's
[1:37:02] aimed at creating a holistic
[1:37:05] mobility services plan which in
[1:37:05] coordination with the
[1:37:09] infrastructure improves Ment's
[1:37:10] will help to create more
[1:37:10] convenient options for people
[1:37:13] to travel in their daily lives.
[1:37:14] We're using a data driven
[1:37:17] approach to build bus links
[1:37:18] where delay is more impactful
[1:37:18] to customers.
[1:37:21] This will allow us to consider
[1:37:22] other types of improvements
[1:37:25] where bus travel is and is
[1:37:25] projected to remain reliable.
[1:37:28] Next slide.
[1:37:29] As mentioned earlier, support
[1:37:33] for that is the busiest transit
[1:37:33] corridor served by Culver City
[1:37:33] bus.
[1:37:38] The line six Rapid six carries
[1:37:39] approximately 6000 riders per
[1:37:42] day which is about 55% of our
[1:37:42] system.
[1:37:44] Bus ridership.
[1:37:45] This is also a key corridor for
[1:37:48] the Olympics connecting key
[1:37:49] destinations and metro rail bus
[1:37:52] riders in the corridor are
[1:37:53] impacted daily by traffic
[1:37:53] related delay and poor
[1:37:56] reliability.
[1:37:59] Next slide.
[1:38:00] Building our network of all
[1:38:04] ages and abilities cycling
[1:38:04] facilities is essential to meet
[1:38:05] our general plan goals in
[1:38:09] meeting the intent of the b
[1:38:09] pap.
[1:38:10] Support for that is identified
[1:38:12] as a North-South cycling
[1:38:12] corridor in the bike and
[1:38:16] Pedestrian action plan.
[1:38:16] In support of that connect will
[1:38:19] evaluate options to build out a
[1:38:20] north south facility, improve
[1:38:23] network connectivity.
[1:38:23] Our existing conditions
[1:38:26] analysis identified that there
[1:38:27] are high traffic volumes
[1:38:27] particularly in turning
[1:38:31] movements, complex
[1:38:31] intersections, vehicle speeds
[1:38:35] and multiple freeway ramps and
[1:38:36] off ramps on portions of the
[1:38:39] corridor that are consistent
[1:38:39] with the highest level of
[1:38:39] cycling stress.
[1:38:43] With these conditions our
[1:38:44] national design guidance calls
[1:38:44] for the highest level of
[1:38:48] protection on corridor and at
[1:38:48] intersections.
[1:38:49] Given these findings, our
[1:38:52] guiding principles provide
[1:38:53] direction to look at both our
[1:38:56] corridor in parallel corridors
[1:38:57] cycling facilities It would be
[1:39:00] most prudent to locate bike
[1:39:00] lanes and support where traffic
[1:39:01] volume and turning movements
[1:39:04] permit building a high comfort
[1:39:05] low stress facility and the
[1:39:09] lanes will close a gap in the
[1:39:10] existing or near future Bike
[1:39:12] network whether it's planned or
[1:39:14] for planned and funded network
[1:39:14] .
[1:39:19] Next slide The real strength of
[1:39:19] bike infrastructure isn't any
[1:39:23] particular corridor it's in
[1:39:23] that network as a whole.
[1:39:26] A network of protected bike
[1:39:27] lanes means more people are
[1:39:30] connected to more destinations
[1:39:30] .
[1:39:31] Our approach will be identify
[1:39:31] to identify the set of
[1:39:35] investments that best
[1:39:35] contribute to a comprehensive
[1:39:38] all ages and abilities network
[1:39:38] .
[1:39:42] Next slide We want people to
[1:39:42] experience predictable and
[1:39:46] reliable travel along support
[1:39:46] of them whether they're riding
[1:39:50] the bus and driving walking or
[1:39:50] riding the bike.
[1:39:54] Here's why we are focusing on
[1:39:54] reliability.
[1:39:55] When people have bad travel
[1:39:58] experiences it's often because
[1:39:59] a trip takes longer than
[1:40:02] expected because the busses
[1:40:03] late or because the car or a
[1:40:04] bus is delayed in traffic.
[1:40:06] It's what sticks out in their
[1:40:09] memory as a poor experience.
[1:40:10] In a growing region we can't
[1:40:13] expect to reduce traffic demand
[1:40:13] but we can provide reliable
[1:40:14] travel for people making
[1:40:17] sustainable transit in cycling
[1:40:18] more attractive options and
[1:40:21] tools that make transit and
[1:40:21] cycling more predictable,
[1:40:25] reliable and safe can also help
[1:40:25] to improve travel reliability
[1:40:29] for people driving and
[1:40:29] delivering goods and can
[1:40:33] encourage context appropriate
[1:40:33] travel speeds improving safety
[1:40:33] for all.
[1:40:36] Next slide.
[1:40:41] The project will be addressing
[1:40:41] the corridor holistically
[1:40:42] assuring that improvements made
[1:40:44] on support that don't have
[1:40:45] negative outcomes for adjacent
[1:40:45] neighborhoods.
[1:40:48] The team will analyze potential
[1:40:49] impacts coordinating with the
[1:40:52] tri square area traffic study
[1:40:53] and consider traffic calming
[1:40:56] measures that address current
[1:40:57] and future cut through traffic.
[1:40:59] Next slide.
[1:41:00] The project will seek to
[1:41:03] improve neighborhood
[1:41:04] connectivity through targeted
[1:41:07] pedestrian improvements.
[1:41:08] This will include adding
[1:41:08] features to help calm traffic,
[1:41:11] reduce pedestrian crossing
[1:41:12] distances and create a
[1:41:15] welcoming and accessible
[1:41:16] environment to shop, stroll or
[1:41:18] wait for the bus.
[1:41:22] Next slide.
[1:41:25] We have heard a strong desire
[1:41:26] from the c pac members and
[1:41:29] business stakeholders for
[1:41:30] investments that improve the
[1:41:30] public realm along the
[1:41:30] corridor.
[1:41:33] The project will look for
[1:41:34] tactical opportunities to
[1:41:37] improve the quality of public
[1:41:38] spaces and support the
[1:41:38] boulevard and improve
[1:41:41] conditions for people accessing
[1:41:41] businesses and transit
[1:41:42] services.
[1:41:46] Next slide Support that is home
[1:41:49] to many small and local
[1:41:50] businesses that rely on access
[1:41:53] by all modes.
[1:41:54] Our team has surveyed parking
[1:41:56] usage along the corridor and on
[1:41:57] intersecting streets and we use
[1:41:58] this data to inform design
[1:42:01] decisions and identify
[1:42:01] locations that require
[1:42:04] mitigations for potential loss
[1:42:05] of our street parking spaces.
[1:42:09] While we note while we know
[1:42:09] many customers arrive by car,
[1:42:12] this project is an opportunity
[1:42:13] to make some of that a safer
[1:42:16] and more comfortable space a
[1:42:17] place to access businesses and
[1:42:17] services on foot or other
[1:42:20] sustainable modes.
[1:42:21] Next slide.
[1:42:24] It will be important for this
[1:42:25] project to balance the use of
[1:42:28] permanent materials that our
[1:42:28] appropriate for this heavily
[1:42:29] used corridor with the
[1:42:32] opportunity to make meaningful
[1:42:32] improvements within our project
[1:42:35] budget.
[1:42:36] Our goal is to install
[1:42:36] permanent infrastructure
[1:42:40] whenever possible and to use
[1:42:40] quick build materials only in
[1:42:44] limited circumstances where
[1:42:44] needed to meet time and budget
[1:42:44] constraints.
[1:42:47] Next slide.
[1:42:48] So this concludes my
[1:42:52] presentation and where staff as
[1:42:52] well as project consultant are
[1:42:55] available for any questions.
[1:42:56] Thank you.
[1:42:59] That was great.
[1:43:00] Do we still have a member of
[1:43:01] the public going to speak on
[1:43:03] this?
[1:43:03] Yes.
[1:43:04] We had three speakers signed up
[1:43:04] for this.
[1:43:07] Okay.
[1:43:08] Can we hear from them please?
[1:43:08] 92nd each.
[1:43:11] So we have Melissa Sanders,
[1:43:14] Lisa Lindgren and Albert Viera
[1:43:14] .
[1:43:18] Melissa Sanders is on line.
[1:43:19] So I've unmuted you.
[1:43:21] You can unmute yourself.
[1:43:22] Go ahead.
[1:43:25] Hi again.
[1:43:29] I actually MAY defer to
[1:43:29] Albertson's.
[1:43:30] He is a business owner there
[1:43:33] and I would like one of our
[1:43:33] priorities to start being our
[1:43:37] businesses.
[1:43:38] I didn't know he was in to
[1:43:39] speak so this is totally off
[1:43:41] the cuff and whatever is done
[1:43:44] in this city needs to be
[1:43:47] thoughtful and respectful of
[1:43:48] everyone but especially our
[1:43:52] businesses because without our
[1:43:53] businesses we don't have a
[1:43:53] city.
[1:43:56] So the exhausting list of
[1:44:00] places that have closed over
[1:44:01] the past few years is mind
[1:44:03] boggling.
[1:44:04] We all know move was a massive
[1:44:04] failure.
[1:44:08] It is still a problem.
[1:44:11] So anything that will make car
[1:44:15] travel more difficult create
[1:44:16] less parking and less access
[1:44:20] for people should be a
[1:44:20] nonstarter at this point.
[1:44:23] I have a new boss who has no
[1:44:24] idea that I am involved with
[1:44:27] city politics at all.
[1:44:28] And he complains about having
[1:44:31] to travel through Culver City
[1:44:34] Still even though it's improved
[1:44:34] .
[1:44:35] So please think about that.
[1:44:38] Think about the people who do
[1:44:42] travel in cars who are the
[1:44:43] majority of the people who will
[1:44:46] shop eat, play, drink etc. In
[1:44:47] Culver City.
[1:44:53] So thank you.
[1:44:55] Our next picture is Diesel in
[1:44:59] green.
[1:45:00] Good evening, Mayor o'Brien,
[1:45:02] Vice Mayor pws and members of
[1:45:03] the city council.
[1:45:04] My name is Lisa Lindgren and I
[1:45:06] just I'm speaking this evening
[1:45:07] as a member of Bike Culver City
[1:45:10] Bike.
[1:45:11] Culver City did send a letter
[1:45:12] to all of you but it was sent
[1:45:14] perhaps too late for all of you
[1:45:15] to get to see And I just wanted
[1:45:18] to share some highlights.
[1:45:19] The first thing is that my
[1:45:21] Culver City is really thrilled
[1:45:22] that the city is is beginning
[1:45:26] the process for Snapple that it
[1:45:26] connects.
[1:45:29] It's as you know so poverty is
[1:45:30] frequently utilized as an
[1:45:33] alternative to the 4 or 5
[1:45:33] particular during rush hour.
[1:45:36] So everything that can be done
[1:45:40] to improve things on Sepulveda
[1:45:41] will be a really great benefit
[1:45:44] to all users of that street
[1:45:44] including those who are
[1:45:49] pedestrians people ride bikes
[1:45:49] and those who use alternative
[1:45:52] transit like the bus.
[1:45:56] We want to make sure that the
[1:45:56] plans reflect our understanding
[1:45:59] of the changes that can be
[1:46:02] expected With the passage of sb
[1:46:02] 79.
[1:46:03] There is very likely to be more
[1:46:07] housing on support of it in the
[1:46:07] future so making it possible
[1:46:10] for people to live there and
[1:46:11] not be totally car dependent
[1:46:14] would be extremely positive.
[1:46:15] It's very helpful to have had
[1:46:18] the excellent presentation
[1:46:19] shown by Diana Chang and her
[1:46:20] department has done amazing
[1:46:23] work and we look forward to the
[1:46:23] ongoing process for providing
[1:46:25] an input.
[1:46:27] We do really want to stress the
[1:46:30] importance of including safety
[1:46:30] as one of the guiding
[1:46:33] principles sustainability and
[1:46:33] Equity hired.
[1:46:37] Thank you so much.
[1:46:37] Thank you.
[1:46:37] Thank you.
[1:46:41] Did you want to come back out
[1:46:44] and speak on our fire?
[1:46:45] Come on out.
[1:46:51] Come on down.
[1:46:52] What do you say back there?
[1:46:55] Thank Evening Council.
[1:46:59] Thank you so much for hearing
[1:46:59] my voice as a business owner On
[1:47:02] to Poverty Boulevard.
[1:47:02] I'm extremely worried about
[1:47:06] this project moving forward
[1:47:09] with the elimination of parking
[1:47:09] .
[1:47:10] As a business owner I did a
[1:47:14] survey about a week ago and
[1:47:14] determined that at least 45% of
[1:47:17] my customers are comfortable
[1:47:18] with a boulevard.
[1:47:21] The loss of revenue would be a
[1:47:25] terrible loss to me as well as
[1:47:26] every other business on So
[1:47:29] Poveda and I decided to take a
[1:47:29] look at seeing the revenue loss
[1:47:32] not only in the tax dollars
[1:47:33] from the businesses but also
[1:47:33] the revenue loss in terms of
[1:47:36] the parking meters and how that
[1:47:40] would affect the city overall
[1:47:40] monetarily.
[1:47:44] I can do structures great but
[1:47:45] where possible we can do it off
[1:47:45] in support of it and maybe on
[1:47:47] some of the side streets but
[1:47:48] really to ensure that the
[1:47:52] business voices are heard and
[1:47:52] we have meaningful conversation
[1:47:55] and some of these issues are
[1:47:59] really addressed in a
[1:47:59] meaningful manner.
[1:48:03] Like I said, parking is vital
[1:48:04] to the success and longevity of
[1:48:07] any business So really be
[1:48:08] cautious about how we move
[1:48:08] forward with parking.
[1:48:11] Thank you.
[1:48:11] Thank you.
[1:48:15] That's the end of our speakers.
[1:48:15] Okay.
[1:48:16] Thank you.
[1:48:18] Any comments from my colleagues
[1:48:19] or questions?
[1:48:22] Director Jan Katzmaier.
[1:48:26] Thank you And thank you so much
[1:48:26] for the fantastic presentation,
[1:48:27] DR. Chang.
[1:48:29] It's clear how much thought has
[1:48:34] already gone into this project
[1:48:34] and the need for this before
[1:48:37] the Olympics is so clear.
[1:48:38] And so just thank you for doing
[1:48:39] everything you can to make it a
[1:48:41] reality.
[1:48:42] Like Director Ching mentioned,
[1:48:45] you know, this being a $100
[1:48:48] million $100 million coming
[1:48:48] from measure this is a regional
[1:48:52] priority of the West Side cog
[1:48:56] And this is Culver City Busses
[1:48:56] most popular route from Fox
[1:48:59] Hills to ucla.
[1:49:00] I took it for two years to get
[1:49:03] to to my program at ucla.
[1:49:07] It is so crowded and you know
[1:49:08] that bus was stopping for, you
[1:49:11] know, in traffic or you know,
[1:49:11] my entire ride up there.
[1:49:14] It was not a super pleasant
[1:49:17] experience And yet it's 55% of
[1:49:17] our obviously ridership.
[1:49:21] I appreciate you sharing that.
[1:49:22] DR. Chan It's really helpful to
[1:49:24] know So yeah, you know I
[1:49:25] appreciate the letter that we
[1:49:28] received from advocates in our
[1:49:32] community who are just
[1:49:33] concerned about us or you know
[1:49:36] I think I really appreciate the
[1:49:37] proposed guiding principles and
[1:49:40] especially the revised version
[1:49:40] that was sent.
[1:49:43] I think on Friday.
[1:49:44] And I'm just curious if you
[1:49:47] know some of their concerns
[1:49:51] were that safety as a as a
[1:49:52] concept wasn't one of them.
[1:49:55] And I'm wondering if we can if
[1:49:58] these principles are something
[1:49:59] that this council could give
[1:50:03] direction to just incorporates
[1:50:03] safety as a guiding principle
[1:50:06] considering that traffic
[1:50:07] violence is the number one
[1:50:11] cause of death for for children
[1:50:14] in L.A. County ages 5 to 14
[1:50:14] according to the L.A. County
[1:50:14] coroner.
[1:50:17] Is that is that something that
[1:50:18] Director Chiang that these
[1:50:22] guiding principles could they
[1:50:22] be amended to add safety as a
[1:50:26] as a guiding principle?
[1:50:26] And I do again appreciate so
[1:50:30] appreciate what we do have here
[1:50:30] because I think it's really
[1:50:31] strong But I'm hearing that
[1:50:34] from some community members.
[1:50:34] Thank you.
[1:50:36] And and I want to clarify that
[1:50:40] these are guiding principles
[1:50:41] that will help us with the
[1:50:44] design And these are actually
[1:50:48] not the way that it's different
[1:50:49] than when we see goals of a
[1:50:51] project.
[1:50:51] Right.
[1:50:52] And so the way to my
[1:50:55] understanding is that the
[1:50:59] safety is in every project that
[1:51:00] we do And so it's more like a
[1:51:03] goal but it's not a designed
[1:51:07] guideline in that sense.
[1:51:07] So but if the council wants us
[1:51:08] to amend it we can certainly
[1:51:11] amend It's just not quite the
[1:51:14] intent of the guiding
[1:51:14] principle.
[1:51:18] Again it's it's safety is
[1:51:19] everything that we do here
[1:51:21] every time we implement a
[1:51:25] capital project whether it's
[1:51:26] you know, the street restriping
[1:51:29] or you know, any kind of
[1:51:29] project that touched the
[1:51:29] roadway.
[1:51:33] We do have a Vision zero policy
[1:51:33] and complete street design
[1:51:37] standards that actually focus a
[1:51:40] lot on the safety of things and
[1:51:40] that we actually follow.
[1:51:44] And so that's something that I
[1:51:45] wanted to make sure that we're
[1:51:48] where I'm distinguishing the
[1:51:49] difference between the the goal
[1:51:52] as well as in this guiding
[1:51:52] principle.
[1:51:53] Thank you for that.
[1:51:56] Yeah I, I am really happy to
[1:51:59] hear that it's a you know a
[1:52:00] goal of every project that we
[1:52:00] work on.
[1:52:03] I mean that's that's evident
[1:52:04] just by the the project that we
[1:52:07] just unveiled on on Robertson
[1:52:08] this section the majority of it
[1:52:10] that's in Culver City is really
[1:52:11] protected concrete protected
[1:52:15] and even separated bikeway at
[1:52:15] one point And then when you see
[1:52:18] the L.A. Portion they have a
[1:52:19] different set of standards and
[1:52:22] the protection is much softer,
[1:52:23] less fortified and just less
[1:52:26] secure and less comfortable for
[1:52:26] people.
[1:52:27] So I think there's for me
[1:52:29] there's a really wide range of
[1:52:33] of what a protected facility
[1:52:34] bike lane or what a bus lane
[1:52:34] could be.
[1:52:37] There's so many examples of
[1:52:37] different types of facilities.
[1:52:40] So that's why I think it's
[1:52:41] important that this document
[1:52:44] even if it's just setting up
[1:52:45] you know, it doesn't sound like
[1:52:48] this is blocking any any work
[1:52:49] or anything that we need to do
[1:52:50] But if it's if it's here to set
[1:52:52] up you know what we envision
[1:52:53] this project being I think
[1:52:56] safety should at least be a
[1:53:00] core principle And then I also
[1:53:01] heard I heard it from this
[1:53:04] letter that you know equity
[1:53:07] sustainability that those be
[1:53:08] included and I'm supportive of
[1:53:08] that as well.
[1:53:14] I'm supportive of adding the
[1:53:15] plan or the guiding principles
[1:53:19] do reference to be pap which is
[1:53:19] great but it would I think it
[1:53:20] would be great considering how
[1:53:23] much time and effort went into
[1:53:23] the Complete Streets guidelines
[1:53:27] if it could reference that as
[1:53:27] well.
[1:53:27] That was another ask from from
[1:53:30] our community was just
[1:53:30] referencing the work that went
[1:53:31] into developing those
[1:53:33] guidelines by saying this
[1:53:34] project is intended to you know
[1:53:38] continue to essentially abide
[1:53:42] by the complete Streets
[1:53:42] guidelines that were developed.
[1:53:43] So those are the suggestions
[1:53:46] colleagues that I'd love to
[1:53:46] make to this document.
[1:53:50] I don't I don't intend to to
[1:53:50] hold this up.
[1:53:51] So I would hope that that maybe
[1:53:54] wouldn't need to come back for
[1:53:55] approval if we could just give
[1:53:56] direction to approve it with
[1:54:01] those amendments to prioritize
[1:54:04] those or to add those guiding
[1:54:04] principles.
[1:54:05] We'd love to hear your thoughts
[1:54:11] on that because Thank you.
[1:54:12] I wasn't planning to speak
[1:54:15] primarily just because I'm
[1:54:16] excited that this item is
[1:54:19] finally here before us and
[1:54:19] really appreciate all the work
[1:54:20] that Sito Chang and your entire
[1:54:22] team have been collaborating,
[1:54:27] leading and developing to bring
[1:54:27] us to this moment.
[1:54:28] So deep appreciation for that
[1:54:30] And as it pertains to the
[1:54:31] additions that Councilmember
[1:54:34] Fish looked at our safety
[1:54:38] sustainability equity where did
[1:54:38] you see those falling in the
[1:54:42] actual principles list?
[1:54:45] Would that be under community
[1:54:46] or I assume safety would be
[1:54:53] under design and I would
[1:54:54] actually suggest that we have
[1:54:57] it under a new section and
[1:54:57] policy.
[1:55:00] So I think that would be a more
[1:55:04] appropriate place for these
[1:55:04] areas.
[1:55:11] So that feels a little just a
[1:55:14] bit disjointed to have a
[1:55:15] separate one.
[1:55:15] Is it just to make the
[1:55:18] distinction that the council
[1:55:22] suggested it So no, not to make
[1:55:23] a distinction but I think that
[1:55:26] because some of these would
[1:55:30] kind of it's kind of a catch
[1:55:34] all for policies where some of
[1:55:37] the policy MAY apply across
[1:55:38] those different categories.
[1:55:42] So it's it's easier to capture
[1:55:42] them in one bucket.
[1:55:45] Thank you for clarifying
[1:55:48] coaching So would you see it
[1:55:49] coming first on the list before
[1:55:52] core or am I am I looking at
[1:55:55] the right with my I have core
[1:55:55] mobility community and design
[1:55:59] for I is that the right list?
[1:56:03] Yeah yes So policy would come
[1:56:07] before or last on the list I, I
[1:56:07] would suggest that it comes
[1:56:11] before before because it's the
[1:56:11] big picture then because these
[1:56:15] guiding principles are focus on
[1:56:16] the design intent.
[1:56:19] Okay so there are lower level
[1:56:19] they're more tactical in terms
[1:56:19] of the project.
[1:56:23] Okay Okay So we'll go with that
[1:56:27] and I'm open to those
[1:56:27] suggestions and excited to move
[1:56:30] and this work for thank you.
[1:56:31] Thank you very much.
[1:56:34] Appreciate Yeah thank you so
[1:56:35] much for the presentation Thank
[1:56:38] you so much for the
[1:56:38] communication and the outreach
[1:56:39] that the Transportation
[1:56:42] Department does assisting some
[1:56:43] of these presentations And I
[1:56:46] just really appreciate all that
[1:56:50] you're doing in that regard.
[1:56:54] I also appreciate the comment
[1:56:55] about we're never going to I
[1:56:57] think you said something about
[1:56:58] you know, we're never going to
[1:56:59] eliminate traffic but we can
[1:57:02] provide reliable transportation
[1:57:02] And I think that's true.
[1:57:05] I don't think anyone is saying
[1:57:06] that we're ever going to fully
[1:57:06] eliminate traffic but we can
[1:57:10] improve things especially on
[1:57:10] the Poveda.
[1:57:13] And the other thing a lot of
[1:57:14] times the people who say
[1:57:14] they're for mobility projects
[1:57:18] or or they MAY be against
[1:57:21] increased density because of
[1:57:21] bus reliability because there
[1:57:25] isn't and so I know in the
[1:57:26] staff report it says that
[1:57:30] busses are 20% of our trips are
[1:57:33] running late So here we have a
[1:57:33] project that could address that
[1:57:33] issue.
[1:57:36] We have a solution so things
[1:57:37] can be working in the right
[1:57:40] order and things are aligning.
[1:57:41] So I'm just very excited about
[1:57:44] this.
[1:57:44] I do have one question but
[1:57:47] before I get to that question I
[1:57:51] agree with proposed amendments
[1:57:54] suggested by Councilmember Fish
[1:57:59] and then as is the only good we
[1:58:01] answer Poveda or will we
[1:58:02] possibility of you know going
[1:58:03] on to some side streets or is
[1:58:06] it just all be one straight
[1:58:09] shot on Poveda So in terms of
[1:58:12] the bicycle facilities we're
[1:58:13] looking at both support that as
[1:58:14] well as some of this parallel
[1:58:17] streets.
[1:58:17] Okay.
[1:58:17] Thank you.
[1:58:17] Thanks.
[1:58:18] Very good.
[1:58:21] Thank you.
[1:58:21] Thanks for the commenters and
[1:58:24] including our probably from the
[1:58:27] dais councilmember very it's
[1:58:28] good to hear from you know
[1:58:32] people who experience transit
[1:58:36] on support of the you know
[1:58:39] obviously from those in the
[1:58:39] bike and the in the public
[1:58:43] transportation perspective but
[1:58:46] also from the standpoint of the
[1:58:47] business owners along there and
[1:58:51] I because of where I live in
[1:58:51] Beach Park I frequent many of
[1:58:54] the businesses along ship over
[1:58:55] there basically from the creek
[1:59:01] all the way to Venice And
[1:59:02] street parking I know is a
[1:59:06] challenge Many of the the
[1:59:09] businesses there and we have
[1:59:12] one, 2 or 3 onsite parking
[1:59:16] spots so they're very dependent
[1:59:19] on on street parking for their
[1:59:23] business survival And another
[1:59:26] consideration that I think
[1:59:30] should be so it is being
[1:59:31] addressed or it's being
[1:59:33] acknowledged in the community
[1:59:34] section to use parking
[1:59:38] occupancy data to inform design
[1:59:38] process and provide parking
[1:59:39] solutions where they're needed
[1:59:41] most and to consider options to
[1:59:45] mitigate on street parking
[1:59:45] removal.
[1:59:46] There's also a consideration
[1:59:49] that isn't looked at here and
[1:59:53] it is ada and it's I've been
[1:59:53] hobbling around on crutches for
[1:59:56] the past three and a half weeks
[2:00:00] and and I do know that a
[2:00:03] frustration with folks who do
[2:00:04] have a disability when there's
[2:00:11] a bike or bus facility that
[2:00:12] separates their vehicle from
[2:00:15] the curb or makes it or a
[2:00:16] parking is completely
[2:00:19] eliminated, then you know, some
[2:00:23] people can I know my parents
[2:00:23] for example, they can't walk
[2:00:26] more than you know, 50ft.
[2:00:27] So what do they do?
[2:00:29] You know, it's easy to say well
[2:00:30] ,they can just park on the
[2:00:31] side street and you know but if
[2:00:34] there's we need to really
[2:00:34] consider ada.
[2:00:37] So I would appreciate and I
[2:00:38] don't know if this you know I
[2:00:42] want to be cognizant of the
[2:00:42] comments you made.
[2:00:45] DR. Chang, about, you know,
[2:00:48] goals versus principles.
[2:00:51] But I if we can include under
[2:00:55] your number seven
[2:00:55] acknowledgment and
[2:00:56] consideration for media
[2:00:58] accessibility, I think it's
[2:01:03] really important My colleagues
[2:01:10] are minimal that and I I'm okay
[2:01:14] with the requested amendments
[2:01:15] or additions to the same
[2:01:18] principles and I'll add my
[2:01:18] support to that suggestion.
[2:01:22] I was just curious Director
[2:01:23] Chang Will when this comes when
[2:01:26] when the design comes back will
[2:01:27] there be options for the
[2:01:30] council to review with sort of
[2:01:33] yeah just different options
[2:01:38] that prioritize these principle
[2:01:39] ways I guess in different ways
[2:01:42] right.
[2:01:43] And we do plan on bringing back
[2:01:45] more than one design options to
[2:01:48] the City council for direction
[2:01:49] .
[2:01:49] Okay.
[2:01:52] Thank you so much And before we
[2:01:53] vote on this I do want to
[2:01:56] really commend you Director
[2:01:59] Chang and your entire team.
[2:02:03] Culver City is one of four
[2:02:05] members Well technically five
[2:02:06] six if you include our
[2:02:07] neighbors in L.A. And L.A.
[2:02:07] County.
[2:02:10] But when we Beverly Hills and
[2:02:10] Santa Monica and West Hollywood
[2:02:13] and our our projects are where
[2:02:17] I think put in front because I
[2:02:21] think the great work of our
[2:02:24] Transportation Department where
[2:02:25] we were the most ready and so
[2:02:27] we were awarded.
[2:02:31] So I appreciate that.
[2:02:31] So we have a motion Mayor,
[2:02:35] before you take a motion.
[2:02:35] Yeah, because you're approving
[2:02:39] a document that's very specific
[2:02:40] And I just want to make sure
[2:02:43] Director Chang has enough
[2:02:43] information to articulate the
[2:02:47] additions to the to the Guiding
[2:02:50] Principles document and make
[2:02:51] sure Council is comfortable
[2:02:55] with her taking those ideas and
[2:02:58] formulating the language.
[2:02:59] If not, we probably should have
[2:03:02] her read the language into the
[2:03:03] record and make sure the
[2:03:03] council's comfortable with
[2:03:03] that.
[2:03:05] So but we need to do one or the
[2:03:06] other.
[2:03:06] We need to either have council
[2:03:09] approve the exact language or
[2:03:09] give her you know, the
[2:03:12] discretion to formulate it
[2:03:13] consistent with the council's
[2:03:16] input.
[2:03:19] I feel we're clear on and
[2:03:23] council and jump in but it was
[2:03:27] clearly expressed that under
[2:03:31] any policy category which goes
[2:03:32] at the top for core addresses
[2:03:39] the safety comment and then I
[2:03:40] and then I'm asking to add
[2:03:43] consideration for eight under
[2:03:44] the maintain business access or
[2:03:47] to actually go under enhanced
[2:03:48] public space where I trust
[2:03:51] you'll put it in the right
[2:03:52] place in there under community
[2:03:54] I wasn't sure if I really heard
[2:03:58] where the complete streets
[2:03:58] would go.
[2:03:59] Yeah I didn't want to be too
[2:04:02] prescriptive on that one but
[2:04:03] just wherever it makes sense
[2:04:06] because it does it does
[2:04:07] reference the Bipap So maybe
[2:04:10] under mobility since it
[2:04:10] references the meet the
[2:04:11] intended to be part maybe that
[2:04:13] would be a natural place to say
[2:04:14] and follow you know the
[2:04:15] standards set forth in the
[2:04:17] complete Streets guidelines And
[2:04:18] then along with what the mayor
[2:04:21] said just wanted to reiterate
[2:04:22] that the other asks from
[2:04:24] community members as
[2:04:25] specifically that Culver City
[2:04:29] was the was incorporating
[2:04:32] equity and sustainability as a
[2:04:33] as a tenant or a guiding
[2:04:34] principle and that that can be
[2:04:36] in that top section and then
[2:04:39] get those it okay does that and
[2:04:40] I'm comfortable with it not
[2:04:43] coming back to my colleagues as
[2:04:47] well Okay okay wonderful okay
[2:04:56] We have a motion and a second
[2:04:57] .
[2:04:57] Thank you.
[2:05:00] I have a motion by council
[2:05:01] member Fish a second from
[2:05:04] Councilmember Mcmorran to
[2:05:07] approve this item as amended
[2:05:14] you MAY begin voting
[2:05:15] Members
[2:05:18] have voted in the passes four
[2:05:21] eyes with one recusal from
[2:05:27] Council member Bera Thank you.
[2:05:31] That's you very Come on back
[2:05:32] and we're going to move on to
[2:05:40] public hearing item number one
[2:05:49] All right So I got a new one
[2:05:49] here.
[2:05:53] I'm going to announce it.
[2:05:54] This is the time and place for
[2:05:54] the hearing of protests or
[2:05:57] objections to the continuation
[2:06:00] of the downtown Culver City
[2:06:07] Business Improvement District
[2:06:08] And the resolution of intention
[2:06:14] was published on OCTOBER 16th,
[2:06:15] 2025 as required by the Streets
[2:06:18] and Highways Code and have a
[2:06:23] brief staff report.
[2:06:24] Yes sir.
[2:06:24] Good evening Honorable Mayor
[2:06:28] and City Council.
[2:06:28] My name is Luis Gonzalez.
[2:06:29] I am the City project manager
[2:06:32] and economic Development for
[2:06:32] your consideration this evening
[2:06:35] is item p h h one the adoption
[2:06:36] of a resolution confirming the
[2:06:39] downtown Culver City Business
[2:06:39] Improvement District.
[2:06:43] The downtown Culver City
[2:06:44] Business Improvement District
[2:06:44] provides services for the
[2:06:47] businesses and downtown
[2:06:48] relative to the operations
[2:06:51] maintenance, beautification and
[2:06:52] marketing and that is reflected
[2:06:52] in their work plan.
[2:06:55] There are no proposed changes
[2:06:56] to the dba se boundary and
[2:07:02] there is no increase for 2026.
[2:07:02] The ordinance was introduced at
[2:07:05] the last council meeting on
[2:07:05] OCTOBER 13th and is being
[2:07:06] brought back for adoption
[2:07:06] tonight.
[2:07:08] That staff is available to
[2:07:09] answer any questions.
[2:07:12] Thank you.
[2:07:12] Okay.
[2:07:13] Thank you.
[2:07:14] MAY have a motion to open the
[2:07:20] public hearing
[2:07:23] .
[2:07:25] I have a motion from
[2:07:26] Councilmember Fish a second
[2:07:26] from Councilmember McMurry to
[2:07:29] open a public hearing maybe in
[2:07:33] voting My motion passes
[2:07:37] unanimously and Councilmember
[2:07:40] Bera has returned to the dais.
[2:07:40] Okay.
[2:07:41] Thank you.
[2:07:41] Do we have any public comment
[2:07:44] on this There None.
[2:07:45] Oh, we do not know.
[2:07:45] Okay.
[2:07:51] Thank you.
[2:07:54] MAY I have a motion to close
[2:08:01] there Also before we close the
[2:08:01] public hearing?
[2:08:05] Um, I would like to report that
[2:08:09] we did not receive any protest
[2:08:09] for this public hearing.
[2:08:13] Thank you.
[2:08:17] I have a motion by
[2:08:17] Councilmember Bera and a second
[2:08:19] from Councilmember Mcmorran to
[2:08:23] close the public hearing.
[2:08:27] Maybe can voting That motion
[2:08:30] passes unanimously.
[2:08:30] Great.
[2:08:31] Are there any comments or
[2:08:34] questions from my colleagues?
[2:08:34] No.
[2:08:37] Okay.
[2:08:41] Um I see a motion to adopt the
[2:08:45] proposed ordinance which is to
[2:08:45] approve the resolution
[2:08:45] confirming downtown Culver City
[2:08:49] Business Improvement District
[2:08:49] advisory boards and or report
[2:08:52] and the levy of the downtown
[2:08:53] Culver City Business
[2:08:53] Improvement District Assessment
[2:08:58] for calendar year 2026 to
[2:08:59] appoint the 2026 Advisory Board
[2:08:59] is recommended by the downtown
[2:09:02] Culver City Business
[2:09:02] Improvement District to
[2:09:03] authorize the city attorney to
[2:09:06] review and prepare the
[2:09:06] necessary documents and to
[2:09:09] authorize city manager to
[2:09:09] execute such documents on
[2:09:14] behalf of the city I have a
[2:09:14] motion by Councilmember Bera
[2:09:17] with a second from Vice Mayor.
[2:09:20] Pleased to approve and read by
[2:09:29] the mayor MAY begin voting
[2:09:31] on
[2:09:35] my screen this somewhere so no
[2:09:41] I yes you vote I okay I motion
[2:09:44] passes unanimously okay thank
[2:09:44] you.
[2:09:51] And now
[2:09:53] we're going to go to
[2:09:55] public hearing number two and
[2:09:56] this is where I announce it
[2:09:58] This is the time and place for
[2:09:59] the hearing of all protests or
[2:09:59] objections to the continuation
[2:10:03] of the bid for the Culver City
[2:10:06] Arts District And the
[2:10:06] resolution of intention was
[2:10:10] published on OCTOBER 16th, 2025
[2:10:12] as required by the Streets and
[2:10:18] Highways Code
[2:10:24] evening has Good
[2:10:28] evening Honorable Mayor, Vice
[2:10:28] Mayor and Council Members.
[2:10:29] My name is Elizabeth Garcia and
[2:10:32] I'm part of the economic
[2:10:32] development team tonight Your
[2:10:36] for your consideration is a
[2:10:36] resolution confirming the
[2:10:36] Culver City Arts District
[2:10:40] Business Improvement districts
[2:10:41] and you work on the levy of
[2:10:44] assessments for calendar year
[2:10:45] 2026 as well as the appointment
[2:10:48] of the bid's advisory board.
[2:10:49] There are no changes to the
[2:10:52] assessment rate and boundary
[2:10:53] and there are no changes to the
[2:10:56] boundaries of the business
[2:10:57] improvement district for this
[2:10:59] year for calendar year 2026.
[2:11:00] This concludes my staff
[2:11:03] presentation.
[2:11:04] I'm available for any questions
[2:11:04] you MAY have at this moment.
[2:11:05] All right.
[2:11:08] Thank you So you can motion
[2:11:13] open the hearing.
[2:11:17] I have a motion by council
[2:11:20] member Fish and second from
[2:11:21] Vice Mayor please are to open
[2:11:22] the public hearing Maybe you
[2:11:32] can voting Councilmember Fish
[2:11:32] Right.
[2:11:33] That motion passes unanimously.
[2:11:36] Great.
[2:11:37] And then do you have any public
[2:11:37] comments?
[2:11:40] There are none.
[2:11:40] Okay.
[2:11:40] Any protests?
[2:11:43] There are no protests received
[2:11:43] for this item.
[2:11:44] Okay.
[2:11:45] So a motion to close the public
[2:11:51] hearing
[2:11:51] .
[2:11:52] I have a motion by
[2:11:55] Councilmember Rivera and a
[2:11:56] second from vice mayor please
[2:11:58] to close the public hearing
[2:12:03] meeting and voting that passes
[2:12:06] unanimously.
[2:12:06] Okay.
[2:12:07] All right.
[2:12:10] And I seek a motion to adopt
[2:12:14] the proposed resolution which
[2:12:18] is confirming the Culver City
[2:12:18] Arts District Culver City Arts
[2:12:22] District Business Improvement
[2:12:22] Districts and know report and
[2:12:23] the levy of the Culver City
[2:12:25] Arts District Business
[2:12:26] Improvement District Assessment
[2:12:30] calendar for 2026 a point the
[2:12:31] 2026 Advisory Board is
[2:12:31] recommended by the Culver City
[2:12:34] Arts District Business
[2:12:35] Improvement District authorize
[2:12:35] the city Attorney to review and
[2:12:39] prepare the necessary documents
[2:12:39] and authorize the city manager
[2:12:40] to execute such documents on
[2:12:43] behalf of the city.
[2:12:47] Thank of a motion from Vice
[2:12:47] Mayor Pusa a second from
[2:12:51] Councilmember Vieira to approve
[2:12:51] That's right.
[2:12:58] I mean maybe converting
[2:12:58] this
[2:13:02] Mariposa Thank you.
[2:13:06] That motion passes unanimously
[2:13:06] .
[2:13:06] Okay.
[2:13:09] Thank you.
[2:13:09] Okay.
[2:13:10] On to public hearing number
[2:13:13] three and motion from council
[2:13:14] to receive and file the
[2:13:17] affidavits of publication and
[2:13:18] posting of notices and
[2:13:18] correspondence received in
[2:13:21] response to the public hearing
[2:13:27] notices
[2:13:28] I have a motion from
[2:13:31] Councilmember Bera a second
[2:13:32] from Councilmember Finch to
[2:13:35] receive an email You MAY begin
[2:13:38] voting.
[2:13:42] That motion passes unanimously
[2:13:42] .
[2:13:45] Okay You have a staff report.
[2:13:46] Good evening Marin Council Lisa
[2:13:49] Soga Chief Financial Officer
[2:13:50] We're here this evening to
[2:13:54] conduct a public hearing
[2:13:54] pursuant to the federal tax
[2:13:58] equity and Fiscal
[2:14:01] Responsibility Act or Tephra
[2:14:02] Tephra requires that a public
[2:14:05] hearing be held by the
[2:14:05] governing body of the
[2:14:09] jurisdiction in which a project
[2:14:10] leaked to be financed with tax
[2:14:14] exempt financing is located and
[2:14:17] that the governing body approve
[2:14:20] the proposed financing for 464c
[2:14:24] Poveda Boulevard l p has asked
[2:14:25] that the California Municipal
[2:14:28] Finance Authority the c mfa be
[2:14:32] the issuer of tax exempt
[2:14:34] financing in an amount not to
[2:14:35] exceed $65 million.
[2:14:39] The proceeds of the bonds will
[2:14:40] be used to finance the
[2:14:43] acquisition, construction
[2:14:43] improvement and equipping of a
[2:14:46] multi family rental housing
[2:14:52] project located at 44604464 Sub
[2:14:56] Poveda Boulevard The c mfa is a
[2:14:57] Joint Powers Authority formed
[2:14:59] to assist local governments,
[2:15:00] nonprofit organizations and
[2:15:04] businesses with the issuance of
[2:15:08] both taxable and tax exempt
[2:15:08] debt.
[2:15:09] The debt to be issued by the
[2:15:12] Cafe will be the sole
[2:15:15] responsibility of the borrower
[2:15:16] .
[2:15:16] The city of Culver City will
[2:15:20] have no financial or legal
[2:15:23] obligations or responsibilities
[2:15:24] with regard to the repayment of
[2:15:24] the debt.
[2:15:27] All financing documents will
[2:15:31] carry disclaimers that the loan
[2:15:32] is not an obligation of the
[2:15:32] city.
[2:15:35] The city will also bear no
[2:15:36] costs in the issuance of the
[2:15:39] proposed debt.
[2:15:40] The Council previously granted
[2:15:43] approval of the proposed
[2:15:46] financing on OCTOBER 28th 2020
[2:15:49] for the approval expires after
[2:15:49] one year and must be granted
[2:15:53] again after a second public
[2:15:53] hearing.
[2:15:56] It is recommended that the City
[2:15:57] Council adopt a resolution
[2:16:00] approving the issuance of bonds
[2:16:01] by the c mfa for the benefit of
[2:16:02] the borrower.
[2:16:05] Such adoption is solely for the
[2:16:05] purposes of satisfying the
[2:16:08] requirements of tephra the Code
[2:16:09] and the California Government
[2:16:15] Code Section 6500.
[2:16:15] I can answer any questions And
[2:16:19] we also have tonight with us
[2:16:22] Jared Suzuki from the c mfa who
[2:16:23] can answer specific questions
[2:16:23] if you have them.
[2:16:26] Okay great.
[2:16:26] Thank you.
[2:16:27] Do we have any questions from
[2:16:27] my colleagues?
[2:16:31] Councilmember Hahn That's one
[2:16:34] of the questions.
[2:16:35] All right I MAY I have a motion
[2:16:41] to open the public hearing?
[2:16:42] I have a motion from
[2:16:45] Councilmember McMahon and a
[2:16:46] second from Councilmember Finch
[2:16:49] to open the public hearing.
[2:16:53] Maybe can voting by motion
[2:16:57] passes unanimously?
[2:17:00] Okay, great.
[2:17:01] Do have any comments or
[2:17:04] protests from that?
[2:17:04] Yes, we do have four speakers
[2:17:05] sign up tonight.
[2:17:08] Okay.
[2:17:11] They would be men and have to
[2:17:12] 90 so they would be Jamie
[2:17:16] Wallis, Leah Pressman, Melissa
[2:17:20] Sanders and Lisa Lindgren.
[2:17:21] Our first speaker is Jamie
[2:17:23] Wallace.
[2:17:24] Jamie, I'd I'd like to you can
[2:17:27] unmute yourself.
[2:17:33] Go ahead
[2:17:37] , Jamie.
[2:17:44] It looks like your life so
[2:17:45] Okay.
[2:17:45] Okay.
[2:17:48] We're going to come back So the
[2:17:52] next speaker is Leah Pressman.
[2:17:52] Hello.
[2:17:53] Thank you.
[2:17:53] Good evening.
[2:17:55] I speak to express my support
[2:17:59] for the approval of I don't
[2:18:02] know if she's with me keeps
[2:18:06] linking Okay.
[2:18:07] Can you hear me?
[2:18:07] Yes Sorry.
[2:18:10] Go ahead and good evening And I
[2:18:11] want to express my support for
[2:18:14] the approval of the tax exempt
[2:18:15] bonds to help finance the
[2:18:18] Jubilee Village affordable
[2:18:18] housing Project.
[2:18:19] This is not a big deal.
[2:18:22] The city council approved the
[2:18:23] same bond issuance last year in
[2:18:25] OCTOBER and simply needs to
[2:18:26] renew it.
[2:18:26] I fear that members of the
[2:18:27] public MAY get the mistaken
[2:18:30] impression that this will cost
[2:18:30] or obligate the city
[2:18:34] financially as we just heard it
[2:18:35] does not approval cost the city
[2:18:37] Nothing but failure to approve
[2:18:38] these bonds could well cost the
[2:18:41] city.
[2:18:42] The village Jubilee Village
[2:18:45] project is a key part of our
[2:18:45] obligation to affirmatively
[2:18:48] further fair housing and meet
[2:18:49] our arena goals.
[2:18:49] There'll be serious costs if we
[2:18:52] fail to meet our goals.
[2:18:53] So not approving this bond
[2:18:56] would really hurt the project.
[2:18:56] I think that's a bad idea If
[2:19:00] the city if the bonds pass the
[2:19:03] city actually gets $19,000 in
[2:19:03] fees charged to the borrower.
[2:19:06] That's our portion and we don't
[2:19:06] get it.
[2:19:10] And if we don't pass the bond,
[2:19:11] Jubilee Village also MAY bring
[2:19:13] in money to our school
[2:19:14] districts Bye bye housing
[2:19:14] families whose children will
[2:19:18] attend our schools.
[2:19:18] Approval of this financing does
[2:19:22] not obligate Culver City in any
[2:19:23] way.
[2:19:26] Culver City badly needs more
[2:19:26] affordable housing units and
[2:19:28] construction of this 100%
[2:19:29] affordable development is an
[2:19:32] appropriate use of tax exempt
[2:19:33] bond financing.
[2:19:33] I encourage you to approve this
[2:19:34] bond issue.
[2:19:40] Thank you.
[2:19:42] Our next speaker is Melissa
[2:19:47] Sanders.
[2:19:50] Melissa, you're in You two go
[2:19:50] ahead.
[2:19:54] So here's the thing We do have
[2:19:58] multiple other project x with
[2:20:01] more than the 99 affordable
[2:20:05] units the ju below is claiming
[2:20:08] to build in the pipeline and
[2:20:09] they are not asking for any
[2:20:13] money whatsoever.
[2:20:17] So I think that if you guys are
[2:20:17] going to support this which by
[2:20:20] the way I think you did when we
[2:20:21] were only giving them a couple
[2:20:21] million dollars and we could
[2:20:22] actually afford a couple
[2:20:27] million dollars, they put $20
[2:20:31] million in escrow and make sure
[2:20:33] that they repay us the $20
[2:20:34] million that they do not
[2:20:34] deserve.
[2:20:37] Honestly, they needed to do
[2:20:38] this themselves.
[2:20:41] We should not be supporting
[2:20:41] this project.
[2:20:42] We have other projects going in
[2:20:46] with no money from the city
[2:20:46] whatsoever.
[2:20:49] We are already making our arena
[2:20:50] goals.
[2:20:50] We already have other projects
[2:20:51] that will meet our goals.
[2:20:53] There is no reason whatsoever
[2:20:54] for this project to go forward
[2:21:00] with taxpayer funds $20 million
[2:21:01] taxpayer funds and they are
[2:21:04] taking everything of ours for
[2:21:05] the next 20 years.
[2:21:07] So I say don't support it
[2:21:08] because we have other projects
[2:21:11] that are not taking $20 million
[2:21:14] of taxpayer funds as well as
[2:21:16] all of our vouchers for the
[2:21:16] next 20 years.
[2:21:17] We have other affordable
[2:21:21] housing already in the pipeline
[2:21:22] that will more than cover
[2:21:28] Jubilee Village
[2:21:28] .
[2:21:29] Your time has expired.
[2:21:29] Thank you.
[2:21:31] Our next speaker is Diesel
[2:21:35] Ingram.
[2:21:39] Hello again Mayor, vice Mayor
[2:21:42] and members of the City council
[2:21:42] .
[2:21:43] I want to commend and thank the
[2:21:46] city staff for the excellent
[2:21:47] staff report that does a good
[2:21:47] job of explaining something
[2:21:50] that is not something the
[2:21:50] average layperson knows about.
[2:21:54] I certainly had never heard
[2:21:55] about the tephra and the
[2:21:58] requirement for a hearing about
[2:22:01] this at the municipal level but
[2:22:02] I think the pressmen did an
[2:22:05] excellent job of explaining why
[2:22:06] it's so important that you
[2:22:09] approve this.
[2:22:10] So thank you so much for
[2:22:18] supporting page three
[2:22:19] .
[2:22:22] So we're going to circle back
[2:22:29] to Jamie Was Jamie
[2:22:30] Let's see if
[2:22:30] it works this time.
[2:22:34] Yes it does go ahead.
[2:22:34] Hey, she's bullish.
[2:22:37] Yes.
[2:22:38] This is actually pro forma pro
[2:22:41] forma on state.
[2:22:42] You guys aren't going to listen
[2:22:45] to anything or do anything.
[2:22:46] So I just want to take this
[2:22:48] opportunity to remind the
[2:22:52] council that we're spending 16
[2:22:52] to $36 million of taxpayer
[2:22:55] money to support one project
[2:22:56] with no return on investment or
[2:22:59] loan repayment wiping out our
[2:23:00] ability to help more renters in
[2:23:02] the future.
[2:23:06] The developer is not even a
[2:23:06] Culver City constituent and
[2:23:10] even if it's nonprofit it's not
[2:23:10] city controlled.
[2:23:13] So in a sense you can say it's
[2:23:14] private you're throwing more
[2:23:17] money than other cities usually
[2:23:17] do.
[2:23:18] So many affordable units are in
[2:23:21] the pipeline ready for
[2:23:21] development without city
[2:23:22] funding.
[2:23:25] This is fiscally irresponsible
[2:23:26] and puts the city budget in
[2:23:28] worse condition than it already
[2:23:29] was.
[2:23:35] Thank you.
[2:23:39] Thousand of our speakers.
[2:23:40] Okay thank you.
[2:23:41] MAY have a motion to close the
[2:23:46] public hearing.
[2:23:47] I have a motion from vice mayor
[2:23:50] Please a second from
[2:23:50] Councilmember Barron to close
[2:23:53] the public hearing we begin
[2:23:58] voting and that motion passes
[2:24:01] unanimously.
[2:24:01] Okay.
[2:24:05] Thank you.
[2:24:06] One last rounds If my
[2:24:09] colleagues have any comments on
[2:24:09] this.
[2:24:09] Nothing.
[2:24:09] COUNCILMAN First COUNCILMAN
[2:24:12] Rick Moran comes from the
[2:24:12] comments.
[2:24:12] Yeah.
[2:24:16] Thank you, Mayor.
[2:24:16] Although this item is more
[2:24:19] performative than than anything
[2:24:20] really in nature I don't
[2:24:23] support the project.
[2:24:24] I didn't support the project
[2:24:26] moving forward with taking $20
[2:24:27] million from our emergency our
[2:24:31] emergency reserve funds.
[2:24:31] I cannot and will not support
[2:24:34] this item And the $20 million
[2:24:35] that number sort of comes up in
[2:24:38] our next item Also a one which
[2:24:39] I think I will draw attention
[2:24:42] to it there but I can't support
[2:24:42] this.
[2:24:45] Thank you Mayor.
[2:24:46] Thank you.
[2:24:46] That's my pleasure.
[2:24:49] Thank you.
[2:24:49] I am going to support this but
[2:24:50] I do want to let the public
[2:24:53] know that the Planning
[2:24:56] Department puts out a
[2:24:57] projection of how many housing
[2:25:01] projects are in the pipeline
[2:25:04] and how many housing and what
[2:25:08] housing we still need So with
[2:25:09] other projects that are already
[2:25:09] built and already in the
[2:25:13] pipeline for very low income we
[2:25:16] still need 750 a very low
[2:25:16] income units.
[2:25:19] We still need 390 low income
[2:25:23] units and we still need 511
[2:25:23] moderate units.
[2:25:27] So this will go towards those
[2:25:27] numbers.
[2:25:27] I think this is a great
[2:25:28] investment in affordable
[2:25:30] housing which we desperately
[2:25:31] need.
[2:25:31] Thank you.
[2:25:31] Okay.
[2:25:34] Thank you.
[2:25:37] So when this came up a year ago
[2:25:38] ,you know we're renewing this
[2:25:41] essentially because it expires
[2:25:42] after a year.
[2:25:43] I voted for it.
[2:25:45] I voted yes And it was because
[2:25:46] at that time our commitment was
[2:25:49] $4 million as a city and since
[2:25:52] then it went up to 20 million
[2:25:53] And as alluded to by COUNCILMAN
[2:25:57] Rivera, we're going to hear
[2:25:59] about it in a one it points to
[2:26:06] our structural deficit and you
[2:26:09] know 6 million added to the
[2:26:13] original 4 million.
[2:26:17] That is not a good place for us
[2:26:21] to be putting ourselves into.
[2:26:21] Affordable housing is important
[2:26:25] and it's part of our our
[2:26:25] mission.
[2:26:25] It's part of our goals and
[2:26:29] we're working hard on that And
[2:26:29] we've got a lot in the pipeline
[2:26:30] as mentioned.
[2:26:36] But I can't support putting our
[2:26:37] financial status at such risk.
[2:26:41] So I will be voting no on this
[2:26:44] But it looks like we have a
[2:26:47] actually I'm requesting a
[2:26:48] motion in a second and I will
[2:26:54] read what that is towards to
[2:26:55] conduct the public hearing
[2:26:58] under the requirements of
[2:26:59] tephra and the Internal Revenue
[2:27:02] Code of 1986 as amended the
[2:27:05] Code and adopt a resolution
[2:27:06] approving the issuance of
[2:27:07] revenue bonds by the California
[2:27:09] Municipal Finance Authority for
[2:27:10] the benefit of the Community
[2:27:13] Corporation of Santa Monica, a
[2:27:14] California nonprofit benefit
[2:27:17] corporation On behalf of 4464
[2:27:20] support of Boulevard l p a
[2:27:20] California limited partnership
[2:27:21] or other ownership entity
[2:27:25] created by 4464 support of
[2:27:28] Boulevard llc a California
[2:27:29] limited liability company its
[2:27:30] general partner or by another
[2:27:33] affiliate of the sponsor has
[2:27:34] undertaken a proposed plan of
[2:27:37] finance that includes the
[2:27:37] issuance and reassurance from
[2:27:40] time to time of one or more one
[2:27:43] or more series of revenue bonds
[2:27:43] in an outstanding principal
[2:27:46] amount not to exceed $65
[2:27:47] million to finance and
[2:27:50] refinance the acquisition,
[2:27:52] construction development and
[2:27:53] equipping of a 95 unit
[2:27:53] qualified residential rental
[2:27:56] project to be owned and
[2:27:59] operated by the borrower and
[2:28:02] located at 4460 and 4464
[2:28:03] support of the boulevard within
[2:28:06] the city of Culver City.
[2:28:07] Such adoption is solely for the
[2:28:08] purposes of satisfying the
[2:28:10] requirements of Tephra the
[2:28:10] Internal Revenue Code and
[2:28:13] California Government Code
[2:28:14] Section 6500 and approve the
[2:28:20] deposit of approximately
[2:28:21] $19,183.40 in issuance fees to
[2:28:24] the Culver City General Fund.
[2:28:24] Thank you.
[2:28:28] I have a motion by Vice Mayor
[2:28:28] please and a second from
[2:28:32] Councilmember Mcmorran to
[2:28:32] approve that item as read by
[2:28:38] the mayor you MAY begin voting
[2:28:43] That motion passes for eyes and
[2:28:44] one No from Councilor Bera.
[2:28:47] I'm sorry I meant to Can I pull
[2:28:51] it back to I went on autopilot
[2:28:51] .
[2:28:52] I like to make that a no
[2:28:52] please.
[2:28:55] I have to vote on rebuilding my
[2:28:59] request to bring it back so I
[2:28:59] can vote no on this.
[2:29:05] Please
[2:29:23] .
[2:29:28] We need a motion in a second on
[2:29:34] that I need a motion is I can
[2:29:34] okay.
[2:29:38] I have a motion from
[2:29:40] Councilmember Rivera and a
[2:29:41] second from Vice mayor please
[2:29:45] Had to revote for item page
[2:29:49] three as a point of order
[2:29:50] Doesn't have to be someone who
[2:29:53] voted for it to call it back or
[2:29:56] it's just whoever is up here I
[2:29:56] just want to make sure that No,
[2:29:57] I.
[2:29:57] I appreciate that.
[2:29:59] Councilmember McMahon
[2:30:00] Technically a motion for
[2:30:03] reconsideration does require
[2:30:04] somebody in the majority to
[2:30:07] make the motion.
[2:30:11] It sounds like Mayor o'Brien is
[2:30:15] asking for a revote to correct
[2:30:18] an error which isn't really
[2:30:19] contemplated and rules of order
[2:30:23] and but the city council also
[2:30:24] has discretion to allow it if
[2:30:27] they choose.
[2:30:30] If not, then I recommend
[2:30:31] treating it as a motion for
[2:30:31] reconsideration which would
[2:30:34] require somebody from the
[2:30:35] majority to make the motion.
[2:30:38] If you're willing to do that
[2:30:38] for your colleague.
[2:30:45] I just made the motion Thank
[2:30:49] you.
[2:30:50] I have a motion from
[2:30:53] Councilmember Fish and a second
[2:30:53] from Vice Mayor.
[2:30:57] Please have to reconsider the
[2:31:04] vote for item page three and
[2:31:10] you MAY be can voting
[2:31:15] .
[2:31:15] Thank you.
[2:31:18] That motion passes unanimously
[2:31:19] so we'll revisit the vote for
[2:31:22] item page three the motion in
[2:31:31] the second summary Thank you
[2:31:35] And I have a motion from
[2:31:38] Councilmember Fish a second
[2:31:38] from vice Mayor present to
[2:31:41] approve that item as previously
[2:31:45] read by the mayor and you MAY
[2:31:49] begin voting.
[2:31:49] Thank you.
[2:31:49] Thank you.
[2:31:53] That motion passes three eyes
[2:31:56] and two nose nos from Mayor
[2:31:58] o'Brien and Councilmember Bera
[2:31:58] .
[2:32:05] Thank you for the report.
[2:32:05] Okay.
[2:32:13] On to a one
[2:32:27] and
[2:32:32] we're ready for
[2:32:32] a staff report please.
[2:32:35] Okay.
[2:32:36] And Clark is pulling up our
[2:32:39] staff report presentation.
[2:32:42] Okay, Good evening again, Mayor
[2:32:47] o'Brien and City Council.
[2:32:47] I'm Lisa Sjoberg, your chief
[2:32:48] financial officer.
[2:32:51] I'm here with Elizabeth
[2:32:54] Shavelson, our assistant cfo.
[2:32:55] We are here tonight to discuss
[2:32:59] ways that the city can increase
[2:33:02] public participation and
[2:33:03] transparency in the city's
[2:33:06] budget process.
[2:33:07] Over the past year Council has
[2:33:10] asked staff to return with
[2:33:11] various items related to this
[2:33:13] topic and we are consolidating
[2:33:18] some of them into tonight's
[2:33:18] staff report and presentation.
[2:33:22] Next slide please.
[2:33:23] So first we are going to ask
[2:33:26] Council to consider whether to
[2:33:27] conduct a civic assembly to
[2:33:30] help develop strategies for
[2:33:31] public engagement in the budget
[2:33:34] process.
[2:33:34] Funding was included at the
[2:33:37] time of budget adoption for an
[2:33:38] enhanced public process and
[2:33:38] council directed that the
[2:33:41] matter return for more
[2:33:42] direction on the format The
[2:33:45] city Council's Subcommittee on
[2:33:45] Governance received a
[2:33:49] presentation from Public
[2:33:49] Democracy Los Angeles
[2:33:52] Representatives Michelle Dennis
[2:33:53] and Wayne Liebman about civic
[2:33:57] assemblies.
[2:33:57] In a few minutes the Council
[2:34:01] will receive a presentation
[2:34:01] from MISS Dennis tonight about
[2:34:05] those just civic assemblies and
[2:34:06] a recommendation to forgo a
[2:34:09] competitive process and award
[2:34:10] an agreement directly to
[2:34:13] healthy democracy.
[2:34:14] Eas The subcommittee did not
[2:34:17] make a recommendation on
[2:34:17] whether there should be an rfp
[2:34:21] or a direct award.
[2:34:21] So if Council wishes to proceed
[2:34:24] with the Civic Assembly
[2:34:25] process, Council should also
[2:34:28] decide the method of
[2:34:28] procurement.
[2:34:31] Next slide please.
[2:34:35] As the Civic Assembly would not
[2:34:36] be ready to fully participate
[2:34:38] in the fiscal year 2026 2027
[2:34:42] budget process, MS. Dennis also
[2:34:43] made some short term
[2:34:45] recommendations to help improve
[2:34:46] public participation.
[2:34:50] The Governance Subcommittee
[2:34:50] recommended that these be
[2:34:51] brought forward to the City
[2:34:54] Council for consideration.
[2:34:55] Next slide please.
[2:34:58] These recommendations include
[2:34:58] changing the format and
[2:35:02] scheduling of the two community
[2:35:06] budget meetings that I did in
[2:35:09] the this this current year for
[2:35:12] the current year fiscal year
[2:35:12] budget.
[2:35:16] Both would become instead of
[2:35:17] those community budget meetings
[2:35:17] they'd become question and
[2:35:21] answer sessions about the
[2:35:22] details of one the mid-year
[2:35:25] budget and to a second one to
[2:35:28] be held later on the proposed
[2:35:28] budget.
[2:35:32] So it would give the public a
[2:35:36] chance to understand these very
[2:35:40] complicated documents and staff
[2:35:40] would be available to kind of
[2:35:43] answer those specific questions
[2:35:44] and help them understand in
[2:35:47] advance of the council meetings
[2:35:48] .
[2:35:49] And then there would be one new
[2:35:51] meeting that was recommended
[2:35:52] which would serve as an open
[2:35:56] house with department months in
[2:35:56] advance of the annual workplan
[2:36:00] meetings And at that meeting
[2:36:00] department heads would be
[2:36:04] available to share what work
[2:36:07] plans they've been operating
[2:36:07] under.
[2:36:08] Hear from the public in an
[2:36:12] informal setting about other
[2:36:12] priorities.
[2:36:15] And this would be done in
[2:36:16] advance of staff coming to the
[2:36:19] council with those work plans.
[2:36:20] Next slide please.
[2:36:24] So here you can see the new
[2:36:24] proposed budget schedule with
[2:36:27] those meetings included the
[2:36:31] mid-year session and the open
[2:36:31] house with departments would
[2:36:32] happen very early in the
[2:36:35] process in FEBRUARY.
[2:36:36] So the mid-year budget question
[2:36:39] and answer would of course be
[2:36:39] tied to what happened.
[2:36:42] Before we come to you with that
[2:36:43] mid-year budget and it would
[2:36:46] allow people to understand the
[2:36:47] changes that are being
[2:36:50] recommended.
[2:36:51] And then of course the question
[2:36:54] and answer Open House kind of
[2:36:55] setting with the department
[2:36:58] heads would happen in advance
[2:36:59] of us coming in the beginning
[2:37:02] of MARCH with the work plans.
[2:37:06] And then the question and
[2:37:06] answer session regarding the
[2:37:10] proposed budget would come in
[2:37:10] MAY after we publish the
[2:37:10] proposed budget.
[2:37:14] But before the departments make
[2:37:15] their presentations to the
[2:37:18] Council.
[2:37:19] So again it would give an
[2:37:21] additional forum for the public
[2:37:25] to come and ask questions and
[2:37:25] be informed.
[2:37:29] Next slide please.
[2:37:29] Finally, council member
[2:37:33] Mcmorran had recommended in
[2:37:34] APRIL of this year that city
[2:37:38] staff review the questionnaire
[2:37:38] for four departments that was
[2:37:41] used by the city of Nashville
[2:37:42] as part of their budget
[2:37:42] process.
[2:37:43] We've attached that
[2:37:46] questionnaire to the staff
[2:37:47] report.
[2:37:50] If council desires staff could
[2:37:50] include a questionnaire as part
[2:37:53] of the budget process that we
[2:37:54] use here in Culver City and it
[2:37:57] would be something that we
[2:37:58] would give to departments again
[2:38:02] in advance of the work plans
[2:38:05] and might be presented as as
[2:38:06] attachments to the staff
[2:38:07] reports that we give you at
[2:38:11] that time.
[2:38:15] So that's really the end of
[2:38:15] this introduction.
[2:38:19] This is more about us as being
[2:38:23] able to answer your questions
[2:38:23] but maybe and we would take
[2:38:26] these items kind of one by one
[2:38:26] But before we do that it would
[2:38:29] perhaps be prudent to receive
[2:38:30] the presentation from Michelle
[2:38:33] Dennis who's here tonight and
[2:38:38] then we can return and have the
[2:38:41] council address each of these
[2:38:41] items individually.
[2:38:44] Thank you.
[2:38:44] Okay.
[2:38:49] I think we take cfo server's
[2:38:51] suggestion Have MS. Dennis give
[2:38:57] her presentation and
[2:39:01] City
[2:39:05] council and city manager Before
[2:39:06] we begin thank you so much for
[2:39:06] the opportunity to make this
[2:39:11] presentation tonight.
[2:39:12] My name is Michelle Dennis and
[2:39:15] for the benefit of the public
[2:39:16] I'm a certified public finance
[2:39:19] officer.
[2:39:20] I work for 37 years in the L.A.
[2:39:23] Area and different budget and
[2:39:24] finance positions And at the
[2:39:27] end of that time period I spent
[2:39:28] 20 years as the director of
[2:39:30] finance for the city of Santa
[2:39:30] Monica.
[2:39:34] Following that I taught public
[2:39:37] budgeting and finance at ucla
[2:39:40] for 21 years and I am a
[2:39:40] collaborator and volunteer with
[2:39:44] Public Democracy Los Angeles.
[2:39:45] And tonight excuse me I speak
[2:39:48] on their behalf and I should
[2:39:49] note that several of the slides
[2:39:52] tonight were actually actually
[2:39:56] prepared and by the director of
[2:39:59] public policy Los Angeles I
[2:40:00] have his permission to use them
[2:40:04] tonight And I'm a Culver City
[2:40:06] resident for 44 years.
[2:40:09] I'm an oldie and moldy have
[2:40:13] been around okay There the
[2:40:14] subject of our of this
[2:40:17] presentation tonight is what is
[2:40:20] the role of a civic assembly in
[2:40:21] responding to the city's budget
[2:40:25] challenges is over the next ten
[2:40:25] years.
[2:40:28] Next slide please.
[2:40:31] The city's budget for the
[2:40:32] current fiscal year which was
[2:40:35] adopted and became effective
[2:40:39] JULY 1st and was recently
[2:40:40] released by OCTOBER 1st for the
[2:40:43] public can contains a fiscal
[2:40:43] ten year fiscal forecast.
[2:40:49] Excuse me one second and that
[2:40:53] forecast shows that over the
[2:40:56] ten year period there would be
[2:40:59] a structural deficit of $129
[2:41:02] million over the next ten years
[2:41:05] and that that would use up all
[2:41:06] of the city's available
[2:41:09] reserves.
[2:41:10] Now let me just clarify the
[2:41:13] structural deficit refers to
[2:41:17] the ongoing revenues in ongoing
[2:41:17] expenditures.
[2:41:21] That is what we receive in
[2:41:21] revenues every year and what we
[2:41:25] normally pay out to continue
[2:41:26] our basic services and service
[2:41:29] levels.
[2:41:33] That forecast did not include
[2:41:33] the impact of the voter
[2:41:36] approval of the additional
[2:41:37] quarter percent sales tax in
[2:41:37] AUGUST.
[2:41:41] So I factored that in and I use
[2:41:45] the same projection factors
[2:41:45] that the Chief Financial
[2:41:46] Officer used that is that the
[2:41:48] sales tax would grow by 3.1%
[2:41:49] every year.
[2:41:52] And here's what I saw.
[2:41:55] Here are the results over the
[2:41:56] next four years a total
[2:41:59] structural deficit that is an
[2:42:00] imbalance between ongoing
[2:42:03] expenditures and ongoing
[2:42:06] revenues of $47.9 million will
[2:42:06] occur.
[2:42:10] And that will require using up
[2:42:11] the same amount of reserves
[2:42:15] over the following three years.
[2:42:15] There will be a rough
[2:42:18] structural balance between
[2:42:18] revenues and expenditures
[2:42:19] That's ongoing revenues and
[2:42:22] expenditures.
[2:42:24] And over the remaining three
[2:42:25] years ongoing revenues
[2:42:28] outperform ongoing expenditures
[2:42:29] by 3 to $4 million a year.
[2:42:32] If voters approve an expiring
[2:42:38] half percent sales tax before
[2:42:42] MARCH 2033, the primary
[2:42:43] implication of these challenges
[2:42:46] is that for the next seven
[2:42:46] years at least there is no
[2:42:50] fiscal room other than using
[2:42:53] reserves for government
[2:42:54] services to expand or be added
[2:42:58] as the city's population grows.
[2:43:02] Next slide please.
[2:43:05] Now responding to these
[2:43:05] challenges.
[2:43:09] Well, first of all, the
[2:43:09] challenges themselves however
[2:43:09] they're responded to.
[2:43:13] We will significantly impact
[2:43:16] the community.
[2:43:16] And responding However, the
[2:43:19] council decides to respond.
[2:43:24] In my view will require a new
[2:43:27] or heightened collaboration and
[2:43:28] partnership with the community
[2:43:31] in the budget process.
[2:43:31] That's because however they're
[2:43:34] responded to and maybe no
[2:43:37] action as one spot will only
[2:43:37] support one response will
[2:43:40] nevertheless have a significant
[2:43:41] impact on the community.
[2:43:45] Currently the community can
[2:43:45] participate in the budget
[2:43:49] process by speaking for 1 to 3
[2:43:50] minutes at council meetings and
[2:43:53] planned is a budget priority
[2:43:53] survey.
[2:43:57] And for the community as your
[2:43:57] chief financial Officer
[2:44:01] diligently delineated for the
[2:44:02] community to go to to question
[2:44:04] and answer budget information
[2:44:08] sessions Now these are our top
[2:44:09] down opportunities created for
[2:44:13] the community by the staff and
[2:44:16] the council.
[2:44:17] A civic assembly provides a way
[2:44:21] for the community to say how
[2:44:22] they want to participate in the
[2:44:24] budget process.
[2:44:25] And these can be bottom up
[2:44:28] opportunities created by the
[2:44:28] community.
[2:44:32] Next slide please.
[2:44:36] So what is a civic assembly?
[2:44:37] A civic assembly is a
[2:44:40] demographic Lee Representative
[2:44:41] group of community members
[2:44:44] selected by lot to learn about
[2:44:48] deliberate upon and make
[2:44:48] recommendations to City Council
[2:44:51] about a public matter.
[2:44:55] It is up to the city Council
[2:44:56] whether or not to follow the
[2:44:59] recommendations of the civic
[2:44:59] Assembly.
[2:45:03] Next slide please.
[2:45:04] The Civic Assembly are also
[2:45:06] known as citizens.
[2:45:07] Assemblies have been around for
[2:45:07] a while.
[2:45:11] This graph compiled from data
[2:45:13] from the Organization for
[2:45:14] Economic Cooperation and
[2:45:14] Development.
[2:45:18] This is a international
[2:45:20] organization of 38 countries
[2:45:21] Western and Eastern Europe,
[2:45:24] Asia.
[2:45:24] Australia.
[2:45:24] South America.
[2:45:25] Central America.
[2:45:33] Oh thank you so much
[2:45:37] and more.
[2:45:41] Most recently North America and
[2:45:41] Canada.
[2:45:45] This graph shows that you can
[2:45:46] see in the last 20 years civic
[2:45:49] assemblies have grown a great
[2:45:49] deal.
[2:45:53] A number of them.
[2:45:55] And it presents 750 civic
[2:45:59] assemblies in the last or
[2:45:59] primary the last 20 years.
[2:46:02] And if you include the last two
[2:46:03] years of data data, we're close
[2:46:05] to a 1000 civic assemblies.
[2:46:09] So the world has a quite a bit
[2:46:09] of experience with this method.
[2:46:13] Next slide please.
[2:46:16] So a civic assembly consists of
[2:46:17] four parts.
[2:46:20] The first part is council
[2:46:23] planning.
[2:46:24] The job of the council planning
[2:46:26] is for the city council to
[2:46:27] select Civic Assembly
[2:46:31] facilitating organized action
[2:46:31] The facilitation of a civic
[2:46:35] assembly requires specific
[2:46:35] expertise which has been
[2:46:39] developed over the years and
[2:46:39] secondly used to determine the
[2:46:43] topic to be addressed by the
[2:46:43] Civic Assembly.
[2:46:46] Third determined city
[2:46:50] demographics to be matched by
[2:46:54] Civic Assembly participants and
[2:46:55] lastly fourthly to choose
[2:46:55] experts to provide learning
[2:46:59] input to civic assembly
[2:46:59] participants.
[2:47:02] This learning input is distinct
[2:47:06] for civic assemblies.
[2:47:06] It's its opportunity to have
[2:47:07] the participants that have been
[2:47:10] selected by lot to hear
[2:47:14] information from experts who
[2:47:14] are from all different
[2:47:18] perspectives provide
[2:47:18] information to the assembly
[2:47:19] participants about the topic
[2:47:25] and next slide please.
[2:47:25] The second part of a civic
[2:47:28] assembly is to selection of the
[2:47:29] participants.
[2:47:33] So invitations would go to the
[2:47:36] households in the city and from
[2:47:37] those inviting them to
[2:47:37] participate the members of the
[2:47:40] households.
[2:47:41] For those people who respond
[2:47:44] yes they would be interested a
[2:47:49] that pool is there's a random
[2:47:52] selection of people from that
[2:47:53] pool so that and we know the
[2:47:56] demographic information from
[2:47:56] the respondents to create a
[2:48:00] pool that represents the
[2:48:00] demographic characteristics
[2:48:06] selected by the city council.
[2:48:10] Then from that pool a computer
[2:48:13] process creates multiple
[2:48:14] combinations of the Civic
[2:48:14] Assembly participants.
[2:48:18] So that each combination
[2:48:22] reflects the demographic
[2:48:22] character mix of the city.
[2:48:26] So later on what's being
[2:48:28] proposed is a civic assembly of
[2:48:28] 20 participants.
[2:48:33] So there will be multiple or
[2:48:33] maybe 100 or more possible
[2:48:37] combinations from that prior
[2:48:37] pool.
[2:48:39] And there's a selection of one
[2:48:40] of those combination a random
[2:48:44] selection I understand in one
[2:48:44] city recently what they did is
[2:48:47] they they numbered each of the
[2:48:51] possible combinations and put
[2:48:51] that number on ping pong, put
[2:48:54] it into revolving drum and had
[2:48:57] the mayor at random pick one
[2:48:58] ping pong ball that became the
[2:49:01] Civic Assembly.
[2:49:01] It's important to point out
[2:49:04] that there's comprehensive
[2:49:08] support is provided to the one
[2:49:08] combination of Civic Assembly
[2:49:08] participants.
[2:49:12] So there MAY be need for child
[2:49:12] care, elder care and other
[2:49:15] special needs.
[2:49:18] And that's all included in the
[2:49:19] budget for the facilitating
[2:49:22] organization nexus.
[2:49:26] Next slide please.
[2:49:29] So the third part is learning
[2:49:29] and deliberation.
[2:49:32] These are the two critical
[2:49:33] distinctions about civic
[2:49:35] assemblies Expert provide
[2:49:39] initial learning input from all
[2:49:39] different perspectives on that
[2:49:43] issue.
[2:49:44] And the Civic Assembly invites
[2:49:47] members of the community to
[2:49:48] meet with them to present their
[2:49:50] ideas.
[2:49:51] And the way this is done is
[2:49:55] that persons come in to where
[2:49:55] the Civic Assembly members are
[2:49:58] and the Civic Assembly members
[2:49:59] are gathered into groups of
[2:50:01] three, possibly four at
[2:50:02] different tables.
[2:50:03] And then members of the
[2:50:06] community come in and spend a
[2:50:06] given amount of time presenting
[2:50:09] their ideas.
[2:50:10] And then the members of the
[2:50:10] community get up and move to
[2:50:13] the next table.
[2:50:14] So there's a process to make
[2:50:16] sure that everyone's
[2:50:17] perspective and view is heard.
[2:50:20] And every civic assembly member
[2:50:21] can talk to every single member
[2:50:22] of the community who has come
[2:50:28] in and during this process.
[2:50:29] And this is then followed by
[2:50:32] deliberation during the
[2:50:35] deliberation process experts
[2:50:36] continue to be available to
[2:50:36] answer questions.
[2:50:40] That's what I mean by being on
[2:50:40] tap on top.
[2:50:43] And there's a structured
[2:50:43] deliberation process is
[2:50:47] followed much like the
[2:50:47] conversation with the community
[2:50:48] members.
[2:50:51] So that everyone's voice is
[2:50:51] heard.
[2:50:54] Every perspective is considered
[2:50:55] and the objective in the
[2:50:58] deliberation is to reach
[2:51:02] consensus on recommendations.
[2:51:03] And that's not an absolute
[2:51:07] consensus but either majority
[2:51:07] or perhaps a supermajority.
[2:51:10] And that the deliberation is
[2:51:11] facilitated by the facilitation
[2:51:14] organization so that all voices
[2:51:14] are heard.
[2:51:18] Next slide please.
[2:51:22] And the fourth part concerns
[2:51:22] the preparation of
[2:51:23] recommendations and then
[2:51:24] submitting them to the city
[2:51:27] council.
[2:51:27] So again, a rough consensus
[2:51:31] perhaps a supermajority is
[2:51:31] sought to form recommendations.
[2:51:35] The recommendations are written
[2:51:36] by the Civic Assembly
[2:51:39] participants.
[2:51:39] The recommendations are
[2:51:42] presented by the Civic Assembly
[2:51:43] participants to the City
[2:51:43] Council.
[2:51:46] And as expected the City
[2:51:47] Council would provide written
[2:51:47] responses to the
[2:51:50] recommendations.
[2:51:54] Next slide please.
[2:51:57] Now throughout this process
[2:51:58] this question eventually comes
[2:52:01] up Can you trust randomly
[2:52:04] selected people?
[2:52:08] And I want to assure you that
[2:52:12] in the area of civic assemblies
[2:52:12] over the last 20 years there's
[2:52:15] been extensive experience about
[2:52:19] this question.
[2:52:23] And the conclusion is that when
[2:52:24] trust is rent is given to
[2:52:29] randomly selected individuals,
[2:52:30] they strive to be worthy of
[2:52:33] their trust.
[2:52:36] As I said worldwide there have
[2:52:36] been nearly a thousand civic
[2:52:39] assemblies selected by lot over
[2:52:40] the past two decades deciding
[2:52:44] complex issues in some
[2:52:44] processes that have stymied
[2:52:50] elected bodies.
[2:52:50] One key example is in the
[2:52:54] country of Ireland the question
[2:52:57] of what to do with abortion in
[2:52:58] a Catholic Protestant country
[2:53:01] stymied the National Assembly
[2:53:01] for decades.
[2:53:06] They decided to create a civic
[2:53:06] assembly.
[2:53:09] The Civic Assembly met.
[2:53:10] They prepared recommendations.
[2:53:13] The National Assembly adopted
[2:53:17] the recommendations and then
[2:53:17] submitted them to the
[2:53:18] population for a vote.
[2:53:21] And over two thirds of the
[2:53:22] population approved the
[2:53:24] recommendations.
[2:53:29] And there's also abundant
[2:53:32] academic evidence that
[2:53:32] diversity trumps expertise when
[2:53:36] making decisions.
[2:53:39] Panels of experts are prone to
[2:53:40] groupthink diverse panels or
[2:53:47] not diverse panels harness the
[2:53:47] wisdom of crowds in forming
[2:53:51] recommendations with a wealth
[2:53:51] of lived experience.
[2:53:55] The convening government bodies
[2:53:55] generally adopt Civic Assembly
[2:53:55] recommendations.
[2:53:59] And the public also trust those
[2:54:02] recommendations as well because
[2:54:03] they know they've been prepared
[2:54:03] to be developed and submitted
[2:54:06] by people just like themselves.
[2:54:13] Next slide please Let me set
[2:54:14] the scene here.
[2:54:16] In 2022 there was a civic
[2:54:19] assembly done in Petaluma,
[2:54:20] California.
[2:54:26] The city had fairgrounds, 54
[2:54:27] acres.
[2:54:30] And then the fair state Fair
[2:54:31] decided not to be one of the
[2:54:32] state Fair's decided not to
[2:54:34] meet there anymore.
[2:54:35] And for years the council was
[2:54:38] deadlocked on how to use that
[2:54:38] land.
[2:54:42] A civic assembly was formed of
[2:54:43] 36 individuals from the
[2:54:46] community.
[2:54:48] And they came up with
[2:54:49] recommendations that 80% of the
[2:54:53] Civic Assembly members agreed
[2:54:53] upon.
[2:54:54] And talking with the city
[2:54:57] manager Peggy Flynn, she said
[2:55:00] my goodness, when you have
[2:55:01] recommendations from the
[2:55:03] community members that 80%
[2:55:04] agree on, that's gold.
[2:55:07] And there they've gone through
[2:55:08] state and county processes and
[2:55:11] they're just about ready to
[2:55:11] conclude adopting these
[2:55:12] measures.
[2:55:16] For the 92nd video you're about
[2:55:23] to see shows you people who
[2:55:26] participated in that 3636
[2:55:26] member Civic Assembly in their
[2:55:30] own words.
[2:55:31] So would you please play the
[2:55:33] video as transgender please?
[2:55:37] There's many more things I
[2:55:41] resolved or decided through
[2:55:42] this process and ultimately I
[2:55:45] think no matter what happens I
[2:55:48] feel like the public the
[2:55:49] community will feel that they
[2:55:52] had an avenue for their
[2:55:52] feelings and thoughts no matter
[2:55:52] how minor.
[2:55:57] For a ginormous expo hall to a
[2:55:59] butterfly garden were
[2:56:00] represented and heard in this
[2:56:00] process.
[2:56:04] The block is not necessarily
[2:56:06] the same people that city
[2:56:10] government took to be anything
[2:56:10] .
[2:56:14] And so I and I like that
[2:56:15] because I don't think anybody
[2:56:17] on this panel will will not
[2:56:18] participate in another
[2:56:21] community thing ever.
[2:56:22] You know, like everybody is
[2:56:23] more likely to participate in
[2:56:26] best in more invested Yeah in
[2:56:28] that community and if that
[2:56:29] continues to happen like how
[2:56:29] what community improvements
[2:56:33] will you see You know like if
[2:56:36] citizens actually are engaged.
[2:56:42] First thing is you have 56
[2:56:42] people with different
[2:56:46] backgrounds.
[2:56:47] And most of them do know each
[2:56:50] other and were able to work
[2:56:53] together just the politics the
[2:56:57] way it is or they don't seem to
[2:56:57] want to communicate at all.
[2:57:00] And I think this is a perfect
[2:57:01] way to get politics not so
[2:57:07] political
[2:57:07] .
[2:57:08] All right.
[2:57:11] Next slide please.
[2:57:15] Back back in JUNE Public
[2:57:18] democracy, Los Angeles in
[2:57:19] conjunction in conjunction with
[2:57:22] Braver Angels, the organization
[2:57:23] hosted a model civic assembly
[2:57:27] at the city's Veterans Affairs
[2:57:27] facility.
[2:57:30] It was a three hour model civic
[2:57:34] assembly normal.
[2:57:35] These civic assemblies last for
[2:57:36] several weekends.
[2:57:38] The protest was involved.
[2:57:42] So this model Civic Assembly
[2:57:43] gave about 30 participants some
[2:57:46] from the city, some from braver
[2:57:50] angels Outside the city a taste
[2:57:50] .
[2:57:51] It's kind of like getting a
[2:57:54] whiff of fresh baked chocolate
[2:57:54] chip cookies.
[2:57:58] You don't get the bite into
[2:58:01] them but you get the aroma here
[2:58:01] .
[2:58:02] Afterwards we got some
[2:58:02] feedback.
[2:58:05] And here are two quotes.
[2:58:08] I was surprised at just how
[2:58:09] nuanced our discussions could
[2:58:09] get.
[2:58:13] And I was so floored by how it
[2:58:16] encourages collaboration and
[2:58:18] deep respect between people.
[2:58:22] Next slide please.
[2:58:23] A side benefit from hosting or
[2:58:27] having a civic assembly is that
[2:58:28] makes it provides benefits to
[2:58:30] the city.
[2:58:31] It provides members of the
[2:58:38] community an opportunity to
[2:58:38] create informed.
[2:58:39] That's the learning process.
[2:58:42] And deliberated recommendations
[2:58:46] on complex issues and processes
[2:58:46] .
[2:58:47] It builds civic communication
[2:58:50] skills to be able to sit at a
[2:58:54] table and hear different views
[2:58:57] and then get ask questions with
[2:58:58] the objective of understanding.
[2:59:01] And then to deliberate so that
[2:59:04] your objective is to reach as
[2:59:05] much consensus as possible.
[2:59:08] That's a tremendous benefit for
[2:59:12] the community.
[2:59:12] It enables inclusivity.
[2:59:16] Let me say that at a recent
[2:59:19] Civic Assembly in Fort Collins,
[2:59:23] Colorado, I'm told that they
[2:59:26] also as 100,000 population city
[2:59:27] they had a 20 member civic
[2:59:29] assembly that deliberated over
[2:59:30] two weekends And of the persons
[2:59:33] that deliberated.
[2:59:37] One was recognized by city
[2:59:37] staff.
[2:59:37] Oh yes.
[2:59:38] That's a person who always
[2:59:40] shows up.
[2:59:41] 19 other people had never
[2:59:45] participated in city affairs
[2:59:45] before.
[2:59:48] And they were transformed.
[2:59:49] And it also empowers the
[2:59:52] community.
[2:59:56] Next slide.
[3:00:00] So I have a proposal before
[3:00:00] you.
[3:00:03] The proposal as follows To
[3:00:04] approve a civic assembly.
[3:00:08] To find out how the community
[3:00:08] wants to participate in the
[3:00:11] budget making process.
[3:00:15] Retain healthy democracy for a
[3:00:15] maximum of $250,000.
[3:00:19] To facilitate the following
[3:00:23] primary Civic Assembly tasks.
[3:00:23] And various other
[3:00:24] administrative matters.
[3:00:27] Let me just say a chance The
[3:00:28] staff report was also a draft
[3:00:31] budget from healthy democracy.
[3:00:34] And the intention is that
[3:00:35] should the city decide to move
[3:00:36] ahead and retain healthy
[3:00:39] democracy, that budget would be
[3:00:39] finalized In conversations
[3:00:42] between the city manager and
[3:00:43] chief financial officer on
[3:00:45] behalf of the city.
[3:00:50] So the first task is to select
[3:00:52] a random panel of 20 community
[3:00:59] members and a few backup people
[3:00:59] by FEBRUARY 2026.
[3:01:03] Prepare the selected community
[3:01:04] members to participate at each
[3:01:08] public opportunity in the
[3:01:11] upcoming budget making process
[3:01:11] .
[3:01:12] That's the process for 2627
[3:01:18] which is almost upon us.
[3:01:19] And then activate a civic
[3:01:21] assembly with the 20 community
[3:01:24] member panel in JULY of 2026
[3:01:28] then assist the Civic Assembly
[3:01:28] community members to prepare
[3:01:32] and submit recommendation to
[3:01:34] the City Council in AUGUST
[3:01:35] 2026.
[3:01:35] Presumably the Council will
[3:01:39] have an opportunity to review
[3:01:39] those.
[3:01:42] And if they choose to begin to
[3:01:45] incorporate them into the 2728
[3:01:49] city budget process all
[3:01:49] community members who are
[3:01:50] selected are paid for their
[3:01:53] participation and the amount
[3:01:56] that they will be paid would be
[3:01:57] subject to approval by the City
[3:02:00] council.
[3:02:00] Next slide please.
[3:02:08] Contracting a sole source only
[3:02:08] to organizations in the United
[3:02:12] States have facilitated a civic
[3:02:12] assembly for local government
[3:02:16] healthy democracy and unified
[3:02:16] America.
[3:02:17] As I said, the use of this
[3:02:20] Democrat innovation is just
[3:02:21] beginning to be used in the
[3:02:23] United States.
[3:02:24] Healthy democracy has
[3:02:27] facilitated six civic
[3:02:32] assemblies over the period 2019
[3:02:34] to 2025 and Unify America has
[3:02:35] facilitated 1 in 2023.
[3:02:40] So it is proposed that healthy
[3:02:40] democracy be retained as a sole
[3:02:43] source provider because healthy
[3:02:44] democracy is the most
[3:02:47] experienced and qualified.
[3:02:48] There is a lack of multi
[3:02:51] organized competition.
[3:02:56] Sole source provide specialized
[3:02:57] expertise quickly and sole
[3:03:00] source avoids the high
[3:03:00] administrative and time costs.
[3:03:04] Associated with an rfp process
[3:03:07] to be conducted by city staff.
[3:03:11] So before we close this
[3:03:15] presentation I'll be glad to
[3:03:16] answer any questions you have
[3:03:19] and the thought MAY have
[3:03:22] occurred to you Why is this 83
[3:03:26] year old person standing before
[3:03:29] you at 20 minutes to ten making
[3:03:33] this presentation?
[3:03:34] Well, to be honest with you,
[3:03:34] I've asked myself that question
[3:03:36] many times over the last
[3:03:40] several months and I kept
[3:03:43] coming back to the same answer
[3:03:43] .
[3:03:44] First of all, I've lived in
[3:03:45] city for 44 years.
[3:03:49] I like my city.
[3:03:50] I care for it.
[3:03:53] And I firmly believe that
[3:03:56] taking the recommended actions
[3:03:57] is the right thing to do for
[3:04:01] the city as it begins to engage
[3:04:05] its budget challenges.
[3:04:06] So thank you very much for
[3:04:09] allowing me to make this
[3:04:10] presentation and I'll be glad
[3:04:12] to answer any questions.
[3:04:12] Okay.
[3:04:13] Thank you.
[3:04:19] So
[3:04:21] my how many commenters
[3:04:29] around in 1315?
[3:04:30] Yeah.
[3:04:33] Let's go ahead and start with
[3:04:34] the commenters and then we'll
[3:04:37] just combine questions and
[3:04:40] comments together.
[3:04:47] 92nd 90s was okay.
[3:04:48] Our speakers are going to read
[3:04:50] the first ten off Philip
[3:04:51] Boulevard, Marci Bon Jamie
[3:04:54] Wallis.
[3:04:54] Stephen Jones.
[3:04:58] MS. Sanders Janine was nasty
[3:04:59] Who is seeded time by Jack
[3:05:03] stealing Shane Hansen, Lisa
[3:05:03] Lindgren, Christopher Michael
[3:05:06] and Phoebe Garfinkel.
[3:05:07] So our first speaker is Philip
[3:05:13] Lowe from Clive Owen.
[3:05:17] I'd like to you can on
[3:05:17] yourself.
[3:05:17] Yes.
[3:05:20] Can you hear me?
[3:05:20] Yes.
[3:05:20] Okay.
[3:05:21] All right.
[3:05:21] Thank you.
[3:05:27] I submitted an e comment after
[3:05:28] asking for this time so I hope
[3:05:31] that you will read it But I
[3:05:32] would still like to make a
[3:05:33] statement because something's
[3:05:35] happened here too that's not
[3:05:35] expecting.
[3:05:36] I've attended all of the
[3:05:39] governance committee meetings
[3:05:40] where this topic was discussed
[3:05:43] and I like to compliment Civic
[3:05:47] Assembly on their presentation
[3:05:47] and the subcommittee on its
[3:05:47] work.
[3:05:51] But I need to address the
[3:05:54] noncompetitive nature of this
[3:05:58] with two two points one In
[3:05:58] response to Bob's question at
[3:06:01] the meeting we learned that
[3:06:05] Civic Assembly has all of their
[3:06:05] experience with fun projects
[3:06:08] like planning fairgrounds and
[3:06:12] playgrounds and has zero
[3:06:16] experience discussing financial
[3:06:16] matters.
[3:06:19] They do not have any experience
[3:06:20] doing budget tradeoffs and the
[3:06:24] discussions that need to be had
[3:06:24] and the results that need to be
[3:06:27] gotten from a budgeting
[3:06:27] process.
[3:06:31] The second point is in a city
[3:06:35] of 28,500 registered voters, if
[3:06:35] you choose 20 random
[3:06:39] participants at a budget of
[3:06:40] $250,000, are you as a council
[3:06:45] prepared to defend paying
[3:06:46] $12,500 per citizen to advise
[3:06:50] you when the public will do it
[3:06:51] for free?
[3:06:57] Thank you
[3:06:57] .
[3:07:01] Our next speaker is Marcy Bond
[3:07:02] but I am not seeing her online
[3:07:05] so we'll skip to the next
[3:07:12] speaker who is Jamie Wallace?
[3:07:13] Jamie Hammond what do you can
[3:07:15] on yourself?
[3:07:16] Okay.
[3:07:16] Did it work this time?
[3:07:17] Yes.
[3:07:17] Okay.
[3:07:19] And I'm so confused.
[3:07:23] What MISS Silver describe was
[3:07:23] current public sessions that
[3:07:24] the public could attend and
[3:07:27] learn about the budget.
[3:07:28] If this is true, then where is
[3:07:31] the need?
[3:07:31] What does see back?
[3:07:34] I'm sorry if I'm wrong Acronym.
[3:07:35] What did they do?
[3:07:38] They're great for advice.
[3:07:39] Do you even listen to them And
[3:07:40] yet you might listen to the
[3:07:42] civic Assembly?
[3:07:43] I echo echo MR. Lowell, those
[3:07:45] comments he nailed it.
[3:07:46] There is no rfp.
[3:07:50] There's no looking at other
[3:07:50] groups.
[3:07:53] These things have been used for
[3:07:57] small things youth
[3:07:57] homelessness, the question of
[3:08:01] abortion in Ireland which is a
[3:08:04] huge issue, very complex but a
[3:08:04] budget is even more complex.
[3:08:08] You have to understand the
[3:08:09] physical physical restrictions
[3:08:12] on a city, what money can be
[3:08:13] used for, what it can't be used
[3:08:13] for.
[3:08:16] There's a huge amount that they
[3:08:17] would have to learn in a very,
[3:08:20] very short period of time.
[3:08:21] And if there is no physical
[3:08:24] room other than using our
[3:08:24] remaining reserves to pay for
[3:08:27] government services, why on
[3:08:28] earth would we set aside a
[3:08:31] quarter of $1 million to try a
[3:08:34] new procedure to get folks to
[3:08:38] pay more attention and I've
[3:08:38] been a volunteer.
[3:08:39] I created the backpacks program
[3:08:42] and I'll tell you hanging
[3:08:42] around volunteers is really,
[3:08:46] really hard.
[3:08:53] They don't stay And you.
[3:08:54] Our next speaker is Stephen
[3:08:57] Jones.
[3:08:57] Stephen's online.
[3:09:01] Stephen I've unlocked you.
[3:09:02] You can unmute yourself.
[3:09:02] Thank you.
[3:09:05] Residents have been demanding
[3:09:05] change to the budgeting process
[3:09:06] for years now but change is
[3:09:08] slow and we understand that.
[3:09:09] After years of resident demands
[3:09:10] we appreciate the short term
[3:09:13] changes that are proposed for
[3:09:14] the 2627 budget cycle and we're
[3:09:16] hopeful that the proposed civic
[3:09:17] assembly process will result in
[3:09:17] more significant changes that
[3:09:18] can open up the budgeting
[3:09:21] process two years from now in
[3:09:21] the 2728 cycle.
[3:09:24] I think it would be a tragedy
[3:09:25] if it gets pushed even further
[3:09:25] than that.
[3:09:26] So please act with urgency.
[3:09:28] I do think sole source
[3:09:28] contracts deserve skepticism
[3:09:29] but the city's policies treat
[3:09:32] professional services
[3:09:32] differently and this is a
[3:09:33] situation where the provider is
[3:09:36] formally recommended by a local
[3:09:37] expert in public finance who
[3:09:37] has significant knowledge of
[3:09:39] the field of consulting.
[3:09:40] At issue here it's also common
[3:09:43] practice for the city council
[3:09:43] to routinely approve sole
[3:09:44] source contracts with much less
[3:09:45] evidence than we have before us
[3:09:46] here.
[3:09:47] For example, in 2024 the city
[3:09:49] Council approved a multimillion
[3:09:50] dollar ten year sole source
[3:09:50] contract despite the fact that
[3:09:54] we already contract it with an
[3:09:54] alternative source for the very
[3:09:55] same equipment.
[3:09:55] In no universe where they the
[3:09:58] only source of that equipment
[3:09:58] and its supposed evidence in
[3:09:59] support of approving that
[3:10:02] contract was a letter from the
[3:10:02] vendor itself.
[3:10:03] It wasn't even evidence from an
[3:10:03] independent source.
[3:10:05] In contrast here the provided
[3:10:06] evidence is significant and it
[3:10:06] comes from an expert source
[3:10:09] whose independent of the
[3:10:09] vendor.
[3:10:10] Again please act with urgency.
[3:10:13] Residents have been demanding a
[3:10:13] more open budget process for
[3:10:13] years.
[3:10:14] This plan will result in
[3:10:16] changes to the budget process
[3:10:17] two years from now at the
[3:10:17] earliest.
[3:10:18] Further delays are not
[3:10:20] acceptable and Culver City
[3:10:21] can't wait any longer.
[3:10:21] Some some commenters don't seem
[3:10:24] to believe in the people of
[3:10:25] this city but I know you do.
[3:10:25] So please do the right thing.
[3:10:32] Thank you
[3:10:34] .
[3:10:34] Okay.
[3:10:39] Our next speaker is Melissa
[3:10:42] Sanders.
[3:10:43] Melissa I'm shocked you can
[3:10:46] unmute yourself.
[3:10:46] Thank you.
[3:10:47] Where do you begin with this
[3:10:50] insane idea?
[3:10:53] The people yes you are as
[3:10:54] always claim you have the best
[3:10:57] people and then you hire people
[3:10:58] like for the Move project who
[3:10:59] were supposed to be the best at
[3:11:02] what they do and they installed
[3:11:02] an illegal traffic pattern.
[3:11:06] The people you use for surveys
[3:11:06] never look them.
[3:11:09] No.
[3:11:09] Here's the other big problem
[3:11:10] with this at least in
[3:11:13] particular the three of the
[3:11:14] five of you sitting up there
[3:11:17] you had the entire city
[3:11:21] including the fiscal department
[3:11:21] and the city manager tell you
[3:11:24] do not approve the jubilee
[3:11:25] Village project.
[3:11:26] It will put us into fiscal
[3:11:29] freefall and the three of you
[3:11:29] still dead.
[3:11:32] So you already got different
[3:11:32] committees and different
[3:11:36] commissions making suggestions.
[3:11:36] You've got city employees who
[3:11:40] that is their job and you don't
[3:11:43] listen to that.
[3:11:44] So this $250,000 will be
[3:11:47] flushed down the toilet because
[3:11:48] the three of you will still do
[3:11:51] exactly what you want to do.
[3:11:54] I am tired of this B.S. Fake
[3:11:58] caring of what people say
[3:11:59] because you don't care what
[3:11:59] people say.
[3:12:00] You only care about what you
[3:12:02] think.
[3:12:03] That is how we're going into
[3:12:03] financial freefall Because you
[3:12:06] decided to give 20 million
[3:12:07] taxpayer dollars to an outside
[3:12:10] developer because you didn't
[3:12:11] listen to the people.
[3:12:15] You have hired to do the
[3:12:17] consulting.
[3:12:21] >> So no, no, no, no, no, no.
[3:12:22] >> Thank you.
[3:12:22] Your time has expired.
[3:12:25] Thank you.
[3:12:25] Okay.
[3:12:29] Our next speaker is Janine was
[3:12:30] asking who hasn't time seated
[3:12:33] by Jack Starling.
[3:12:36] Do you need unlock to you can
[3:12:37] unmute yourself.
[3:12:37] Yeah Thank you.
[3:12:38] I'm using a different
[3:12:38] microphone.
[3:12:40] Can you hear me?
[3:12:40] Yes you can.
[3:12:41] Okay.
[3:12:44] I canceled to say no to this
[3:12:45] item.
[3:12:49] I listened carefully and this
[3:12:49] Civic Assembly proposal is
[3:12:49] vague.
[3:12:52] It's costly and it gives every
[3:12:53] appearance of cronyism rather
[3:12:56] than transparency.
[3:12:57] The entire $250,000 that was
[3:13:01] set aside for community budget
[3:13:01] outreach is now potentially
[3:13:02] being handed to a single
[3:13:05] consultant for this one project
[3:13:06] with no indication that any of
[3:13:08] it will be reserved for other
[3:13:09] outreach efforts or public
[3:13:09] forums.
[3:13:13] That is not a responsible use
[3:13:13] of the public funds.
[3:13:14] So why are we doing this?
[3:13:16] To what end?
[3:13:17] It would seem to have asked
[3:13:19] whether residents even want
[3:13:20] this except for a shadowy cobra
[3:13:23] group that shows up every time
[3:13:24] and asks for more for what they
[3:13:27] want instead of the general
[3:13:27] public.
[3:13:28] Civic assemblies are not
[3:13:30] typically used for budgeting.
[3:13:31] They are used a usually
[3:13:35] creative or single well-defined
[3:13:35] policy issue like abortion in
[3:13:38] the Catholic Church and purpose
[3:13:39] which is what the consultant
[3:13:42] said not to advise on how a
[3:13:42] city manages its entire budget
[3:13:43] process.
[3:13:46] This looks less to me like a
[3:13:46] community need and more like a
[3:13:50] nice project like feel good
[3:13:53] project for a consultant and a
[3:13:54] feel good project to train
[3:13:54] residents.
[3:13:57] And let's be honest about how
[3:13:58] this will play out.
[3:13:58] The city will send emails that
[3:14:01] the Civic Assembly most people
[3:14:02] will ignore them in the same
[3:14:05] small circle They engage
[3:14:05] Residents will volunteer again.
[3:14:06] That is not broad community
[3:14:08] input.
[3:14:09] Even worse skipping an open rfp
[3:14:13] correct.
[3:14:13] We are choosing healthy
[3:14:14] democracy and promoting
[3:14:17] consulting with public policy.
[3:14:18] A council member, MR. Fish was
[3:14:21] endorsed by the consultant
[3:14:21] makes us look like insider
[3:14:24] dealing and that civic
[3:14:25] engagement if the goal is to
[3:14:28] build trust this is the wrong
[3:14:28] way to start.
[3:14:32] And frankly I do have a hard
[3:14:34] time taking seriously a council
[3:14:35] that spent $20 million on a
[3:14:36] single housing project Now
[3:14:39] suddenly claiming concern about
[3:14:39] budget transparency and
[3:14:42] community input.
[3:14:42] Residents deserve real
[3:14:45] accountability, real
[3:14:46] transparency and real value for
[3:14:49] their tax dollars.
[3:14:51] Please vote no say no to anyone
[3:14:53] and never that promise to visit
[3:14:54] lobbying and dealings and make
[3:14:57] everything transparent.
[3:15:00] This is what lobbying and not
[3:15:01] non transparency looks like.
[3:15:05] Thank you.
[3:15:05] Thank you.
[3:15:07] Our next speaker is Shane
[3:15:11] Hansen.
[3:15:15] Shamed I've unlocked you.
[3:15:15] You can unmute yourself.
[3:15:19] Hello my name is Shane Hansen.
[3:15:20] I'm speaking in my personal
[3:15:23] capacity and not as a member of
[3:15:23] the Advisory Committee on
[3:15:23] Housing and Homelessness.
[3:15:27] I would like to speak today in
[3:15:30] support of Measure a-1.
[3:15:31] I think it's really great that
[3:15:31] the city is looking to create a
[3:15:35] more interactive budget process
[3:15:35] for us.
[3:15:37] I know we have a very big, you
[3:15:38] know, budget challenge ahead of
[3:15:39] us but I think, you know,
[3:15:42] figuring out ways that we can
[3:15:42] get more community input is
[3:15:43] really important as we move
[3:15:45] forward.
[3:15:46] First I'm really excited by the
[3:15:46] q&a process with department
[3:15:49] heads for both the proposed
[3:15:50] budget and the mid-year budget
[3:15:52] reports.
[3:15:53] I know I'm a nerd who likes,
[3:15:54] you know, delving into policy
[3:15:57] and questions of budget but I
[3:15:57] don't think I'm alone.
[3:16:00] I think other people might like
[3:16:01] being able to do q&a with the
[3:16:03] department heads as well.
[3:16:04] Additionally, I think, you
[3:16:08] know, engaging with the Civic
[3:16:08] Assembly is a really innovative
[3:16:11] and interesting idea and I
[3:16:12] think it could really, you
[3:16:15] know, give us new ideas as
[3:16:16] we're trying to figure out how
[3:16:18] to handle our budget challenges
[3:16:19] .
[3:16:19] I think the I also want to
[3:16:20] thank Michelle Dennis for her
[3:16:22] amazing presentation today And
[3:16:26] I think it also made it very
[3:16:27] clear that healthy democracy is
[3:16:30] likely the most the best
[3:16:33] organization to receive the
[3:16:34] funding for this given their
[3:16:37] deep amount of experience doing
[3:16:37] these assemblies.
[3:16:44] Thank you
[3:16:47] .
[3:16:48] Okay.
[3:16:51] Our next speaker is I'm just
[3:16:51] going to read the remaining
[3:16:52] speakers Dieser Lindgren
[3:16:55] followed by Christopher Michael
[3:16:56] Phoebe Garfinkel, Cara Push Max
[3:17:00] Clark and Alex Levy.
[3:17:01] So our next speaker is Dieser
[3:17:03] Lindgren.
[3:17:04] Good evening, Mayor o'Brien.
[3:17:08] Vice Mayor, please and members
[3:17:08] of the City Council.
[3:17:09] My name is Lisa Lindgren.
[3:17:11] I want to first thank Michelle
[3:17:12] Dennis for a really interesting
[3:17:15] and helpful presentation.
[3:17:16] I did read all the information
[3:17:19] that was in the staff report
[3:17:22] and in the agenda and you know,
[3:17:23] I have been following this
[3:17:23] issue.
[3:17:26] I just really support this
[3:17:27] very, very strongly.
[3:17:28] We're in a time when our
[3:17:30] democracy and democracies
[3:17:31] around the world are being
[3:17:35] attacked, you know, in an
[3:17:35] horrible manner.
[3:17:38] We do have massive challenge as
[3:17:41] a as a species being able to
[3:17:42] work with one another And it's
[3:17:46] something which has also been
[3:17:46] in evidence in our community
[3:17:49] This really, really very stark
[3:17:49] polarization.
[3:17:53] So I think this is an excellent
[3:17:53] idea.
[3:17:56] I do think that using the
[3:18:01] budget as the the subject for
[3:18:02] the Civic Assembly makes a lot
[3:18:02] of sense because it's something
[3:18:04] that concerns everyone whether
[3:18:05] or not people have been engaged
[3:18:09] in civically or not to date.
[3:18:10] And I really appreciate the
[3:18:13] opportunity that we have to
[3:18:13] embrace this.
[3:18:14] I think it'll be very, very
[3:18:16] positive for our city.
[3:18:20] Thank you for supporting this.
[3:18:20] Okay.
[3:18:21] Our next speaker is Christopher
[3:18:24] Michael and followed by Phoebe
[3:18:27] Garfinkel.
[3:18:28] Christopher, I've unlocked you.
[3:18:31] You can unmute yourself.
[3:18:32] Hi.
[3:18:35] I just wanted to say I support
[3:18:39] this and I think that the
[3:18:40] budget process should be more
[3:18:43] involved with the public and I
[3:18:46] appreciate the budget meetings
[3:18:47] but there's no way for
[3:18:51] residents or anyone to actually
[3:18:55] provide their input or have the
[3:18:55] council decide on different
[3:18:59] versions or even like talk
[3:19:00] about different versions of the
[3:19:00] budget.
[3:19:03] So having more transparency
[3:19:03] around that and also having the
[3:19:07] meetings maybe available or
[3:19:08] online or recorded so that we
[3:19:12] can review them before the q&a
[3:19:14] sessions would be helpful to.
[3:19:20] Thank you
[3:19:21] .
[3:19:22] Peter Next speaker is Phoebe
[3:19:26] Garfinkel.
[3:19:30] Phoebe I've unlocked you.
[3:19:30] You can unmute yourself.
[3:19:31] Thank you.
[3:19:34] Hi, my name is Phoebe
[3:19:34] Garfinkel.
[3:19:38] I want to speak in support of
[3:19:40] Measure a one.
[3:19:41] I think that the council should
[3:19:42] approve the short term
[3:19:45] recommendations for the budget
[3:19:48] process for 2026 to 2027.
[3:19:51] I think that we're looking at a
[3:19:51] really valuable opportunity for
[3:19:56] for citizens to get involved in
[3:19:56] the budget process and for us
[3:19:59] to have more transparency.
[3:20:00] The city has seen so many
[3:20:03] budget issues and there never
[3:20:04] seems to be enough funding for
[3:20:07] anything And so for for Culver
[3:20:08] City residents to be able to be
[3:20:11] part of the budget making
[3:20:11] process and seeing where their
[3:20:15] money is going and what the
[3:20:15] city what the city is providing
[3:20:19] in the budget could be a really
[3:20:19] great way to build civic
[3:20:22] engagement and also just to
[3:20:23] have more transparency in our
[3:20:23] local government.
[3:20:27] So I really hope that I hope
[3:20:30] that you guys approve a1I hope
[3:20:31] that you approve engaging a
[3:20:35] consultant to conduct the Civic
[3:20:35] Assembly.
[3:20:38] I think it's a really valuable
[3:20:39] opportunity for our city that
[3:20:39] could bring in some really
[3:20:40] awesome change.
[3:20:44] So thank you.
[3:20:45] Great.
[3:20:49] Our next speaker is Kira Push
[3:20:52] who's also online.
[3:20:52] Kira I've unmute unlocked.
[3:20:56] You can unmute yourself.
[3:20:56] Go ahead.
[3:20:56] Thanks.
[3:20:57] Hi.
[3:21:00] I just want to speak in favor
[3:21:00] of the proposed citizens
[3:21:00] assembly.
[3:21:03] I think it's an awesome idea.
[3:21:04] Many studies show that citizens
[3:21:07] assembly strengthen the
[3:21:07] democratic process and outcomes
[3:21:08] through broader and more
[3:21:11] comprehensive citizen
[3:21:11] engagement not only with the
[3:21:12] city but also and really
[3:21:14] importantly with each other.
[3:21:15] I think there's a huge value
[3:21:16] added here that can improve
[3:21:19] citizens understanding of and
[3:21:19] trust in the local government.
[3:21:20] Likewise, this assembly seemed
[3:21:22] like a really useful tool that
[3:21:26] Culver City would be wise to
[3:21:27] make use of especially in light
[3:21:27] of their current financial
[3:21:29] circumstances.
[3:21:30] They involve people more
[3:21:31] directly in local decision
[3:21:34] making potentially leading to
[3:21:34] more representative informed
[3:21:35] and widely accepted policy
[3:21:37] decisions.
[3:21:38] So all that said, I really urge
[3:21:39] you to follow the
[3:21:42] recommendations of public
[3:21:43] democracy of Los Angeles and
[3:21:46] pursue a social contract with a
[3:21:47] healthy democracy especially
[3:21:49] since there are only two
[3:21:50] consultants that do the Civic
[3:21:53] Assembly work and healthy
[3:21:53] democracy is far and away the
[3:21:54] more experienced one.
[3:21:57] This will also allow us to
[3:22:00] conduct the Assembly so
[3:22:01] participants can engage in this
[3:22:04] upcoming budget year and this
[3:22:05] upcoming budget process before
[3:22:08] giving their recommendations on
[3:22:09] how we can improve next year so
[3:22:12] strongly in favor of this.
[3:22:15] Thank you.
[3:22:18] Peter, last two speakers are
[3:22:25] Max Clark followed by Alex Levy
[3:22:29] .
[3:22:30] Good evening Council My name is
[3:22:33] Max Clark.
[3:22:34] I'm a volunteer with Padilla
[3:22:37] and I'm from Long Beach.
[3:22:38] My sincere hope is that this
[3:22:42] opportunity is not missed.
[3:22:46] I find this concept to be so
[3:22:46] hopeful.
[3:22:50] The idea that we can
[3:22:53] collaborate on a single issue
[3:22:54] really is important to me
[3:22:54] personally.
[3:22:58] I have a lot of division
[3:22:58] politically speaking within my
[3:23:01] family and so the idea is some
[3:23:02] of the people have expressed
[3:23:03] that in this time of a lot of
[3:23:06] divisiveness in our whole
[3:23:06] society.
[3:23:09] I think that Culver has a real
[3:23:10] chance to try something that
[3:23:14] could really change our
[3:23:17] community.
[3:23:21] And then I just want to point
[3:23:24] out that I have 40s left and
[3:23:25] this form of input you know I
[3:23:27] come from like a really like
[3:23:28] yimby pro housing guy which
[3:23:29] some people like some people
[3:23:31] don't.
[3:23:35] And this format of input is
[3:23:36] very frustrating because it
[3:23:39] feels antagonistic.
[3:23:43] As much as we're all like
[3:23:44] wanting to be happy and healthy
[3:23:47] together it doesn't always feel
[3:23:47] that way.
[3:23:50] And I would encourage you to
[3:23:53] think about why you oppose this
[3:23:57] because I think it offers a lot
[3:23:58] of hope and especially the
[3:24:01] people who don't like this
[3:24:01] council.
[3:24:02] >> Why wouldn't you trust the
[3:24:04] people?
[3:24:05] >> Thank you for your time has
[3:24:05] expired.
[3:24:09] Thank you.
[3:24:12] Our last speaker is Alex Lee.
[3:24:12] Hi.
[3:24:16] And thanks Michelle for the
[3:24:16] presentation.
[3:24:20] I really just wanted to share
[3:24:21] why I think civic assemblies
[3:24:21] are so important.
[3:24:23] I'm for civic assemblies.
[3:24:24] Public engagement is hard.
[3:24:28] I am someone who is politically
[3:24:28] active and I never went to any
[3:24:32] kind of town hall until like
[3:24:32] the summer.
[3:24:33] Right.
[3:24:33] And I'm someone who actually
[3:24:35] cares.
[3:24:36] So put that into perspective.
[3:24:40] It's really nice to say you can
[3:24:40] just have a meeting and open it
[3:24:41] up to the public.
[3:24:43] That would be great if that's
[3:24:43] how that works.
[3:24:44] I make life so easy.
[3:24:45] My background is an
[3:24:48] international development and I
[3:24:48] was working with local
[3:24:51] governments and organizations
[3:24:52] literally around the world
[3:24:52] trying to figure out how do you
[3:24:56] get people to care, how do you
[3:24:57] get them to show up?
[3:25:00] And the thing that like really
[3:25:01] struck me is Civic Assembly.
[3:25:01] So that's how I stumbled into
[3:25:02] this.
[3:25:04] I was like this is a real way
[3:25:04] to get the everyday person in
[3:25:07] the room not just the
[3:25:08] activists, not just the
[3:25:09] peddlers although we're all
[3:25:11] great but like the real people
[3:25:12] who have an opinion and can
[3:25:15] learn and like figure out what
[3:25:15] to do next.
[3:25:18] So I really just encourage you
[3:25:19] to think about this as an
[3:25:20] opportunity to really shift the
[3:25:23] conversation and to not just
[3:25:23] depend on the activists or the
[3:25:27] people of money but like really
[3:25:28] figure out how do you bring in
[3:25:30] the everyday person and like
[3:25:31] stipends are just part of it.
[3:25:31] That's what makes it expensive
[3:25:32] but it's needed.
[3:25:34] That's how you actually get the
[3:25:35] people involved.
[3:25:38] So yeah, that's my pitch.
[3:25:38] Thank you.
[3:25:42] That's the end of our speakers
[3:25:42] .
[3:25:42] Okay.
[3:25:46] Thank you everyone for your
[3:25:46] feedback and input.
[3:25:50] So let's go around and have
[3:25:53] both questions and comments for
[3:25:57] our staff and for the presenter
[3:25:57] Transportation.
[3:26:01] Thank you Mayor And yeah, thank
[3:26:02] you so much Michel for your
[3:26:05] thorough presentation for all
[3:26:05] the work that you've put into
[3:26:09] this and just we welcome you in
[3:26:12] City Hall any time It doesn't
[3:26:13] have to, you know, compete for
[3:26:13] anything at all.
[3:26:14] We just are appreciative of
[3:26:16] your presence and same with
[3:26:16] public democracy Los Angeles
[3:26:19] And I also want to just start
[3:26:20] by acknowledging the work of
[3:26:24] you cfo Soga and your team.
[3:26:24] Elizabeth Shavelson.
[3:26:27] You guys have put in so much
[3:26:28] work preparing this and also
[3:26:31] given a lot of thoughtful
[3:26:31] suggestions and feedback along
[3:26:32] the way.
[3:26:35] And I really appreciate your
[3:26:36] helping the governance
[3:26:36] committee.
[3:26:39] And then to my colleague
[3:26:39] Yasmeen Amani McMoRan for her
[3:26:43] collaboration as well in our
[3:26:43] governance subcommittee and
[3:26:47] also thank you Mayor, for being
[3:26:47] willing to accommodate putting
[3:26:50] this into this agenda since
[3:26:50] it's timely.
[3:26:54] And I'll just ask I just want
[3:26:57] to make sure to level set on
[3:26:58] one specific issue that was
[3:27:01] brought up which was that this
[3:27:06] is that civic assemblies are
[3:27:06] typically not used for
[3:27:07] budgeting And I just want to be
[3:27:10] clear with the public and and
[3:27:10] maybe staff can confirm we're
[3:27:14] not using this or what's
[3:27:15] proposed is not to use the
[3:27:17] Civic Assembly to actually
[3:27:17] impact the budget.
[3:27:21] This is to create more impact,
[3:27:21] put opportunities right.
[3:27:22] I just want to make sure that's
[3:27:25] clear for the public sake.
[3:27:26] Well, that that is actually up
[3:27:29] to this body.
[3:27:29] Right.
[3:27:30] So what the that's one of the
[3:27:33] things we need the council to
[3:27:34] formally determine.
[3:27:37] I think that is what has been
[3:27:38] proposed is that the it's not
[3:27:40] to actually design the budget
[3:27:41] but it's how to get more public
[3:27:45] engagement and input into the
[3:27:45] process.
[3:27:48] So I think that those are the
[3:27:49] steps that we're looking.
[3:27:52] So on the first part of what
[3:27:55] we're talking about tonight is
[3:27:56] that the council consider do
[3:27:59] they want to as a body move
[3:28:00] forward with a civic assembly
[3:28:02] process?
[3:28:05] If that is the case then the
[3:28:06] second sort of piece of that is
[3:28:10] what is the procurement for the
[3:28:10] facilitator?
[3:28:13] Is it that we're going to just
[3:28:13] take a recommendation and go
[3:28:17] with healthy democracies or
[3:28:18] would is there a sort of a
[3:28:21] different procurement where we
[3:28:22] go out and do an rfp and see
[3:28:25] what kind of proposals we get?
[3:28:25] Healthy Democracies is
[3:28:29] absolutely welcome to submit
[3:28:32] And then those proposals could
[3:28:33] be reviewed.
[3:28:33] And then the third question and
[3:28:36] maybe even it has to be decided
[3:28:40] as we move forward What is the
[3:28:40] question?
[3:28:41] And if that question is as
[3:28:44] proposed, you know, we're
[3:28:48] looking to gain input on how to
[3:28:48] improve overall public
[3:28:52] participation and that's a
[3:28:53] question But it really is up to
[3:28:55] up to the council if we're
[3:28:56] going to engage in the process.
[3:28:59] What is it you want to
[3:28:59] determine?
[3:29:00] Thank you Chair for serving.
[3:29:00] Yeah.
[3:29:03] So I mean I'm just sort of
[3:29:07] sharing what I heard from from
[3:29:08] our folks at la which was that
[3:29:10] this is really about increasing
[3:29:11] participation in figuring out
[3:29:14] how folks want to participate
[3:29:15] because I would agree a civic
[3:29:16] assembly MAY not be the right
[3:29:19] choice for actually imparting
[3:29:22] changes to our budget dollars
[3:29:23] and cents and all of that.
[3:29:26] So that's not really what this
[3:29:26] what I heard from the
[3:29:29] presentation here but it's
[3:29:30] certainly a good a good point
[3:29:34] to bring up and I just want to
[3:29:34] also confirm that this doesn't
[3:29:38] change, you know, anything
[3:29:38] about the the city's existing
[3:29:42] process where the city manager
[3:29:42] proposes a budget and you know
[3:29:49] the council has to approve it
[3:29:49] or make changes to it.
[3:29:50] That process is not being
[3:29:53] proposed to be changed In terms
[3:29:56] of the city manager suggesting
[3:29:57] a budget that is my
[3:29:58] understanding The charter
[3:30:01] states that the city manager
[3:30:01] prepares the budget and then
[3:30:04] the council adopts that budget.
[3:30:04] Okay.
[3:30:05] Thank you So and yeah
[3:30:08] colleagues Oh and then finally
[3:30:12] there was a question about your
[3:30:12] role play Michelle So I just
[3:30:15] want to give you an opportunity
[3:30:16] Are you paid by Padilla?
[3:30:20] Are you alive?
[3:30:20] Yes.
[3:30:20] For Padilla?
[3:30:21] No, I am not.
[3:30:27] I consultant I'm a teacher with
[3:30:27] a lot of experience.
[3:30:31] I so I am a volunteer here at
[3:30:35] Padilla and Public MARCH in Los
[3:30:38] Angeles Advocates for the use
[3:30:39] of civic assemblies to improve
[3:30:43] and provide for communities
[3:30:47] participation and different
[3:30:47] different sets of issues.
[3:30:50] And so I volunteer with them.
[3:30:55] I have no contract relationship
[3:30:57] with healthy democracy.
[3:31:02] I, I get nothing out of this
[3:31:02] process.
[3:31:05] There's nothing of value that I
[3:31:05] get except the satisfaction in
[3:31:09] seeing my city move ahead.
[3:31:09] Thank you.
[3:31:13] Thank you for that And yeah
[3:31:13] colleagues I'll just share my
[3:31:17] my thoughts here.
[3:31:20] I want to I want to also thank
[3:31:20] Sarasota.
[3:31:21] Elizabeth's able to send
[3:31:24] Christina Burroughs Jessie Mays
[3:31:24] for coming to the Civic
[3:31:25] Assembly when I was here in
[3:31:26] Culver City when public Mike
[3:31:28] Clay put it on here because it
[3:31:29] was a really enlightening
[3:31:32] experience just to be at a
[3:31:33] table with people face to face
[3:31:36] without knowing the politics of
[3:31:36] the person or their lived
[3:31:39] experience necessarily or
[3:31:40] anything about them and just
[3:31:43] working through a problem in
[3:31:44] front of us it allowed us to
[3:31:45] kind of get right down to
[3:31:47] finding solutions and leave
[3:31:48] some of that typical baggage at
[3:31:51] the door that we often
[3:31:55] experience in in local politics
[3:31:56] and just see each other as
[3:31:56] people and find practical
[3:31:59] solutions together.
[3:31:59] And it was a really really I
[3:32:02] would use the word hope like
[3:32:03] one of our speakers said it was
[3:32:06] a hopeful experience for me And
[3:32:07] so you know we've heard all
[3:32:09] year we have a structural
[3:32:12] deficit in the city was
[3:32:13] identified over two years ago.
[3:32:16] Our expenses are are outpacing
[3:32:19] our revenues And MISS Dennis
[3:32:20] gave a really good recap of
[3:32:21] that And while the forecast
[3:32:23] does look better after the
[3:32:24] passage of Measure c l Michelle
[3:32:25] hit the nail on the head.
[3:32:27] I think when she said there's
[3:32:28] not a whole lot of room to grow
[3:32:31] as our city grows and we do
[3:32:32] have some you know, revenue
[3:32:35] strategies in the works but as
[3:32:35] our population grows I think
[3:32:38] it's going to be more important
[3:32:39] than ever that our residents
[3:32:40] have a seat at the table when
[3:32:43] it comes to the document that
[3:32:44] has such a large impact on our
[3:32:47] everyday lives And I know we
[3:32:50] all come from this diocese from
[3:32:50] different perspectives But one
[3:32:53] experience I do know that we we
[3:32:54] all share colleagues is the
[3:32:54] experience of campaigning, of
[3:32:58] knocking on doors and asking
[3:32:58] our neighbors what their hopes
[3:33:01] are for the city.
[3:33:02] Last year I did just that,
[3:33:05] talked to thousands of people
[3:33:06] who told me they needed their
[3:33:06] trees trimmed.
[3:33:09] They needed a speed bump on
[3:33:09] their street to slow down cars.
[3:33:10] They wanted their potholes
[3:33:12] filled.
[3:33:13] They wanted playgrounds
[3:33:13] renovated and more accessible
[3:33:16] for their kids.
[3:33:16] Parents talk to me about
[3:33:17] needing more child care
[3:33:20] programs Summer camps and park
[3:33:23] space for their kids to enjoy.
[3:33:24] And then came the budget
[3:33:25] process when it was time to
[3:33:27] really put pen to paper And a
[3:33:30] lot of those voices pretty much
[3:33:31] all of them were missing And
[3:33:34] you know, our finance
[3:33:35] department put on two fantastic
[3:33:38] information sessions and they
[3:33:39] allowed community members to
[3:33:41] get information on the proposed
[3:33:42] budget and ask questions about
[3:33:42] it.
[3:33:46] But other than coming to
[3:33:46] council and speaking for a
[3:33:49] couple of minutes, the avenues
[3:33:49] for residents to really
[3:33:50] actively participate in a
[3:33:53] meaningful way and help shape
[3:33:54] that that document were few and
[3:33:57] far between and for the most
[3:33:57] impactful document we produce
[3:34:00] each year the city budget there
[3:34:03] wasn't a real clear opportunity
[3:34:04] for them to have a seat at the
[3:34:05] table.
[3:34:07] So I you know and looking
[3:34:08] forward to the really short
[3:34:11] term suggestions that Michelle
[3:34:12] and that we discussed in the in
[3:34:15] the governance subcommittee
[3:34:16] about having an open house and
[3:34:19] kind of moving up some of those
[3:34:19] information sessions earlier, I
[3:34:23] think those will be fantastic.
[3:34:24] And then the Civic Assembly,
[3:34:26] you know it's a $250,000 price
[3:34:29] tag so that represents a little
[3:34:32] over point 1% of our $180
[3:34:32] million general fund.
[3:34:36] And for that I think it is a
[3:34:37] modest but long term investment
[3:34:37] in our city that's going to
[3:34:40] result hopefully in a budget
[3:34:41] that more closely reflects the
[3:34:42] needs of the community And
[3:34:44] that's what this is all about.
[3:34:48] So by improving the way we
[3:34:48] engage residents in the budget,
[3:34:49] we strengthen trust,
[3:34:52] accountability and ultimately
[3:34:52] the decisions we make about how
[3:34:55] to invest in our community.
[3:34:58] Hopefully those decisions are
[3:34:59] the trust in our communities
[3:34:59] reflected in those decisions
[3:35:03] that we make.
[3:35:03] So the question I think like
[3:35:06] Sevastova mentioned the big
[3:35:07] question here is whether to
[3:35:10] pursue a sole source or rfp.
[3:35:10] I agree with MR. Henderson.
[3:35:11] Like I said when he said that
[3:35:14] our fees are generally
[3:35:17] preferred or I think MR. Jones
[3:35:18] said that in this circumstance
[3:35:21] since this is a professional
[3:35:22] services work we're not
[3:35:22] required to do one.
[3:35:26] But more importantly I think
[3:35:27] healthy democracy historic I
[3:35:30] think public democracy Los
[3:35:30] Angeles really did a lot of
[3:35:31] that hard work for us.
[3:35:31] They provided us with an
[3:35:34] analysis that's attached to a
[3:35:37] staff report of these two of
[3:35:40] these two providers.
[3:35:41] So there's really a lack of
[3:35:43] competition here And healthy
[3:35:44] democracy is by far the most
[3:35:48] experienced and qualified And I
[3:35:51] think more importantly of all
[3:35:52] is if we do an rfp process And
[3:35:55] the reason that I personally
[3:35:58] think we should forgo that is
[3:35:59] we won't be able to the folks
[3:36:03] that we put in the Civic
[3:36:03] Assembly won't be able to
[3:36:04] actually go through the
[3:36:04] existing process.
[3:36:06] So an rfp makes it a longer
[3:36:09] process and we won't be able to
[3:36:10] actually my understanding from
[3:36:13] staff is that we won't have the
[3:36:14] time to actually have those
[3:36:17] participants go through the
[3:36:17] existing process and happy to
[3:36:20] be corrected if that's not the
[3:36:21] case.
[3:36:21] But if by doing sole source we
[3:36:25] can have those people go
[3:36:25] through the existing process
[3:36:26] which is I think critical for
[3:36:29] the success of this is people
[3:36:29] going through the process we
[3:36:32] already have and saying Oh this
[3:36:33] worked this you know this needs
[3:36:34] improvement and actually
[3:36:37] building off what we've the
[3:36:38] work we've already done So yeah
[3:36:40] and I think we have an
[3:36:41] opportunity to invest in
[3:36:41] something for the long term
[3:36:44] health of our city both our
[3:36:44] fiscal health but also our
[3:36:45] civic health.
[3:36:45] How do we talk to one another?
[3:36:48] How do we face each other and
[3:36:49] make hard decisions?
[3:36:51] And I think that is something
[3:36:52] that's really exciting about
[3:36:52] this prospect.
[3:36:55] And I also want to add that
[3:36:55] Councilmember McMahon's
[3:36:56] original proposal of the
[3:36:59] questionnaire I think is
[3:37:02] another really additive
[3:37:02] proposal here that just
[3:37:06] enhances the work that city
[3:37:07] staff is already doing and
[3:37:07] enhances transparency with the
[3:37:10] public.
[3:37:10] That's all I have.
[3:37:11] Thanks, man.
[3:37:11] Okay.
[3:37:11] Thank you.
[3:37:18] Councilmember Horn Thank you.
[3:37:18] Thank you to the cfo.
[3:37:21] So bring your team and of
[3:37:22] course the city manager's team
[3:37:25] as well for all of the support
[3:37:26] and the governance subcommittee
[3:37:29] And that is a brand spanking
[3:37:30] new committee And we've been
[3:37:33] quite busy and you all can see
[3:37:34] I'm very grateful to MISS
[3:37:34] Dennis for being here this
[3:37:37] evening and all of the deep
[3:37:41] work that you've done to
[3:37:41] support us being here in this
[3:37:42] moment.
[3:37:45] I'm really grateful for all the
[3:37:48] comments and and I mean I I'll
[3:37:49] I'll be pretty brief.
[3:37:52] I've been very focused.
[3:37:53] I mean this is my fifth year on
[3:37:53] council.
[3:37:56] I've been very focused on
[3:37:57] lowering barriers for folks to
[3:38:01] participate in our city
[3:38:01] processes.
[3:38:04] And as someone who did not
[3:38:05] always feel welcome like my
[3:38:08] voice or my opinion was and
[3:38:11] welcomed or frequently uplifted
[3:38:12] or centered in city discussions
[3:38:15] and whether that was at the
[3:38:16] school district or here at the
[3:38:19] council level And it was
[3:38:20] incredibly important or it is
[3:38:23] incredibly important to me to
[3:38:23] think about when we're in
[3:38:27] spaces when we're hearing items
[3:38:30] whose voice is not in the room,
[3:38:31] what are we doing to make sure
[3:38:34] that we are making our spaces
[3:38:34] as comfortable as possible for
[3:38:38] folks to be a part of them?
[3:38:39] A part of that is how we speak
[3:38:41] to one another which sometimes
[3:38:42] listening to comments it's very
[3:38:45] interesting how comfortable
[3:38:46] folks feel speaking to your
[3:38:46] neighbors.
[3:38:49] We're all neighbors in this
[3:38:52] 5.2mi city and we all deeply
[3:38:53] love and care for this
[3:38:56] community And I always like to
[3:38:57] root there because whether we
[3:38:57] come around to these things the
[3:39:00] same way or differently we're
[3:39:00] here.
[3:39:01] We're here in this space we're
[3:39:04] engaging because we deeply care
[3:39:04] about the now of our community
[3:39:08] and the future for our children
[3:39:08] and hopefully their children.
[3:39:12] So I am very interested and
[3:39:13] moving forward with the Civic
[3:39:16] Assembly work I do you know and
[3:39:20] again not to be repetitive I
[3:39:20] know that the protocols to
[3:39:24] typically move forward with the
[3:39:25] rfp but as cited and I think
[3:39:31] the second attachment to the
[3:39:32] staff report and it's clear
[3:39:35] that you know the information
[3:39:38] and healthy democracy is very
[3:39:39] well prepared to do this type
[3:39:43] of work And again and this is
[3:39:44] going to be looking and
[3:39:44] hopefully we can fine tune this
[3:39:47] from the Dyess but this is
[3:39:48] looking at how we can ensure to
[3:39:51] get more participation at
[3:39:51] Again, so much kudos to our cfo
[3:39:55] Soga who two years ago did the
[3:39:58] first workshop for the city
[3:39:59] last year did two workshops for
[3:40:00] the city and but we're not
[3:40:02] seeing the level of engagement
[3:40:06] and input that we could see So
[3:40:06] there's always room for
[3:40:06] improvement.
[3:40:07] That's never a knock on where
[3:40:07] we are.
[3:40:10] It's just an acknowledgment
[3:40:13] that we can always do more and
[3:40:13] hear from more voices and
[3:40:14] ensure that our processes are
[3:40:17] really doing and our services
[3:40:17] are doing the things that we
[3:40:21] hope that they do.
[3:40:24] So to ensure that the folks who
[3:40:25] are participating have the
[3:40:26] opportunity to see the status
[3:40:28] quo and that they will
[3:40:29] hopefully also be able to give
[3:40:32] us recommendations to move
[3:40:33] forward going through the full
[3:40:33] process.
[3:40:37] So I support the waiver of lp
[3:40:40] for their professional services
[3:40:40] work for the Civic Assembly
[3:40:41] process with the question
[3:40:44] specifically being how can we
[3:40:45] increase public participation
[3:40:48] in the budget process?
[3:40:51] So I would support the 250,000
[3:40:55] allocation there and and I
[3:40:55] would really like you know, I
[3:40:56] hope our colleagues will agree
[3:41:02] to and the Finance Committee
[3:41:02] questionnaire is ten questions
[3:41:06] And again since I've been on
[3:41:06] the council I don't know if
[3:41:09] I've uniformly seen the same
[3:41:10] presentation from each
[3:41:13] department and we do get the
[3:41:14] spreadsheets And if you dig
[3:41:17] into that huge book that our
[3:41:20] amazing cfo team produces
[3:41:21] annually and really dig in, you
[3:41:25] can kind of see okay this is
[3:41:28] where this department is
[3:41:28] staffing wise, okay?
[3:41:29] This is what their goals are
[3:41:32] for this year.
[3:41:32] But it's it's not like in a
[3:41:36] clear you know, very simple,
[3:41:36] very transparent And again we
[3:41:37] will still have all of those is
[3:41:40] not replacing any any of the
[3:41:41] book but it hopefully it will
[3:41:44] allow folks to kind of have a
[3:41:45] you know a bird's eye view of
[3:41:47] like these are the goals.
[3:41:48] This is what the department
[3:41:48] looks like.
[3:41:50] So it's a really simple ten
[3:41:51] question questionnaire that I
[3:41:51] think can only add to
[3:41:55] transparency as we continue to
[3:41:55] move our budget processes
[3:41:55] forward.
[3:41:58] So I'm excited about the
[3:41:59] potential of change.
[3:42:02] I'm excited about the
[3:42:02] opportunity for additional
[3:42:06] transparency and accountability
[3:42:07] as we always seek to better our
[3:42:10] city services and support our
[3:42:11] neighbors and community better
[3:42:14] So I'm excited.
[3:42:15] This is like a you know, really
[3:42:18] full circle moment.
[3:42:18] So again, grateful to my
[3:42:21] colleague for your leadership
[3:42:21] and collaboration that has
[3:42:25] brought us to this moment and
[3:42:25] looking forward to hearing from
[3:42:26] the rest of my colleagues this
[3:42:26] evening.
[3:42:29] Thank you.
[3:42:29] Thank you.
[3:42:33] Council Member Thank you Mayor
[3:42:33] .
[3:42:34] Stand and thank you so much for
[3:42:34] your your hard work and your
[3:42:39] presentation this evening.
[3:42:39] Lisa thank you so much for
[3:42:40] everything you know and and
[3:42:43] moving forward I want to one
[3:42:47] commend you for you you came on
[3:42:48] board and a lot of the things
[3:42:50] that are in place now were not
[3:42:51] when you came on board.
[3:42:54] So and a lot of it is about the
[3:42:54] participation in the budget and
[3:42:55] how you sort of you know with
[3:42:58] Councilmember McMahon's
[3:42:58] suggestion about graphing
[3:42:59] things and whatnot making it a
[3:43:02] lot easier for residents to
[3:43:05] really grasp what was going on
[3:43:05] but then really your attention
[3:43:08] in your detail and really
[3:43:09] creating and crafting more
[3:43:12] community participation.
[3:43:13] So thank thank you for for
[3:43:13] that.
[3:43:16] In terms of moving forward
[3:43:17] without an rfp, I'm especially
[3:43:20] for this amount of money I know
[3:43:21] it's up to council's discretion
[3:43:24] but is that sort of customary i
[3:43:25] can understand for maybe a
[3:43:28] smaller dollar amount but for
[3:43:35] this type of expenditure Well
[3:43:39] normally I think both Elizabeth
[3:43:43] and I have tried to in our our
[3:43:44] time here to kind of hold
[3:43:47] departments to higher standards
[3:43:51] and get them to do rfp is
[3:43:52] really go out on the
[3:43:55] marketplace especially when
[3:43:56] we're talking about large
[3:43:59] dollar amounts.
[3:44:00] I mean that it really is a best
[3:44:03] practice because whether or not
[3:44:06] there is we we don't know
[3:44:07] everybody who's out there.
[3:44:07] Right?
[3:44:08] There MAY be other people who
[3:44:11] are interested and that is our
[3:44:14] best job at being stewards of
[3:44:18] the public funds We we go out
[3:44:19] and see in a competitive
[3:44:23] process what is available.
[3:44:23] Right.
[3:44:24] And and I appreciate that we do
[3:44:27] that sort of across the board
[3:44:27] with every department And I
[3:44:28] like that you brought that up
[3:44:30] and I think it really is
[3:44:33] important moving forward.
[3:44:34] You know, there's a lot of
[3:44:35] comments and questions made
[3:44:40] that I don't know that I agree
[3:44:40] with 100%.
[3:44:43] I'm you know, spending $250,000
[3:44:47] to pay a group of people to
[3:44:51] come up with ideas to bring to
[3:44:52] city council that we submit to
[3:44:55] the city manager that is his
[3:44:55] duty under the or their duty
[3:44:59] whomever it might be under the
[3:45:03] charter to craft a document, a
[3:45:07] budget, put forward.
[3:45:07] You know they're talking about
[3:45:11] a q&a with department heads.
[3:45:12] We can do a q&a with department
[3:45:17] heads and save us $250,000.
[3:45:18] I mean, you know and a lot of
[3:45:20] the talks are talking about
[3:45:21] structural deficit and how
[3:45:22] moving forward, you know, we
[3:45:25] really need to be mindful of
[3:45:25] that.
[3:45:29] But yeah, we have no problem
[3:45:29] investing a quarter million
[3:45:30] dollars plus whatever time
[3:45:33] staff is going to have to spend
[3:45:37] on this in my opinion you're
[3:45:41] you're asked to task or do
[3:45:44] probably the heaviest heaviest
[3:45:45] lifting of your job is creating
[3:45:48] the budget But yet in doing
[3:45:52] that now we have another sort
[3:45:53] of football we're going to hand
[3:45:55] you and say we'll run with this
[3:45:55] one to and how much money
[3:45:59] that's going to cost, how much
[3:46:00] are we going to pay them?
[3:46:00] How much more money is this
[3:46:06] going to cost if if this moves
[3:46:06] forward?
[3:46:07] A lot of it really it concerns
[3:46:10] me.
[3:46:10] It really it really does.
[3:46:14] If somebody one of the speakers
[3:46:15] is talking about there's no way
[3:46:17] for input I think there's
[3:46:18] plenty of ways for input And I
[3:46:22] know during budget session we
[3:46:23] each each one of us get
[3:46:26] multiple emails from residents
[3:46:26] who hey, this is what's
[3:46:27] important to me.
[3:46:30] This is what I want to see.
[3:46:30] This is what I don't want to
[3:46:30] see.
[3:46:33] This is moving forward, you
[3:46:33] know and you know I did
[3:46:37] campaigning as well this this
[3:46:40] last season and knocked on a
[3:46:41] whole lot of doors as well.
[3:46:44] And I don't know that any of
[3:46:44] the conversations I had with
[3:46:48] individuals was hey, how come
[3:46:48] we can't participate in the
[3:46:52] budget and to be quite frank I
[3:46:55] think if if this item were to
[3:46:59] come forward if I said Hey,
[3:47:00] let's do this and this is who I
[3:47:03] want to do it do it with a lot
[3:47:04] of community members I'm that
[3:47:06] would still be talking about
[3:47:11] what the heck is going on And I
[3:47:11] think that should just be, you
[3:47:12] know held across across the
[3:47:14] board.
[3:47:14] But more importantly what
[3:47:19] worries me is that okay great
[3:47:22] we want our trees trimmed in
[3:47:25] our street lights on and I
[3:47:26] think we all can agree that we
[3:47:29] want that.
[3:47:29] But when you're working with a
[3:47:33] finite finite amount of money
[3:47:37] and your need to ensure I think
[3:47:37] first and foremost public
[3:47:38] safety and how we're going to
[3:47:40] keep our communities safe and
[3:47:41] we don't have the safe
[3:47:44] community our businesses don't
[3:47:44] want to stay here.
[3:47:45] Our residents don't want to
[3:47:48] stay here.
[3:47:48] A school district will decline
[3:47:51] And I worry this is just
[3:47:52] another mechanism behind the
[3:47:55] funding that ultimately you
[3:47:56] know, my colleagues have no
[3:47:56] problem saying the biggest
[3:47:59] budget is our police budget and
[3:48:00] how we're going to trim trim
[3:48:01] the fat on that And I think
[3:48:05] we're ready and sort of trimmed
[3:48:09] it as much as we can moving
[3:48:09] forward especially as we should
[3:48:13] be ramping up for everything
[3:48:13] that's coming forward whether
[3:48:17] it's the soccer or the football
[3:48:24] or the Olympics And to start
[3:48:24] spending more money and
[3:48:25] figuring out how we're going to
[3:48:28] trim the budget And I said this
[3:48:32] It worries me that it's
[3:48:33] recommendations are going to
[3:48:36] come for defunding.
[3:48:37] Plain and simple without, you
[3:48:40] know, putting any sugar on top
[3:48:40] of it.
[3:48:44] I think there's better use for
[3:48:44] the funds.
[3:48:47] i think ultimately we as a
[3:48:51] council are the ears of our
[3:48:51] community.
[3:48:52] Those who reach out to us can
[3:48:55] obviously have their voices
[3:48:56] heard through us or hear or in
[3:48:59] the meetings that you're
[3:48:59] holding.
[3:49:03] So if this does move forward I
[3:49:04] urge Council to do it the right
[3:49:05] way to do it How we sort of
[3:49:07] hold every other item that
[3:49:11] comes forward is creating an
[3:49:12] rfp to do it the right and fair
[3:49:15] way.
[3:49:19] But overall I can't support
[3:49:19] this.
[3:49:22] I think we as the council are
[3:49:27] responsible for directing staff
[3:49:27] and our department heads on
[3:49:30] what is important and what is
[3:49:31] not and then trusting that city
[3:49:34] manager to come up with a
[3:49:35] document that makes sense
[3:49:38] across the board.
[3:49:39] Mayor, thank you so much.
[3:49:41] Thank you guys for your present
[3:49:41] .
[3:49:42] Yeah, thank you.
[3:49:42] Thank you for the presentation
[3:49:45] and thank you to MISS Dennis
[3:49:46] and Padilla and for the public
[3:49:49] comments I'm really interested
[3:49:53] in this concept overall I do
[3:49:53] have a few questions.
[3:49:57] Do we now I'm sorry if you said
[3:49:58] this but do we know how much
[3:49:58] approximate how much staff time
[3:50:01] this would involve?
[3:50:02] I have no idea And it is not
[3:50:06] can't completed within It is a
[3:50:09] concern of mine.
[3:50:12] I have not spoken with healthy
[3:50:15] democracies as of yet because I
[3:50:16] don't have council direction so
[3:50:20] it's unclear to me how much
[3:50:20] time this will need.
[3:50:23] I am concerned that with all
[3:50:24] the other work on our and I
[3:50:27] have a very busy staff where
[3:50:27] you know especially right now
[3:50:28] we're up to our eyeballs in
[3:50:31] audit You all see the budget
[3:50:32] but the other big thing we do
[3:50:34] is the audit Every year And so
[3:50:38] we've been working very hard on
[3:50:39] closing the books for last year
[3:50:42] So I don't really know how much
[3:50:43] time I did notice that on the
[3:50:46] attack on the budget for
[3:50:47] healthy democracies it does say
[3:50:50] that there's going you know,
[3:50:53] the city's responsible over and
[3:50:53] above the 250,000 to provide
[3:50:57] the venue to provide tech and a
[3:51:00] v support and to provide
[3:51:00] additional public outreach.
[3:51:01] I don't really know what that
[3:51:05] looks like so I can't put a
[3:51:08] dollar figure on it.
[3:51:11] So I'd I'd have to determine
[3:51:12] what that was.
[3:51:15] I think if either if the
[3:51:19] council decided to go that
[3:51:23] route and award an agreement or
[3:51:24] to have us go without a
[3:51:27] procurement process and just
[3:51:27] directly to healthy
[3:51:28] democracies, I think we would
[3:51:31] need to come back because this
[3:51:31] would obviously have to be
[3:51:31] redefined.
[3:51:34] We'd have to have conversations
[3:51:35] with them before we brought
[3:51:39] back an item with a contract
[3:51:41] amount for approval.
[3:51:41] Okay.
[3:51:45] Thank you.
[3:51:47] What happens and did you want
[3:51:51] to respond to that?
[3:51:55] There is some staff time.
[3:51:55] I would extraordinarily
[3:51:59] strongly recommend that that
[3:51:59] the chief financial officer of
[3:52:02] the city be one of the experts
[3:52:06] providing a day to explain the
[3:52:13] budget process and and should
[3:52:16] there be questions that we need
[3:52:17] to go over there and answer
[3:52:17] their questions?
[3:52:20] That's the only staff time I
[3:52:23] see involved.
[3:52:24] There MAY be some staff time
[3:52:27] looking at the recommendations
[3:52:32] next summer from the Civic
[3:52:38] Assembly and I'll put and at
[3:52:42] the bottom of the proposed
[3:52:43] budget from p from healthy
[3:52:47] democracy is that assumed that
[3:52:51] the location the venue to do
[3:52:51] this would be provided by the
[3:52:54] city the Civic you know the
[3:52:58] Veterans Affairs location and
[3:52:59] somebody to help with some tech
[3:53:02] support like one person and
[3:53:03] make sure that the microphones
[3:53:05] and projectors and all that
[3:53:09] kind of stuff work And healthy
[3:53:12] democracy has extensive
[3:53:13] experience in managing these
[3:53:16] things on behalf of cities.
[3:53:17] And so the assumption is that
[3:53:21] should you choose to go forward
[3:53:22] the city would refine this
[3:53:24] proposed budget to work out
[3:53:25] these details and of course
[3:53:26] come back to the council with
[3:53:28] that.
[3:53:28] Right.
[3:53:32] Thank you.
[3:53:32] Before you go, there's a
[3:53:33] question about Sorry.
[3:53:36] Yes, sorry.
[3:53:36] What if someone drops out
[3:53:40] during the process?
[3:53:40] How is the replacement handled?
[3:53:41] Well, the idea is that there
[3:53:44] would be 20 excuse me and 20
[3:53:47] people selected at random but
[3:53:51] also some alternate.
[3:53:51] So if there's a illness or you
[3:53:55] know a family concerns so forth
[3:53:55] so that there's always 20
[3:53:59] people that and the panel of 20
[3:53:59] people continues to represent
[3:54:03] the demographic characteristics
[3:54:03] defined by the council.
[3:54:04] Okay Thank you.
[3:54:07] And one last question.
[3:54:10] So last one.
[3:54:14] So the assembly members are
[3:54:15] going to invest all this time.
[3:54:19] How are we going to manage
[3:54:19] expectations?
[3:54:22] So what if they come back?
[3:54:22] They make recommendations.
[3:54:26] Counsel for whatever reason
[3:54:27] doesn't go with them or you
[3:54:30] know, we don't want people to
[3:54:30] be deflated.
[3:54:31] We just invested all this time
[3:54:34] money and energy into them.
[3:54:34] How do we manage all those
[3:54:38] expectations and there's a
[3:54:38] program director from Healthy
[3:54:42] Democracy here tonight, Justin
[3:54:43] Reedy and I ask him to step up
[3:54:45] and answer that question
[3:54:46] specifically to manage
[3:54:52] expectations
[3:54:53] .
[3:54:54] Thanks, Vice Mayor Fraser, can
[3:54:57] you kind of restate your
[3:54:57] questions So know what?
[3:54:57] You're right.
[3:55:00] So we're going to invest of
[3:55:01] this time energy and money in
[3:55:04] this 20 assembly of 25 people
[3:55:08] and at the end they're going to
[3:55:08] make a recommendation.
[3:55:11] X, y, z And let's say council
[3:55:15] goes in a different direction
[3:55:16] or doesn't you know, thank you.
[3:55:19] But you know we're going to go
[3:55:20] this other way.
[3:55:23] How do we manage expectations
[3:55:26] of the Assembly members just to
[3:55:27] like it MAY or MAY not
[3:55:27] Hopefully it would be in
[3:55:30] alignment.
[3:55:31] It would support the way that
[3:55:31] council is going and the way
[3:55:32] the city based on all the
[3:55:34] information that they're going
[3:55:35] to receive.
[3:55:35] Does that help?
[3:55:39] Yeah, I think I can I can speak
[3:55:39] to that.
[3:55:42] So I would say it would be it's
[3:55:46] it's pretty rare for convening
[3:55:49] body a municipality city county
[3:55:50] We've worked with lots of
[3:55:50] different governments over the
[3:55:54] years that on on these kinds of
[3:55:57] projects for the convening body
[3:55:58] to reject outright all of the
[3:55:58] recommendations of a civic
[3:56:01] assembly usually the
[3:56:02] recommendations that are
[3:56:05] produced by these panels of a
[3:56:06] microcosm of the community are
[3:56:08] really solid recommendations
[3:56:09] that come from the heart and
[3:56:10] soul of the community.
[3:56:13] These people take this very
[3:56:14] seriously, spent a lot of time,
[3:56:16] as you say, sort of investing
[3:56:17] in this and investing their
[3:56:17] time and energy in this and
[3:56:20] trying to come up with
[3:56:20] solutions that are ones that
[3:56:24] are very feasible for the city
[3:56:24] to do.
[3:56:25] So it would be pretty rare for
[3:56:28] them for the I think for you
[3:56:28] guys as a as a group to say
[3:56:32] thanks we we kind of don't want
[3:56:32] to go in that direction.
[3:56:33] That said I think that
[3:56:36] recognize that that ultimately
[3:56:36] they're an advisory body to the
[3:56:37] city council that you all are
[3:56:40] the decision makers for the for
[3:56:40] the city And this is really
[3:56:43] about trying to help the the
[3:56:44] city sort of have a better
[3:56:47] understanding of how the
[3:56:47] community wants to be involved
[3:56:51] in this process And as you go
[3:56:52] about making these kind of
[3:56:52] difficult decisions moving
[3:56:55] forward with respect to setting
[3:56:55] the budget and thinking about
[3:56:58] kind of budget priorities, how
[3:56:59] to make sure the people's
[3:56:59] voices is the people's voices
[3:57:02] are heard in the process.
[3:57:03] So I think they would
[3:57:04] understand and respect that at
[3:57:06] that not necessarily all of the
[3:57:07] recommendations would be taken
[3:57:10] into account or passed but I
[3:57:14] would I would expect it would
[3:57:14] at least some of them would be
[3:57:15] but yeah.
[3:57:15] Got it.
[3:57:15] Thank you.
[3:57:18] That's helpful.
[3:57:19] I think that there so it would
[3:57:22] be explained to them that it's
[3:57:22] advisory capacity.
[3:57:23] I think there's some concern
[3:57:26] that you know what the
[3:57:27] recommendations are going to be
[3:57:30] a mandate So I'm glad to know
[3:57:30] that you know that explanation
[3:57:31] will be there and it'll be
[3:57:34] clear for their purposes.
[3:57:37] So thank you.
[3:57:37] Thank you.
[3:57:38] Yeah.
[3:57:42] So I thanks for all those
[3:57:43] answers again and thanks for
[3:57:45] your work over the past couple
[3:57:46] of years of support of many
[3:57:50] efforts to make our budget
[3:57:50] process more transparent and
[3:57:54] accessible.
[3:57:55] The budget Presentations Thank
[3:57:55] you to cfo.
[3:57:57] I'm looking forward to the
[3:57:58] budget survey that will be
[3:58:02] included upcoming and I do
[3:58:03] believe that tonight's item
[3:58:07] builds on that foundation and
[3:58:07] this is just another tool in
[3:58:10] our toolbox to reach more
[3:58:11] voices in our community
[3:58:14] especially those that we don't
[3:58:14] always hear from.
[3:58:17] We often hear as been said
[3:58:21] already but we'll hear from the
[3:58:22] same small group of residents
[3:58:25] often not always and which is
[3:58:26] amazing and their input is so
[3:58:29] valuable but it doesn't always
[3:58:30] reflect the full diversity and
[3:58:33] perspective of everyone in our
[3:58:33] city.
[3:58:37] So it's from what I'm hearing
[3:58:38] this type of civic assembly can
[3:58:41] really balance all that out so
[3:58:41] participants can really learn
[3:58:45] deliberate and come together to
[3:58:45] make more thoughtful
[3:58:49] recommendations As I appreciate
[3:58:49] the transformational benefits
[3:58:53] that you spoke about civic
[3:58:53] communication skills.
[3:58:56] Sabar I think we need more
[3:58:57] civics lessons but that's a
[3:59:00] whole nother issue.
[3:59:01] But this will be a part of
[3:59:01] that.
[3:59:04] We also obviously need more
[3:59:04] inclusivity and trust and
[3:59:08] transparency in government.
[3:59:08] I also agree with I think there
[3:59:09] are several public comments
[3:59:12] that this could bypass some of
[3:59:15] the polarization in our city
[3:59:16] and to get some outside voices
[3:59:20] and they will be compensated
[3:59:23] but it won't be that I think
[3:59:26] one public comment said 12,500
[3:59:27] but it's going to be much less
[3:59:28] So that is dividing that the
[3:59:30] total amount But there's other
[3:59:34] costs and fees but also that I
[3:59:37] appreciate that the model
[3:59:38] presented tonight includes
[3:59:41] support for child care Elder
[3:59:41] care and translation services.
[3:59:43] So I think that that's that
[3:59:46] type of mind as far as the
[3:59:50] police budget or defund ing,
[3:59:50] you know, I personally have
[3:59:51] been, you know, quite
[3:59:54] disciplined, deliberate and
[3:59:54] mindful about the police budget
[3:59:54] this year.
[3:59:58] So I want to say right now that
[4:00:01] this is not a foil for any of
[4:00:05] that And ultimately this is
[4:00:05] about trust, transparency and
[4:00:08] connection.
[4:00:09] And as I mentioned also this
[4:00:10] won't replace our existing
[4:00:12] engagement efforts.
[4:00:13] It will enhance them.
[4:00:16] So I'm fine with this based on
[4:00:19] the proposal and expertise
[4:00:20] especially considering an rfp
[4:00:20] is not required for
[4:00:23] professional services.
[4:00:24] I think this is just a great
[4:00:28] opportunity to continue to
[4:00:28] build democracy in our
[4:00:32] community which will just you
[4:00:33] know, not only be a model for
[4:00:38] Culver City but beyond As far
[4:00:39] as the logistics that's a whole
[4:00:43] nother conversation.
[4:00:46] I believe so But I do also
[4:00:53] support the
[4:00:53] the questionnaire
[4:00:57] for departments used during the
[4:01:01] budget process That's at Mare
[4:01:01] Thank you.
[4:01:01] Okay.
[4:01:04] Thank you.
[4:01:06] Thank you again to MS. Dennis
[4:01:11] and I'll be community members
[4:01:15] who spoke and of course we'll
[4:01:15] see if it's over and your
[4:01:19] entire staff for preparing this
[4:01:22] So I heard the exact same
[4:01:26] presentation with anecdotes and
[4:01:30] and fun sidebars last Friday.
[4:01:33] I'm not sure if my other
[4:01:33] colleagues participated in that
[4:01:37] type of one on one but I got to
[4:01:41] know it pretty well.
[4:01:45] I'm looking at just a lot of
[4:01:51] different ideas here but Fort
[4:01:51] Collins was pointed out and I
[4:01:55] had commented when we had our
[4:01:56] Zoom meeting last Friday that
[4:01:59] my daughter lives in Fort
[4:02:00] Collins and that they had they
[4:02:03] use that as an example of a
[4:02:09] successful civic assembly where
[4:02:13] they had 2020 person assembly.
[4:02:15] The population is actually
[4:02:16] 170,000, not a 100,000.
[4:02:20] I was just doing quick
[4:02:20] calculation.
[4:02:24] That's that's 1/100 of 1% of
[4:02:31] that population And I'm going
[4:02:32] I'm following a path here The
[4:02:35] we have a finance advisory
[4:02:39] committee that has often said
[4:02:39] that they feel that they're
[4:02:40] underutilized.
[4:02:45] It's a five person body and a
[4:02:46] five person body in Culver City
[4:02:51] of 40,000 is 5/100 of 1% of our
[4:02:54] community and I think that it
[4:02:57] would benefit us to utilize
[4:02:58] them more And if there's a
[4:03:01] desire to gain greater input
[4:03:09] from our community we also have
[4:03:09] a count.
[4:03:12] I pulled it up while we were
[4:03:15] going through comments here ten
[4:03:16] committees, commissions and
[4:03:21] boards totaling somewhere over
[4:03:22] 60 volunteers none of whom are
[4:03:25] paid So you know to decide to
[4:03:32] pay one body and not pay all
[4:03:33] these other people who spent a
[4:03:36] lot of time and effort and and
[4:03:40] and feel that their opinions
[4:03:40] are valued.
[4:03:44] I'm wondering the fairness in
[4:03:48] that And then you know, there
[4:03:52] was some early discussion here
[4:03:53] on the Dyess saying that well,
[4:03:56] this isn't about the budget and
[4:03:56] yet everyone's talking about
[4:03:59] the budget here.
[4:04:03] It's in the presentation here
[4:04:06] on one of the pages it says You
[4:04:07] know, it says here to determine
[4:04:10] the topic to be addressed by
[4:04:11] the Civic Assembly.
[4:04:14] Yet we're all talking about the
[4:04:15] budget in the context we've got
[4:04:18] our cfo doing the presentation
[4:04:22] and then in an earlier slide
[4:04:25] and the presentation it you
[4:04:26] know the heading is ten years
[4:04:30] of budget challenges So it's
[4:04:33] about the budget and getting
[4:04:37] input on the budget and it's
[4:04:38] pointed out here I didn't have
[4:04:44] time to verify the $47.9
[4:04:47] million total structural
[4:04:51] deficit claim but structural is
[4:04:51] ongoing, right.
[4:04:55] And part of that number
[4:04:55] definitely is the $20 million
[4:04:59] that we are like if we did not
[4:05:02] do a Jubilee project that 20
[4:05:06] million would go into our we
[4:05:06] replenish our general fund
[4:05:06] reserve.
[4:05:10] So that's a one time
[4:05:11] expenditure that would reduce
[4:05:14] this to $27.9 million And I
[4:05:18] don't think it includes all of
[4:05:18] our fee adjustments that we've
[4:05:22] done across all departments and
[4:05:25] and yet to be determined parks
[4:05:28] fees increases so nor I, I
[4:05:32] don't think so that number I
[4:05:36] mean well we need to be budget
[4:05:39] conscious definitely it's not
[4:05:43] as bad as that works And you
[4:05:46] know related to that $250,000
[4:05:49] is I mean our very next budget
[4:05:50] our very next agenda item is
[4:05:53] talking about allocating funds
[4:05:55] for micro grant for small
[4:05:58] businesses.
[4:06:02] You know the vice mayor who's
[4:06:03] in our subcommittee looking at
[4:06:06] film permits and reducing doing
[4:06:09] it and doing a moratorium on
[4:06:10] that.
[4:06:10] We'll be looking at that and at
[4:06:13] the next agenda.
[4:06:14] So that's a reduction of
[4:06:17] revenues.
[4:06:17] So you know, certainly every
[4:06:21] every penny needs to be
[4:06:24] considered and 250,000 is you
[4:06:28] know, yes we do and consent
[4:06:31] items we sign off on to $50,000
[4:06:31] multiple times every single
[4:06:34] council meeting.
[4:06:38] But those are well reviewed our
[4:06:46] staff and needed And then I, I
[4:06:49] truly do agree and believe the
[4:06:50] voices of the people that are
[4:06:54] in that video the feedback that
[4:06:57] was you know, uplifted and
[4:06:58] within this staff report
[4:07:01] hearing from MR. And MRS.
[4:07:05] PowerPoint that people really
[4:07:05] feel empowered and they they
[4:07:08] they feel heard and they feel
[4:07:08] appreciated.
[4:07:13] But again it's it's 20 people
[4:07:21] and I just the bang for the
[4:07:24] buck when we have we put so
[4:07:32] much effort into outreach what
[4:07:32] did cfo over what did we do
[4:07:36] when we were advertising our
[4:07:37] your budget went to one How do
[4:07:39] we go about doing that last
[4:07:43] year there were a number of it
[4:07:47] was put out on social media and
[4:07:48] I think of delivery in terms of
[4:07:51] getting out of the budget went
[4:07:52] to one advertisement on all of
[4:07:54] our you know budget
[4:07:55] informational offerings.
[4:07:58] Yeah.
[4:07:58] So we pushed those out as much
[4:08:02] as we could.
[4:08:02] We we also offered them and
[4:08:06] asked the cfo we we solicited
[4:08:11] questions we dusted made a
[4:08:15] video that we posted I wish I
[4:08:18] could say we had an outpouring
[4:08:22] of questions We did not.
[4:08:26] So we've been trying and and it
[4:08:26] sounds like there's a direct
[4:08:29] mail piece to what is being
[4:08:33] recommended here which you know
[4:08:37] that it has varying degrees of
[4:08:37] success And I know that you've
[4:08:41] got, you know, best practices
[4:08:42] and what you've experienced in
[4:08:45] other cities and had success
[4:08:48] with And then I actually have a
[4:08:52] question from our city attorney
[4:08:55] on the Brown Act If I mean
[4:08:56] maybe this isn't considered an
[4:08:59] advisory body but it sounds
[4:09:00] like an advisory body.
[4:09:02] It kind of walks like it talks
[4:09:03] like what is there?
[4:09:06] Brown Act considerations here
[4:09:07] and this would be a Brown act
[4:09:10] body okay if it's appointed by
[4:09:13] the city council and like one
[4:09:14] more action which it would be
[4:09:17] so okay so I mean that that has
[4:09:20] a lot of implications and a lot
[4:09:28] more staff time So I can count
[4:09:31] votes so I know what's going to
[4:09:35] happen here today.
[4:09:39] So I just ask that I do think
[4:09:39] we need the rfp.
[4:09:43] I do We and especially I don't
[4:09:47] know if COUNCILMAN Rivera's
[4:09:50] delivery of his point was
[4:09:51] really as clear as he wanted
[4:09:54] but if other people had
[4:09:58] relationships with a
[4:09:59] recommended a recommended
[4:10:06] expenditure from this council
[4:10:07] and it was a single what do we
[4:10:10] call it like a what's the term
[4:10:10] No our fee.
[4:10:13] Yeah you would just be
[4:10:14] foregoing competitive a
[4:10:17] competitive process.
[4:10:18] It's not a sole source in the
[4:10:20] technical sense is it?
[4:10:21] It MAY not officially fall
[4:10:25] under, you know, a conflict but
[4:10:29] it looks bad.
[4:10:30] It just so it looks bad.
[4:10:33] So I recommend that we do go
[4:10:36] through an rfp process.
[4:10:40] You know there MAY be more
[4:10:43] experience in this specific
[4:10:48] niche of of community input
[4:10:48] called the Civic Assembly here
[4:10:52] but it doesn't mean that we
[4:10:52] can't get proposals from others
[4:10:56] that that you know from very
[4:10:59] qualified organizations that
[4:11:02] engage in in the public who can
[4:11:06] you know provide similar better
[4:11:10] maybe less expensive ways of
[4:11:10] doing this.
[4:11:13] So I just asked for the rfp.
[4:11:14] That's all I have.
[4:11:17] Thank you, Mayor.
[4:11:17] Quick question.
[4:11:18] Yeah.
[4:11:21] Have we ever accepted letters
[4:11:25] from the vendors themselves and
[4:11:25] as evidence that they're the
[4:11:31] sole provider
[4:11:32] that usually is
[4:11:36] not about consulting services,
[4:11:40] that is about there are certain
[4:11:45] entity is that are the
[4:11:48] representatives for a product
[4:11:52] right So we are specifying we
[4:11:56] have a certain kind of battery
[4:11:57] backup right that we purchase
[4:12:00] for our traffic signals And
[4:12:01] oftentimes those are national
[4:12:05] manufacture laws but they you
[4:12:06] don't buy direct from them.
[4:12:08] They have a regional
[4:12:09] distributor And so in those
[4:12:12] cases we have had oftentimes
[4:12:13] those people provide us with a
[4:12:16] letter representing certain
[4:12:19] that they are the sole
[4:12:20] distributor for that particular
[4:12:23] piece of equipment.
[4:12:24] Is that Yeah I think that's
[4:12:27] that's the instance It's not
[4:12:28] something that we would do for
[4:12:28] consulting services.
[4:12:28] Okay.
[4:12:31] Thanks so just picking up on a
[4:12:32] comment that was made.
[4:12:35] Yeah.
[4:12:36] And MAY I ask those that's
[4:12:38] where did you have more Sorry
[4:12:39] not right now.
[4:12:39] Okay.
[4:12:42] I just wanted to ask a a couple
[4:12:43] of questions to healthy
[4:12:46] democracy because there is an
[4:12:47] issue of a conflict that was
[4:12:51] brought up as healthy democracy
[4:12:54] endorsed any candidates or on
[4:12:55] this diocese or have any
[4:12:58] relationship formally or
[4:12:59] otherwise with any people on
[4:13:02] this diocese.
[4:13:02] No, thank you for the question.
[4:13:06] We do not have any prior
[4:13:06] relationship that I'm aware of.
[4:13:09] Just to clarify by the way
[4:13:10] about sort of the nature of
[4:13:11] healthy democracy, we're a
[4:13:14] small but nimble nonprofit
[4:13:14] organization that's based in
[4:13:18] the Western us.
[4:13:18] Our staff are based in Oregon
[4:13:19] and Washington.
[4:13:21] I myself am physically based in
[4:13:22] Seattle, Washington.
[4:13:25] The rest of our staff are in
[4:13:26] the state of Oregon but we're a
[4:13:27] nonprofit of 5a1c3.
[4:13:30] We don't engage in any kind of
[4:13:30] political advocacy or anything
[4:13:30] along those lines.
[4:13:33] We don't have any prior
[4:13:33] relationship with with any
[4:13:36] member of council We did We
[4:13:37] appreciate the time that that
[4:13:38] some members of the council
[4:13:41] took to meet with us ahead of
[4:13:44] this as this got closer to
[4:13:44] consideration by the council is
[4:13:48] that answer the question Yes,
[4:13:48] Thank you.
[4:13:52] And then yeah, I also just
[4:13:53] wanted to ask when it comes to
[4:13:58] the rfp versus sole source and
[4:13:59] the only issue that I had with
[4:14:03] the rfp was that if we want
[4:14:07] folks to be educated about the
[4:14:07] the current process so that
[4:14:10] they could actually make
[4:14:11] recommendations that were
[4:14:15] informed by what we currently
[4:14:15] do as opposed to just coming
[4:14:18] and saying well here's a we
[4:14:19] should use you know here are my
[4:14:19] recommendations.
[4:14:20] I haven't seen anything that
[4:14:21] you already do.
[4:14:22] So I guess maybe this is
[4:14:25] actually a question for staff.
[4:14:28] So if over in your view does
[4:14:29] the sole source allow us to and
[4:14:32] this was something that MS..
[4:14:33] Denniss presentation said does
[4:14:36] the sole source allow us to
[4:14:37] have those folks participate
[4:14:39] earlier in the process In your
[4:14:43] opinion?
[4:14:43] Well certainly yes.
[4:14:47] Yes because if counsel opts to
[4:14:51] do to not go through a formal
[4:14:53] procurement and just elect to
[4:14:54] go with healthy democracies we
[4:14:58] could bring something back at
[4:14:58] the next meeting.
[4:15:02] We could negotiate a an actual
[4:15:03] agreement and bring that back
[4:15:06] right away.
[4:15:07] If we were to do an rfp we
[4:15:09] would put something I mean we
[4:15:10] could put something out on the
[4:15:10] street very quickly but there
[4:15:14] would be an amount of time that
[4:15:17] we would have to have that out
[4:15:17] And typically we'd we'd run it
[4:15:18] for a month.
[4:15:21] We might send it to healthy
[4:15:22] democracies and anybody else we
[4:15:25] could We found in that space as
[4:15:28] well as posting it on planet
[4:15:32] bids But that would take you
[4:15:33] know, a little bit of time.
[4:15:34] We'd then have to review the
[4:15:36] proposals and and and you know
[4:15:37] so we're talking about a couple
[4:15:40] of months so not impossible but
[4:15:44] to get them involved in the
[4:15:47] process but maybe they might I
[4:15:48] also don't know how much time
[4:15:51] it would take for any healthy
[4:15:55] democracies or whoever to set
[4:15:58] up the assembly itself.
[4:15:59] So yes, it would probably would
[4:16:02] spill over into the beginning
[4:16:03] of the budget cycle.
[4:16:06] Thank you for that And so
[4:16:07] question Back back to you then.
[4:16:09] If if this were approved this
[4:16:14] year in theory if we were if
[4:16:14] this were we were able to do
[4:16:17] this, would we with assembly be
[4:16:18] able to participate in the
[4:16:18] budget cycle?
[4:16:21] I think we saw in what MS.
[4:16:22] Dennis proposed that it would
[4:16:25] start somewhere in FEBRUARY.
[4:16:26] I mean if if the contract in
[4:16:29] theory were approved would the
[4:16:29] participants be able to to
[4:16:33] actually see how our current
[4:16:33] budget process works?
[4:16:34] Yeah, that's a great question
[4:16:37] And I think so based on the the
[4:16:38] the timeline that that MS..
[4:16:40] Davis presented tonight that
[4:16:41] makes a lot of sense And I
[4:16:44] think so there's a few things
[4:16:45] that sort of happen through the
[4:16:48] process of a civic assembly
[4:16:48] starting and kind of being
[4:16:52] prepared to to take place a big
[4:16:53] one of those is that what MS..
[4:16:55] Dennis referred to as kind of
[4:16:56] the selection by lot of the of
[4:16:59] the participants We sometimes
[4:16:59] refer to it as a civic lottery.
[4:17:00] So this is the process of
[4:17:03] preparing a mailing that goes
[4:17:04] out to a wide number of
[4:17:07] households in the in the
[4:17:08] community And then we solicit
[4:17:10] responses back from the
[4:17:11] community.
[4:17:11] All of that stuff takes a
[4:17:14] little bit of time and so
[4:17:15] trying to get those folks back
[4:17:18] and then use the have the
[4:17:18] lottery selection process
[4:17:22] actually happen doing that in
[4:17:23] time to have people be able to
[4:17:25] participate in that budget
[4:17:26] advisory process during that
[4:17:29] kind of Mid-budget updates.
[4:17:30] And then again at the the the
[4:17:34] budget hearings for for the
[4:17:37] next year's budget, it's much
[4:17:38] more workable I think to do
[4:17:38] that On the timeline that was
[4:17:40] presented tonight And I just
[4:17:41] wanted to add I think that's a
[4:17:42] really innovative way to think
[4:17:45] about sort of like how to get
[4:17:45] members of the public involved
[4:17:48] in this process.
[4:17:49] I love this idea that you guys
[4:17:49] have come up with this.
[4:17:52] To be clear, this wasn't
[4:17:53] something that we and healthy
[4:17:53] democracy came up with.
[4:17:54] This is a really interesting
[4:17:54] idea.
[4:17:56] I think for trying to get
[4:17:57] people who are coming in to a
[4:17:59] civic assembly more informed
[4:18:00] about the topic that they're
[4:18:03] they're are going to be tasked
[4:18:04] with kind of taking on and
[4:18:07] really involved in kind of the
[4:18:08] city process for handling this
[4:18:11] stuff which I think is great
[4:18:14] and sort of improves what is
[4:18:15] usually already a kind of a
[4:18:17] direct pipeline from city staff
[4:18:18] and city council to a civic
[4:18:21] assembly and helps them kind of
[4:18:22] helps you all have sort of an
[4:18:25] influence on the members of the
[4:18:26] public who are coming in to be
[4:18:26] delegates to Civic Assembly to
[4:18:29] help them understand kind of
[4:18:29] the topics that they're that
[4:18:30] they're grappling with.
[4:18:32] Does that make sense?
[4:18:33] So it's like a a really I think
[4:18:36] a great way to to help prime
[4:18:36] the folks who are coming into
[4:18:37] the Civic Assembly to be well
[4:18:40] prepared to tackle this this
[4:18:40] very challenging issue.
[4:18:40] Thanks.
[4:18:46] That's all the questions I had
[4:18:47] MAY 1st local council
[4:18:50] councilmember and this might be
[4:18:51] for MS. Dennis or gentleman
[4:18:54] just spoke in the PowerPoint
[4:18:55] there was and I'm sorry for
[4:18:58] we're not asking you earlier
[4:19:01] but it said you know provide
[4:19:02] informed recommendations on
[4:19:05] complex issues and and the
[4:19:09] process is is that in regards
[4:19:10] to complex issues facing the
[4:19:13] city in terms of the budget or
[4:19:19] well in the MAY I respond in
[4:19:23] the 20 year primary use
[4:19:24] throughout the world of civic
[4:19:24] assemblies there's a raft of
[4:19:28] issues that they've addressed
[4:19:31] and they've they've been used
[4:19:32] to address the issue of a
[4:19:36] budget process.
[4:19:36] They've been used to address
[4:19:40] the issues of actually
[4:19:40] evaluating the privatization
[4:19:43] that the governing body made.
[4:19:47] But what's proposed here is to
[4:19:51] simply ask the panel on behalf
[4:19:52] of their of their fellows in
[4:19:55] the city how would they like to
[4:19:56] participate after they've
[4:19:59] actually participated in what
[4:20:02] the current process is and how
[4:20:05] would they like to participate
[4:20:06] ?
[4:20:06] You see this is an interesting
[4:20:10] issue that's really important I
[4:20:14] think grasp historically cities
[4:20:14] have provided it's public ways
[4:20:18] to participate in a way that
[4:20:24] Jack is kind of step act simply
[4:20:25] asking the community members
[4:20:28] how would you like to
[4:20:29] participate in like a whole
[4:20:32] different ballgame?
[4:20:32] It's not asking them to make
[4:20:35] the budget decisions Of course
[4:20:36] it's asking how they like to
[4:20:39] participate And I think several
[4:20:40] people said this is like an
[4:20:46] opening for a really true
[4:20:47] method for people to have a
[4:20:51] meaningful voice and to have
[4:20:54] the experience of being heard.
[4:20:55] Okay, I appreciate that.
[4:20:58] I guess maybe what I'm asking
[4:20:59] and maybe with the answer and I
[4:21:00] just didn't get it provide
[4:21:02] informed and deliberate
[4:21:02] recommendations on complex
[4:21:06] issues and processes and that
[4:21:10] means complex issues facing the
[4:21:11] city or facing the budget then
[4:21:14] is staff going to provide
[4:21:18] deliberate recommendations or
[4:21:18] what is the complex issues and
[4:21:19] process in terms of just an
[4:21:22] overall budget sort of?
[4:21:24] Well that's what's been done in
[4:21:25] the last two decades which
[4:21:28] proposed here is to ask that
[4:21:32] panel of 20 community members
[4:21:32] after they actually experience
[4:21:35] on the ground how they are
[4:21:39] offered to participate.
[4:21:39] The question how would you like
[4:21:40] to participate?
[4:21:42] That's it.
[4:21:43] Okay.
[4:21:43] All right.
[4:21:43] Thank you so much.
[4:21:47] You know, I find it yeah, I
[4:21:47] understand what you're saying
[4:21:50] but I find it I'm an extremely
[4:21:54] challenging to take a group of
[4:21:55] individuals and try to teach
[4:22:01] them better budget process and
[4:22:02] provide informed and deliberate
[4:22:05] deliberate recommendations on
[4:22:06] complex issues and processes.
[4:22:09] And I would make the assumption
[4:22:09] that the means facing the city
[4:22:13] each city I think is unique in
[4:22:14] its issues and process and MAY
[4:22:17] be the process of the overall
[4:22:17] budget.
[4:22:18] But issues facing the city I
[4:22:21] think should come from staff
[4:22:24] and the council and then back
[4:22:24] on on the rfp.
[4:22:31] I think you know if if healthy
[4:22:31] democracy is the one that comes
[4:22:34] out on the rfp, great least
[4:22:35] we're doing it the right way.
[4:22:39] It's not forego a step that we
[4:22:42] hold to everyone else And my
[4:22:42] understanding is there's other
[4:22:43] providers or we don't know if
[4:22:46] this is the sole provider other
[4:22:46] providers that might provide
[4:22:49] the exact same service maybe a
[4:22:53] little differently or not but
[4:22:53] what's the harm in doing it the
[4:22:57] right way Moving forward?
[4:22:57] I'm sorry to interject again
[4:22:58] but thank you so much.
[4:23:01] That's fine.
[4:23:01] Thank you.
[4:23:05] And I think digging into this
[4:23:06] but I just want to circle back
[4:23:08] and come back to where I so the
[4:23:12] standards are Are you the same
[4:23:16] Michelle Dennis who endorsed
[4:23:17] council Our position is maybe
[4:23:17] it's a different one.
[4:23:21] No same person MAY I just like
[4:23:24] I retired from teaching at ucla
[4:23:27] in the spring of 2024 okay.
[4:23:28] And and there was an election
[4:23:31] to be happening in the city and
[4:23:38] I noticed that the platform of
[4:23:39] council member Fish was
[4:23:42] interesting to me So I called
[4:23:43] him We had a conversation and I
[4:23:46] discovered lots of residents
[4:23:49] and I wanted to support him So
[4:23:50] I made a $50 contribution to
[4:23:53] his campaign and that's it.
[4:23:54] Okay.
[4:23:57] And I think that's totally fair
[4:23:58] And and I think ever every
[4:24:01] citizen, especially residents
[4:24:02] should be able to do that and
[4:24:02] should do it.
[4:24:05] I it's just again really you
[4:24:06] know you're you're the person
[4:24:09] up you're speaking and giving
[4:24:09] the primary recommendation for
[4:24:13] healthy democracy and that's
[4:24:14] that's the part that I just
[4:24:17] perceives even even if all
[4:24:20] everything's good and fine
[4:24:21] perception wise that's why I
[4:24:28] want an rfp So but I'm okay So
[4:24:28] when when someone wants to
[4:24:32] bring a motion forward I think
[4:24:36] the questionnaire is fine To me
[4:24:40] what cfo over outlined in terms
[4:24:44] of the city's does in the
[4:24:44] interim you know in this
[4:24:47] upcoming budget cycle I think
[4:24:51] that that's all fine And just
[4:24:55] in case anyone's asking and I
[4:24:58] hope that in the motion that we
[4:25:02] include an rfp to select the
[4:25:07] consultant that administers
[4:25:08] this mayor and MAY I ask a
[4:25:11] clarifying question just
[4:25:11] because I want to make sure
[4:25:15] that I capture the direction
[4:25:16] and for the quite cfo So before
[4:25:19] we get there I just want to
[4:25:19] clarify MISS Dennis, are you
[4:25:23] are you proposed to be receive
[4:25:23] any money from this process?
[4:25:27] Are you are employee of healthy
[4:25:27] democracy in any way?
[4:25:31] No, I have no financial
[4:25:31] connections whatsoever with
[4:25:35] healthy democracy or public
[4:25:35] democracy.
[4:25:39] Los Angeles okay.
[4:25:39] I just I heard you say
[4:25:40] something like that earlier but
[4:25:43] I just wanted to make sure that
[4:25:43] that was Thank you for asking.
[4:25:44] Thank you, MISS Venice.
[4:25:46] Okay.
[4:25:46] I apologize.
[4:25:47] Cfo So I want to be clear that
[4:25:52] I'm not alluding to that either
[4:25:52] .
[4:25:53] I just want to make sure that
[4:25:56] in what when council crafts the
[4:26:00] motion and maybe it's whether
[4:26:00] it's one or separate I just
[4:26:04] want to have clarity and in in
[4:26:08] all the pieces what I'm hearing
[4:26:09] and I'll take the easier pieces
[4:26:10] first because I think I'm I
[4:26:15] hear that concurrence from all
[4:26:16] that the short term
[4:26:20] recommendations that were
[4:26:23] approved you know to bring
[4:26:24] forward in the governance
[4:26:27] subcommittee that we would do
[4:26:30] for the upcoming fiscal year
[4:26:31] 2627 budget process sounds like
[4:26:34] that the everyone seems fine
[4:26:35] with that to move forward I
[4:26:39] hear that a questionnaire
[4:26:42] everyone's seems open to a
[4:26:42] questionnaire.
[4:26:46] I just want a little clarity
[4:26:46] That was the questionnaire that
[4:26:50] was attached came from the city
[4:26:51] of Nashville obviously slightly
[4:26:56] different city We would I want
[4:26:57] to make sure that the council
[4:26:57] is fine.
[4:27:00] We would anticipate that we
[4:27:01] would have to tailor a little
[4:27:04] bit to our needs.
[4:27:05] Is there anything I mean does
[4:27:08] council want to see that come
[4:27:08] back?
[4:27:09] Are you okay with us tweaking
[4:27:11] it?
[4:27:15] I'd like to know how how that
[4:27:19] how to shape those things up
[4:27:22] And thank you also for the the
[4:27:23] requested clarification.
[4:27:26] I clearly it's not apples to
[4:27:27] apples in terms of how the
[4:27:33] government runs and I'm open to
[4:27:34] you tweaking as as with that
[4:27:38] the processes that we have here
[4:27:41] because you know maybe a little
[4:27:45] differently there are requests
[4:27:45] that are made that we don't see
[4:27:48] you know so you know there's a
[4:27:52] question around that So hope
[4:27:56] hopefully the essence of this
[4:27:59] can be uplifted and if possible
[4:28:00] you know, if it could be
[4:28:01] attacked, if it comes back on
[4:28:03] consent or something, it could
[4:28:04] be attached there.
[4:28:07] But and I defer you know, we
[4:28:08] have the ten questions and the
[4:28:11] overall gist of them So that's
[4:28:11] fair And certainly I would
[4:28:15] imagine if it's something that
[4:28:15] we begin to incorporate it
[4:28:18] could always change a year to
[4:28:19] year as we as we realized we
[4:28:22] should have asked something
[4:28:23] else we forgot or this would
[4:28:26] have been extremely helpful.
[4:28:27] Okay, anything that makes sense
[4:28:30] and that feedback like the
[4:28:30] whole thing is you know
[4:28:34] continuous process So I would
[4:28:34] love to hear if there's
[4:28:37] something maybe if there's
[4:28:38] something that maybe there's an
[4:28:38] open ended something.
[4:28:41] Right, Right.
[4:28:42] So but a lot of that gets
[4:28:42] captured maybe in the
[4:28:42] presentation.
[4:28:45] Yeah, that's kind of whatever
[4:28:46] folks want to break you know
[4:28:49] how folks feel They want to
[4:28:49] highlight their requests.
[4:28:49] Okay.
[4:28:52] So thank you for asking And if
[4:28:55] colleagues have any other one
[4:28:56] one other question for you cfo
[4:28:59] So I heard two of my colleagues
[4:29:03] talk about or expressed the
[4:29:03] desire for an rfp.
[4:29:06] I don't personally feel as
[4:29:07] strongly that rfp is necessary
[4:29:08] just based on the information
[4:29:10] that public democracy presented
[4:29:11] In terms of there's two
[4:29:13] competitors one has done six,
[4:29:16] one has done one.
[4:29:17] You know one has a lot more
[4:29:17] experience.
[4:29:18] But I do appreciate, you know,
[4:29:21] the desire to to want to, you
[4:29:24] know, cross every t and dot
[4:29:25] every guy Is there Is there a
[4:29:28] world where we can do an rfp
[4:29:32] and still get to to to address
[4:29:33] my colleague's concerns and
[4:29:37] still get people participate
[4:29:37] adding like throwing this out
[4:29:40] there We have two more meetings
[4:29:43] left Could we put together an
[4:29:44] rfp and make it is a selection
[4:29:47] I know the DECEMBER meeting we
[4:29:48] try to not put stuff on there
[4:29:49] because it's the mayor vice
[4:29:51] mayor rotation but like is that
[4:29:51] doable?
[4:29:55] I just don't want to lose that
[4:29:55] opportunity for people to
[4:29:56] meaningfully participate
[4:29:59] because I'm not against the rfp
[4:29:59] .
[4:30:00] I'm just that to me feels like
[4:30:03] a critical piece of this is
[4:30:04] people knowing what you do
[4:30:11] already understood You know we
[4:30:15] have done the rfp is on very
[4:30:19] tight turnaround when as an
[4:30:22] example a granting agency
[4:30:25] requires something but you you
[4:30:26] have to meet a deadline We've
[4:30:29] we've gone out on the
[4:30:30] marketplace we've tried to to
[4:30:33] do that so I I think that is
[4:30:37] possible whether you know I
[4:30:40] guess the question would be but
[4:30:41] we because we don't have
[4:30:44] meetings I would imagine we
[4:30:48] could bring something back the
[4:30:48] first meeting in JANUARY.
[4:30:55] So you know, I don't know how
[4:30:56] if we did that and we really
[4:30:59] work to have everything ready
[4:31:00] to go I'm not sure how long the
[4:31:04] process is to select somebody.
[4:31:07] So would they could we get a
[4:31:11] body empaneled by FEBRUARY?
[4:31:12] I mean it It's we'd have to
[4:31:15] work.
[4:31:15] Listen, we work hard all the
[4:31:16] time.
[4:31:18] We would have to work hard and
[4:31:22] to make it happen and I'd have
[4:31:23] to be proactive.
[4:31:26] But we're good at being
[4:31:26] proactive And you know, it
[4:31:27] sounds like you're saying the
[4:31:29] earliest that you think
[4:31:30] reasonably we could get we
[4:31:34] could make a decision on the
[4:31:35] rfp if we released an rfp would
[4:31:37] be JANUARY.
[4:31:38] That would be us making a
[4:31:42] selection from the rfp, a
[4:31:43] selection of a vendor from the
[4:31:43] rfp, correct?
[4:31:45] I think so, yes.
[4:31:46] So I guess the question is now
[4:31:49] to Healthy Democracy and pdl.
[4:31:49] It's really to both of you
[4:31:53] because I feel like it's Michel
[4:31:56] So okay I mean if that I want
[4:31:57] to I want to feel my
[4:32:00] colleague's concerns and see if
[4:32:01] we can find an avenue.
[4:32:05] But yeah, I appreciate the
[4:32:05] question.
[4:32:06] I do think that so if a vendor
[4:32:09] were selected at I'm not sure
[4:32:11] when you're JANUARY, JANUARY
[4:32:12] 8th or something JANUARY 8th is
[4:32:15] essentially the the process of
[4:32:16] of going through a civic
[4:32:19] lottery takes there's there are
[4:32:20] several steps to it that would
[4:32:23] you can kind of compress some
[4:32:26] of those steps but compressing
[4:32:30] those too much you lose a lot
[4:32:31] of the kind of benefits of
[4:32:31] doing things like a civic
[4:32:34] lottery So designing a mailing
[4:32:38] that's going out working with a
[4:32:39] local vendor by the way, I just
[4:32:42] wanted to point out that the
[4:32:42] draft budget that we shared
[4:32:43] which we would obviously
[4:32:45] negotiate you know the kind of
[4:32:46] the details of that working
[4:32:49] with a local vendor to design
[4:32:50] and print a mailer that would
[4:32:53] go out to the community giving
[4:32:54] time for people to respond to
[4:32:57] that So then they could we'd
[4:32:58] have a pool of people to do
[4:33:00] random selection from using the
[4:33:01] stratification strategies in
[4:33:04] consultation with staff and
[4:33:08] council those things I'll take
[4:33:08] I'll take time.
[4:33:09] You want to have invitations
[4:33:11] out there for at least probably
[4:33:12] 3 or 4 weeks.
[4:33:16] That's just the invitation sort
[4:33:16] of being mailed out and kind of
[4:33:19] getting to people and giving
[4:33:20] them a chance to get back to
[4:33:20] you before a lot of the other
[4:33:23] selection process work happens.
[4:33:24] So if the if the idea is you
[4:33:27] want to try and get people
[4:33:28] involved in the budget review
[4:33:31] process in FEBRUARY, that
[4:33:32] timeline I think would not
[4:33:35] would not work.
[4:33:35] Okay.
[4:33:35] Yeah.
[4:33:36] Thank you.
[4:33:39] Yeah, I don't know if that
[4:33:40] answers the question as well
[4:33:42] And I you know the budget
[4:33:46] itself is not crafted until MAY
[4:33:47] The pieces that we typically do
[4:33:51] we start in MARCH so not there
[4:33:54] are new the midyear is
[4:33:55] happening in FEBRUARY and maybe
[4:33:58] this department open house so
[4:33:59] that would be one item but
[4:34:02] everything else is MARCH again
[4:34:02] hearing that it's it would it
[4:34:05] would be a little tight but
[4:34:06] we're not it isn't 1st of
[4:34:06] FEBRUARY so we're like
[4:34:10] beginning of MARCH a lot change
[4:34:17] your answer okay I mean I think
[4:34:21] there are a lot of sort of like
[4:34:21] moving pieces like generally we
[4:34:24] tell we tell people there's
[4:34:25] consultation with staff and
[4:34:25] with council that needs to
[4:34:26] happen during that process of
[4:34:28] kind of the civic lottery and
[4:34:29] planning kind of the details of
[4:34:32] how that works.
[4:34:35] Doing all of that in sort of 4
[4:34:36] to 6 weeks is is not we would
[4:34:39] not typically do that.
[4:34:39] It usually takes at least a
[4:34:40] couple of months for like to
[4:34:42] sort of prepare for the for the
[4:34:43] civic lottery process to to
[4:34:46] happen and then start and then
[4:34:49] and then kind of be done So
[4:34:50] yeah it could be done but it
[4:34:50] would be it would be incredibly
[4:34:51] challenging.
[4:34:53] I think and kind of limit some
[4:34:54] of the process that I think is
[4:34:57] so much well colleagues and
[4:34:58] we've been on this for a while
[4:35:01] so if there's no other
[4:35:01] questions or comments I'm happy
[4:35:05] to put in a motion to have Is
[4:35:09] it possible to do Thank you.
[4:35:11] Sorry get a competitive price
[4:35:16] quote without a full rfp.
[4:35:23] Yes, we can go to other
[4:35:23] entities.
[4:35:26] So as an example the one that
[4:35:27] was pointed out in MS. Dennis's
[4:35:29] presentation we could get a
[4:35:34] quote from them and and and do
[4:35:35] that and bring that back to
[4:35:38] council on NOVEMBER 10th.
[4:35:39] We could also staff could do a
[4:35:42] little more exploration and see
[4:35:43] if we came up with any other
[4:35:46] entities.
[4:35:46] I'd love to include that.
[4:35:50] And then the other thing for
[4:35:51] the motion is that when I've
[4:35:53] agreed to this earlier this
[4:35:56] year and the cap with for me
[4:35:57] was at $250,000 and so no more
[4:36:00] than that.
[4:36:01] So I'd like to include that in
[4:36:03] your motion please.
[4:36:04] So just to clarify so if that
[4:36:07] were the motion that that staff
[4:36:08] would negotiate so that the
[4:36:11] total cost including if we had
[4:36:15] to have a staff or whatever
[4:36:18] would be at 250 right.
[4:36:21] Not that we're handing out to
[4:36:22] 50 to a consultant but that the
[4:36:25] full cost correct got things
[4:36:29] back to me.
[4:36:29] Oh sorry.
[4:36:30] Thanks I swear And I don't know
[4:36:30] if Mayor you had more I just
[4:36:32] wanted to ask for clarity on
[4:36:33] the on what he suggested the
[4:36:36] price getting the competitive
[4:36:36] quote but not the rfp.
[4:36:39] How does that work exactly What
[4:36:40] is the timeline?
[4:36:40] How would that affect the
[4:36:47] timeline We staff could go I
[4:36:47] mean again that would be very
[4:36:51] quick and we could reach out to
[4:36:52] other we could reach out to
[4:36:55] healthy democracy and have a
[4:36:56] conversation about what they
[4:36:56] are providing.
[4:36:59] We could reach out to other
[4:37:00] organizations in this space and
[4:37:04] see what what they're proposing
[4:37:07] Again with a schedule or
[4:37:07] whatever.
[4:37:08] So at least we've gone out and
[4:37:10] seen staff has done an
[4:37:11] exploration of what is out
[4:37:12] there and then we could return
[4:37:18] to the council on NOVEMBER 10th
[4:37:18] with with that.
[4:37:19] So it's not a formal
[4:37:21] procurement in terms of going
[4:37:25] out with an rfp and and giving
[4:37:26] that time and and marketplace
[4:37:27] But we we could go out and and
[4:37:32] look at entities that do this.
[4:37:32] Got it.
[4:37:32] Thank you.
[4:37:35] Thanks, Vice Mayor for the
[4:37:36] suggestion.
[4:37:36] I'm open to that and interested
[4:37:38] in what your thoughts are.
[4:37:43] Mayor and COUNCILMAN Rivera, I,
[4:37:43] I mean the facts are better
[4:37:47] than what we got but I'm happy
[4:37:47] with you guys going forward
[4:37:52] with the motion and moving on.
[4:37:56] Okay.
[4:37:56] Thank you.
[4:38:00] I'm taking the vice mayor's
[4:38:03] suggestions there with the
[4:38:03] $250,000 cap for everything,
[4:38:07] not just what we're contracting
[4:38:11] and then doing a quote doing a
[4:38:14] competitive price quote I know
[4:38:15] our next meeting is pretty
[4:38:15] packed.
[4:38:19] Is that do we have it's going
[4:38:20] to be any issues with that in
[4:38:22] terms of doing that at the next
[4:38:26] meeting that that we foresee?
[4:38:27] Maybe that's a question for
[4:38:27] John or a question for the
[4:38:27] mayor.
[4:38:29] Yeah, we'll put it on.
[4:38:32] Okay.
[4:38:33] So yeah I guess the motion on
[4:38:36] the table then would be the
[4:38:36] would be moving forward with
[4:38:39] the Civic Assembly with the
[4:38:44] with the competitive price
[4:38:45] quote to come back at the next
[4:38:47] meeting and the questionnaire
[4:38:51] as well as the short term
[4:38:52] recommendations as recommended
[4:38:55] by MS. Dennis Is there anything
[4:38:59] that I MISS Anything colleagues
[4:38:59] Okay.
[4:39:02] And confirming that the the
[4:39:06] question that we're asking is
[4:39:07] how to garner increased public
[4:39:11] participation in the budget
[4:39:11] process.
[4:39:11] Right.
[4:39:12] So that when we're soliciting
[4:39:15] the quotes that what we're
[4:39:15] asking them to do that is the
[4:39:18] remit.
[4:39:18] Yeah The question exactly.
[4:39:18] Yeah.
[4:39:19] Okay.
[4:39:26] Well said And we have a quick
[4:39:29] comment from standers So if I
[4:39:35] MAY
[4:39:40] is to provide a quote to
[4:39:44] facilitate the Civic Assembly
[4:39:44] correct Addressing this one
[4:39:46] question and just you know
[4:39:51] there's a public works records
[4:39:52] know this very well we you can
[4:39:55] get the lowest possible price
[4:39:55] and then you have a big
[4:39:57] question about that
[4:40:02] deliverables and so this price
[4:40:02] quote should require
[4:40:05] demonstration of skills and
[4:40:09] experience and so forth doing
[4:40:09] civic assemblies.
[4:40:13] It's a very distinct process.
[4:40:19] So
[4:40:21] thank you for that.
[4:40:21] I mean colleagues, I don't want
[4:40:24] to I don't want to I don't want
[4:40:24] to just drag this out longer
[4:40:25] than it needs to.
[4:40:28] So if if if we have three three
[4:40:28] votes for the sole source
[4:40:31] contract I'm in favor of moving
[4:40:32] forward with that.
[4:40:32] But if if any of my colleagues
[4:40:35] feel like they would prefer to
[4:40:35] support with the price
[4:40:36] competitive price quote I'm
[4:40:38] happy with that as well.
[4:40:42] Okay.
[4:40:42] Okay, great.
[4:40:43] I would love to do the
[4:40:46] competitive price quote.
[4:40:46] Okay.
[4:40:47] Okay.
[4:40:47] And I just wanted to clarify
[4:40:50] with cfo so great the goal
[4:40:53] would be to have those back by
[4:40:53] the ten correct?
[4:40:56] Okay.
[4:40:57] All right.
[4:41:00] Okay.
[4:41:01] And I will clarify It's not
[4:41:01] just competitive pricing.
[4:41:08] It's a to get a quote to can
[4:41:09] entertain you know, create a
[4:41:12] public civic assembly answering
[4:41:13] the question about the public
[4:41:15] participation rate.
[4:41:15] Okay.
[4:41:19] Thank you.
[4:41:23] All right.
[4:41:24] I have a motion by council
[4:41:27] member Fish, a second from
[4:41:30] Council member McMoRan to move
[4:41:31] forward with the short term
[4:41:34] recommendations from the
[4:41:37] government subcommittee and and
[4:41:38] then the tailoring of the
[4:41:42] questionnaire here to the
[4:41:43] city's needs and and then the
[4:41:46] competitive pricing quotes from
[4:41:50] other entities.
[4:41:52] I'm a cap at $250,000 and
[4:41:56] that's to return by NOVEMBER
[4:41:56] 10th for council consideration
[4:41:59] And the quote would be to
[4:42:00] create a civic assembly and
[4:42:09] answer the budgeting question
[4:42:10] Right?
[4:42:14] You MAY begin voting That
[4:42:18] motion passes two nays two nays
[4:42:22] from Mayor o'Brien and
[4:42:34] COUNCILMAN Rivera, Thank you
[4:42:35] .
[4:42:36] Okay.
[4:42:38] We are on to action.
[4:42:45] Item two
[4:43:04] .
[4:43:04] Good evening again.
[4:43:08] Honorable mayor, vice mayor and
[4:43:11] council members for purposes of
[4:43:11] the public.
[4:43:12] My name is Elizabeth Garcia and
[4:43:16] I am a project for an economic
[4:43:19] development project manager for
[4:43:20] with the economic Development
[4:43:23] and Cultural Development
[4:43:26] Department in SEPTEMBER of 2024
[4:43:27] City Council directed staff to
[4:43:30] gather information relative to
[4:43:30] small business assistance
[4:43:33] programs.
[4:43:37] On MAY 12th 2025 staff
[4:43:37] presented two small business
[4:43:41] programs for your consideration
[4:43:41] and the action was pulled to be
[4:43:44] considered at a later date.
[4:43:47] Staff presented two programs
[4:43:48] which I'm going to describe a
[4:43:51] bit.
[4:43:55] The first program is a small
[4:43:55] Business technical Assistance
[4:43:56] grant program which would
[4:43:59] mirror the sustainable Business
[4:43:59] Program.
[4:44:00] The proposal would be a cohort
[4:44:04] based program that would target
[4:44:07] up to 30 businesses per year to
[4:44:07] receive technical assistance
[4:44:11] such as small business
[4:44:12] workshops as well as 1 to 1
[4:44:15] advising for participate in
[4:44:15] businesses.
[4:44:19] The program would partner with
[4:44:19] pcr Business Finance who
[4:44:23] manages a local small business
[4:44:23] development center.
[4:44:27] The spdc will provide technical
[4:44:28] assistance and an
[4:44:31] implementation for a period of
[4:44:34] two years for $15,000 annually.
[4:44:35] At the end of the program the
[4:44:37] city would have a combination
[4:44:38] program similar to the the
[4:44:42] Sustainable Business Program
[4:44:44] and provide a small grant of
[4:44:45] $1,000 for implementation of
[4:44:48] recommendations provided.
[4:44:49] The program would focus on
[4:44:50] businesses in operation for
[4:44:53] under two years in Culver City.
[4:44:56] The second program is a permit
[4:44:59] permit reimbursement program
[4:44:59] which would provide
[4:45:02] reimbursement for up to $5,000
[4:45:03] for city permit permit fees for
[4:45:06] new businesses removing a
[4:45:06] barrier to entry.
[4:45:10] This program would require an
[4:45:11] initial $50,000 allocation for
[4:45:13] the for the first year.
[4:45:14] Requirements would focus on
[4:45:17] brick and mortar businesses.
[4:45:18] If Council wishes to proceed
[4:45:21] with either or both programs,
[4:45:25] the the total allocation would
[4:45:28] be $95,000 per year for the
[4:45:29] first year and funding would
[4:45:30] come from the city's general
[4:45:30] fund.
[4:45:32] This concludes my presentation
[4:45:33] and I'm available to answers
[4:45:35] and any questions you MAY have.
[4:45:38] Thank you.
[4:45:39] Do you have any questions from
[4:45:42] my colleagues to start?
[4:45:43] No.
[4:45:46] I just have one quick question
[4:45:49] on page four of the I'm sorry I
[4:45:53] didn't call about this prior
[4:45:57] where it breaks down the the
[4:46:00] estimate cost.
[4:46:03] There's a little chart there.
[4:46:06] It says $15,000 annually for
[4:46:07] two years for the management
[4:46:11] fees which mean 7500 per year.
[4:46:11] Right.
[4:46:14] So it would reduce that.
[4:46:15] I mean it's a small number but
[4:46:17] it would reduce that down to
[4:46:21] 3075 per year.
[4:46:22] That right?
[4:46:22] Okay.
[4:46:23] No, I want to I want to clarify
[4:46:25] that $15,000 per year.
[4:46:26] Per year?
[4:46:26] Yeah.
[4:46:29] I I apologize.
[4:46:29] Okay.
[4:46:29] Got it.
[4:46:30] Okay.
[4:46:30] So the total is correct.
[4:46:32] Okay, great.
[4:46:33] Okay.
[4:46:36] Do we have any speaker cards?
[4:46:36] Yes.
[4:46:37] We had two speakers center for
[4:46:37] this item.
[4:46:40] Melissa Sanders and James
[4:46:40] Richardson.
[4:46:43] So we'll start with Melissa.
[4:46:48] Melissa unlocked you and
[4:46:48] yourself.
[4:46:51] I'm only awake because the
[4:46:52] Dodgers are in their 18th
[4:46:52] inning.
[4:46:55] Still tied.
[4:46:56] I as a previous business owner
[4:46:59] in Culver City I will just say
[4:47:03] anything you can do to support
[4:47:04] small businesses because that
[4:47:07] is the backbone and lifeblood
[4:47:10] of any city really would be
[4:47:11] great.
[4:47:15] You know the $250,000 for the
[4:47:18] consultants for the big
[4:47:19] assembly could be better spent,
[4:47:22] you know, uplifting our small
[4:47:22] businesses.
[4:47:23] The $20 million that you below
[4:47:26] could be much better spent
[4:47:26] elsewhere.
[4:47:29] GOD, you could spend $1 million
[4:47:30] in small businesses instead of
[4:47:30] 20.
[4:47:33] So again, anything you can do
[4:47:37] to support small business is
[4:47:37] going to be important for this
[4:47:40] city to survive and thrive.
[4:47:45] That's all I want to say.
[4:47:48] So please do whatever you can
[4:47:48] to bring this city back to its
[4:47:52] glory days and stop having
[4:47:53] things close every other day.
[4:47:55] Thank you.
[4:47:56] Thank you.
[4:47:59] Our next speaker is James
[4:47:59] Richardson.
[4:48:03] So you still heard not seeing
[4:48:07] him online So that would be the
[4:48:08] end of our speakers.
[4:48:08] Okay.
[4:48:10] Thank you.
[4:48:11] Let's go around the horn with
[4:48:14] any comments from here.
[4:48:15] Mean really quick before we
[4:48:16] start getting into this, I just
[4:48:18] wanted to make a brief comment
[4:48:21] that I did confer with City
[4:48:22] Attorney on this item that I
[4:48:23] can't participate And I don't
[4:48:24] know if you wanted to add
[4:48:28] anything on to.
[4:48:29] Yeah we evaluated the potential
[4:48:32] conflict for a financial
[4:48:33] interest in a business entity
[4:48:35] and determined that it doesn't
[4:48:36] meet the threshold that would
[4:48:39] require legal recusal.
[4:48:42] So he Councilmember Vera does
[4:48:43] not have a legal financial
[4:48:44] conflict of interest in this
[4:48:47] matter and can participate.
[4:48:47] All right.
[4:48:47] Thank you.
[4:48:48] Thanks man.
[4:48:51] Yeah, Concerned again.
[4:48:52] Thanks, Mary.
[4:48:54] I'm going to defer to the vice
[4:48:54] mayor.
[4:48:58] I believe this was his proposal
[4:48:58] in SEPTEMBER of last year.
[4:49:02] So I want to make sure that he
[4:49:06] has opportunity to lead on this
[4:49:06] item.
[4:49:06] Thanks.
[4:49:06] Yeah.
[4:49:10] Vice Premier, once you add your
[4:49:10] comments and people can
[4:49:10] respond.
[4:49:11] Thank you.
[4:49:13] Appreciate that.
[4:49:14] Councilmember Warren a mayor
[4:49:17] I'm very proud to support this
[4:49:17] item.
[4:49:18] It's one I personally brought
[4:49:21] forward because supporting our
[4:49:21] small businesses is central to
[4:49:25] keeping our city's economy
[4:49:25] strong and vibrant And it's
[4:49:28] important that we balance the
[4:49:29] work that the city is doing
[4:49:29] internally.
[4:49:30] And so we need to address our
[4:49:32] budget services infrastructure,
[4:49:36] housing, mobility with tangible
[4:49:36] support for the local
[4:49:37] businesses that make up the
[4:49:40] heart of our community.
[4:49:41] Our sales tax as we know is the
[4:49:44] number one source of revenue
[4:49:44] And so small businesses are
[4:49:45] huge part of that base.
[4:49:48] So when we help them succeed
[4:49:49] we're not just helping
[4:49:52] individual entrepreneurs.
[4:49:52] We're strengthening the city's
[4:49:53] fiscal foundation.
[4:49:56] So this pilot program is an
[4:49:57] investment in our local
[4:49:57] economy.
[4:50:00] Thank you to staff for all
[4:50:00] their work on this.
[4:50:01] It provides real direct
[4:50:04] assistance to small businesses
[4:50:04] whether that's through the
[4:50:08] technical support, the grants
[4:50:08] or helping them with permitting
[4:50:11] costs and all areas that can
[4:50:12] make or break a small
[4:50:12] operation.
[4:50:15] I am confident it will be
[4:50:16] successful and I hope it can
[4:50:20] grow over time especially if we
[4:50:20] see strong results from this
[4:50:23] pilot program.
[4:50:24] I also see the opportunity to
[4:50:28] expand partnership with things
[4:50:28] like cdf Eyes Community
[4:50:29] Development, financial
[4:50:32] Institution and which are
[4:50:33] mission driven lenders that
[4:50:36] provide affordable financing
[4:50:37] and financial services to
[4:50:40] underserved small businesses
[4:50:41] and they provide grants and
[4:50:44] loans so we can couple them
[4:50:44] together That could attract new
[4:50:48] businesses, expand access to
[4:50:49] capital and bolster the city's
[4:50:52] grant funding to make this
[4:50:52] program more sustainable.
[4:50:55] But that's a separate thing at
[4:50:56] a core.
[4:50:56] At the core this is really
[4:50:59] about investing in people and
[4:51:00] the small businesses who take
[4:51:03] risks, create jobs and give our
[4:51:04] city unique character.
[4:51:07] So I'm hoping that this will be
[4:51:08] supported and look forward to
[4:51:11] supporting its continued
[4:51:12] growth.
[4:51:12] Thanks man.
[4:51:12] Okay.
[4:51:16] Thank you.
[4:51:17] That's from Fisher You like
[4:51:17] more?
[4:51:19] Yeah.
[4:51:20] I just briefly want to say
[4:51:23] thank you Vice Mayor for
[4:51:23] bringing this forth.
[4:51:27] I, I had a company right after
[4:51:27] college.
[4:51:30] I know I did not go to business
[4:51:30] school myself.
[4:51:31] I had a marketing minor but
[4:51:33] that was the extent of my of my
[4:51:34] formal business education And I
[4:51:37] would commute to Pasadena
[4:51:38] because they had a small
[4:51:40] business development center
[4:51:41] with three one on one coaching
[4:51:44] for my business and it was such
[4:51:45] a life saver for me because I
[4:51:49] learned so much about just the
[4:51:49] ins and outs of of running a
[4:51:53] small business and so the fact
[4:51:53] that we are providing those
[4:51:54] services that we're providing
[4:51:57] grants but not just grants but
[4:51:59] like full support with this
[4:52:00] item one on one coaching and
[4:52:03] then seminars, webinars I'm
[4:52:04] really encouraged by what I see
[4:52:07] here and just thanks for all
[4:52:08] the work that's gone into it
[4:52:11] staff and colleagues Thank you
[4:52:11] everyone Thank you and might an
[4:52:14] hour I'll keep my remarks
[4:52:15] brief.
[4:52:15] I'm super grateful to staff for
[4:52:18] all of the work that has
[4:52:19] brought this item to this
[4:52:19] point.
[4:52:22] All the research etc. I really
[4:52:26] appreciate the Vice mayor for
[4:52:26] bringing this to us and I'm
[4:52:30] really excited to see what the
[4:52:31] what kind of impact and what
[4:52:34] kind of demand we will have for
[4:52:34] this project.
[4:52:38] I hope that we'll have some
[4:52:42] sort of report backs on how
[4:52:42] things are going, how many and
[4:52:46] small businesses are utilizing
[4:52:46] the program just like you know
[4:52:47] just sort of having a feedback
[4:52:50] loop of how things are going.
[4:52:51] But again I super excited to
[4:52:54] see this investment and yeah
[4:52:54] and just looking forward to
[4:52:55] continue growth So I'm really
[4:52:55] excited.
[4:52:58] Thank you.
[4:52:59] Thank you because we're very
[4:53:02] Thank you Mayor thank staff for
[4:53:05] all your your effort And I said
[4:53:05] on the subcommittee with the
[4:53:09] vice mayor and I know you guys
[4:53:10] really did a whole lot of work
[4:53:12] behind it and thanks to the
[4:53:13] vice mayor for bringing this
[4:53:13] forward, I'm happy to support
[4:53:14] this.
[4:53:17] I think you know, on both
[4:53:17] counts this will be something
[4:53:21] that is a good investment in
[4:53:24] our community But actually an
[4:53:24] investment that the city can
[4:53:28] see some sort of tangible
[4:53:28] return on.
[4:53:29] So thank you very much.
[4:53:29] Thank you, Mayor.
[4:53:32] Yeah I think you yeah and thank
[4:53:36] you for bringing this forward
[4:53:39] as well And you know just a
[4:53:42] small point I think many of us
[4:53:43] have heard it before but 50% of
[4:53:46] small businesses fail within
[4:53:47] five years, 20% within the
[4:53:47] first year.
[4:53:50] So the cohort cohort program
[4:53:53] especially I think will be
[4:53:54] really valuable and it'll be
[4:53:57] great for our newer businesses
[4:54:01] and and I appreciate you know,
[4:54:05] the skills that can be learned
[4:54:05] there, you know with the
[4:54:06] marketing I think that that's a
[4:54:09] big critical factor in
[4:54:09] navigating city.
[4:54:13] I hope we can promote this
[4:54:14] early when we get those
[4:54:17] applications in so that we can
[4:54:17] help them navigate all the
[4:54:21] permitting and you know I know
[4:54:25] I've run into folks starting up
[4:54:25] and they're doing construction
[4:54:28] on their new business and
[4:54:29] they're really struggling with
[4:54:29] that process.
[4:54:32] So I hope include that and and
[4:54:36] I really like the permit fee
[4:54:36] reimbursement program as well
[4:54:39] with a little larger some that
[4:54:40] can help businesses that might
[4:54:44] have hit a speed bump to have
[4:54:47] been more established So it's
[4:54:48] great I'm happy to let the vice
[4:54:51] mayor present the motion Thank
[4:54:51] you.
[4:54:55] Thank to make a motion to
[4:54:58] approve the two small pilot
[4:55:01] business Assistance program at
[4:55:08] a total of $95,000 I think
[4:55:18] that's it I a my one second
[4:55:21] came on.
[4:55:22] Okay There you go.
[4:55:26] Thank you.
[4:55:32] All right
[4:55:36] .
[4:55:37] Thank you.
[4:55:38] I have a motion by Vice Mayor
[4:55:41] Pusa in a second from Council
[4:55:45] member McMoRan for the approval
[4:55:46] of two small pilot business
[4:55:48] assistance programs for two and
[4:55:54] a total of $95,000 MAY be
[4:56:01] converting I motion passes
[4:56:01] unanimously.
[4:56:01] Thank you.
[4:56:01] Okay.
[4:56:05] Thank.
[4:56:06] MAY or MAY make an announcement
[4:56:06] really quick.
[4:56:08] Yeah.
[4:56:09] Elizabeth Garcia's birthday is
[4:56:12] today and it's going to be over
[4:56:13] in about three minutes so I
[4:56:14] just thought we could wish her
[4:56:14] happy birthday.
[4:56:16] Happy birthday.
[4:56:17] Birthday birthday.
[4:56:21] Thank you.
[4:56:22] Over with a fun way Write that
[4:56:24] and tell you for real And so
[4:56:25] you celebrate your birthday and
[4:56:25] same with you for real.
[4:56:28] Now happy birthday.
[4:56:32] Mine's coming up in JANUARY.
[4:56:35] I hope you.
[4:56:36] Thanks you guys.
[4:56:42] Appreciate a three And the
[4:56:46] Dodgers just scored 18th inning
[4:56:49] right Freddy homerun Oh he
[4:56:55] needs to have yeah and he's
[4:56:58] dead okay They played two games
[4:57:02] in one era Sometimes sometimes
[4:57:02] .
[4:57:03] Let's get to the d-Day for a
[4:57:03] rethink.
[4:57:06] Okay.
[4:57:10] In SEPTEMBER 2022, the city and
[4:57:10] Rethink Culver llc entered into
[4:57:13] a development and disposition
[4:57:14] agreement or what we would call
[4:57:15] a dda for the sale and
[4:57:17] redevelopment of city property
[4:57:18] located at 9814 Washington
[4:57:21] Boulevard which is immediately
[4:57:22] adjacent to the Kirk Douglas
[4:57:22] Theater.
[4:57:25] The purpose of the agreement
[4:57:25] was to activate an
[4:57:26] underutilized city owned
[4:57:29] property, create affordable
[4:57:29] housing and enhance the local
[4:57:32] economic and cultural
[4:57:32] environment.
[4:57:33] Since the closing of Escrow
[4:57:36] Rethink has encountered several
[4:57:37] challenges in the development
[4:57:38] of their project due to the
[4:57:41] complex nature of building and
[4:57:41] coordination with
[4:57:41] infrastructure components
[4:57:44] related to the Kirk Douglas
[4:57:45] Theater, Rethink has completed
[4:57:48] a preliminary construction
[4:57:49] drawings for the cost to build
[4:57:52] the project as required by the
[4:57:52] current dda is in feasible with
[4:57:53] their current projected
[4:57:56] financing.
[4:57:57] To this end we think has
[4:57:57] requested the city's
[4:58:00] consideration to amend the dda
[4:58:01] relative to certain
[4:58:04] requirements they believe will
[4:58:04] allow the project to move
[4:58:04] forward.
[4:58:07] There are four categories I'd
[4:58:07] like to bring to your
[4:58:07] attention.
[4:58:10] The first is the removal of the
[4:58:10] arts related space requirement.
[4:58:14] So pursuant to the current dda
[4:58:15] the project was supposed to
[4:58:18] include an arts related space
[4:58:20] which is now currently 2000ft.
[4:58:21] We think would like to lift
[4:58:24] that restriction for the arts
[4:58:25] related space to allow it to be
[4:58:28] used for any use permitted
[4:58:29] under the zoning cone code
[4:58:32] Excuse me.
[4:58:32] The original dda contemplated
[4:58:33] that the space would be
[4:58:36] potentially leased and
[4:58:37] programed by the Center Theater
[4:58:37] group which is the lessee of
[4:58:40] the Kirk Douglas Theater.
[4:58:41] So just for clarification, the
[4:58:43] city owns the Kirk Douglas
[4:58:44] Theater and leases the theater
[4:58:44] to the Center Theater group.
[4:58:47] The dda requires that if the
[4:58:48] center theater group doesn't
[4:58:51] use that space that they have
[4:58:52] to approve if it's going to be
[4:58:54] reallocated.
[4:58:55] At this time ctg is open
[4:58:58] tentatively to releasing the
[4:58:59] space so long as their h box
[4:59:03] system can be relocated into
[4:59:03] the public right of way which
[4:59:06] is something that steps are
[4:59:06] already explored.
[4:59:07] And we've given a conceptual
[4:59:10] approval to And next one is the
[4:59:13] modification of Affordable
[4:59:13] housing unit mix.
[4:59:14] So as outlined in the dda
[4:59:17] rethink is required to provide
[4:59:18] six affordable housing units as
[4:59:21] part of the project which was
[4:59:22] five studios and one one
[4:59:22] bedroom.
[4:59:25] They are now converting the
[4:59:26] project to an all studio mix
[4:59:29] and they would like to have all
[4:59:31] of the affordable units be
[4:59:35] studios which will be
[4:59:35] approximately 390ft.
[4:59:36] So just as a reminder this is a
[4:59:39] micro unit project we think
[4:59:40] would still be required to
[4:59:43] provide two very low and four
[4:59:43] moderate income units with a
[4:59:47] covenant of 55 years to things
[4:59:50] that are not in the dda but
[4:59:51] that we think we'd like your
[4:59:54] potential approval on is to
[4:59:58] extend the outdoor dining area
[4:59:58] along Culver Boulevard.
[5:00:02] They'd like to extend it
[5:00:02] adjacent to the Kirk Douglas
[5:00:05] Theater but closer to their
[5:00:06] parcel.
[5:00:06] So just as a reminder, Rethink
[5:00:09] owns the parcel that the Peskin
[5:00:10] buildings on and where the
[5:00:13] center theater group yard is
[5:00:14] but they also own the parcel
[5:00:17] worth cafe Vida is so that's
[5:00:18] one of the reasons why this
[5:00:21] project works is because you
[5:00:22] have a developer that can build
[5:00:23] above two parcels.
[5:00:24] So Rethink is asking that the
[5:00:27] city council consider doing
[5:00:31] outdoor dining behind that area
[5:00:31] .
[5:00:32] At this time ctg has not
[5:00:32] provided their support yet
[5:00:35] because specific plans haven't
[5:00:36] been drawn up So it's not clear
[5:00:39] exactly what the area is as
[5:00:39] part of it since it's not part
[5:00:42] of the dda the city council
[5:00:43] could also direct staff to
[5:00:43] coordinate use of the space
[5:00:46] through an easement or through
[5:00:47] a modification of the outdoor
[5:00:50] dining program contingent on
[5:00:50] Gee's approval.
[5:00:51] I'm jumping around here.
[5:00:52] I'm trying to get you done on
[5:00:54] this report I had it smoother
[5:00:55] before.
[5:00:55] Okay.
[5:00:56] And lastly, the lease of
[5:00:58] construction parking for the
[5:00:59] project Again this is not on
[5:00:59] the dda but this is just
[5:01:02] something that the developer
[5:01:03] wanted to sort of reserve which
[5:01:06] is the requesting 30 vehicles
[5:01:09] daily vehicle parking in our
[5:01:09] parking structure.
[5:01:10] They're willing to pay market
[5:01:13] rent for that and it would be
[5:01:14] over the course of a 17 month
[5:01:17] construction period.
[5:01:18] So again we could add that to
[5:01:18] the dda or we could do a
[5:01:20] separate parking agreement or
[5:01:21] they can just coordinate
[5:01:21] directly with our parking
[5:01:24] manager.
[5:01:25] So Rethinks indicated that if
[5:01:25] they're not able to amend the
[5:01:28] dda with the requested
[5:01:28] modifications the project would
[5:01:32] become infeasible to construct
[5:01:32] .
[5:01:33] If the project were to become
[5:01:33] infeasible the city would need
[5:01:36] to proceed with the provisions
[5:01:36] outlined in the dda relative to
[5:01:39] project termination and
[5:01:39] property transfer we think is
[5:01:43] here tonight and they and staff
[5:01:44] are available to answer any
[5:01:44] questions you MAY have.
[5:01:46] Thank you.
[5:01:47] All right.
[5:01:47] Thank you.
[5:01:50] Do we have any comments?
[5:01:51] Yes, we have five speakers
[5:01:54] signed up to speak.
[5:01:54] Okay.
[5:01:58] And do we have colleagues ask
[5:01:58] any questions you have based
[5:02:00] off of the staff person?
[5:02:03] All your comments.
[5:02:04] Thanks, Mayor.
[5:02:04] I just wanted to ask the
[5:02:08] outdoor dining space would be
[5:02:08] directly connected with the
[5:02:09] retail space and used by the
[5:02:11] retail space or No that's a
[5:02:14] separate.
[5:02:15] The retail space is actually
[5:02:18] located on Washington Boulevard
[5:02:18] near the entrance of Center
[5:02:19] Theater Group.
[5:02:19] The outdoor dining would be on
[5:02:22] the backside and it wouldn't be
[5:02:22] directly connected.
[5:02:26] There would still be a pathway
[5:02:27] for access to be able to you
[5:02:30] know, have access to the trash
[5:02:30] enclosure.
[5:02:31] So it would be a little bit of
[5:02:34] an interrupted pathway but it
[5:02:34] would be adjacent to the back
[5:02:37] of the Kirk Douglas Theater.
[5:02:41] And just curious rethink would
[5:02:42] use that in what exact way?
[5:02:46] So great question.
[5:02:46] So Rethink wants to use that
[5:02:49] space to make it competitive
[5:02:50] and attractive for their
[5:02:50] existing tenant So like for
[5:02:54] instance the cafe Vita site to
[5:02:54] be able to expand and offer
[5:02:58] more outdoor dining So it's a
[5:02:58] competitive advantage proposal
[5:02:58] for cafe Yeah.
[5:03:02] So it's for it would be used
[5:03:02] for Cafe Vida currently or any
[5:03:05] future tenant right Hopefully
[5:03:06] Cafe View Yes.
[5:03:06] Okay.
[5:03:09] Thank you because we're on Okay
[5:03:16] like I'm sorry Yeah I'll wait
[5:03:20] until comments So let's hear
[5:03:20] public comments okay.
[5:03:23] Or public speakers.
[5:03:24] We'll start with Megan Pressman
[5:03:28] followed by Alicia I'd followed
[5:03:31] by Edward Ring, Amy Forbes and
[5:03:32] Greg Reitz.
[5:03:32] So Megan Pressman has been
[5:03:35] patiently waiting online all
[5:03:38] this time.
[5:03:39] Megan I've I've unlocked you.
[5:03:40] You can unmute yourself.
[5:03:42] Go ahead.
[5:03:43] Thank you.
[5:03:43] Good morning Mayor and City
[5:03:46] Council.
[5:03:46] I am Megan Pressman.
[5:03:47] I'm the managing director and
[5:03:51] ceo of Center Theater Group
[5:03:51] which has been operating and
[5:03:54] managing the critical cedar for
[5:03:55] 21 years now.
[5:03:55] I'm grateful for the
[5:03:59] opportunity to speak in support
[5:03:59] of the project which we do hope
[5:04:00] is able to proceed and I want
[5:04:02] to acknowledge Elaine Gary
[5:04:03] Warner and her team for their
[5:04:06] hard work support and guidance
[5:04:07] for the many years we've been
[5:04:07] helping pursue this project.
[5:04:10] On behalf of the Board of
[5:04:11] Directors and Leadership of
[5:04:12] Center Citigroup, we carry the
[5:04:14] responsibility to you to ensure
[5:04:15] that the Kirk Douglas is able
[5:04:15] to maintain robust theater
[5:04:18] operations.
[5:04:19] At the conclusion of this
[5:04:20] project we are respectfully
[5:04:23] requesting that the City
[5:04:23] Council make sure that any
[5:04:24] amendment reflects the
[5:04:27] following three items one
[5:04:28] Ensuring that the release of
[5:04:31] the art space requirement be
[5:04:31] contingent on the Kirk Douglas
[5:04:34] Theater hvac relocation to the
[5:04:38] public right of way to to
[5:04:39] direct the city manager to
[5:04:39] issue whatever appropriate
[5:04:43] permits or easements to put the
[5:04:43] Douglas Theater back in that
[5:04:46] right of way.
[5:04:46] And three that the amendment
[5:04:47] include a requirement that the
[5:04:50] sidewalk dining authorization
[5:04:51] is contingent on center city
[5:04:54] groups approval which is
[5:04:54] consistent with our existing
[5:04:54] easement.
[5:04:58] All of this is critical to the
[5:04:58] Kirk Douglas Theater operations
[5:04:59] which we hope to robustly
[5:05:01] continue in the future.
[5:05:04] Thank you.
[5:05:08] Thank you, Peter.
[5:05:12] Next speaker is Alicia Reed
[5:05:13] followed by Edward Ring.
[5:05:17] And I was asked to speak
[5:05:17] tonight because they knew I
[5:05:20] would be here so I was asked by
[5:05:21] the board of the Clover Arts
[5:05:24] Foundation to speak tonight to
[5:05:28] remind City Council that Clover
[5:05:28] that Culver City is arts
[5:05:32] facilities poor with little in
[5:05:32] the way of city controlled
[5:05:36] performing spaces, art making
[5:05:36] spaces, studio spaces,
[5:05:39] exhibition spaces and even if
[5:05:40] ctg does not need the arts
[5:05:43] facility proposed in this
[5:05:44] project there are many artists
[5:05:45] and many arts organizations in
[5:05:48] this city who could benefit
[5:05:49] from art spaces and we would
[5:05:52] hope that the arts component
[5:05:52] should remain and be added to
[5:05:56] other development projects
[5:05:56] especially those utilizing city
[5:05:56] property.
[5:06:04] Thank you
[5:06:06] Mayor.
[5:06:09] May I make a clarifying point?
[5:06:10] The property was disposed to We
[5:06:10] think so.
[5:06:11] That's actually not city
[5:06:13] property anymore.
[5:06:14] It's part of there but it is
[5:06:15] managed by the developer and
[5:06:17] disposition agreement to have
[5:06:20] an arts related space.
[5:06:21] Okay.
[5:06:24] Our next speaker is Edward Ring
[5:06:28] who is on line Edward iv and
[5:06:29] Locke Do you I know yourself.
[5:06:29] Go ahead.
[5:06:32] I think I managed to do that
[5:06:32] successfully.
[5:06:35] Thank you for allowing me to
[5:06:36] make this comment.
[5:06:38] First of all, I just wanted to
[5:06:42] tell everybody and remind
[5:06:43] everybody that back is playing
[5:06:46] right now at the Katy to great
[5:06:49] reviews and artistically it's a
[5:06:53] phenomenal success.
[5:06:57] We we also are very, very much
[5:07:00] in support of Rethinks Project
[5:07:01] having a sort of three party
[5:07:05] dda makes navigate it with
[5:07:06] respect to the sequencing of
[5:07:09] the development and the
[5:07:09] entitlements makes it a little
[5:07:10] bit more challenging than maybe
[5:07:13] other projects.
[5:07:14] So we would actually request
[5:07:20] that any modification of the
[5:07:24] dda meets our approval in a in
[5:07:25] a different setting with with
[5:07:27] attorneys and whatnot.
[5:07:28] And just to reiterate our
[5:07:32] gratitude for at least thus far
[5:07:35] allowing the hpc to be
[5:07:36] relocated to the public right
[5:07:39] of way that not only helps
[5:07:39] facilitate the rethink
[5:07:43] development but it makes a lot
[5:07:47] more sense given that that we
[5:07:50] at cdbg really do need the the
[5:07:51] space as it's currently
[5:07:54] configured and moving Vasey
[5:07:58] actually allows us to maintain
[5:07:59] the same largely the same
[5:08:02] amount of space so that theater
[5:08:03] operations can continue.
[5:08:05] >> Thank you.
[5:08:06] >> Thank you.
[5:08:06] Your time has expired.
[5:08:09] Thank you.
[5:08:13] Our next speaker is Amy Forbes
[5:08:13] .
[5:08:14] Amy, I unlocked you.
[5:08:14] You can speak.
[5:08:17] I'm you yourself.
[5:08:17] Okay.
[5:08:20] I think I've unmuted myself.
[5:08:21] Good evening, Mayor and city
[5:08:21] council.
[5:08:25] My name is Amy Forbes and I'm
[5:08:25] the PRESIDENT Of the board of
[5:08:26] directors of Center Theater
[5:08:27] Group.
[5:08:28] And I actually negotiated the
[5:08:31] lease with the city some 23
[5:08:31] years ago when we transformed a
[5:08:35] movie theater into a live
[5:08:35] theater.
[5:08:36] And it's been an obviously an
[5:08:38] enormous success.
[5:08:39] But one of the quirks is that
[5:08:42] as a movie theater it has no
[5:08:43] loading area, it has no craft
[5:08:44] area and other things that you
[5:08:47] would find in a regular
[5:08:47] theater.
[5:08:50] And that's what's creating our
[5:08:51] need to figure out where to put
[5:08:54] the h fac our h fac our
[5:08:55] transformers or craft areas or
[5:08:58] loading areas are all located
[5:09:01] on the property that rethink is
[5:09:02] going to build its project on
[5:09:05] And we over three years ago
[5:09:08] negotiated how we would end up
[5:09:08] being able to cohabitate.
[5:09:12] But as as over the three years
[5:09:13] as the project has been
[5:09:13] designed it became apparent
[5:09:16] there's not enough space in
[5:09:17] that area which is why we're
[5:09:18] asking you to let us move our h
[5:09:20] back system into the right of
[5:09:21] way otherwise we won't have
[5:09:24] enough space left to be able to
[5:09:25] do what we need to do and still
[5:09:28] have the rethink project
[5:09:28] accommodated.
[5:09:32] So it is it is totally mission
[5:09:32] critical for us.
[5:09:36] And similarly with the dining
[5:09:36] it could constrain our ability
[5:09:37] to load heavy trucks in and
[5:09:40] create a safety and operational
[5:09:40] impact.
[5:09:41] So those are two things that
[5:09:43] are critical and otherwise
[5:09:44] we're fully supportive of the
[5:09:44] request.
[5:09:47] We just want to be included in
[5:09:48] the dda so no one loses track
[5:09:51] of what our needs are going
[5:09:52] forward with the construction.
[5:09:54] >> Thank you.
[5:09:55] Your time has expired.
[5:09:59] Thank you.
[5:09:59] Thank you.
[5:09:59] Our last speaker is Greg
[5:10:00] Rhodes.
[5:10:06] Let's here
[5:10:09] .
[5:10:10] Good evening, City Council.
[5:10:13] Thank you all for being here
[5:10:13] this late.
[5:10:17] You just sat through 18 innings
[5:10:17] of city council while the
[5:10:21] Dodgers are playing 18 innings
[5:10:21] of baseball And I feel like
[5:10:24] we're in the 18th inning of
[5:10:27] this project and three years in
[5:10:31] and hopefully we get a walk off
[5:10:31] here tonight.
[5:10:35] We have been through one of the
[5:10:36] most complex projects we have
[5:10:38] ever undertaken.
[5:10:39] It's a small project with lots
[5:10:43] of moving pieces and this is
[5:10:43] the last one And hopefully this
[5:10:46] this gets it done.
[5:10:47] So we're here to answer
[5:10:51] questions and aid and explain
[5:10:51] our need here.
[5:10:55] But this is this is what we
[5:10:55] need in order to make this
[5:10:56] project happen And we're
[5:10:58] excited to build it.
[5:10:59] We're ready to submit our plans
[5:11:02] for planning check and and get
[5:11:02] the project done.
[5:11:03] So any questions that come up?
[5:11:06] I'm Greg Wright's and Steve
[5:11:07] Edwards, my partner sitting in
[5:11:08] the back row.
[5:11:09] Happy to answer them.
[5:11:12] Thank you.
[5:11:13] Don't see any of our speakers.
[5:11:13] Okay, great.
[5:11:16] Thank you.
[5:11:17] Appreciate the the baseball
[5:11:20] metaphor and see if we can get
[5:11:24] you to walk us.
[5:11:27] I do have I'm going to speak
[5:11:27] first on this because I have I
[5:11:30] personally and I know community
[5:11:34] members regarding developments
[5:11:35] citywide not just the reading
[5:11:41] project are tired of kind of
[5:11:45] like blight just sitting there
[5:11:45] .
[5:11:46] We see it all over the city.
[5:11:48] A project started and there's
[5:11:49] fencing up whatever we've got
[5:11:52] for the old Dennis house it's
[5:11:55] probably got all kinds of
[5:11:56] dangerous elements to its
[5:12:00] existence Fire risk you know,
[5:12:03] whatever it might be.
[5:12:04] I know this would not be a
[5:12:08] preferred direction but I, I
[5:12:11] think the community would
[5:12:12] really appreciate it if at all
[5:12:15] possible assuming that the
[5:12:19] modified deal is approved.
[5:12:22] If so, giving one year time
[5:12:28] frame to demo that house and
[5:12:35] put it in a existence where the
[5:12:36] community could use it until
[5:12:39] you're ready to build.
[5:12:40] So that's an open space where
[5:12:43] we can put tables and chairs
[5:12:43] there, you know, whatever it
[5:12:44] might be.
[5:12:44] I know it's a little more
[5:12:47] complicated than that on the
[5:12:48] city side but I'm just
[5:12:51] wondering if that is something
[5:12:54] that you would be open to.
[5:12:55] I think the community would
[5:12:58] really appreciate it.
[5:13:02] Yeah.
[5:13:02] Thanks.
[5:13:03] Great.
[5:13:03] Let's see if you can come up
[5:13:06] with another now I like I like
[5:13:09] that idea and I mean hopefully
[5:13:10] we go right into building the
[5:13:11] project and that would be the
[5:13:14] goal But I understand we don't
[5:13:17] we don't like we worry about
[5:13:17] that building being there also
[5:13:20] So we'd like to get a get rid
[5:13:21] of it as quickly as possible.
[5:13:22] So if there's an interim period
[5:13:25] between now and when we're
[5:13:25] going to build.
[5:13:28] Happy to get it out of there
[5:13:29] and make some use of the the
[5:13:29] land.
[5:13:30] Yeah.
[5:13:32] Okay great.
[5:13:33] All right.
[5:13:33] Thank you.
[5:13:33] I appreciate that.
[5:13:36] COUNCILMAN First you have any
[5:13:36] questions?
[5:13:36] Comments?
[5:13:39] Mayor Yeah.
[5:13:40] So if I'm understanding this
[5:13:42] correctly, Craig is saying we
[5:13:43] we're not ready to say yes to
[5:13:46] the outdoor dining yet.
[5:13:47] We want to see the final plans
[5:13:50] and is that is that contingent
[5:13:54] is that something that we think
[5:13:58] is acceptable?
[5:14:02] Yeah This is Steve Edwards
[5:14:02] That's acceptable.
[5:14:03] We got to figure out We don't
[5:14:06] want it to impede on their
[5:14:07] ability to load and load out
[5:14:07] and the restaurant our wouldn't
[5:14:10] want it either So we'll see if
[5:14:10] it can work.
[5:14:11] We just want the option to look
[5:14:14] at it for Cafe Vita and
[5:14:14] potential future tenants.
[5:14:20] Thank you
[5:14:21] .
[5:14:22] That's all I have right now.
[5:14:25] Thank you Councilmember again.
[5:14:29] Thank you Appreciate that this
[5:14:32] and thank you and MS..
[5:14:35] Warner and for your quick
[5:14:36] overview of where we are
[5:14:39] Appreciate all the folks who
[5:14:40] have held on And I thought we
[5:14:41] were getting out early tonight.
[5:14:46] I guess from an overall I mean
[5:14:50] I think these are relatively
[5:14:54] reasonable course I do just as
[5:14:55] a principle I struggle with
[5:14:59] privatizing and you know public
[5:14:59] space has always been something
[5:15:03] that you know, it's you know
[5:15:06] but but also appreciated
[5:15:06] outdoor dining moment And when
[5:15:10] we have that so you know and I
[5:15:11] understand that it is a
[5:15:14] function of space and trying to
[5:15:14] accommodate these plans that
[5:15:18] have been in the works for some
[5:15:21] time So you know I know folks
[5:15:22] are working hard and we're
[5:15:22] trying to find a solution here
[5:15:26] So I want to make sure that the
[5:15:26] city is being a good partner in
[5:15:29] supporting this project is
[5:15:30] being done And I do really
[5:15:33] appreciate I was nervous that
[5:15:34] there was going to be a walk
[5:15:37] back of the affordable housing
[5:15:37] commitment.
[5:15:38] So I'm glad that that is not
[5:15:41] what happened and we're still
[5:15:42] honoring that as we move
[5:15:42] forward.
[5:15:44] I so thank you.
[5:15:45] Thank you, Councilmember.
[5:15:48] Thank you, Mayor.
[5:15:49] Just to save a whole lot of
[5:15:50] time, I agree with MS..
[5:15:53] Pressman in terms of the items
[5:15:54] that need to be solidified in
[5:15:56] this moving forward that that
[5:16:00] building I don't think can get
[5:16:00] torn down fast enough.
[5:16:03] I know it's and I've been
[5:16:04] through that walkway It's sort
[5:16:06] of a haven for rats.
[5:16:07] I mean it's like they're
[5:16:11] they're abundant there So and
[5:16:11] then thank you so much for your
[5:16:12] willingness to at least
[5:16:15] entertain the mayor's
[5:16:15] suggestion about, you know,
[5:16:16] creating maybe an open space if
[5:16:19] there is sort of a gap and
[5:16:23] tearing down and developing.
[5:16:24] So yeah, I'm happy to move
[5:16:28] forward with it as as written
[5:16:28] in here it Thank you very much.
[5:16:31] We're I think I'm here thanks
[5:16:32] for the staff report thanks for
[5:16:35] the public comments thanks to
[5:16:38] ctg you're an important
[5:16:39] community partner in our city.
[5:16:40] I'm sad that the prior
[5:16:43] iterations of the part of this
[5:16:44] project didn't work out but and
[5:16:47] I and I'd like to see this
[5:16:47] succeed.
[5:16:50] I'm very sympathetic to the
[5:16:54] loss of the art space But again
[5:16:55] I would like to see this space
[5:16:57] and project succeed.
[5:16:58] So these are very reasonable
[5:17:01] requests and I'm open to them
[5:17:05] with the inclusion of the
[5:17:05] mayor's suggestion.
[5:17:09] Thank think Yeah.
[5:17:09] Thank you.
[5:17:09] Okay.
[5:17:13] So again thank you to everyone
[5:17:17] from Rethink and also from City
[5:17:17] g.
[5:17:18] I concur with the Vice Mayor
[5:17:21] that you are a an incredibly
[5:17:21] valued partner in the city
[5:17:25] providing the performing arts
[5:17:28] that you know a lot of cities
[5:17:32] would be very jealous of So
[5:17:33] what I'm hearing from everyone
[5:17:37] is that we're okay to go
[5:17:40] forward with the modifications
[5:17:43] to the dda as recommended and
[5:17:51] for for approval of City g on
[5:17:54] the on the cited portions they
[5:17:58] need to have the c moved the
[5:18:02] dining needs to be reviewed by
[5:18:05] them.
[5:18:09] Anything else that Megan so you
[5:18:13] and then if we can add to this
[5:18:14] you know if construction hasn't
[5:18:18] started a year from execution
[5:18:22] of the dda there needs to be
[5:18:22] the demo of the building and
[5:18:25] made into a of an open space
[5:18:29] and then the city can deal with
[5:18:30] you know how we activate that
[5:18:32] if we want to.
[5:18:33] I just wanted to let the
[5:18:36] council know that in the
[5:18:37] current schedule of performance
[5:18:40] there are next milestone to
[5:18:40] submit to submit their evidence
[5:18:41] of financing and construction
[5:18:43] and in MAY which would then
[5:18:44] yield a potential construction
[5:18:47] date of JUNE.
[5:18:48] So right now that's their
[5:18:48] existing schedule of
[5:18:51] performance work And then the
[5:18:51] two other items the outdoor
[5:18:54] dining and the parking as I
[5:18:55] mentioned before, those are
[5:18:55] actually not currently in the
[5:18:58] dda.
[5:18:59] Would you like to put that in
[5:18:59] there?
[5:18:59] Yes, please.
[5:19:02] I don't I didn't see any But
[5:19:06] the the outdoor dining is per
[5:19:10] review by c City g and I don't
[5:19:11] think anyone had any problem
[5:19:14] with market rate parking in our
[5:19:14] parking structure.
[5:19:21] So yes please I submit a motion
[5:19:21] .
[5:19:25] We also need the motions to
[5:19:25] approve the amendment
[5:19:26] consistent with the Council's
[5:19:29] direction and authorize City
[5:19:29] Attorney to review prepare and
[5:19:33] City manager to execute
[5:19:35] separate motion Or you can do
[5:19:36] it all in one but I just want
[5:19:37] to make sure those we have it
[5:19:39] right So approve approve an
[5:19:40] amendment to the dda consistent
[5:19:43] with City council direction
[5:19:44] authorize city Attorney to
[5:19:44] review prepare the necessary
[5:19:47] documents and authorize city
[5:19:48] manager to execute such
[5:19:54] documents on behalf of the city
[5:19:58] .
[5:19:58] Thank you.
[5:20:02] I have a motion by Mayor
[5:20:02] o'Brien and second from
[5:20:06] Councilmember Bera to approve
[5:20:12] the motion stated by the mayor
[5:20:12] .
[5:20:19] You MAY begin voting
[5:20:19] .
[5:20:19] Thank you.
[5:20:20] That motion passes unanimously.
[5:20:23] All right, great.
[5:20:23] Thank you.
[5:20:23] Thank you.
[5:20:30] And do we have any comments?
[5:20:31] There are none.
[5:20:34] Okay.
[5:20:34] Do we have any last comments
[5:20:37] from my colleagues concerning.
[5:20:38] Thanks Mayor.
[5:20:41] Yeah to sorry to and a question
[5:20:42] The first is just about the
[5:20:46] single stair ordinance that we
[5:20:49] passed is maybe coming to the
[5:20:50] California Building Standards
[5:20:53] Commission on the I think it's
[5:20:54] the 17th.
[5:20:57] I've shared the date with staff
[5:20:58] of DECEMBER and we were
[5:21:01] contacted by some groups that
[5:21:05] some some groups that advocated
[5:21:06] for our ordinance such as a ban
[5:21:09] on housing Los Angeles who said
[5:21:10] that the commission it would be
[5:21:12] good for the commission to hear
[5:21:16] from the council as to why this
[5:21:17] is a political priority for the
[5:21:17] Council.
[5:21:20] So my request is just for three
[5:21:24] nodding heads to send a letter
[5:21:24] from this Council advocating
[5:21:25] for our ordinance that was
[5:21:28] already passed five zero just
[5:21:32] sharing the local need for our
[5:21:33] single stair ordinance and why
[5:21:34] we passed it and the same exact
[5:21:36] letter being sent to the state
[5:21:37] the State Fire Marshals Working
[5:21:40] Group.
[5:21:41] So I'm just seeking nodding
[5:21:43] heads for those that letter to
[5:21:47] be sent to those two groups.
[5:21:48] Okay, great.
[5:21:52] And I think Oh go ahead.
[5:21:54] So you did something that you
[5:21:58] would want to work on with the
[5:21:59] we had talked about possibility
[5:22:00] of working on it with the
[5:22:02] housing and homelessness
[5:22:02] subcommittee.
[5:22:07] I mean city attorney you tell
[5:22:07] me.
[5:22:08] I, I don't feel that because we
[5:22:11] provided like that sample and
[5:22:12] Shelley is really good at, you
[5:22:12] know, writing those letters.
[5:22:14] I don't feel that it needs to
[5:22:14] come back.
[5:22:18] Okay Since it's something
[5:22:18] that's already passed the
[5:22:21] council as long as it reflects
[5:22:22] you know I think that's what we
[5:22:25] passed.
[5:22:26] Yes, I think that's fine.
[5:22:26] Thank you.
[5:22:29] And I provided a sample that
[5:22:29] the from Santa Monica that
[5:22:31] passed a similar letter where
[5:22:35] that sent a similar letter And
[5:22:36] the second is just there's a
[5:22:40] and a bill that was just passed
[5:22:40] that was signed by Governor
[5:22:43] Newsom last month, sb 720 that
[5:22:44] reforms the red light camera
[5:22:47] program and and fixes some of
[5:22:51] the challenges of the red light
[5:22:51] camera program.
[5:22:55] For example, the the tickets
[5:22:59] being extraordinarily expensive
[5:22:59] ,very difficult to have get
[5:23:03] people to pay them and the
[5:23:04] charges are criminal in And
[5:23:07] instead of civil in this law
[5:23:08] that was just signed that was
[5:23:11] just signed allows cities to
[5:23:14] opt into a new reformed
[5:23:14] program.
[5:23:15] And so I was just seeking
[5:23:16] through nodding heads to
[5:23:19] recommend that to them Ability
[5:23:19] subcommittee We can talk about
[5:23:22] that more in the committee but
[5:23:23] it would just be exploring that
[5:23:27] law using it and I've contacted
[5:23:28] our key pd who runs the program
[5:23:31] and asked for his input on it
[5:23:31] as well.
[5:23:31] Okay thanks.
[5:23:34] Thank you.
[5:23:35] And then finally is just a
[5:23:38] quick question to staff is do
[5:23:39] you have an idea of when the
[5:23:39] legislative platform is coming
[5:23:42] back for review maybe that John
[5:23:46] or John or Heather maybe it I
[5:23:49] believe it's coming NOVEMBER
[5:23:49] ten.
[5:23:50] Okay.
[5:23:51] I think it got moved off of
[5:23:54] this agenda and I Is that not
[5:24:00] correct, Mayor
[5:24:01] That would be
[5:24:04] next time, right?
[5:24:08] Yeah, I believe so.
[5:24:09] I think Assistant city Manager
[5:24:09] Rothberg said it could be a
[5:24:12] consent item and oh, she did
[5:24:12] that.
[5:24:13] That's correct.
[5:24:16] She did.
[5:24:16] Yeah.
[5:24:19] I'm not seeing it on NOVEMBER
[5:24:22] 10th and it's a full and on
[5:24:22] consent either You're not
[5:24:26] saying oh consent it we can
[5:24:30] it's just a question So if you
[5:24:30] if it's something that you can
[5:24:34] find out I've just curious when
[5:24:34] it's when it's coming back but
[5:24:37] I don't have any action on that
[5:24:37] .
[5:24:37] Thank you.
[5:24:38] Yeah thanks man.
[5:24:41] I can't remember.
[5:24:41] That's right.
[5:24:46] So yes, I'm wonder if I can get
[5:24:46] 319 heads for a presentation
[5:24:49] and exploration of using the
[5:24:49] services throne.
[5:24:52] It's accessible portable
[5:24:53] bathroom There's one currently
[5:24:59] at abc Station
[5:25:04] for purposes
[5:25:05] that we've kind of gotten away
[5:25:08] for putting it on the record.
[5:25:09] Who did the nodding head this
[5:25:09] evening?
[5:25:12] So let us make let's try and
[5:25:15] get it for this one at least
[5:25:17] seeing all nodding heads on
[5:25:21] this one And then also and if
[5:25:22] this aligns with our
[5:25:22] legislative platform but
[5:25:26] support for ab7 36 it's a bill
[5:25:30] by Assembly member Buffett
[5:25:30] works in support of affordable
[5:25:33] housing bond of 2026 so b
[5:25:36] dedicated funding for student
[5:25:37] housing at California's public
[5:25:37] colleges and universities.
[5:25:41] So since we have people who go
[5:25:42] to universities around us other
[5:25:51] than yes so if I had many heads
[5:25:52] and will check the legislative
[5:25:55] platform policy platform and if
[5:25:56] it's not in there I'll come
[5:25:59] back If it is and we won't need
[5:26:00] to bring it back.
[5:26:00] Right.
[5:26:01] That's up, Mare Thank you.
[5:26:01] Thank you.
[5:26:02] City attorney.
[5:26:03] Okay.
[5:26:03] Thank you.
[5:26:04] I don't have anything else to
[5:26:04] add.
[5:26:09] I would like to read the
[5:26:10] obituary for Margo Green and
[5:26:14] then is there any other notes
[5:26:18] that other the Vice Chairperson
[5:26:19] would like to add in their
[5:26:21] memory?
[5:26:24] You can go first and then for
[5:26:27] me just what I stated in my
[5:26:28] initial comments.
[5:26:28] Thank you Mayor.
[5:26:29] That's right.
[5:26:32] You know just on as I said, the
[5:26:35] Melanie Winter she was the
[5:26:35] executive director of the River
[5:26:36] Project and Friends of the Los
[5:26:39] Angeles River.
[5:26:40] She attended a recent meeting
[5:26:42] with the Sustainability
[5:26:42] subcommittee with Councilmember
[5:26:46] McMahon and I and she really
[5:26:46] championed efforts to embrace
[5:26:49] nature along the river saying
[5:26:50] that allowing space for a
[5:26:50] meandering waterway line with
[5:26:54] preparing and for forests would
[5:26:55] recharge, help recharge
[5:26:58] groundwater, reduce flood risk
[5:26:59] and allow a green oasis to
[5:27:01] flourish in the heart of Los
[5:27:01] Angeles.
[5:27:02] Thank you.
[5:27:02] Okay.
[5:27:02] Thank you.
[5:27:06] And I'm going to read the
[5:27:06] obituary for Margo Green.
[5:27:09] This is our city, correct,
[5:27:10] Jeremy But Gina's mother who
[5:27:12] passed away on Saturday at the
[5:27:13] age of 91 She's a Broadway
[5:27:16] dancer, designer, entrepreneur
[5:27:17] with a flair for renovation
[5:27:20] reinvention.
[5:27:21] She died at 91.
[5:27:21] Margot Green, whose career
[5:27:24] spanned from the Broadway stage
[5:27:25] to fashion antiques, interior
[5:27:28] design and real estate died on
[5:27:28] OCTOBER 25th, 2025 in Palm
[5:27:32] Desert, California.
[5:27:32] A former longtime resident of
[5:27:35] Roslyn Heights, New York, she
[5:27:35] was 91 gifted.
[5:27:38] She entered the university at
[5:27:38] 16 but if anyone tried to
[5:27:39] define her she would reinvent
[5:27:41] herself often just to prove
[5:27:42] them wrong With no training she
[5:27:45] taught herself to sing and
[5:27:46] dance 18 was on Broadway in the
[5:27:49] original productions of Wish
[5:27:49] You Were Here followed by
[5:27:50] Can-Can and Yankees.
[5:27:53] This penchant for self
[5:27:53] reinvention and her constant
[5:27:56] belief in possibilities would
[5:27:57] follow her throughout her life.
[5:28:00] Led by her motto Margo makes it
[5:28:01] happen.
[5:28:01] After conquering the stage she
[5:28:05] turned to design opening a
[5:28:06] clothing boutique that evolved
[5:28:06] into a small streetwear line
[5:28:09] for dancers and early
[5:28:09] forerunner of activewear.
[5:28:12] At 21 she married Frank Green,
[5:28:13] also a Broadway star.
[5:28:16] The pair relocated a decade
[5:28:16] later to the suburbs of Roslyn
[5:28:19] Heights where Margo opened her
[5:28:19] antique stores, sold real
[5:28:20] estate and became an interior
[5:28:23] designer.
[5:28:24] In 1998 the Greens relocated to
[5:28:26] Indian Wells, California Or
[5:28:27] once again Margo turned her
[5:28:28] sights to real estate.
[5:28:30] Throughout her life Margo was
[5:28:31] known for her boundless
[5:28:31] curiosity and energy and
[5:28:34] enthusiasm for new ideas and
[5:28:35] her belief that a thoughtful,
[5:28:38] thoughtful conversation and
[5:28:38] creativity could make the world
[5:28:39] a better place.
[5:28:40] She is survived by her twin
[5:28:42] daughters Pamela, Larry and
[5:28:43] Jeremy but their husbands Larry
[5:28:46] and Frank Bertino and countless
[5:28:47] extended family and friends
[5:28:49] Margaret Greene will be
[5:28:50] remembered as a talented,
[5:28:50] dynamic woman whose imagination
[5:28:54] and drive helped her indeed
[5:28:54] make it happen.
[5:28:57] In honor of Margo, please
[5:28:58] consider donations to Cancer
[5:29:01] Research Foundation, American
[5:29:01] Cancer Society Macular
[5:29:04] Degeneration Research.
[5:29:05] Braille Institute.
[5:29:05] Rheumatology Research
[5:29:08] Foundation Hospice or a charity
[5:29:11] of your choice.
[5:29:12] Thank you.
[5:29:16] And I think we have motion to
[5:29:16] adjourn.
[5:29:20] Thank you And see a motion from
[5:29:23] Vice Mayor please a second from
[5:29:23] Council member Mcmorran to
[5:29:24] adjourn in the memories of
[5:29:27] Margot Green that beauty and
[5:29:30] genius and Melanie Winter you
[5:29:34] MAY begin voting.
[5:29:35] That motion passes unanimously.
[5:29:38] The time is 12:28 A.M. And we
[5:29:42] are adjourned.
[5:29:42] Thank you.