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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion of the Mobility Subcommittee’s Recommendation to Allow Operation of Robotic Delivery Devices in Culver City; and (2) If Desired, Direction to the City Manager to Draft an Ordinance and Regulations Permitting their Operation.
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Meeting Date: November 10, 2025
Contact/Dept: Alicia Ide/Public Works Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5618
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments/Links: Yes [] No [ X ]
Public Notification: Email via GovDelivery: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/06/2025)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Director of Public Works, City Engineer (10/27/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) discuss the Mobility Subcommittee’s recommendation to allow the operation of robotic delivery devices in Culver City as a pilot program; and (2) if desired, provide direction to the City Manager to draft an ordinance and regulations permitting such operations to be reviewed with the Mobility Subcommittee for recommendation to the City Council.
BACKGROUND
Coco Delivery
On September 28, 2021, Coco Delivery (<https://www.cocodelivery.com/>) presented their business operations to the Mobility Subcommittee (Vice Mayor Puza and Council Member Fish) (“Subcommittee”), introducing themselves and requesting permission to operate in Culver City at a future time. Coco delivers mostly food using small vehicles remotely controlled by a driver. Vehicles travel along the sidewalk generally within a 2-mile radius from a provider to the customer. The company delivers from restaurants, convenience shops, and grocery stores. Coco indicated that they began pilot operations in Santa Monica and wanted to determine the level of interest the Subcommittee had regarding expansion of their operation to Culver City. Subcommittee Members had generally positive responses, noting that new regulations would be required to govern this new technology.
In early 2024, staff spoke to Santa Monica staff who expressed that they have no issues of significance to report regarding Coco’s devices and had approved the ongoing operation of their service throughout Santa Monica with a few geographic restrictions.
Coco then returned to the Subcommittee on April 11, 2024, requesting to begin operations in Culver City. At that time, Coco had been operating in Santa Monica for several years, as well as other neighborhoods in Los Angeles and in other metropolitan areas. Again, the Subcommittee provided generally positive responses, however, they requested specific information about geographic locations in Culver City that Coco proposes to operate.
As of today, Coco has yet to return to the City with the information the Subcommittee sought to further pursue their service implementation. However, staff has since reached out to Coco, who expressed their continued interest in commencing their operation in Culver City at the earliest opportunity.
Serve Robotics
At the August 20, 2025 meeting of the Subcommittee, Serve Robotics (<https://www.serverobotics.com/>) presented their business operations, introducing themselves and requesting permission to operate in Culver City.
Serve Robotics operates fully autonomous sidewalk delivery robots for last-mile connections. Some of Serve's defining characteristics include Level 4 autonomy (self-driving vehicles) with remote supervision, and a direct integration with third party delivery platforms like Uber Eats, which enables them to scale rapidly and ensure higher volume and utilization. The robot vehicles have safety features such as fail-safe mechanical brakes, and a full suite of sensors, including cameras. Serve’s autonomy offers an oversight redundancy that ensures that their self-driving robots can operate safely in a multitude of situations.
Currently Serve is operating in four major metropolitan areas and in multiple cities in the region, including in West Hollywood.
DISCUSSION
Mobile Delivery Device Service in Culver City
Remotely piloted devices and AI-powered self-driving robots provide an alternative to automobile-based delivery of food and goods for short distances. These battery-powered devices can reduce automobile traffic congestion, avoid parking challenges associated with pickup and delivery, and reduce air pollution by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, deliveries are typically faster, which is especially important for food deliveries, which can boost small businesses by improving customer experience. Each provider will execute agreements with delivery platforms that serve Culver City.
These low-speed devices (generally <5 mph) are largely deployed in the public right of way and require smooth, well-maintained roadways, ramps, and sidewalks. The robots are designed to navigate safely in areas with high pedestrian activity, signalized intersections, and curb ramps.
Serve Robotics has indicated that they will evaluate the condition of the City’s infrastructure as they map out service routes and have offered to provide the Public Works Department with detailed maps of recommended infrastructure improvements that would not only improve their delivery service but improve the sidewalk, curb ramps, and other features for all users.
Since this is a new technology that poses unique concerns, to operate in Culver City staff would need to develop and adopt specific codes and regulations and then issue companies a permit or license to operate their autonomous and/or non-autonomous remotely controlled delivery devices.
Santa Monica developed a comprehensive set of operating regulations and requirements for Coco as part of their Zero-Emissions-Delivery-Zone pilot project. Los Angeles and West Hollywood both allow fully AI-enabled mobile delivery operations. City staff can use these cities’ ordinances and regulations as examples to address most concerns regarding use of this technology.
Regulation Components
The following list of considerations, although not all-inclusive, provides examples of the many issues that should be addressed during code and regulation development.
• Devices would be required to be highly visible (i.e. lighting, flags, color).
• The companies would be required to quickly attend to malfunctions or other issues that arise.
• During operating hours, devices would be stored on private property; either at a recharging facility or at a provider until needed and cannot be parked in the public right of way, infringe upon ADA accessibility requirements, or inhibit use of sidewalks by pedestrians.
• Culver City could decide to limit the geographic boundaries of the devices and/or prohibit the devices from operating in specified areas.
• To minimize interference with other uses of the sidewalks, the City could limit the total number of devices in use by a single company or in total by all companies.
• The City could limit operations by device size, weight, and speed and require specific information (such as 24-hour operator contact information) be displayed on the devices.
• Companies would be required to procure a business license and obtain required levels of insurance coverage established by the City specifically for this service, naming the City as an additional insured
• Companies would be required to indemnify and defend the City for any claims and liability arising as a result of their operation in the City.
• Operators would be required to have plans and procedures for operations during emergencies and events and to address navigation challenges.
• Operators would be required to comply with City’s prohibitions on commercial transportation of certain items such as weapons, flammables, hazardous materials, and other items the City prohibits.
• ID readers would be used for items with minimum age requirements.
• City regulations will address customer data protection and privacy.
Mobility Subcommittee Recommendations
Both Coco Delivery and Serve Robotics are requesting to deploy in Culver City, at the earliest opportunity, particularly in the commercial corridors, such as Washington/Sepulveda and Culver/Washington, as well as into the adjacent neighborhoods, so long as sidewalk widths and curb ramps are adequately maintained for the devices to operate.
At their August 20, 2025 meeting, the Subcommittee enthusiastically recommended allowing operations of mobility delivery devices in Culver City as a pilot program. With the understanding that such operations, (autonomous, non-autonomous, or semi-autonomous), will require staff to draft an ordinance and new regulations permitting such operations, the Subcommittee has requested that staff return with draft regulations for review by the Subcommittee before presenting a final draft to the City Council to consider adopting.
Time Frame
If approved by the City Council to proceed, staff will return to the Subcommittee with draft ordinance language and proposed regulations in early 2026 for their review, and then if recommended, a final draft will be presented to the City Council for consideration. If an ordinance is ultimately adopted, it could potentially go into effect and companies could begin permitting and then begin operations as early as late spring 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact from consideration of robotic delivery service, however, if robotic delivery service is approved to proceed, permit and/or licensing fees would be established and collected.
ATTACHMENTS
None
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the Mobility Subcommittee’s recommendation to allow operation of robot delivery devices in Culver City as a pilot program; and
2. If desired, provide direction to the City Manager to draft an ordinance and regulations permitting such operations to be reviewed with the Mobility Subcommittee for recommendation to the City Council.