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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Appointments to the Cultural Affairs Commission; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Planning Commission; Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness; Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Disability Advisory Committee; Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee; Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board; Martin Luther King Jr. and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee; and LAX Area Advisory Committee; and (2) Direction to the City Clerk Regarding any Vacancies not Filled.
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Meeting Date: June 9, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Mimi Ferrel/City Clerk’s Office
Jeremy Bocchino/ City Clerk’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-5851
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/05/2025)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (06/04/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) make appointments to the Cultural Affairs Commission; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Planning Commission; Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness; Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Disability Advisory Committee; Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee; Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board; Martin Luther King Jr. and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee; and LAX Area Advisory Committee; and (2) provide direction to the City Clerk regarding any vacancies not filled.
BACKGROUND
In this application cycle, there were a total of 27 openings across 10 bodies, as follows (*Denotes positions with incumbents, ^ denotes specific Youth/Student member position):
• Cultural Affairs Commission (3 Positions - Seat 1, Seat 2*, and Seat 3)
• Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (3 Positions - Seat 3, Seat 4, and Seat 5*)
• Planning Commission (2 Positions - Seat 2, and Seat 3*)
• Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (2 Positions - Seat 8*, and Seat 9*)
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (5 Positions - 1 Disability, 1 Parent Member, 1 CCUSD Member, 1 Employee Member, and 1 Resident Member 2)
• Disability Advisory Committee (1 Position -Seat 8)
• Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (2 Positions -Youth Rep Seat 1^, and Labor Representative Seat 1)
• Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board (5 Positions - Tenant Seat 2*, Tenant Seat 4, Landlord Seat 2*, Member-at-Large Seat 2*, and Member-at-Large Seat 4)
• LAX Area Advisory Committee (3 Positions*)
• MLK Jr. and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee (1 Position - Seat 5)
Beginning on April 1, 2025, the City Clerk’s Office publicized the vacancies, as follows:
• Notice was posted on the City’s website starting on April 1, 2025.
• Advertisements were published in the Culver City News on April 3, 24, and May 8, 2025.
• Notice was sent via e-mail through GovDelivery on April 3, 21, 30 2025 and May 9, 2025.
• Notice was also posted on NextDoor social media applications Facebook, and Twitter.
• The opportunities were promoted at the Culver City High School 2025 Spring Career Fair on April 17, 2025.
• The opportunities were promoted at the Culver City Farmers Market on April 8, 22, any May 6, 2025.
• The opportunities were promoted at the 2025 Culver City Car Show on May 10, 2025.
• Information was distributed at public facilities.
Confirmation of Eligibility Requirements
Upon receipt, the City Clerk’s Office reviewed each application to confirm whether, on the face of the application, applicant met the minimum eligibility requirements.
With respect to commission appointments, the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) provides certain general provisions related to members and those seeking appointment to Commissions. CCMC Section 3.03.005 provides in pertinent part:
“Commissioners shall be residents of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City Government. Minors, age sixteen (16) or older, are eligible to apply with parental or legal guardian consent. No person may serve on more than one (1) Commission at the same time.”
Please note:
• As per the Culver City Municipal Code § 3.03.015 (Term Limits), commissioners have 4-year terms with 2 term limits. A partial term in excess of two years shall be considered a full term for the purpose of term limits. A term-limited commissioner may reapply after two years have elapsed from the last full term as commissioner.
• The Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness, Disability Advisory Committee, Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee, and the Landlord seat for the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board, and the MLK Jr. and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee do not require all applicants to be Culver City residents. Some applicants may be non-residents.
• The City Council just approved the first Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee bylaws establishing term limits. All prior appointees are considered on their first term.
• The LAX Area Advisory Committee is a body that is not under City jurisdiction, but members are appointed by the City and they do not have term limits.
Any seats not filled by the City Council this evening will be advertised again during the next annual cycle, unless City Council determines otherwise, and applications are accepted on a year-round basis.
On June 2, 2025, a Special Meeting of the City Council was held to conduct interviews of all eligible Commission, Board, and Committee applicants. Below, are applicants who withdrew their applications at or just before the Special Meeting:
Andrew Flores (PC)
Carlo Fisco (PRCS)
Lee Roy Hose Jr.
Josh Kamali (LRMB - Member at Large)
Nicole Moreno-Deinzer (CAC)
DISCUSSION:
The following are summaries of those who submitted applications.
Please note, there were several applicants for bodies that require Culver City residency who did not meet this requirement. Those individuals received e-mails or phone calls from the City Clerk’s Office indicating they were not eligible for appointment.
LEGEND:
(*) = Applied to multiple bodies.
(Current Member)= current appointees reapplying for their respective position
(^) = Late applicant.
(NR) = Non Culver City Resident applicant
SEAT VACANCIES:
Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) - There are three positions available. Seat No.1, Seat No.2, are available for full terms through June 30, 2029. Seat 1 was filled by Brenda Williams who has served two terms and has reached her term limit. Seat No. 2 is currently held by member Leora O’Carroll, is eligible for reappointment and has reapplied. Seat No. 3 is vacant since Damon Willick resigned in March 2025. This is Seat is available for a full term through June 30, 2028.
A total of eight (8) eligible applications were received from:
Delaram Ahmadyveasi* (CAC, MLK)
Nikki Diloreto*
Shona Gupta
Lauren Harper* (PRCS, CAC)
Ellen Jong
Anasia Obioha* (CAC, MLK)
Leora O'Carroll (Current Member - Seat 2)
Roberta Sergant
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (PRCS) - There are three positions available. Seat No. 3 is vacant since Jane Leonard resigned in April and is available for a partial term through June 30, 2026. Seat No. 4 is available for a full term through June 30, 2029, is currently held by Palvi Mohammed who has served two terms and has reached his term limit. Seat No. 5 is available for a full term through June 30, 2029, is currently held by member Maragret Peters, is eligible for reappointment and has reapplied.
Ten (10) eligible applications were received from:
Daniel Behrendt
Jennifer Chen
Adam Gallagher
Lauren Harper* (PRCS, CAC)
William Larsen Iii* (DAC, PRCS)
Margaret Peters (Current Member - Seat 5)
Brian Sousa
Freddy Weinberg* (PC, ACOHH, PRCS)
Thomas Whitaker
Peter Kim^
Planning Commission (Planning) - There are two positions available Seat No. 2 and Seat No. 3 for a full term through June 30, 2029. Seat No. 2 is currently held by member Andrew Reilman, who has served two terms and has reached his term limit. Seat No. 3 is currently held by Jennifer Carter who has served a full term, is eligible for a second full term and has applied to be considered for re-appointment.
A total of nine (9) eligible applications were received from:
Jeanne Black
Jennifer Carter (Current Member Seat 3)
Dale Larson
Lida Mahabadi
Karim Sahli
Dana Sayles Current Member on ACOHH
Edward Sim
David Steinitz
Freddy Weinberg* PC, ACOHH, PRCS
Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (ACOHH) - The ACOHH members serve a maximum of two four-year terms. There are two positions available: Seat Nos. 8, and 9.
“As per the Amended Bylaws of 2021, the Committee consists of nine members. Six members shall be appointed at large. To the extent possible, one member who is currently experiencing homelessness or who has previously experienced homelessness; one member aged 16-25; and one member aged 65 or older shall be appointed. If no applications are received from individuals meeting these three specific categories, members at large may be substituted for these seats. Members are not required to be Culver City residents; however, the member must have some current or former connection to the Culver City community (e.g. attending a school in Culver City, having formerly experienced homelessness in Culver City, active member of the Culver City senior center, etc.)”
Seat Nos. 8, and 9, are available for a full term through June 30, 2029. Seat 8 is currently held by member Amy Cherness who has served a full term, is eligible for reappointment and has reapplied. Seat No. 9 is currently held by Emily Dibiny who did not reapply because she will be out of the country for an extended period.
A total of eleven (11) applications were received from:
Suleman Babatunde Adeyemi* NR (ACOHH, DAC, MLK/JCAC)
Dan Beroukhim* NR (ACOHH, BPAC-Employee Member)
Seana Boyette NR
Debora Bright-Laney
Amy Cherness (Current Member Seat 8)
Shane Henson
Peter Kim^
Michael Mahurin
Patrick Spease
Lepriest Valentine * NR (ACOHH, MLK/JCAC, DAC)
Freddy Weinberg* (PC, ACOHH, PRCS)
Leola Williams* (DAC, ACOHH)
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) - Per the BPAC Bylaws adopted on February 12, 2024, BPAC members serve a maximum of four (4) two-year terms and are staggered. Term Limits do not apply retroactively and shall begin accruing at the end of each member’s current term, as of the date of the adoption of the Bylaws.
A total of five positions are available - Disability Member, Parent Member, CCUSD Member, Employee Member, and Resident Member 2. To be eligible, Resident positions must be residents of Culver City.
The current Disability Member is Jack Galanty has served one term, is eligible for four more terms and has reapplied. The current Parent Member, Joel Falter, has served one term as Parent Member, is eligible for four more terms and has reapplied for the Resident Member 2 position. Current Employee Member, Dane Twitchell, did not reapply. Current Resident 2 seat is held by Dorothy Sadd who did not reapply.
A total of five (5) eligible applications were received from the following individuals.
Dan Beroukhim*NR (ACOHH, BPAC-Employee Member)
Joel Falter (Resident Member, Current Parent Member)
Jack Galanty (Disability Member, Resident Member, Current Disability Member)
Greg Maron (Parent Member, Current CCUSD Member)
Ben Parnas (Resident Member)
Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) - All members serve four-year terms with no limits.
There is one position available for Seat 8 for a partial term ending June 30, 2027. Seat No. 8 was forfeited by Ketsha Thompson in January 2025.
A total of five (5) eligible applications were received from:
Suleman Babatunde Adeyemi* NR ACOHH, DAC, MLK/JCAC
William Larsen Iii* DAC, PRCS
Guillermo Orozco NR
Lepriest Valentine*NR ACOHH, MLK/JCAC, DAC,
Leola Williams* DAC, ACOHH
Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) - There are 2 positions available. Youth Rep Seat No. 1 is currently held by member Benicio Mora-Fattorini who’s term ends on June 30, 2025. For the Labor seat, no one from the City’s Labor groups have applied for the 1 year position.
A total of three (3) eligible applications were received from:
Calum Aranda (Youth Rep Seat)
Chaiya Jones (Youth Rep Seat)
Nathan Pugh NR (Youth Rep Seat)
Landlord Tenant Mediation Board (LTMB) - All members serve four-year terms with no limits.
Three seats are available for appointment to full terms. The Tenant 2, Landlord 2, and Member At-Large 2 seats are each for a term of four years, expiring on June 30, 2029. Tenant Seat 4 and the Member-at-Seat 4 are each available for a partial term through June 30, 2027.
Tenant Members shall be tenants of residential rental property located within the City of Culver City, and neither the applicant nor the applicant’s spouse or dependents shall have any financial interest in residential income-producing property in Culver City. Landlord Representatives shall either own, manage, or have residential income property interest within Culver City and preferably be residents of Culver City. Members At-Large shall be residents of Culver City and shall not be tenants nor shall they own or have an ownership interest in any residential income-producing property in Culver City.
Tenant Seat No. 2 - One seat is available for appointment. This seat is currently held by Elias Platte-Bermeo, who did not reapply.
No applications were received.
Tenant Seat No. 4 - This seat is vacant and was held by Wyatt Gray who was hired as an Associate Analyst in the Public Works Department for Culver City, making him ineligible to remain on the LTMB.
No applications were received.
Landlord Seat No.2 - One seat is available for appointment. This seat is currently held by member Judy Scott who has served one term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment.
A total of one (1) eligible application was received from:
Judy Scott LTMB-Landlord Seat 2 (Current Member - Landlord Seat 2)
Member-at-Large Seat No.2 and Member-at-Large Seat No. 4 - Each have one seat available for appointment. The Member-at-Large Seat No. 2 is currently held by member Michael Matthias who has served one term and did not reapply. Member-at-Large Seat 4 was held by Jackson Brissette who was appointed to the Planning Commission.
A total of one (1) eligible application was received from:
Keeshawn Andrew* LTMB-Member-at-Large, MLK/JCAC
MLK Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee (MLK/JCAC) David Duval was originally appointed to serve beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028. Mr. Duval resigned on November 15, 2024. Therefore this one position, Seat 5, is available for full term through June 30, 2028.
A total of six (6) eligible applications was received from:
Suleman Babatunde Adeyemi*NR (ACOHH, DAC, MLK/JCAC)
Delaram Ahmadyveasi* (CAC, MLK/JCAC)
Keeshawn Andrew* (LTMB-Member-at-Large, MLK/JCAC)
Anasia Obioha* (CAC, MLK/JCAC)
Waide RiddleNR
Lepriest Valentine*NR (ACOHH, MLK/JCAC, DAC)
LAX Area Advisory Committee - There are three seats available for appointment. Representative seats are for an outside board (not an official City body) and must be Culver City residents. Beth Hyatt, and Luciano Nocera currently serve as the City’s representatives, are eligible for re-appointment, and have submitted applications to be considered for re-appointment. Adam Moore, who held the third seat, is ineligible to reapply this.
These positions are annually appointed to serve a January-December calendar year. Identified as outside of the Culver City limits,.
A total of three (3) eligible applications were received from:
Kateryna Chunikhina
Hyatt Beth (Current Member)
Nocera Luciano (Current Member)
Hard copies of the redacted applications are available by request at the City Clerk’s Office and are available on the Commissions, Boards, and Committees website: www.culvercity.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Apply-Now-to-CBCs <http://www.culvercity.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Apply-Now-to-CBCs>. Please call (310) 253-5851, or email city.clerk@culvercity.org <mailto:city.clerk@culvercity.org>.
Mandatory Training
A mandatory AB 1234 Ethics and Brown Act training has been scheduled for appointees on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 6:00PM. Training on diversity, equity and inclusion will also be scheduled. All new applicants must complete these trainings within one year of appointment.
Commission, Board, and Committee Interaction with the City Council
In accordance with City Council Policy 3002 City Commissions, Board and Committees; Appointed Representatives to Outside Agencies and Boards (Attached), adopted by Resolution No: 2023-R062, all CBCs shall periodically report to City Council regarding their activities. Section V of the policy states:
“In an effort to facilitate regular communications between the City Council and its Commissions, joint meetings between the City Council and each of the Commissions shall be scheduled on an annual basis. Periodically, but no less than quarterly, each CBC shall submit to the City Council a written report on their respective activities. Nothing in this Policy shall preclude the City Council from requesting a report from any CBC at any time.”
New Commission members will be informed of this requirement during their orientation.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Costs for advertising the vacancies in the newspaper and on social media totaled approximately $900. Future costs will include the following: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training for members may cost up to $1,300, Sexual Harassment training may cost up to $1,250, and new appointees to the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board will need 30 hours of professional mediation training at a cost of up to $625. Sufficient funding to support these costs has been included in the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
ATTACHMENT
1. City Council Policy 3002 (City Commissions, Board and Committees; Appointed Representatives to Outside Agencies and Boards)
MOTION
That the City Council make the following appointments as desired:
(Note: Unless otherwise stated, a “full term” shall be considered four years.)
1. Appoint ______________to Seat No. 1 and _______ to Seat 2 for a full terms expiring on June 30, 2029; and ___________ to Seat 3 for a full term expiring June 30, 2028 on the Cultural Affairs Commission;
2. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 3 for a partial term through June 30, 2026, and _______ to Seat 4 and____________ to Seat 5 for a full terms expiring June 30, 2029; on the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission;
3. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 2 and to Seat 3 on the Planning Commission for full terms expiring June 30, 2029;
4. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 8 and ______________to Seat No. 9; for full terms expiring on June 30, 2029 on the Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness;
5. Appoint _____________ to Disability Member Seat, Parent Member Seat, _____________ to CCUSD Member Seat,______________ to Employee Member, and ______________ Resident Member 2 Seat for two-year terms expiring on June 30, 2027 on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee;
6. Appoint ______________to Seat No. 8 on the Disability Advisory Committee for a partial term expiring on June 30, 2027;
7. Appoint ______________ _ to Youth Representative Seat 1 for a one-year term ending on June 30, 2026 on the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee;
8. Appoint ______________to Tenant Seat 2, _________to Landlord Seat 2, and____ _____ to Member at Large Seat 2, for full terms expiring on June 30, 2029; and ________ to Tenant Seat 4, and _________ to Member-at-Large Seat No. 4 for partial terms expiring on June 30, 2027 on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board;, on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board;
9. Appoint ______________to Seat No. 5 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2029 on the MLK Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee;
And
10. Appoint _______________, and ____________________ for full one-year terms from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, and _____________________for a full term from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026 to fill three Representative Seats to the LAX Area Advisory Committee..