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CC - ACTION ITEM: Introduction of an Ordinance to Amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapters 5.01.075 (Time and Payment Charges) and 5.01.080 (Delinquent Account Payments).
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Meeting Date: May 26, 2026
Contact/Dept.: Sean Singletary, Environmental Programs & Ops. Manager
Michael Towler, Finance Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: E-Mail: Meetings and Agendas - City Council; Subscribers to the Culver City News and Events and Sustainability/Environmental Issues (05/21/2026)
Dept Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (05/13/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council introduce an ordinance approving an amendment to Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Sections 5.01.075 (Time and Payment Charges) and 5.01.080 (Delinquent Account Payments) to modernize payment deadlines, update late-penalty provisions, and streamline administrative processes.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Culver City’s Environmental Programs & Operations (EPO) division of the Public Works Department provides solid waste and recycling services to approximately 8,000 residential and 1,500 business accounts, funded entirely by user charges through the City’s Enterprise Refuse Fund. The Division operates 16 collection routes and manages the City-owned Transfer Station with a capacity to process 500 tons of solid waste, organics and recycling per day.
CCMC 5.01.075 TIME OF PAYMENT AND CHARGES
The existing provision provides that payment for refuse services is due on or before the last day of the month following the month in which service is rendered. For example, payment for refuse services rendered in May 2026 are due on or before June 30, 2026. When the due date falls on a weekend or City holiday, payments received on the next business day are technically late and subject to penalty.
Staff recommends amending the code to explicitly recognize payments received on the first business day following a weekend or holiday as on-time. This proposed update would:
• Eliminate unnecessary penalties for customers
• Reduce administrative workload associated with penalty disputes
• Align with best practices and other CCMC provisions (e.g., Utility Users’ Tax, Section 3.08.250.A)
• Improve overall customer service and billing efficiency
CCMC 5.01.080 DELIQUENT ACCOUNT
Most residential refuse charges are collected by the County of Los Angeles on the property tax roll; late fees collected by the County are not remitted to the City. The proposed changes apply only to customers who pay the City directly - primarily commercial and temporary (construction or production) accounts.
The current code imposes a 50% late penalty on delinquent accounts. As part of the recent refuse rate study, staff surveyed neighboring jurisdictions and found that comparable municipal operations typically assess a 10% late penalty. Therefore, staff recommends:
• Reducing the late penalty from 50% to 10% to align with regional practices and support a smoother transition to updated refuse rates
• Authorizing the late-penalty amount to be set by resolution, consistent with other CCMC sections (e.g., Business Tax, Section 11.01.205), allowing adjustments through the annual Citywide Fee Schedule updates
• Expanding the City Manager’s authority to approve all late-fee waiver requests, regardless of amount, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Public Works Director, thereby reducing administrative burden and improving processing timelines. This proposed change streamlines administrative processing and improves customer service while maintaining strong internal controls. The City Manager’s use of this authority will continue to be governed by adopted best-practice policies, written procedures, and all applicable provisions of the CCMC. Updated administrative guidelines outlining the criteria and process for evaluating late-penalty waiver requests will be issued to ensure consistency, transparency, and fiscal stewardship.
A companion resolution establishing the 10% penalty will be presented with the ordinance at its adoption.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The proposed Code Amendments are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because this action has no potential to cause a significant environmental effect.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The proposed changes have no impact on General Fund. Reducing the late-payment penalty from 50% to 10% is projected to decrease Refuse Enterprise Fund revenues by $400,000 to $500,000 annually. The projected revenue decrease will be entirely offset by the anticipated increase in revenues from the proposed refuse rate adjustments included in the Solid Waste Refuse Rate Study scheduled for Council consideration on May 26. If approved, staff will incorporate the revised revenue projections into the Fiscal Year 2027-2028 Adopted Budget scheduled for City Council consideration on June 8.
ATTACHMENTS
• 2026-05-26_ATT1_Proposed Ordinance Amending CCMC Sections 5.01.075 (Time and Payment Charges) and 5.01.080 (Delinquent Account Payments)
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Introduce an Ordinance Amending Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Sections 5.01.075 and 5.01.080.