THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE April 25, 2011
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF CULVER CITY, 6:02 p.m.
CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
The meeting of the City Council was called to order at 6:02
p.m.
Present: Christopher Armenta, Mayor
Micheál O„Leary, Vice Mayor
Jeffrey Cooper, Councilmember
D. Scott Malsin, Councilmember
Andrew Weissman, Councilmember
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Closed Session
The City Council adjourned to Closed Session to discuss the
following items:
CS-1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Re: Washington National TOD – Business - 8926 Venice Boulevard
City/Agency Negotiators: John Nachbar, City Manager/ Executive
Director; Sol Blumenfeld, Assistant Executive
Director/Community Development Director; Todd Tipton, Deputy
Community Development Director/Redevelopment Administrator
Other Parties Negotiators: David Knepprath
Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment or both, including
use restrictions, development obligations and other monetary
related considerations
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
CS-2 Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Re: Community Health Councils, Inc., City of Culver City, et
al., v. County of Los Angeles
Case No. BS118018 (Re County Community Standards District
for Oil Drilling Operations)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) 2
April 25, 2011
Closed Session
(continued)
CS-3 Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Re: Significant Exposure to Litigation – (1 item)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b)(1)
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Recess
The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 6:03 p.m.
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Reconvene
The City Council reconvened its meeting at 7:05 p.m. with all
Councilmembers present.
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Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was given by John Nachbar, City Manager, and
the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bill Wynn.
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Closed Session Report
Mayor Armenta indicated there was nothing to report out from
Closed Session.
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April 25, 2011
Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
Mayor Armenta invited public comment.
The following members of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Bill Wynn announced a showing of “The Freedom Riders” at
the Culver Palms United Methodist Church on May 1, 2011;
and reported on a Freedom Riders celebration in Washington
D.C.
Lyndon Stambler expressed concern regarding privacy issues
with an addition being built by his neighbor; and he
requested that all work be halted pending an investigation.
Discussion ensued between the City Council and staff
regarding having an agendized discussion of noticing in R-1
zones when accessory structures are built; complexity of
the law; noticing policies; modifications to single family
residences; adherence to the code; discretionary approvals;
opportunities for neighbors to express opinions on
modifications; and addressing the issue through a legal
non-conforming ordinance.
Terry Silberman asserted that the second story addition to her
neighbor?s garage added excessive building density to the
existing R-1 zoned neighborhood and that the permanent
addition to a non-conforming structure violated the letter and
spirit of the City codes and ordinances; she questioned why
the second dwelling was allowed on the small lot; she
requested that the structure be dismantled; she asserted that
the addition made the neighborhood less desirable and impaired
the ability to collect solar energy; and she asked for an
investigation.
Megan Sahli Wells announced “Confident City Cycling” classes
at Linwood E. Howe Elementary School on April 30, 2011 and May
7, 2011 sponsored by Transition Culver City and The Culver
City Bicycle Coalition.
Mary Lou Cardone thanked the City Council for their support
of the Animal Services program. 4
April 25, 2011
Public Comment
(continued)
Burt Bochner expressed concern with the building code; he
questioned why the permit was approved for his neighbor?s
addition; he expressed concern with the decline of his
property value as a result of the addition; and he wanted
to see the rules investigated.
Elaine Courtney reported that her privacy had been affected
by the addition built by her neighbor; expressed dismay
that the City could not guarantee the open space that they
paid for when they bought their home; and she pointed out
that her neighbor now had two homes on their property to
the detriment of the neighborhood.
Ela Valladares, Deputy City Clerk, read written comments
submitted by:
Victoria Maidment
Joanna Hoffman Clubb
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Adjourn in Memory
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MALSIN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
O?LEARY AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT WHEN THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED, IT BE ADJOURNED IN MEMORY OF MARY ROBBINS, MOTHER
OF ACTOR/DIRECTOR TIM ROBBINS OF THE ACTORS GANG; LILLIAN
PATTACHIA, WIDOW OF DAN PATTACHIA, FORMER MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBER; AND MURRAY SILMAN, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CULVER
CITY SENIOR CENTER.
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April 25, 2011
Consent Calendar
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WEISSMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MALSIN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS C-1 AND C-2.
Item C-1
Meeting Minutes
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL
MEETING OF MARCH 21, 2011 AND THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR
MEETING OF MARCH 28, 2011 AS SUBMITTED.
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Item C-2
Cash Disbursements
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE CASH DISBURSEMENTS FROM APRIL
2, 2011 – APRIL 15, 2011.
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Joint Items
Item J-1
(1) Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor; and (2) Selection of
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Redevelopment Agency.
Shelly Wolfberg, Assistant to the City Manager, presented a
PowerPoint presentation of City events over the last year.
Mayor Armenta expressed pride in the accomplishments of the
City Council. At this time, Mayor Armenta nominated Vice
Mayor O?Leary to serve as Mayor and Councilmember Cooper to
serve as Vice Mayor.
Councilmember Weissman thanked the Mayor for his service and
inquired into the City?s policy regarding the Mayoral
rotation. 6
April 25, 2011
Item J-1
(continued)
John Nachbar, City Manager, clarified that City policy was
that the senior Councilmember who has not yet served as Mayor
or Vice Mayor is next in line.
Councilmember Cooper yielded his Vice Mayor nomination to
Councilmember Malsin.
Mayor Armenta amended his motion.
At this time, the Councilmembers individually thanked Mayor
Armenta for his service.
MOVED BY MAYOR ARMENTA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WEISSMAN
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ELECT COUNCILMEMBER O?LEARY AS MAYOR; AND,
2. ELECT COUNCILMEMBER MALSIN AS VICE MAYOR.
At this time, Mayor O?Leary chaired the meeting.
Mayor O?Leary invited public participation.
The following members of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Richard Ochoa thanked former Mayor Armenta for his service; he
welcomed Mayor O?Leary; and he congratulated Councilmember
Malsin on becoming Vice Mayor.
Peter Kelly congratulated Mayor O?Leary.
Meghan Sahli-Wells thanked former Mayor Armenta for his
service and for the tone he brought to the City Council;
and she welcomed Mayor O?Leary. 7
April 25, 2011
Item J-1
(continued)
At this time, Mayor O?Leary discussed the position of
Mayor; the importance of the position to residents; his
role as City representative; he expressed appreciation for
the support of his family, colleagues and friends; and he
discussed Harry Culver and history of the City.
At this time, Mayor O?Leary and Vice Mayor Malsin received
their City pins.
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Public Comment for Items Not on the Agenda – continued.
Mayor O?Leary invited public participation.
There was no response.
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Receipt of Correspondence
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER WEISSMAN, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR MALSIN
AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND
FILE CORRESPONDENCE.
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Items from Staff
No action was taken on this item.
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Items from the City Council
Items Presented by Vice Mayor Malsin:
Thanked everyone for attending tonight?s meeting.
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April 25, 2011
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 7:59 p.m., the City
Council adjourned its meeting in memory of Mary Robbins,
mother of actor/director Tim Robbins of the Actors Gang;
Lillian Pattachia, widow of Dan Pattachia, former Mayor and
Councilmember; and Murray Silman, past President of the Culver
City Senior Center, to a meeting to be held on May 2, 2011.
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Ela Valladares
DEPUTY CITY CLERK of the City of Culver City, California
EX-OFFICIO CLERK of the City Council, City of Culver City,
California
APPROVED
MICHEÁL O?LEARY
MAYOR of the City of Culver City, California