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THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE February 9, 2015
CITY COUNCIL 5:30 p.m.
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Mayor Sahli-Wells called the meeting of the City Council to
order at 5:30 p.m.
Present: Meghan Sahli-Wells, Mayor
Micheál O‘Leary, Vice Mayor
Jim B. Clarke, Council Member
Jeffrey Cooper, Council Member
Andrew Weissman, Council Member
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Closed Session
The City Council recessed to Closed Session to consider
the following items:
CS-1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Re: 9099 Washington Boulevard
Agency Negotiators: City Manager/Executive Director; Sol
Blumenfeld, Community Development Director/Assistant
Executive Director; Todd Tipton, Economic Development
Manager; and Murray Kane, City/Successor Agency Special
Counsel
Other Parties Negotiators: Sony Pictures Entertainment
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
February 9, 2015
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CS-2 Conference with Labor Negotiators
City designated representatives: City Manager John Nachbar,
Director of Human Resources Serena Wright
Employee Organizations: Culver City Employees Association,
Culver City Management Group, Culver City Police Officers'
Association, Culver City Police Management Group, Culver City
Firefighters' Association Local 1927, AFL-CIO, Culver City
Fire Management Group
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
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Reconvene
Mayor Sahli-Wells reconvened the City Council meeting at
7:20 p.m. with all Council Members present.
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Reflection/Pledge of Allegiance
The Reflection was given by John Nachbar, City Manager,
and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Director Scott A.
Houston of the West Basin Municipal Water District.
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Report on Action Taken in Closed Session
Mayor Sahli-Wells indicated nothing to report out of
closed session.
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Presentation
Item P-1
A Presentation to the City Council by the Honorable Scott
A. Houston, Member of the West Basin Water District Board
of Directors (Division IV)
Mayor Sahli-Wells congratulated Mr. Houston on his recent
election and welcomed him to Culver City.
The Honorable Scott A. Houston provided a presentation on
the West Basin Municipal Water District and programs. February 9, 2015
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Discussion ensued between Director Houston and Council
Members regarding potential rationing; incentives for
removing turf; and finding funding to bring recycled water
to Culver City.
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Item P-2
Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to Businesses
That Provided Donations/Support to the 2014 Annual Holiday
Dinner
Vice Mayor O'Leary discussed the Annual Holiday Dinner;
thanked the businesses that supported the event; and he
presented the certificates.
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Item P-3
Presentation of a Proclamation in Honor of the Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance Program and the Earned Income Tax
Credit Provided by the State Board of Equalization
Former Mayor Christopher Armenta, representing Chairman
Jerome Horton of the State Board of Equalization, thanked
the City for supporting the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program and discussed unclaimed Earned Income
Tax Credits.
Discussion ensued between Council Members and Mr. Armenta
regarding unclaimed Federal dollars and savings on tax
preparation fees.
Mayor Sahli-Wells presented the proclamation.
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Community Announcements By City Council Members/
Information Items From Staff
Council Member Clarke encouraged everyone to vote for
Culver City in the USA Today contest to nominate the 10
Best Art Districts in America, and he received City
Council consensus to direct the City Clerk to investigate February 9, 2015
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the possibility of an entirely mailed ballot for the 2016
election.
Vice Mayor O'Leary reported attending the recent
Independent Cities Association event; discussed the
effectiveness of L.A. Impact; training benefits; the
importance of logging the hours allocated to the
operation; House Bill 5212; and Senate Bill 2644.
John Nachbar, City Manager, indicated that staff would
investigate the bills and return with additional
information for the City Council.
Mayor Sahli-Wells reported that the meeting of the
Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council had been
rescheduled as she would be at the White House working on
the My Brother's Keeper program; she discussed goals of
the program; the graduation rate at Culver City High
School; she announced the second event in the Architecture
Talks fundraising series on February 23 at the Kirk
Douglas Theatre; a fundraiser for the Sandy Segal Youth
Health Center on February 21; and she asked that a request
from Mayors for the Freedom to Marry that Culver City sign
on to an amicus brief concerning the freedom to marry
going before the Supreme Court be put on an agenda for
future consideration.
Brief discussion ensued between Council Members and staff
regarding the process; the summary; whether Culver City
has signed on to an amicus brief before; concern with
Culver City becoming involved in outside issues; the right
of mayors to put their names on documents independently;
and items within the legislative advocacy program. The
City Council provided direction to the City Manager to
place this item on the February 23, 2015 agenda.
Catherine Vargas, Environmental Coordinator, indicated
that the City provided free presentations to community
groups on environmental and sustainability issues.
Martin Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, provided
an update on the renovations being made to the Mike
Balkman Council Chambers.
Daniel Hernandez, Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Director, reported that the renovations had been February 9, 2015
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successfully made at The Plunge and that it had reopened
on time.
Mayor Sahli-Wells reported on a recent meeting regarding
the EXPO Line; she discussed ridership numbers between
Culver City and downtown LA; she noted that the portion
from Culver City to Santa Monica would be open in 2016;
and she indicated that copies of the slide presentation
were available to interested parties.
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Joint Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
Mayor Sahli-Wells invited public comment.
The following members of the audience addressed the City
Council:
June Lehrman provided an update on a recent meeting of the
Los Angeles International Airport Noise Roundtable; invited
interested residents to attend an upcoming public meeting in
Culver City on February 24; reported that the Federal
Aviation Administration was redesigning airspace nationwide
as part of the NextGen project; and she indicated that it was
important for Culver City to be part of the process.
Stephen Murray provided background on NextGen; discussed the
experiences of the City of Phoenix; and the importance of
participating in the process.
Mayor Sahli-Wells thanked Ms. Lehrman and Mr. Murray for
their work on behalf of the City, and she encouraged
interested residents to sign up for email alerts from the
City on many topics including the LAX noise issue.
Risa Flynn, Culver City High School Booster Club, invited
everyone to attend the Club’s Casino Night on March 7 at
Veterans Auditorium in support of the High School's athletic
teams, and she indicated that sponsorships were available.
Max Flynn discussed the importance of Cross Country in his
life.
Jeanine Wisnosky Stehlin, Cultural Affairs Foundation Board
Member, invited everyone to attend the second Architecture
Talks fundraiser on February 23 to support renovation of the February 9, 2015
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Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and she provided background on
the Foundation.
Dr. Janet Hoult reported attending the first Architecture
Talk; reported attending community meetings led by Arteco
Landscaping and the Public Works Department; discussed the
Urban Forest Master Plan; rubber sidewalks; disabled
residents; and she thanked the City for their efforts to make
the City safe.
Cary Anderson distributed handouts; complimented a City
employee for writing tickets for intrusion parking; reported
calling the Police Department to address fraudulent permit
use on Irving Place and Farragut; discussed tickets
wrongfully issued after the start of the new year;
handicapped passes; resident paper passes; privacy issues
with names included on passes; he questioned how many non-
residents were cited; expressed concern with parking
enforcement targeting certain people and certain areas; and
he indicated that he could fix the issues.
Judith Martin Straw suggested that the Culver City Employee
credit union be opened up to all Culver City residents as a
means to keep money local and that a voluntary per
transaction donation be made available to benefit the Housing
Assistance Fund.
Mayor Sahli-Wells requested additional information regarding
the credit union and noted there are other credit unions in
the City.
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Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
Mayor Sahli-Wells received clarification that no
correspondence had been received.
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Joint Consent Calendar
Item JC-1
Joint Culver City Council/Culver City Housing Authority/
Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency
Agenda Item: Cash Disbursements February 9, 2015
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MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
WEISSMAN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE CASH DISBURSEMENTS FOR JANUARY 17, 2015 – JANUARY
30, 2015.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
WEISSMAN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS C-1, C-2, C-5 AND C-6.
Item C-1
Meeting Minutes
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR
MEETING OF JANUARY 26, 2015.
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Item C-2
Adoption of a Resolution Directing the Transfer of Bond
Proceeds Specified in the Master Agreement Between the City
and the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment
Agency
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE
TRANSFER OF BOND PROCEEDS SPECIFIED IN THE MASTER AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CULVER CITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
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Item C-5
(Out of Sequence)
Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Encroachment Agreement
with AT&T for Use of the Public Rights-of-Way on Washington
Boulevard
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT February 9, 2015
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WITH AT&T; AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Item C-6
Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Updated Salary Schedule
for Miscellaneous City Employees and Implementing the Results
of the 2014 Compensation Survey
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING UPDATED
SALARY SCHEDULES IMPLEMENTING THE RESULTS OF THE 2014
COMPENSATION SURVEY.
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Item C-4
(Out of Sequence)
Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Final Map for Tract
Number 71511 Consisting of a One Lot Subdivision Creating
7 Residential Airspace Units at 4139-4145 Duquesne Avenue
Mayor Sahli-Wells indicated the need to recuse herself
from the item. At that time, Vice-Mayor O’Leary assumed
the Chair.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER CLARKE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION
APPROVING THE FINAL MAP FOR TRACT NUMBER 71511 CONSISTING
OF A ONE LOT SUBDIVISION CREATING 7 RESIDENTIAL AIRSPACE
UNITS AT 4139-4145 DUQUESNE AVENUE. THE MOTION CARRIED BY
THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, COOPER, O'LEARY, WEISSMAN
NOTES: NONE
RECUSED: SAHLI-WELLS
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Item C-3
(Out of Sequence) February 9, 2015
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Mayor Sahli-Wells resumed the Chair.
Approval of an Agreement with CR&R for the Purchase of
Recyclable Material from the City for a Period of Three Years
(to January 31, 2018) as Part of a Pilot Program
Council Member Clarke relayed questions from Goran Eriksson
about the possibility of additional revenue by changing the
handling of recycling materials in the recycling program.
Discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding
the current contract; flexibility; clear plastic film;
training residents to sort properly; outreach; policies of
other cities; collection and transfer; areas to improve;
market conditions; new technologies; raising the value of
recyclables; waste diversion goals; and a request that
information be presented to the Sustainability Subcommittee
of the City Council.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARKE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
WEISSMAN AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH CR&R, INC. TO PURCHASE
RECYCLABLE MATERIAL, FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2015 – JANUARY 31,
2018, FOR $30 PER TON FOR COMMINGLED RECYCLING MATERIAL
WITH A POTENTIAL INCREASE OF $7-$10 PER TON DEPENDENT ON
MARKET FLUCTUATIONS AND,
2. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
3. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY.
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Order of the Agenda
No changes were made.
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Action Items
Item A-1
February 9, 2015
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Adoption of a Resolution Calling a Public Hearing for
February 23, 2015 to Determine Whether the Public Health,
Safety or Welfare Requires the Formation of Underground
Utility District 11 Located along Culver Boulevard between
Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue
Council Member Weissman recused himself from the item and
exited the dais.
Mayor Sahli-Wells invited public participation.
No speakers came forward and no cards were received.
Mayor Sahli-Wells discussed notification; she asked that
residents be informed of potential construction impacts;
allowable hours of construction; contact numbers; she
discussed the before and after photo; suggested that the
positive impacts be communicated to the residents; and she
received clarification regarding the Culver alignment
proposal from staff.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARKE AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
COOPER THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ADOPT A RESOLUTION CALLING A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR FEBRUARY 23, 2015 TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE
PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE REQUIRES THE FORMATION OF
UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT 11 LOCATED ALONG CULVER
BOULEVARD BETWEEN SEPULVEDA BOULEVARD AND COMMONWEALTH
AVENUE. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, COOPER, O'LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS
NOES: NONE
RECUSED: WEISSMAN
Council Member Weissman returned to the dais.
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Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
Mayor Sahli-Wells invited public comment.
No cards were received and no speakers came forward.
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Items from the City Council
Items from Vice Mayor O'Leary February 9, 2015
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? Wanted to ensure that Culver City had provided the
requested feedback to the Southern California
Association of Governments regarding regional
transportation issues
Items from Mayor Sahli-Wells
? Reported attending City of Los Angeles’ Mayor
Garcetti's convening where there was a presentation
by Lucy Jones on Los Angeles' policy recommendations
regarding earthquakes noting that water could be a
long-term issue and she provided information to the
City Manager and discussed retrofitting
? Reported attending a roundtable with several members
of the Police Department; discussed policy resources
from RAND; and provided information to staff and
Council Members
? Reported that Mayor Suzanne Fuentes of the City of El
Segundo had asked other Mayors to sign a letter to
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Deborah Lee James
to prevent a potential base closing at El Segundo and
she received City Council consensus to consider the
matter
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Adjournment
There being no further business, at 9:00 p.m., the City
Council adjourned its meeting to Monday, February 23, 2015 at
7:00 p.m.
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Martin R. Cole
CITY CLERK of Culver City, California
EX-OFFICIO CLERK of the City Council
Culver City, California February 9, 2015
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MEGHAN SAHLI-WELLS
MAYOR of Culver City, California