City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 07/23/2012 Item Number: A-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of 1) a Request to Designate an
Upcoming Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”) Symposium as a City-Sponsored
Event; 2) a Fee Waiver and Use of the Mike Balkman Council Chambers and 3) the
Recording, Broadcast, and Rebroadcast of the Event and Placement of the
Recording on the City’s Website.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Martin R. Cole, Assistant City Manager
Phone Number: 310/253-6011
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (07/20/12); Mr. Tom
Camarella (07/20/12)
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (07/20/12
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (07/20/12)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (07/20/12)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (07/20/12)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council consider 1) a request by Transition Culver City,
Sierra Club Los Angeles Westside, and the League of Women Voters to designate
their upcoming Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”) Symposium as a City-sponsored
event; 2) the use of Mike Balkman Council Chambers (“Chambers”) as the event’s
location and waiver of fees for such use; and 3) the recording, broadcast, and
rebroadcast of the event and placement of the recording on the City’s website.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION:
Mr. Tom Camarella has proposed to produce a symposium regarding “Fracking” on
Saturday, August 4, 2012 from approximately 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, with Transition
Culver City and the Sierra Club, Los Angeles Westside, who have agreed to co-
sponsor the event (“Symposium”).
As described by Mr. Camarella, the Symposium will include up to eight (8) panelists,
including individuals from Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP), as well
as others to discuss issues surrounding “fracking,” including questions that arose at
the July 2, 2012 City Council meeting. After the discussion, the public will be invited
to participate in a question and answer session. According to Mr. Camarella, the
League of Women Voters has agreed to act as timekeeper of the panel discussion.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
On July 16, 2012, Mr. Camarella submitted a letter requesting 1) use of the
Chambers for the Symposium, 2) that the Symposium be televised and recorded and
3) that it be broadcast live and be either placed on the website or rebroadcast in the
future to enable the public the broadest opportunity to view the Symposium.
City Council Policy 4008 (the “Policy”) provides that “the Chambers are intended to
serve as a forum for the conduct of specific public business and are not intended to
serve as a public forum area for other matters.” Use of the Chambers is not available
for rental by the general public or private organizations. It is limited to “meetings,
hearings or other activities of the City Council open to the public”; other City meetings,
such as Commission, Board and Committee meetings; meetings of other public
agencies; and use by “governmental or private non-partisan, neutral non-profit
organizations for the specific purpose of hosting a candidate forum for candidates in
any City election” where the forum is “open to participation on an equal basis by all
duly registered candidates” for City offices. Therefore, consistent with the Policy, in
order for the requested Symposium to qualify for use of the Chambers, it must be
designated a City-sponsored event
As per Culver City Municipal Code Section 17.330.040.B.7.b.ii, in order for the
Symposium to be designated a City-sponsored event, the City would need to be (a)
participating in an official capacity in the planning, preparation or promotion of the
civic event or activity; and (b) contributing 25% of the total estimated costs of the civic
event or activity, or at least $1,000, whichever is less. This contribution may take the
form of funds, labor, staff time, materials, a waiver of fees, or any combination of the
foregoing.
The cost to record the meeting is $240.00, payable to an outside contractor. Staff
time costs for a City employee on a Saturday ($112.81 per overtime hour for 4 hours)
is $451.24. Coordination staff time prior to the event would have a value of
approximately $400.00. Total estimated City costs associated with the proposed
event total $1,091.24.
Consistent with the Policy requiring participation on an equal basis in a candidate
forum, in addition to meeting the above-described criteria for a City-sponsored event,
it is recommended that the panelists for the Symposium represent all sides of the
fracking issue and should be moderated by a neutral party.
Should the City Council determine to designate the Symposium as a City-sponsored
event, then, consistent with existing City Council policies, the Event would be eligible
to be held in the Council Chambers, broadcast on CCTV 35, and the recording could
be placed on the City’s website.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Hard costs include $240.00 for the recording engineer, and $451.24 payable as
overtime for staff to be paid from the general fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
E-Mail Proposal from Mr. Camarella.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Consider the proposal and direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
MEETING DATE: July 23, 2012
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Request to Designate an Upcoming
Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”) Symposium as a City-
Sponsored Event; 2) Approval of a Fee Waiver and Use
of the Mike Balkman Council Chambers and 3) Approve
Recording, Broadcast, and Rebroadcast of the Meeting
and Placement of the Recording on the City’s Website.
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. E-Mail Proposal from Mr. Camarella
1
Subject: Symposium Request for Co-Sponsorship
Date: July 16, 2012 4:06:01 PM PDT
To: Culver City City Council
From: Tom Camarella, Transition Culver City, Sierra Club – L. A. Westside and the
League of Women Voters
Date: July 16, 2012
Re: Questions Asked About Fracking By Culver City Council
At the July 2, 2012 City Council Meeting, there was a discussion of “Fracking” and
several of the Councilpersons expressed that they had inadequate information or had a
desire to have several specific questions answered by PXP and those opposing or
restricting fracking prior to voting on new Culver City ordinances re fracking. I’ve
spoken to two (2) CCUSD members who are supportive of this effort, but it has not had
time to be formally agendized. Also, several homeowners’ associations are concerned
and want to have more information and opportunities to be heard.
Therefore, we are proposing to create a Symposium in the Council Chambers on
Saturday, August 4, 2012 (from approximately 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) so the City
Council, relevant staff and the residents could hear the questions and answers. We
would like to have it televised and recorded so that anyone who could not make it to the
Symposium, could watch on television in real time or later watch and learn.
We intend to have up to four (4) panelists from PXP (not their trade association) and
four (4) panelists from those wishing to restrict fracking for safety. The questions that
the Council mentioned on July 2, 2012 would be covered and all interested parties
would have the questions 10 days before the Symposium. After the initial questions
have been answered, the City Council would have the first opportunity to ask follow-up
questions. After that, the Culver City residents would be able to ask questions.
We have spoken to the League of Women Voters who has agreed to help in time-
keeping, etc. so the process is fair and open. We have also spoken to Transition Culver
City and the Sierra Club, Los Angeles Westside who have agreed to Co-sponsor the
event.
We are asking the Culver City Council to Co-Sponsor this event, as it is something that
they said they needed on July 2, 2012. Sponsorship would be defined as the use of the
City Council Chambers and televising/recording this event. This way, the CC Council,
staff and the homeowners can receive first-hand information and make up their own
minds on this critical matter.
Obviously, time is of the essence. Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Tom Camarella