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THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL
UNTIL APPROVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE January 14, 2013
CITY COUNCIL 5:30 p.m.
CITY OF CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
Mayor Weissman called to order the meeting of the City Council
at 5:30 p.m.
Present: Andrew Weissman, Mayor
Jim B. Clarke, Councilmember
Micheál O‘Leary, Councilmember
Meghan Sahli-Wells, Councilmember
Absent: Jeffrey Cooper, Vice Mayor *
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Closed Session
* Vice Mayor Cooper participated in the Closed Session portion
of the meeting via teleconference from the Georgian Terrace
Hotel, 659 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308
At 5:31 p.m., the City Council recessed to Closed Session to
discuss the following items:
CS-1 Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Re: Initiation of Litigation – One Case
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c)
CS-2 Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Re: Significant Exposure to Litigation – One Case
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c)
CS-3 Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Re: Timothy Varney v. City of Culver City
Case Nos. ADJ613513, ADJ3797253, ADJ2252165
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a)
January 14, 2013
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CS-4 Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Re: 11304 Segrell Way
City Negotiators: John M. Nachbar, City Manager; Sol
Blumenfeld, Community Development Director; Charles
Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Todd Tipton,
Economic Development Administrator
Other Parties Negotiators: Stuart Magruder and Ric Abramson,
Work Studio Development LLC; and Partners Trust
Under Negotiation: Both Price and Terms
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
CS-5 Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Alhambra and 46 Other Cities v. County of Los Angeles, Case
No. BS 116375Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c)
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Reconvene
The City Council reconvened its meeting at 7:14 p.m. with
four Councilmembers present (absent Vice Mayor Cooper).
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Report on Action Taken in Closed Session
Mayor Weissman indicated there was nothing to report from
closed session.
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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 Marla Wolkowitz and
Barbara Honig.
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Presentations
Item P-1
Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to
Distinguished Visitors from the City's Sister Cities
January 14, 2013
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Marla Wolkowitz thanked the City Council for their support
and she presented visiting Sister City representatives who
introduced themselves.
Councilmember O’Leary presented Certificates of Recognition
to visitors from the City’s Sister Cities and discussed his
visit to Lethbridge, Canada.
Mayor Rajko Dodic of Lethbridge, Canada thanked the Culver
City Sister City Committee for their hospitality and
presented gifts to the City.
Mayor Weissman thanked the Sister City Committee for their
work.
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Item P-2
A Proclamation Designating January 21, 2013 as Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day
Councilmember Clarke presented the proclamation to members
of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.
Rupert Francisco, Chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Committee, thanked the City Council and staff for their
support and announced the hosts for the Martin Luther King,
Jr. celebration on January 19
th
at the Senior Center.
Rebecca Rona Tuttle, Programming Committee Chair, discussed
events planned for the free celebration on January 19
th
and
encouraged everyone to visit the City website for
additional information.
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Item P-3
Presentation to the City Council from Southern California
Edison Regarding the City's Obtaining Silver Status as a
California Green Community
Mark Olsen, Southern California Edison, provided a
presentation on the good work on energy efficiency done by
Culver City and the status of the City as a Sliver Level
California Green Community. January 14, 2013
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Hal Conklin, USA Green Communities, provided background on
the program and the different organizations involved, and
presented the City Council and staff with a plaque for City
Hall and a flag for the flagpole.
Rachelle Lefevre, Environmental Media Association’s, Young
Hollywood Board, commended the City on becoming a role
model for other cities to follow and indicated that they
would support the City toward achieving a Gold Status.
Mayor Weissman acknowledged the work of staff in obtaining
the Silver Status.
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Community Announcements By City Council Members/Information
Items From Staff
Councilmember Clarke commended the Rediscover Center for being
voted onto the Top Rated List of Non-Profit Organizations in
the United States in 2012, and he reported that Didi Hirsch
Mental Health Services had received a $1.4 million grant from
the Federal government.
Councilmember O’Leary discussed the tragedy in Newton,
Connecticut.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAHLI-WELLS THAT WHEN THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED THAT IT BE
ADJOURNED IN MEMORY OF THE CHILDREN THAT DIED ON DECEMBER 14,
2012 IN NEWTON, CONNECTICUT. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE
FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
Councilmember Sahli-Wells announced the grand opening of the
improvements at the bottom of the Baldwin Hills Overlook on
Jefferson and Hetzler Boulevard on January 18
th
.
Mayor Weissman congratulated staff on receiving the Annual
Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government
Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
January 14, 2013
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Martin Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, reported that
the item regarding parking zones had been postponed to a future
City Council meeting to allow staff additional time to complete
work on the item; he announced that the application period for
the newly created Finance Advisory Committee would close on
January 17, 2013; and he noted that information was available
regarding the ongoing recruitment for the newly constituted
Fiesta La Ballona Committee on the City website.
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Joint Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
Mayor Weissman invited public comment.
The following members of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Neil Rubenstein discussed City Council action to provide
free parking at curbside meters for veterans who have been
awarded specific medals and drive a vehicle with
appropriate license plates.
Christopher Patrick King, Culver City Homelessness
Committee, encouraged everyone to participate in the
County-wide Homelessness Count on January 30, and he
discussed event sponsors.
Rich Waters reported sending an e-mail to the City Council
regarding ficus trees; discussed municipal codes and
department duties; expressed concern with delays while
waiting for new regulations; asserted that the existing
regulations were adequate; discussed the need to remove the
diseased trees; expressed concern with the spread of
disease to other ficus trees; and he asked the Public Works
Department to take out the diseased trees and plant new
ones.
Discussion ensued between staff and Councilmembers
regarding an agendized item on trees and the tree removal
policy scheduled for February; the Sustainability
subcommittee; the proposed ordinance; the report from the
City arborist; improvements with treatment and selective
pruning of ficus trees; ensuring that interested parties
receive notice when the item comes forward; the status of
trees at specific locations; the complete inventory of City
trees; options to address diseased trees; the existing January 14, 2013
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ordinance; actions of the City to address the issue;
whether the disease is spreading; efforts to save the
trees; staff agreement to produce a report showing the
difference from the initial study and the current state of
the trees in the City; stress to the trees; causes of the
disease; long-term goals of urban forestry; the importance
of diversification in the urban forest; seeking a grant to
develop a plan; and renewing the urban forest.
Cary Anderson discussed permit parking; parking district
areas vs. street districts; policies in the City of
Glendale; tire chalking; concern with residents being
pushed out of their neighborhoods; construction parking;
employee parking; and enforcement technology.
Jeremy Green, Management Analyst, read written comments
submitted by:
Walter Lamb
Councilmember Clarke reported receiving an email regarding
a multi-unit development on Lincoln Avenue.
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, United Parents of Culver City,
announced a free School Safety Forum on January 23 at the
Veterans Memorial Building.
Gary Silbiger was pleased that Culver City still has an
official youth representative for the Community Development
Block Grant Committee; discussed previous efforts to
establish a Youth Advisory Committee; and encouraged the
establishment of a Youth Advisory Committee in 2013.
Eleanor Osgood discussed establishment of the Gateway
Neighborhood Association; Design Guidelines approved by the
City Council in 2010; she expressed concern that guidelines
as implemented by staff had not solved the problem; she
asked what the process was for alerting the development
applicants to the Design Guidelines and how much time staff
spent with developers to help them conform to the
guidelines; she questioned what new developments had been
constructed since implementation of the guidelines and
whether developers have been conforming; and she wanted to
see a discussion about notification to immediate neighbors
when a structure is going to be built even by the property
owner who will be living in it.
January 14, 2013
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Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director, indicated
willingness to meet with Ms. Osgood to discuss her
concerns; he asserted that Multi-Family Guidelines had been
useful and used in pre-development plans; he discussed
efforts to maintain consistency with the surrounding
neighborhood; and he discussed the process and usage of the
Guidelines.
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Receipt and Filing of Correspondence
None.
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Joint Consent Calendar
Item JC-1
JOINT CITY COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY
AGENDA ITEM: Cash Disbursements
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER CLARKE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAHLI-WELLS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE CASH DISBURSEMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 1, 2012 – JANUARY 4, 2013. THE MOTION CARRIED BY
THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
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Consent Calendar
Item C-1
Meeting Minutes
Martin Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, noted that
Councilmember Clarke had pointed out two items in the
minutes that required updating and he requested that the
minutes be approved as amended.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR
MEETING OF DECEMBER 10, 2012 AS AMENDED. January 14, 2013
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Item C-2
Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 17, Zoning, of the
Culver City Municipal Code and the Culver City Zoning Map
Regarding Alternative Parking Provisions and Establishing a
Public Parking Facilities (PPF) Zone (Zoning Code Text
Amendment ZCA-P2012101; and Zoning Code Map Amendment ZCMA-
P2012102)
Mayor Weissman invited public participation.
The following member of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Cary Anderson discussed off-site parking regulations;
outdoor dining parking requirements; shared parking
facilities; employee parking requirements; parking
requirements in place when downtown was built; substandard
parking; parking in relationship to seating capacity rather
than employee capacity; and the importance of considering
employee parking.
Councilmember Sahli-Wells asked for clarification regarding
outdoor dining use in places other than the downtown area.
Discussion ensued between staff and Councilmembers
regarding changes to the document; pooled parking
provisions; the alternative parking section of the zoning
ordinance; the break given to encourage outdoor dining in
downtown; incentivizing outdoor dining in other parts of
the City; newer restaurants on the west side; requirements
to provide onsite parking; employee parking; gross floor
area; and parking ratios for each use.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING
TITLE 17, ZONING, OF THE CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE AND THE
CULVER CITY ZONING MAP REGARDING ALTERNATIVE PARKING
PROVISIONS AND ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES
(PPF) ZONE (ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ZCA-P2012101; AND
ZONING CODE MAP AMENDMENT ZCMA-P2012102).
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Item C-3 January 14, 2013
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Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to
Submit a Cal Fire Urban and Community Forestry Management
Plan Grant Application for the City of Culver City Urban
Forest Management and Tree Succession Plan
Martin Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, corrected a
typographical error in the proposed resolution indicating
that the grant period was March 30, 2015 as opposed to
March 30, 2014.
Councilmember Sahli-Wells received clarification that the
grant would pay for an outside consultant to create the
Urban Management and Tree Succession Plan, greatly reducing
staff time.
Mayor Weissman invited public participation.
The following member of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Eleanor Osgood commended Public Works for their work with
the neighbors on Lincoln Avenue; she reported that five
residences on the last block on Lincoln had trees
identified on the original list by the consultant; she
discussed the severity of the disease in the trees; and she
asked that new trees be planted now if the old ones are not
going to survive.
Councilmember O’Leary encouraged Ms. Osgood to contact him
as he was interested in seeing the trees.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A CAL FIRE URBAN AND COMMUNITY
FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PLAN GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE CITY OF
CULVER CITY URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT AND TREE SUCCESSION
PLAN.
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Item C-5
(Out of Sequence)
Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Destruction of
Examination Materials in the Human Resources Department
Which are More than Two Years Old
January 14, 2013
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Councilmember Sahli-Wells expressed concern regarding
resource conservation and received clarification regarding
the type materials to be destroyed.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
DESTRUCTION OF EXAMINATION MATERIALS IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT WHICH ARE MORE THAN TWO YEARS OLD.
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Item C-4
(Out of Sequence)
Authorization to Submit a Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority 2013 Call for Projects Grant
Application for the Higuera Street Bridge Ramp Project
Councilmember Clarke received clarification on the
competitive nature of the process and what the City is
doing to improve the chances of winning the grant.
Discussion ensued between staff and the City Council
regarding the potential for multi-modal modes of
transportation; the Baldwin Hills Conservancy offer to fund
a portion of the design; efforts to obtain the support of
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; letters of support; the
application deadline; community and Council support; and a
potential letter of support from the Santa Monica Bay
Restoration Commission.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
(METRO) 2013 CALL FOR PROJECTS (CALL) GRANT APPLICATION FOR
THE HIGUERA STREET BRIDGE RAMP PROJECT.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER CLARKE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAHLI-WELLS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR
ITEMS C-1 THROUGH C-5. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING
VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
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January 14, 2013
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Order of the Agenda
No changes were made.
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Public Hearings
Item PH-1
(1) Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant
Fund Allocation for Fiscal Year 2013/2014; (2) Adoption of a
Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for
Funding; and (3) Approval of a Reimbursable Contract with the
County of Los Angeles Concerning Culver City’s Allocation
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
CLARKE TO RECEIVE AND FILE AFFIDAVITS OF PUBLICATION AND
POSTING. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAHLI-WELLS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
Mayor Weissman invited public participation.
There was no response.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
CLARKE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE
MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
Discussion ensued between Councilmembers and staff
regarding the outreach process; clarification that only
certain areas of the City are eligible for the funding and January 14, 2013
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for certain projects; the balance of the Senior Center
loan; the advisory committee; the youth representative; the
Culver City Homeowners Association representative;
clarification regarding an error in the draft minutes of
the CDBG meeting of December 11, 2012; clarification
regarding sidewalk and curb repairs on Colonial Boulevard;
and clarification regarding the proximity of Councilmember
Sahli-Wells’ residence to the area and agreement that no
conflict of interest existed so she could vote on the
matter.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER CLARKE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR THE PROPOSED FY 2013/2014 CDBG
PROJECTS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CDBG ADVISORY COMMITTEE;
AND,
2. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF THE FY
2013/2014 APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FROM THE CDBG PROGRAM,
INCLUDING ALL CERTIFICATIONS; AND,
3. DESIGNATE THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED CITY
OFFICIAL TO EXECUTE AND FILE ALL DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO
THE CDBG PROGRAM, INCLUDING MAKING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO
PROJECT FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL FY 2013/2014 CDBG
ALLOCATION; AND,
4. APPROVE THE CDBG REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES CONCERNING CULVER CITY’S FY 2013/2014 CDBG
ALLOCATION; AND
5. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW/PREPARE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; AND,
6. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUCH DOCUMENTS ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
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Action Items January 14, 2013
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Item A-1
Approval of a Budget Amendment for Economic Development
Activities
Mayor Weissman invited public participation.
There was no response.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER O’LEARY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
CLARKE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT
APPROPRIATING $45,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AS OUTLINED IN
THIS REPORT.
THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: CLARKE, O’LEARY, SAHLI-WELLS, WEISSMAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COOPER
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Joint Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
Mayor Weissman invited public comment.
The following member of the audience addressed the City
Council:
Rich Waters asserted that as a Tree People Citizen Forester
he supported saving trees whenever possible; he expressed
concern that the City was unable to check the trees
frequently enough; he discussed the deterioration of the
trees at various locations and the spread of the disease;
he wanted to see action taken immediately; he cited areas
in the City experiencing problems; he reported that an
arborist had indicated that the trees would not come back
and should be replaced; he discussed the tree canopy on
Lincoln; and he invited Councilmembers to come for a
personal tour.
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Items from Staff
January 14, 2013
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Martin Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk thanked the
City Manager for encouraging him to “go paperless” by using
an IPad instead of a paper agenda package.
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Items from the City Council
Items from Councilmember Sahli-Wells
• Provided a brief summary of the many accomplishments
of the City in 2012 and announced upcoming events and
projects for 2013
Items from Councilmember O’Leary
• Reported distributing the update from the Expo Light
Rail to Councilmembers and asked that staff distribute
quarterly project status reports as well
• Announced that he would be attending the Land Use Law
and Planning Conference on January 18
Items from Councilmember Clarke
• Reported plans to represent Culver City at the U.S.
Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.
• Requested consensus to agendize consideration of a
Youth Advisory Committee
Discussion ensued between Councilmembers regarding past
attempts to establish a committee; the YMCA program; the
level of interest; the Teen Center; and agreement by staff
to provide a history of the item to the City Council.
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Adjournment
There being no further business, at 9:19 p.m., the City Council
adjourned its meeting in memory of the children who died on
December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, to a meeting on
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
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Martin R. Cole
CITY CLERK of the City of Culver City, California
EX-OFFICIO CLERK of the City Council, City of Culver City,
California
ANDREW WEISSMAN
MAYOR of the City of Culver City, California