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CC - ACTION ITEM: Discussion of and Direction to the City Manager on Appointment of a City Historian.
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Meeting Date: September 23, 2024
Contact Person/Dept.: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager
Phone Number: City Manager’s Office, (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/17/2024)
Department Approval: John Nachbar, City Manager, (09/17/2024) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council discuss and provide direction to the City Manager on the appointment of a City Historian.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On March 21, 2024, the City Council requested staff return with an item to consider appointment of a City Historian.
The previous City Historian, Julie Lugo Cerra, passed away on March 27, 2023. Ms. Cerra became involved in the Culver City Historical Society in the late 1980s and served as its president for many years. The City Council named Ms. Cerra the Honorary Culver City Historian in September 1996 (see Attachment 1), a role in which she served until her death in 2023. The role was honorary, meaning Ms. Cerra was not a City employee nor was she paid by the City. As part of her role, Ms. Cerra spoke to community groups, school children, and visitors to City Hall about the City’s history. She published several books on Culver City’s history, including Culver City: Heart of Screenland (1992), Images of America: Culver City, CA (2004), Images of America: Movie Studios of Culer City (2011), Culver City Chronicles (2013), and Culver City: The First Hundred Years (2016). She also published over 500 articles for newspapers, including the Culver City News, and reference materials for local teachers.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this item.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024-09-23_ATT_September 2, 1996 Staff Report re: Designation of City Historian
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
Discuss and provide direction to the City Manager on the appointment of a City Historian.