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File #: 25-1596    Version: 1 Name: Discussion of the Possibility of Conducting a Civic Assembly to Develop Strategies to Increase Public Participation in the Budget Process
Type: Minute Order Status: Action Item
File created: 8/27/2025 In control: City Council Meeting Agenda
On agenda: 10/27/2025 Final action:
Title: CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Consideration of Conducting a Civic Assembly to Develop Strategies to Increase Public Participation in the Budget Process; (2) Consideration of the Short-Term Recommendations by the City Council Governance Subcommittee to Promote Public Participation in the Budget Process for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; (3) Discussion of a Potential Budget Questionnaire Exercise for Departments to Use During the Budget Process; and (4) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
Attachments: 1. 2025_10_27 ATT 1 Michelle Dennis' October 27 presentation on Civic Assemblies, 2. 2025_10_27 ATT 2 Short Paper About Selecting Healthy Democracy Prepared by Michelle Dennis and Wayne Liebman, 3. 2025_10_27 ATT 3 Culver City Civic Assembly Draft Budget Prepared by Healthy Democracy, 4. 2025_10_27 ATT 4 Metro Council Budget & Finance Committee Questionnaire
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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Consideration of Conducting a Civic Assembly to Develop Strategies to Increase Public Participation in the Budget Process; (2) Consideration of the Short-Term Recommendations by the City Council Governance Subcommittee to Promote Public Participation in the Budget Process for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; (3) Discussion of a Potential Budget Questionnaire Exercise for Departments to Use During the Budget Process; and (4) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.

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Meeting Date: October 27, 2025

Contact Person/Dept: Lisa Soghor/Finance Department

Phone Number: (310) 253-5865

Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []

Attachments: Yes [X] No []

Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/22/2025); (Email) Ongoing Topics - Fiscal and Budget Issues (10/22/2025)

Department Approval: Lisa Soghor, Chief Financial Officer (10/21/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends the City Council (1) consider conducting a civic assembly to develop strategies to increase public participation in the budget process; (2) consider the City Council Governance Subcommittee's short-term recommendations to promote public participation in the budget process for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; (3) discuss a potential budget questionnaire exercise for Departments to use during the budget process; and (4) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.


BACKGROUND

On May 19-20, 2025, the City Council received presentations on the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. During the discussion, Council Member Fish and Council Member McMorrin proposed and received Council consensus that a one-time funding enhancement in the amount of $250,000 be added to the Finance Department budget to create a new community-centered budget process through the potential use of a civic assembly process. During the meeting, City Council...

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