City Council Meeting Summary, May 27, 2025

Published on June 02, 2025

Commendation for Culver City Troop 15 .jpg

City Council Directs Staff to Revamp Lifeguard Hiring Efforts, Considers Ban on the Sale of Glue Traps Citywide, Approves Funds Toward the La Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension Project

City Council Declines Contract for The Plunge, Looks to Revamp Lifeguard Hiring and Retention

The City Council unanimously directed staff to revamp its lifeguard hiring efforts to help boost local recruitment for the Culver City Plunge. Following several years of hiring shortages for lifeguards at the Culver City Plunge, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department recommended City Council approve a one-year agreement with USA Pools of California a Division of USA Management for lifeguard services.

Over the past year, PRCS has held recruitments for the position that brought in a low level of applicants. Due to the lengthy timeline of hiring, many applicants have found jobs elsewhere before the City was able to contact them. For the few that do come in for the first interview, many have been unable to pass the swim test or receive the necessary certifications to be a lifeguard. As summer approaches, PRCS was attempting to keep the Plunge operating with the summer programming looming.

To bolster The Plunge’s staffing and hours available for the public’s use, staff will now schedule “single day recruitment” fair in which applicants can be hired quickly, certification, and other necessary steps—as well as maintain the existing lifeguards. Staff was granted $50,000 to help fund these efforts. They will report back at a future City Council meeting on the results of their efforts.

Next Phase of “A Frame for a Tree” Public Art Installation Approved

The City Council unanimously approved the fabrication and installation of the “A Frame for Tree” public art installation by artist Charles Gaines. Gaines' concept for Culver City proposes an approximately 56’ x 98’ rectangular metal structure that will frame the mature Ficus tree at the intersection of Washington and National Boulevards. The site, part of the Washington/National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District, has been planned for public art as a gateway and means of visually unifying the intersection since 2016.

It is estimated that the artwork will be installed in 2026. The Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes sufficient funding in the amount of $1,491,472 for Phase III of this project. This project is fully funded by the Cultural Arts Fund, which is funded by developer fees that can only be used for art, and not the City’s General Fund.

You can read more about “A Frame for a Tree” and see the renderings on the City’s website.

Directs Staff to Create Ordinance Prohibiting the Sale & Use of Glue Traps

The City Council unanimously approved directing staff to create an ordinance that will prohibit the sale and use of glue traps citywide. Culver City’s Sustainability Subcommittee recommended the ban following a presentation and request for consideration on the ban from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Glue traps are considered cruel because they cause prolonged suffering to animals. When an animal gets stuck, it faces a slow death due to dehydration, starvation, or exposure, as the glue is non-lethal and does not kill instantly. The Centers for Disease Control warns that glue traps should not be used, as animals stuck in glue continue to produce urine and feces through which pathogens such as hantavirus can spread to humans. Other non-pest creatures, including lizards, birds, and small non-invasive animals, may get caught in the traps and suffer the same fate. Finally, glue traps are ineffective in managing rodent populations, as they do not address the underlying issues causing infestation or reasons why pests are present.

The ordinance will return to the City Council for a full vote and would take effect 30 days after its second reading.*

Correction: A previously email incorrectly stated the ordinance was created and approved. Staff will create the ordinance language and bring it back to City Council for approval.

Approves Support for Senate Bill 79 & Assembly Bill 609

The City Council voted to support the passage of both Senate Bill 79 and Assembly Bill 609. Vice Mayor Freddy Puza, Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, and Council Member Bubba Fish voted in favor of support for SB 79. Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted against support for SB 79. The vote to support AB 609 was unanimous.

SB 79 would make certain transit-oriented development (TOD) projects an allowable use on specified sites, exempt certain property supporting transit operations from the Surplus Land Act (SLA), and exempt specified projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). At the May 19, 2025, Senate Appropriations Committee Meeting, SB 79 was placed on the Appropriations Suspense File.

AB 609 establishes a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for housing projects on sites up to 20 acres, which are on or adjoining current or former urban uses, and within an incorporated city or town of any population, or an unincorporated community with at least 5,000 residents or 2,000 housing units. On May 19, 2025, AB 609 was read for the third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.

City staff will transmit the City Council’s positions to the bills’ authors and legislative committee members who will be considering the approval of these bills. Staff will also track these bills and advocate for them throughout the legislative process.

Appropriates $240,000 Toward the La Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension Project from the Mobility Improvement Fund

The City Council unanimously approved a budget amendment appropriating $240,000 of the Mobility Improvement fund toward the plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) design of the La Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension Project.

Created in the 1970s, the La Ballona Creek Bike Path (Bike Path) currently begins at the Pacific Ocean and ends at Syd Kronenthal Park. Originally, the Bike Path was intended to end at the Creek’s east route near the intersection of Cochran Ave & Venice Blvd in the City of Los Angeles, but that vision was never fully realized. Several years ago, Streets for All, a non-profit, launched an initiative to extend the Bike Path to its originally intended terminus. In 2023, the City Council contributed $100,000 to help fund a feasibility study to extend the Bike Path.

As part of City of Los Angeles’ Active Transport Program (ATP) grant application, requesting $6.4 million for preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates for the project, with a local match requirement of $1.6 million, Culver City City Council authorized a local match contribution of $240,000 that would be required if the project was selected for funding. The local match authorized by Council was 15% of the total local match requirement, approximately commensurate with the Project’s 14% footprint within the City.

While the project wasn’t selected as part of the ATP grant program, it was referred to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). SCAG selected the Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension Project for partial funding in the amount of $5,090,000, leaving a shortfall of $1,310,000. Culver City sent the City of Los Angeles’ request to contribute an additional $196,5000 to the shortfall in proportion to its original local match commitment back to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and Mobility Subcommittee for further study.

Funding has not been identified for construction of the Project, which is estimated to cost $24.7 million. The feasibility study identified approximately $3.5 million of the construction costs would be for improvements within Culver City.

Proclamations & Commendations

The City Council declared one proclamation and one commendation at Monday’s meeting.

Asian American Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - During the month of May, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month and pay tribute to the contributions of those who have enriched our history and been an integral part of our community. The month of May was selected for AANHPI Heritage Month to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrant. Today about 23 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, including more than 300,000 AANHPI veterans, live in the United States, comprising approximately seven percent of the U.S. population, and help make America a more vibrant, prosperous, and secure nation. The theme for AANHPI Heritage Month in 2025 is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience,” and focuses on the enduring legacy of AANHPI leaders throughout the generations. The AANHPI community is made up of more than 20 countries of origin, almost 50 distinct ethnic groups and over 100 languages and each community carries its own distinct history, traditions, and cultural identity, along with its own heroes and pioneers. Trailblazers like Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Korean American woman to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II; U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran and the first Thai American elected to the Senate; and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the first Filipina American to lead California’s highest court and a longtime advocate for equity in our justice system, are a testament to the enduring strength of the many AANHPI communities. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders lend their rich heritage to enhance our community, playing a vital role and helping to build and define life in Culver City and the rest of the United States. The City Council of the City of Culver City, California hereby proclaims May 2025, as “Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” and celebrates the diaspora and honors the generations of residents and immigrants who have enriched our nations’ narrative.

Commendation for Culver City Troop 15 - Troop 15 is the first all-female troop within the Culver City and West Los Angeles Council of Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), formed in February 2019 when the organization officially began welcoming female scouts. Since its founding, Troop 15 has achieved remarkable milestones, including the pinning of nine Eagle Scouts—the highest rank in Scouting—which requires at least 21 merit badges, sustained leadership, and the successful completion of a major service project. The Scouts of Troop 15 have continually challenged themselves through high adventure activities, including week-long expeditions such as canoeing in Atikokan, Canada, backpacking through Yellowstone National Park, and planning an upcoming whitewater rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Troop 15 has demonstrated exceptional scouting skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, earning first place at the 2025 Crescent Bay Camporee—a regional competition testing scouts in knot-tying, structure building, first aid, orienteering, wood chopping, and fire starting. The troop serves as an inspiring example to youth across the community, showing the power of perseverance, leadership, and unity in reaching shared goals. The City Council of Culver City proudly congratulates Troop 15 on their historic accomplishments, commends their dedication to excellence, and expresses deep admiration for their continued commitment to the values of Scouting and service to the community.

Additional Council Decisions

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

Additional information about each of the topics heard at the City Council meeting can be found in the staff reports and backup attachments for the items, which are posted along with the agenda to the City’s website. The video of the City Council meeting is available on the City’s website for viewing.

Next City Council Meeting

The City Council will convene on Monday, June 9th, which will include a vote on the upcoming budget. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.

 

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