City Council Meeting Summary, June 9, 2025

Published on June 12, 2025

Juneteenth 2025 Proclamation

City Council Approves Budget, Including Jubilo Village Funding, Appoints New Artist Laureate

City Council Approves Budget, Includes Funding for Jubilo

The City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Budget at its meeting last night. The adopted budget includes $16 million in additional funding for the Jubilo Village 95-unit affordable housing project at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard. It also allocates $179,300 for a new PRCS Senior Management Analyst position to assist with grant efforts, though, that position is contingent on voter approval of Measure CL in the August 26, 2025, election. The budget also appropriates $250,000 to potentially support a consultant to help the City increase community participation in the budget process, which is subject to further City Council discussion and approval.

The budget outlines $199.3 million in proposed General Fund expenditures, with an estimated $177.6 million in General Fund revenue. To address the projected $21.9 million shortfall, including a $14.9 million structural budget gap, the City will draw from its reserves. As part of this action, the Council approved a resolution to draw funds from the Contingency Reserve to decrease it from the target 30% to 21.6% of the General Fund Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

The City Manager will present a plan within six months to replenish the reserve over the next five years. The details of that plan will depend in part on the outcome of Measure CL, the proposed 0.25% local sales tax. Regardless of the election results, the City will likely need to consider additional spending reductions to fully restore the Contingency Reserve.

Vice Mayor Freddy Puza and Council Members Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Bubba Fish voted in favor of the full budget, including the Jubilo funding and enhancements. Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted against the budget and enhancements but expressed support for the base budget without the enhancements.

The beginning General Fund balance as of July 1st is now estimated at $135.5 million, about $5 million higher than previously projected due to unexpectedly high real property transfer tax revenue from the sale of a major commercial property in April. The estimated ending fund balance is $113.6 million, approximately $4.8 million higher than in the May 12th proposed budget, once all adjustments are factored in.

As part of the budget approval process, Culver City Human Resources provided a presentation on the status of job vacancies in the City. With improved recruitment efforts for streamlining and modernizing recruitment, as well as improved retention efforts, Culver City has an 6% to 8% vacancy rate, down from 22% several years ago.

Loan Commitment Terms for Jubilo Village

With the approval of funding in the budget for Jubilo Village, the City Council directed staff on the terms of the $16 million loan commitment to Community Corporation of Santa Monica. The first installment of the $16 million loan, in the amount of $4 million, is anticipated to be disbursed in Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The City Council approved a variety of terms to protect the City’s interests, including preference at the project for those living, working, and going to school in Culver City. Terms also require that the project-based vouchers approved by the City for the project are funded by the federal government, and that the project has sufficient financing to ensure completion.

Mayor O’Brien, Vice Mayor Puza, and Council Members McMorrin and Fish voted in favor of the conditions and terms. Council Member Albert Vera, Jr. voted against.

Commissions, Boards, and Committee Members Appointed

The City Council selected 23 people to service on Culver City’s various Commissions, Boards, and Committee.

Cultural Affairs Commission

  • Nikki Diloreto to Seat No. 1 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Leora O’Carroll to Seat No. 2 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Shona Gupta to Seat 3 for a full term expiring June 30, 2028

Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission

  • Thomas Whitaker to Seat No. 3 for a partial term through June 30, 2026
  • Jennifer Chen to Seat No. 4 for a full term expiring June 30, 2029
  • Margaret Peters to Seat 5 for a full term expiring June 30, 2029

Planning Commission

  • Jeanne Black to Seat No. 2 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Jennifer Carter to Seat No. 3 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029

Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness

  • Shane Henson to Seat No. 8 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Patrick Spease to Seat No. 9 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

  • Jack Galanty to Disability Member Seat for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Joel Falter to Parent Member Seat for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Greg Maron to CCUSD Member Seat for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Dan Beroukhim to Employee Member Seat for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Ben Parnas to Resident Member 2 Seat for full term expiring on June 30, 2029

Disability Advisory Committee for a partial term expiring on June 30, 2027

  • Suleman Adeyemi to Seat No. 8 for a partial term expiring on June 30, 2027

Equity & Human Relations Advisory Committee

  • Chaiya Jones to Youth Representative Seat 1 for a one-year term ending on June 30, 2026

Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board

  • Judy Scott to Landlord Seat 2 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029
  • Andrew Keeshawn to Member at Large Seat 2 for full term expiring on June 30, 2029

MLK Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee

  • Anasia Obioha to Seat No. 5 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2029

LAX Area Advisory Committee

  • Beth Hyatt for a full one-year term from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026
  • Luciano Nocera for a full one-year term from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026
  • Kateryna Chunikhina for a full term from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026

There are three vacancies on the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board. Those interested in applying for the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board can do so on the City’s website.

Victoria Marks Selected as New Artist Laureate

The City Council approved Victoria Marks as the new Culver City Artist Laureate. She will begin her two-year term on July 1, 2025. Marks, a multidisciplinary artist and choreographer/director, was selected following a comprehensive and rigorous two-phase application and review process.

Marks' artistic practice centers on people and their relationships, which she considers her true medium. She creates movement-centered performances with and for groups of people, describing her work as a form of group portraiture. Defining choreography broadly as any set of conscious, intentional actions or movements, Marks' work aims to make visible life's vitality through movement, whether in public spaces like streets and parks, or on film or stage. She sees herself as a bridge builder, focusing on facilitating connection and creating safe and joyful spaces for people to come together.

A significant aspect of Marks' work is her "Action Conversations," a process she has undertaken with diverse groups, including teen mothers and older women, veterans and artists. These projects bring together groups who might not otherwise have a shared social anchor, using spoken conversation combined with movement to build deeper understanding and create performance portraits. Her work is driven by a need to build connection and shared purpose in an increasingly divided world.

As Artist Laureate and Cultural Ambassador, Marks will seek to inspire diverse residents, represent the City through original works responsive to local communities, cultivate connections to the arts, increase accessibility, and explore the diversity, cultures, and histories of Culver City. She plans to attend community events, engage with the public, and collaborate with City staff and partners.

Marks is now the third to be selected in Culver City’s Artist Laurate program and promises a vibrant tenure focused on connection, community, and the power of art to illuminate shared human experience in Culver City.

Four Proclamations Presented

The City Council declared four proclamations at Monday’s meeting.

Juneteenth 2025

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective January 1, 1863, commonly known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Enslavers were responsible for telling those who remained in bondage that they were free; however, some ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the United States Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order Number 3, causing Texas, the last Confederate state, to declare that “all slaves are free.” Six months later, the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery in the United States once and for all. That joyous day in June 1865 became known as Juneteenth – Emancipation Day and, for millions of African Americans, Juneteenth has served as an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental truth that all people are created equal. In 2021, Juneteenth was named a federal holiday by President Joe Biden, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The City of Culver City is fortunate to be a diverse community that welcomes people of all races and ethnicities, religions, and genders, and is dedicated to ensuring that the City’s future is greater than its past. The City of Culver City is proud to commemorate “Juneteenth” and invites the community to a free, family-friendly Juneteenth celebration and resource fair with live music and market vendors on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 1 PM to 4 PM at the Ivy Station, 8840 National Blvd, Culver City. The City Council of the City of Culver City, California proclaims June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth 2025, pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of African Americans, and calls upon the community to eliminate prejudice and celebrate the great diversity of our people.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2025

Our nation was founded on the principle of equal rights for all people, but the fulfillment of this promise has been a long time coming for many individuals. In the movement toward equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other (LGBTQIA+) people, a historic turning point occurred more than 50 years ago on June 28, 1969, in New York City, with the onset of the Stonewall Riots, when LGBTQIA+ citizens rose up and resisted police harassment that arose out of discriminatory criminal laws that have since been declared unconstitutional. While the 1969 Stonewall Riots have been enshrined as the enduring symbol of gay liberation, the Black Cat police raid in Los Angeles in 1966 and local protests that followed at other Southern California gay bars collectively were the precursors of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. The earliest known use of the word "pride" as applied to gay rights comes from the Los Angeles PRIDE organization, founded in 1966, and California has been a leader in advancing the civil rights of its LGBTQIA+ citizens. While further progress is needed, it is important to recognize and celebrate the substantial gains that have been achieved. The 5th Annual City-Sponsored PRIDE Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, beginning at 4 PM in Syd Kronenthal Park. With the Progress Flag proudly raised above City Hall, Culver City stands with the LGBTQIA+ community to work toward a better, more inclusive future for all. The City Council of the City of Culver City, California, proclaims June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Other Pride Month; calls upon the community to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists; and celebrates the great diversity of our people.

Gun Violence Awareness Month 2025

Gun violence impacts every segment of our society and affects the lives of people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, religions, disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, education levels, national origins, and other distinguishing characteristics. An average of 125 people are killed by guns in the United States each day, and more than 200 are shot and wounded by firearms. Gun violence increases the likelihood of death in domestic violence incidents; raises the chances of fatal outcomes for individuals who intend to harm others or attempt suicide; places children and young people at greater risk of physical harm and injury; and disproportionately affects communities of color. Gun Violence Awareness Month honors the many lives that have been cut short by gun violence in our country and supports efforts to reduce gun-related crimes in the United States. Supporting efforts to strengthen gun safety laws at local, state, and federal levels is one way to reduce gun violence. The City of Culver City is committed to protecting its community from gun violence and exploring additional ways to do so through firearm safety regulations and safe gun storage. The City Council of the City of Culver City, California proclaims June 2025 as Gun Violence Awareness Month and calls upon the community to set aside time to remember those Americans whose lives were cut short by gun violence, as well as the countless survivors whose lives are forever altered.

Men’s Health Month 2025

Each year, in the week leading up to Father’s Day, Men’s Health Week helps raise awareness of the diseases and illnesses that affect America’s men. Despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of five years less than women, with Native American and African American men having the lowest life expectancy. Educating the public and health care providers about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early detection of male health problems can reduce mortality rates from disease. Men who understand the value of preventive health in prolonging their lives and strengthening their roles as productive family members are more likely to participate in health screenings. Fathers who maintain a healthy lifestyle serve as role models for their children and tend to have happier, healthier families. The Men’s Health Month website features resources, proclamations, and information about awareness events and activities, including Wear Blue for Men’s Health. Citizens of Culver City are encouraged to increase awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and routine medical check-ups. The City Council of Culver City proclaims June 9–15, 2025, as Men’s Health Week and June 2025 as Men’s Health Month, and encourages all residents to prioritize preventive health practices and early detection throughout the year.

Additional Council Decisions 

Additional items approved by the City Council include:

 

Additional Information and next City Council Meeting

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.

The City Council will meet on Monday, June 23rd. Childcare is available for the meeting for families wanting to attend in person.

 

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