City Council Meeting Summary, September 11, 2023
Published on September 12, 2023
City Council Modifies MOVE Culver City Project, Votes to Purchase Gun Store Property
At its meeting on Monday, September 11th, 2023, the Culver City City Council voted 3-2 to ratify plans to modify the MOVE Culver City pilot project, including a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption. MOVE Culver City is a city-led effort that reimagines city streets as public spaces and prioritizes moving people more efficiently and safely in the design of the street.
Since MOVE’s implementation in 2021, the City has monitored and evaluated the project and gathered public feedback. Updated plans for the pilot project approved by the City Council on Monday will incorporate a shared bus and bicycle lane in both directions and reallocate on-street parking. The goal of the pilot program is to improve the infrastructure and services for mobility alternatives and to offer the community equitable, convenient, and sustainable mobility options.
New features include bike boxes that will be added at seven locations along the corridor. A bike box is a designated area at the head of a traffic lane at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists with a safe and visible way to get ahead of stopped traffic. Another addition is human-scale traffic lights, named “bike buddy” signals, for enhanced visibility, as well as continental crosswalks, which are longitudinal stripes designating where to walk across the road, in strategic locations and downtown.
The City Council will award the construction contract at its October 9th meeting. The western segment of the project, Culver Boulevard between Duquesne Avenue and Canfield Avenue, and Washington Boulevard between Ince Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard, is slated to be completed in December. The eastern segment, Washington Boulevard from La Cienega Boulevard to Fairfax Avenue and Adams Boulevard from Washington Boulevard to Fairfax Avenue, will go into the final design and procurement to start in 2024, with a completion target date of August 2024.
Gun Store Property Purchase
Earlier in the night, the City Council heard testimony from more than 35 residents regarding the purchase of the Martin B. Retting gun store property at 11029 Washington Boulevard. The City Council voted unanimously to purchase the property for $6.5 million. Applause broke out following the final vote. The City Council directed that the building be repainted immediately following the completion of the City’s purchase, and that the City use a robust community input process to determine the future use of the property.
Cannabis Tax
The City Council did not take action on lowering the cannabis business tax rate for cannabis distribution from 2% to 0%. The City Council asked that the Culver City Finance Advisory Committee study the proposal and make a recommendation for City Council to consider in the future.
Letter of Support for Marina Central Park
The meeting ended with a final vote to provide a letter of support to the non-profit, Streets for All, for its its application for the U.S. Department of Transportation “Reconnecting Community and Neighborhoods Program” grant. That grant would fund a feasibility study for Marina Central Park, a concept that re-imagines the space occupied by the Marina Freeway (CA-90) with affordable housing, retail space, outdoor space, and dedicated bus lanes.
More information can be found in the September 11, 2023 City Council meeting agenda, which is available online. An archived video of the meeting can also be found on the City’s webpage.
About Culver City
Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 40,779 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport. Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries.
To contact us about this summary, email Dustin Klemann, Communications & Public Information Manager, or call (310) 253-5783.