New City Council Begins Its Work

New City Council Begins Its Work

Armenta Receives Fond Farewell

It was goodbye to the past and hello to the future Monday night at City Hall as the new and re-elected City Council members were sworn in, a new mayor and vice mayor were chosen, and departing Council member Christopher Armenta was lauded for his contributions to Culver City government.

In what was hardly a surprising move, the new Council, in its first voting action, elected Andrew Weissman as mayor and Jeffrey Cooper as vice mayor.

Culver City’s charter (which may soon be subject to revision to reflect necessary redefinitions in the wake of the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency) stipulates that no Council member can be mayor for two consecutive terms.

It also provides a rotation pattern whereby the person who has been vice mayor usually becomes mayor in the next round. Since former council member Scott Malsin, who resigned late in 2011 and was not re-elected to the Council in the recent election, had been the last to hold the vice mayoral position, the position of mayor was up for grabs.

Cooper, who had not had a turn at either position yet, seemed to be the most likely candidate for mayor. But Cooper had made it known that he wanted to be elected vice mayor instead. Therefore, the Council unanimously elected Weissman, who had previously served as mayor in 2009.

Prior to the Council meeting, city officials and city employees feted the new and departing Council members at a party that featured a cake with the Culver City seal as decoration. The mood was celebratory but informal and usually staid city government people could be seen exchanging hugs.

When the meeting began, every seat was filled, as families and friends of the Council members were present.

City Assistant Manager Martin Cole presented Armenta with a Certificate of Commendation from the U.S. Senate, signed by Senator Dianne Feinstein. It said in part: “Your outstanding work not only as a council member, but as a city clerk, is an inspiration to us all.”

Cole also presented a plaque to Armenta, from the City, featuring a photo and documents mounted in a frame.

“I’m going to hang this in my office….to remind me of all the years in City Council,” said Armenta. He noted that with four highly qualified people newly elected or re-elected to the Council, he was “leav[ing] the Council in very capable hands.”

Armenta thanked all the candidates including the two who did not win seats, Malsin and Stephen Murray, ”for their valiant efforts during the campaign.”

“It’s like leaving a family,” he added. “I served Culver City for 10 consecutive years as an elected official. It’s been a dream come true. I enjoyed every minute of it…..I’ve always been a public servant. To not run again was a very difficult decision.” He admitted that his career was taking him more and more outside of Culver City, leading him to decide to not run again.

He thanked all those who had supported him and especially thanked “the employees [who] are the true talent here.”

Council members and others in public comment spoke of Armenta’s value. Cooper recalled that Armenta had been most helpful during Council closed sessions. Weissman called him ”an absolute pleasure to work with—and he still has his hair!”

Mehaul O’ Leary, still on the Council but about to be replaced as Mayor, recalled that during his initial run for the Council he had encountered some problems with the rules and Armenta, then City Clerk, had seemed to be his opposition in obtaining the goal of being elected. But once O’ Leary was elected to the Council, he and Armenta became friends and colleagues.

“You’re free to go,” he quipped to Armenta who “stepped down” as the audience stood up to applaud him.

Following this, Cole administered the oath of office and loyalty oath to the re-elected members O’ Leary and Weissman, and to the newly elected Meghan Sahli-Wells and Jim Clarke.

The new Council, once seated, voted for Weissman and Cooper for the mayoral and vice mayoral positions, and the members thanked those who had helped them in their campaigns.