Voters OK Higher Taxes

Culver City voters approved a measure in Tuesday's election to increase property taxes to comply with federal mandates to clean storm water runoff. Almost 74 percent of the voters agreed to the tax hike.

The voters however overwhelmingly rejected a to place the hiring and firing of the Police Chief and Fire Chief under the control of the City Manager. That authority will remain with the city council.

A charter review committee made recommendations to the voters 10 years ago to transfer city government from a CAO (Chief Administrative Officer) to a city manager form of government. Most of the departments were transferred from the city council's control to the new position of city manager. Police and Fire were left under the council's control at the insistence of then councilman Albert Vera.

The move also eliminated the elected position of city treasurer and moved the city clerk from an elected position to an appointed staff position. Culver City is one of the few cities in the state that does not elect those positions.

Voters did approve a waiting period for councilmembers who resigned to be eligible to run for the same office again. This initiative was drafted due to the resignation of councilmember Scott Malsin in December of 2013 to keep lifetime health insurance for his family and then he reran for a seat on the council the following April. The voters rejected this ploy and Malsin was not reelected.

Voters overwhelmingly approved this measure with 70% in favor of the new ordinance.

Finally, voters approved a change in the city charter to allow the council to decide regular meeting dates.

Vote Totals for the City Measures and local candidates are as follow:

Culver City Special Municipal Election - Measure CA

Measure CA: Shall Section 607 and Section 700 of the Charter of the City of Culver City be amended to change the appointing authority and the reporting responsibilities of the Fire Chief and Police Chief from the City Council to the City Manager?

VOTE TOTALS Votes Percent

Yes 4,034 35.16%

No 7,439 64.84%

Culver City Special Municipal Election - Measure CB

Measure CB: Shall Section 602 of the Charter of the City of Culver City be amended to provide for the ineligibility of a person who has resigned from the City Council to run for the Office of City Council Member for a period of two years from the date of such resignation?

VOTE TOTALS Votes Percent

Yes 7,981 70.06%

No 3,410 29.94%

Culver City Special Municipal Election - Measure CD

Measure CD: Shall Section 608 of the Charter of the City of Culver City be amended to authorize the City Council to determine the dates of Regular Meetings of the City Council?

VOTE TOTALS Votes Percent

Yes 8,257 72.61%

No 3,115 27.39%

Culver City Special Municipal Election - Measure CW

Measure CW: Culver City SAFE/CLEAN WATER PROTECTION MEASURE. To protect public health/groundwater supplies and prevent toxins and pollutants from contaminating local waterways, creeks and beaches, by improving storm drains/infrastructure to capture/clean urban runoff; preserving open space; and complying with clean water laws, shall Culver City establish a $99 clean water parcel tax; generating approximately $2,000,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring independent audits, public oversight, low-income senior citizens discounts and local control of funds?

VOTE TOTALS Votes Percent

Yes 9,434 73.91%

No 3,331 26.09%

United States Representative, 37th District

Candidate(s) Votes Percent

Karen Bass (D) 121,168 82.08%

Chris Blake Wiggins (D) 26,456 17.92%

Member of the State Assembly, 54th District

Candidate(s) Votes Percent

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D) 91,696 81.87%

Glen Ratcliff (R) 20,300 18.13%

The countywide measure M also passed which will add a ½ cent sales tax in all of Los Angeles County to fund transportation projects.

All vote totals are unofficial until absentee and provisional ballots are counted and certified by the California Secretary of State.