The City of Culver City is seeking input from the community on what it should do with the City-owned property at 11029 Washington Boulevard, which it purchased in 2023. On Monday, City Council approved the community outreach plans, as well as the proposed art project led by Artist Laureate Katy Krantz. Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Vice Mayor Dan O'Brien, and Council Members Goran Eriksson and Freddy Puza all voted in favor of the motion. Council Member Albert Vera was absent for Monday's meeting.
The property is a 0.2777-acre parcel containing a 4,660 square foot, one-story building with a former retail and office use built in 1953. The site is a corner lot with 20 parking spaces. The parcel is zoned Mixed-Use Corridor 1 - 35 dwelling units per acre. Between 1953 and 2023, it was used as the Martin B. Retting gun shop. The City has repainted the exterior of the site and installed a fence to secure the parking lot. Krantz installed a temporary mural project on the exterior of the building. Maps and photos of the property are available on the City's website.
The second phase of the art plans, which would build upon the work done earlier this year, focuses on the five trapezoidal frames on the building wall at pedestrian-level. It would be completed in December 2024. Expenses for labor, paint, supplies, and installation for Phase II of the mural project are estimated to be $5,786, which will be paid for with funds from the Cultural Trust Fund, Temporary Art Displays and Exhibits. You can use the online visioning form to share your ideas with the City.
City Council Moves Forward on Raises for City Council Members
The City Council discussed increasing Council Member compensation. Currently, the salary for each Council Member is $485.10 per month. All four City Council Members present for the meeting voted in favor of directing staff to return with an ordinance amending the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) to increase a Council Member's salary up to and including $1,261.26 per month. It deferred a decision on a Deferred Compensation Program to a later date. At this time, there has been no Deferred Compensation Program authorized and established for City Council Members.
City Council Takes Stance Against November Ballot Measure
The City Council voted to adopt a position against the Los Angeles County Government Structure, Ethics, and Accountability Charter Amendment ballot measure this November. The measure amends "the Los Angeles County Charter to create an elected County Executive; create an independent Ethics Commission to increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct; establish a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst to review proposed County policies; increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members; require County departments to present annual budgets in public meetings; using existing funding sources with no additional taxes to implement, as detailed in the charter amendment ordinance."
All four Council Members present voted to adopt a position against the ballot measure. On October 10, 2024, Council Member Eriksson, who serves as the City Council's Delegate and Voting Member on the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) Board, and Vice Mayor O'Brien is the Alternate Voting Member, will inform the City's position to the WSCCOG Delegates when the item is considered. You can read the ordinance language on the City's website.
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