Culver City’s mayor of the past year, Andrew Weissman ended his term April 22. Vice Mayor, Jeffrey Cooper will step in as the city’s new leader. Cooper was voted in with a unanimous 5-0 vote. Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells was appointed to Vice Mayor, replacing Cooper.
The five member elected city council is the legislative body for the city of Culver City. They provide overall policy directions, which serve to maintain and improve the quality of life in Culver City.
The council selects from among their members a mayor and vice mayor, to serve in those positions for a period of one year.
Weissman’s term began with two new councilmembers Salhi-Wells and Jim Clarke.
“I didn’t really know them nor they me. The challenge was to gain trust, respect points of view and work together for the good of Culver City. We all have strong feelings, different perspectives and egos. Blending all of that into a cohesive team can be challenging,” said Weisssman.
“When you have the quality of individuals on the council that we do, when we all are interested in making Culver City the best it can be, when we can debate and decide contentious topics and still work together harmoniously, it all comes together.”
Under the leadership of Weissman, the past year has had many successes for Culver City.
“Unquestionably the biggest accomplishment was the passage of Measure Y. The city was looking at an $8 million structural deficit with growing deficits into the future. Without Measure Y, we would likely have been out of reserves within four years,” said Weissman.
“The voters of Culver City, approved a half-cent local sales tax, by a 3-1 margin, projected to erase our structural operating deficit, protecting our city services and returning financial stability to the city.”
Cooper has been on the council for the last three years and will use his council experience as he leads the city as mayor.
“The past three years have been a study on cooperation and teamwork. No one on the council does anything alone, so we have learned to face various challenges with a united front. All the challenges we face as a city are difficult, but I know that working together we can overcome any obstacle,” said Cooper.
Teamwork seems to be the mantra that holds the council together while discussing issues that not all may agree upon.
“First, it’s important to realize that as mayor, I have no greater say in what happens in the city than the four other councilmembers, so whatever we accomplish, we accomplish together,” said newly appointed Mayor Cooper.
“That said, I think our primary goal should be solving the issues borne out of the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency. So much depends on how those issues are resolved that it impacts everything from public safety to the budget to the type of development that will occur in the heart of our downtown. If we can solve those issues while I am mayor, it will be a major accomplishment,”
The current council has a year working together under their belt and the coming term will continue to present challenges. All councilmembers agree that working for the good of Culver City is the most important issue the council faces.
“I am tremendously proud of work this council has accomplished over the past three years. Whether is was cutting our own medical benefits or working creatively to deal with the blow of losing redevelopment, we worked together as a team to not only balance our budget but to set the stage for more sustainable fiscal policy going forward,” said Mayor Cooper.
Mayor Weissman will continue as a councilmember and offered a bit of advice to the incoming Cooper, “Respect the public. Respect your colleagues. Be yourself and don’t try to be something you aren’t. Have fun.”
